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Steam Announces Family Sharing

User is offline   MusicallyInspired 

  • The Sarien Encounter

#1

Thought this deserved a thread.

http://store.steampo...com/news/11436/

Quote

Steam Announces Family Sharing
Press Releases - Valve

Coming Soon: Players who share computers can also share their Steam games

September 11, 2013 – Steam Family Sharing, a new service feature that allows close friends and family members to share their libraries of Steam games, is coming to Steam, a leading platform for the delivery and management of PC, Mac, and Linux games and software. The feature will become available next week, in limited beta on Steam.

Steam Family Sharing is designed for close friends and family members to play one another's Steam games while each earning their own Steam achievements and storing their own saves and application data to the Steam cloud. It's all enabled by authorizing a shared computer.

“Our customers have expressed a desire to share their digital games among friends and family members, just as current retail games, books, DVDs, and other physical media can be shared,” explained Anna Sweet of Valve. “Family Sharing was created in direct response to these user requests.”

Once a device is authorized, the lender's library of Steam games becomes available for others on the machine to access, download, and play. Though simultaneous usage of an account’s library is not allowed, the lender may always access and play his games at any time. If he decides to start playing when a friend is borrowing one of his games, the friend will be given a few minutes to either purchase the game or quit playing.

For more information about Steam Family Sharing and the beta program, please visit store.steampowered.com/sharing.

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User is offline   Kathy 

#2

Quote

Though simultaneous usage of an account’s library is not allowed, the lender may always access and play his games at any time. If he decides to start playing when a friend is borrowing one of his games, the friend will be given a few minutes to either purchase the game or quit playing.

Errr.... what?!
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User is offline   Inspector Lagomorf 

  • Glory To Motherland!

#3

In before Kathy

Edit: FUCK! I'm too late. :lol:

Edit 2: By the way, this is a really good idea and I'm glad to see that Steam has taken the reins on this.

This post has been edited by Comrade Major: 11 September 2013 - 12:36 PM

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User is offline   MusicallyInspired 

  • The Sarien Encounter

#4

Yeah, there are some jarring limitations here. The entire library is shared and no two people can play separate games from the same library at the same time, though the owner can come along and kick anybody off if he wants (even if the game he wants to play is not the same as the one the account borrower is playing), which forces a prompt to the borrower to either buy the game for themselves or quit.

Definitely needs refining, I think. For instance, what if you wanted to share a kids game with a kid? They have access to the whole library and all of the possibly M rated games as well. Although, I doubt Valve will cater to that as you need to be of a certain age anyway to sign up for a Steam account, according to the agreement.

All in all, I think it's a step in the right direction, though. It's something.

This post has been edited by MusicallyInspired: 11 September 2013 - 12:38 PM

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User is offline   Kathy 

#5

Talking about sharing... Did they implement independent steam client settings for different OS's accounts on one PC? Cause the last time I tried I couldn't even share frecking PC.

Quote

I'm glad to see that Steam has taken the reins on this.

Nice wording cause they aren't even close to arriving with this carriage.


edit: grammar error

This post has been edited by Kathy: 18 September 2013 - 12:18 PM

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User is offline   MusicallyInspired 

  • The Sarien Encounter

#6

At least they're taking steps. You don't see any other digital distribution company doing anything like this at all.
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User is offline   Kathy 

#7

Really now? http://forums.duke4....ames-on-origin/

Also, this whole "family sharing" was outlined in Xbox One's original plan. It probably still is possible with digital games.
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User is offline   Inspector Lagomorf 

  • Glory To Motherland!

#8

You need to understand Kathy's perspective on Steam. To her, steps forward would be:

1. No DRM. At all. Ever. Once it's bought, it's yours to distribute as you please.
2. Games are playable without Steam being installed.
3. Account can't be banned for any reason.
4. No need to go online to play games.
5. No terms of service, no EULA, no right-to-play, etc.

Basically, she wants GOG.
2

User is offline   The Commander 

  • I used to be a Brown Fuzzy Fruit, but I've changed bro...

