Quote:
Originally Posted by Professor S
Hmmm, perhaps it's my own technological illiteracy. I tried to play Empire: TW offline one time and it wouldn't let me. I just don't like the idea of having to answer to someone every time I want to play a game, regardless if there is some setting that allows it.
|
Hmmm...that's strange. I'm not denying your claim, it is possible that the game needs some form of online verification. =/
One major drawback to online content distribution is what happens if the online company fades away. People who bought DRM-encrypted MP3s from Walmart had to recode all their MP3s when Walmart changed stores. This is one major drawback with DRM/online distribution. What happens if Valve goes under? Or decides they don't want to fund the servers distributing a 10-year old game. It does indeed suck that you have to answer to someone if you want to play your game.
I've always been a huge fan of physical media. Having a physical copy means A) you physically own it and no one can tell you otherwise or take that away from you, B) you can resell it.
I know with games like Half-Life STEAM lets you play in offline mode. However it might lock you out if game is not updated. This was one complaint people had with Half-Life 2.
You basically do need an active Internet connection to update or play a lot of the games, and a broadband one at that. So I think physical media trumps online media for sure.
But I'd check on the web anyway, just in case. Seems odd that STEAM would lock you out of your single player game like that. That is what the offline mode is supposed to resolve.
Online distribution has its pros and cons. =/