I understand what peoples points are on the DRM and net connection. Sorry if I was dismissive. In the end for internet it comes to this: If you want what you pay for, ie: a game, why not apply the same logic to your internet provider? I lived in Australia and rural NZ, now I am in the US. I could of understood the: internet suddenly stops working randomly: point if you are in a rural area and go back 5+ years. Now though there is really no reason you shouldnt have high speed 24/7 internet, and if you dont in Auz the new bill for internet passed will insure you have better net access then the US does!
For the: I like to play on the train comment. = Great, start steam at home, put it into offline mode. Turn on comp on train, select offline mode and play!
DRM ownership: Guys, just because you have a disk doesnt mean you OWN the software. Infact you dont, you OWN the RIGHT to ACCESS the software on the disk (this is how it has always been). Owning would mean you could copy, modify, resell and reproduce the disk and its contents.
I hate DRM, but if it keeps companies open who otherwise are hurt by it, I will take it over no games! Especially steam, which to me while DRM is very very accesable and efficient (I can re-download my games! Unlike Itunes where if your hard drive chokes on a furball from your desk = too bad for you, buy again!)
Seriously people, even in 1998, NZ countryside (rural) I had dialup. I hated competing for internet/phone with parents so we had a second line installed. I never remember it "dropping out" often. If thats an issue you need to contact your service provider. I am in a new house and the wiring for the tv/net was from when it was originaly built in the mid 80s. I was getting sometimes intermitent random drop outs, thats now all fixed.
(the only other time you might have problems is if your in Florida and theres lightning
= buy battery backup for comp, Spam connect button! US utilities are horrible, only 12mb/s dl... In Singapore I had 100mb/s+ and no power outs...)
Also wante to add (yes another edit
) that in reply to a reply from my reply to a reply a few pages ago...
For them to open there own shop/drm would take alot of rescources and programming. Then they have to provide server bandwidth/service for all the customers = $
Servers would have to be regional for any decent MP = $
Very limited install base and advertising vs Steam = -$
DRM doesnt work? Incompatible? Firewall problem? = tech support + programming (bug fixing) = -$ + Unhappy customers.
= Bad idea + Plenty more reasons if you want me to go on