#9

No, she wants http://thepiratebay.se/ in her perfect world, but she won't get it.

Posted Image



This post has been edited by The Commander: 11 September 2013 - 10:45 PM

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User is offline   Stabs 

#10

View PostComrade Major, on 11 September 2013 - 01:25 PM, said:

You need to understand Kathy's perspective on Steam. To her, steps forward would be:

1. No DRM. At all. Ever. Once it's bought, it's yours to distribute as you please.
2. Games are playable without Steam being installed.
3. Account can't be banned for any reason.
4. No need to go online to play games.
5. No terms of service, no EULA, no right-to-play, etc.

Basically, she wants GOG.


sounds like a cheaters wonderland
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User is offline   Fox 

  • Fraka kaka kaka kaka-kow!

#11

View PostMusicallyInspired, on 11 September 2013 - 12:37 PM, said:

For instance, what if you wanted to share a kids game with a kid? They have access to the whole library and all of the possibly M rated games as well.

Or the kid can download a pirate version. Or digit "porn" on Google.
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User is offline   Lunick 

#12

The more I think about this, the more I think they won't allow the whole library to be shared but let you choose which games.

Reason? Access to beta games that your friends/family probably shouldn't be seeing.
1

User is offline   Inspector Lagomorf 

  • Glory To Motherland!

#13

View PostLunick, on 11 September 2013 - 02:38 PM, said:

The more I think about this, the more I think they won't allow the whole library to be shared but let you choose which games.

Reason? Access to beta games that your friends/family probably shouldn't be seeing.


Well, in that case, they would give permission for game-sharing to the publishers of said games.

...

Which, the more I think about that, would risk making this plan pointless since the AAA game publishers (in particular, Activision) would disable game-sharing for their stuff whether or not it was beta.
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User is offline   MusicallyInspired 

  • The Sarien Encounter

#14

I forgot about that EA store. Still, I don't understand people not using Steam complaining about Steam's small step advancements towards less DRM control. Like it's not a big enough step that you'd like to see? Any step is a positive step. Again, I go back to "at least they're taking steps."

View PostFox, on 11 September 2013 - 02:27 PM, said:

Or the kid can download a pirate version. Or digit "porn" on Google.


Yeah, but you wouldn't be making it easier by just giving it to his/her account to play on. Because you wouldn't support that, right? Right? People still believe in parenting around here right? Why would you make it easy for your kids to do something you don't want them doing? Saying "oh well, they're just going to pirate it anyway" is completely missing the point. :lol:

View PostLunick, on 11 September 2013 - 02:38 PM, said:

The more I think about this, the more I think they won't allow the whole library to be shared but let you choose which games.

Reason? Access to beta games that your friends/family probably shouldn't be seeing.


They've flat out stated in the official FAQ that the entire library is shared and you cannot share individual games.

Quote

Can I share specific games, or do I have to share my whole library?
Libraries are shared and borrowed in their entirety.


Whether that changes in the future or not post-beta remains to be seen. Personally, I don't think the infrastructure is there to allow such a system of sharing individual games. When you think of it, this is no different than logging into your Steam account on another computer. When you log back in on your regular system, it automatically logs the other out. Only this time there aren't user ids and passwords swapping around. If there's enough demand, I believe the steps will be taken to properly facilitate a more dynamic and specific sharing system.

This post has been edited by MusicallyInspired: 11 September 2013 - 03:40 PM

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User is offline   Hank 

#15

what about people with no friends Posted Image
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User is online   Mark 

#16

Do like Jimmy does and buy some. :lol:
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User is offline   Radar 

  • King of SOVL

#17

I'm so happy I'm not the only one who realized Kathy basically wants Steam to be GOG version 2.
1

User is offline   Jimmy 

  • Let's go Brandon!

#18

View PostMark., on 11 September 2013 - 04:39 PM, said:

Do like Jimmy does and buy some. :lol:

Lies!


