If UBI's DRM scheme is unacceptable...

[T}{OR]

Some people need to redefine their way of thinking. I am all into protecting developer's work etc. But...

The mistake here is to believe that any software (publicly released) can be protected at all. Operating systems, and all software that is wide spread gets hacked in a mater of hours, even minutes. Forcing a protection that will bring unnecessary problems to the legit customers equals shooting yorself in the foot. More so, todays software gets hacked even before you can buy it of the shelves. In plain and simple words - it is a loosing battle in which (if you turn to the intrusive and hated DRM) we could end up with a hassle-free product for the pirates and those using pirated copies.

It is time to get real. There are many many other options for making a game more appealing to the legit buyers than pirates. Be it with quality product overall, regular patches or updates & add-ons, or via some other stuff that rocks their boat. Fortunately (via stuff shown) Oleg knows this - game map and Spitfire manual anyone?

A good example (like others stated already) is the latest StarCraft 2. Haven't played it myself but the philosophy there is what is already showing as the way forward.

Thus my money goes on the one time activation for this particular piece of software. We should know in a month time.

[6S.Manu]

I love Steam.. it's true that the application is a little buggy and the game are REALLY expensive (I prefer to buy on play.com) but you can easily find special offers (I bought more 10 games this Xmas, between 5€ and 10€ each, and I bought some games as gift for other persons).

There's the friend list system who works very well; it's like to have hyperlobby but actually you can chat with them even if they are playing yet (in any game).

The results list that is inserted in almost every Steam game is challenging and it will pushes you to play different roles in the game (I'm playing with my friends to reach the 100% in L4D2, probably in IL2:CoD there will be results as fighter and bomber like "kill a 109 at 7km", "land without elevators in a He111", "kill 5 He111 in a single mission" and so on)

And the last one is that Steam autopatches the game automatically and when you backup the game on an external HD you don't need to install the patches again and again.

It's all very simple; the only games who has issues were Mass Effect (fixed disabling the In-Game function of Steam) and Mount & Blade: Warband (fixed in 4 hours by Steam itself).

About account stealing: I haven't experienced that (and I've 2 accounts), but I don't think it will be a problem. I'm more scared about my gmail account (at least there are no sensible information in Steam, there is no privacy issue since there are no data if not the game list).