Not the point, I'm actively using Steam, Origin and uPlay to a degree. I just don't like spreading the info about games being freed if Steam ever goes down to people who might not know about how Steam works - there's just no confimation of that information.

Ooh, look at Mr. Fancy Internet, here.

Honestly, though, besides the 8h download times on some of the bigger games, like TW2, I don't have any other problems; I just leave those games to download while I am sleeping. It would be worth paying for faster internet if I was doing something which required it, but as it is, I am not hampered by what I have.

Or maybe this is just what I tell myself so I don't feel the pain that much.

Nah, more specifically, you just need to launch from the client, but there are bunch of games that do work without it.
http://steam.wikia.com/wiki/List_of_DRM-free_games

...and the majority dont need the client to be online - mostly just the AAA ones with paranoid publishers

So long story short, you didn't do your due diligence and now Steam is evil.
Welcome to the wonderful world of PC gaming.

Nah, you're fine, but yeas- Steam games, if not MP, can be played offline (indefinitely) and w/o internet (for at least 2 weeks). There are also DRM-free games on Steam which can be played w/o internet and w/o turning on the steam client at all, and some can be copy/pasted to PCs which never had/have steam client.

Yeah I saw that list. The ones on there I like I can get here. :P

True, just a relevent fact is all, you Origin user you! ;)

I always found this stance very arrogant. Towards customers if it's a lie, towards publishers if it's true.

Thanks for your testimony, even if it's sad that you had to experience DRM yourself.
I completely agree with you! A purchase treated as a rental is quite a fraud for me..
Luckly now we have GOG! (hoping it won't ever change)

P.s: my first bad experience with unexpected absurd software limitations was.. with Windows os!

Technically, all software purchases are treated as rental. The only difference is that on a DVD, the license can be realily transferred.

Edit: Oh wait, what am I talking about, that's not true at all. I should go and get some sleep. Thinking about licenses here.

Yeah, I have one game from Origin and it was free and I actually think it's piss boring. :P I do have a GG account but I'm holding out until they discount Chicago 1920 and then I'll lose that URL.

People constantly say that Steam is the least obtrusive form of DRM, but that's not actually true. The CD check version of SecuROM was the least obtrusive form of DRM to the point that it hardly qualified as DRM, since it didn't prevent you from doing almost anything you wanted with your game (whether it be to back it up, borrow it or sell it). While Steam is not the worst form of DRM (although I have no idea why people would tout this as something praiseworthy), having to go online to install your game and have it permanently attached to an account with no chance of removal is certainly quite obtrusive, especially for a single-player game.

Also, the whole "Valve said they would unlock the games if Steam shut down" thing is an urban legend. Newell never said anything of the sort and, honestly, the claim never made much sense to begin with.

In any event, I sympathise with the OP. I also think his example illustrates well how people don't really become aware of the value of DRM-free until they've experienced the problems with DRM first-hand.

It would be a great relief to many people if a link or some other form of citation could ever be provided for this simple decency on part of Valve. :/

I do not agree -CD-checks only works as long as the CD works. Scratch, damage or loose the disk, and the game stops working (not to mention things like bit root....). Also I do love not needing to drag around CD's everywhere.

"Everything was all right, the struggle was finished. He had won the victory over himself. He loved Big Brother"