I don't have any money.
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User is offline   Kathy 

#19

View PostMs. Radar, on 11 September 2013 - 04:52 PM, said:

I'm so happy I'm not the only one who realized Kathy basically wants Steam to be GOG version 2.

That's... not very hard to guess.

I'll answer more thoroughly later, need to go. But I do object to the idea that I want The Pirate Bay. Thanks for calling me a "pirate", arrr... :lol:

Btw, why do people like to get personal here? Why did this topic again become about me?

This post has been edited by Kathy: 11 September 2013 - 07:19 PM

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User is offline   Komenja 

#20

Being called a pirate should be a compliment. Pirates are awesome.
1

User is offline   Radar 

  • King of SOVL

#21

View PostKathy, on 11 September 2013 - 07:13 PM, said:

That's... not very hard to guess.

I'll answer more thoroughly later, need to go. But I do object to the idea that I want The Pirate Bay. Thanks for calling me a "pirate", arrr... :lol:

Btw, why do people like to get personal here? Why did this topic again become about me?


Yeah, because you totally weren't trying to grab that attention in the first place. Just like you didn't want attention when you changed your name. And of course you aren't seeking any attention when you give half answers to every question.

This post has been edited by Ms. Radar: 12 September 2013 - 03:05 AM

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User is offline   Tetsuo 

#22

View PostComrade Major, on 11 September 2013 - 01:25 PM, said:

You need to understand Kathy's perspective on Steam. To her, steps forward would be:

1. No DRM. At all. Ever. Once it's bought, it's yours to distribute as you please.
2. Games are playable without Steam being installed.
3. Account can't be banned for any reason.
4. No need to go online to play games.
5. No terms of service, no EULA, no right-to-play, etc.

Basically, she wants GOG.

I'm pretty sure GOG has terms of service and all the games have EULAs. Under the terms of service at GoG they state:

Termination: These Terms of Use are effective until terminated. You agree that GOG may terminate your log in access to the Service, including your user name and password, at any time for any reason without prior notice or liability. GOG may change, suspend, or discontinue all or any aspect of the Service at any time, including the availability of any feature, without prior notice or liability.

So there goes that..... :lol:

Also some games in Steam ARE playable without Steam being launched by running the games exe or wine wrapper directly. A certain recent "French" made game comes to mind. :lol:

This post has been edited by Tetsuo: 12 September 2013 - 12:55 PM

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User is offline   leilei 

#23

I just hope this doesn't give publishers an excuse to be scared straight with second layers of DRM by assuming family sharing is 'pirate sharing'


This is just the digital equivalent of the CD check (like taking one CD to another PC to play a protected CD game). A long time coming and I welcome it.

This post has been edited by leilei: 12 September 2013 - 05:04 PM

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User is offline   Jimmy 

  • Let's go Brandon!

#24

View PostKathy, on 11 September 2013 - 07:13 PM, said:

Btw, why do people like to get personal here? Why did this topic again become about me?

Because you're a sexy little beast.
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User is offline   Fox 

  • Fraka kaka kaka kaka-kow!

#25

Again, who the heck is her?

View PostTetsuo, on 12 September 2013 - 12:51 PM, said:


That would at most only prevent you from downloading the game again. It won't stop working on your computer.

This post has been edited by Fox: 12 September 2013 - 08:25 PM

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User is offline   Tetsuo 

#26

So long as a game is downloaded it can be played no matter where it came from one way or another. The only difference is with GOG you don't have to crack it to run permanently without a digital distribution client (depending on game... like I said before some games on Steam aren't tied to it). But losing access to your GOG library still deprives you of any game you haven't downloaded yet. That's the simple rational truth... again.. GOG too has a ToS and a termination clause. At the very least the existence of that contradicts points 3 and 5 on Comrade Major's list.

This post has been edited by Tetsuo: 13 September 2013 - 12:23 AM

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User is offline   Lunick 

#27

These are the current games excluded from being shared: http://steamdb.info/...mes&keyname=261
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User is offline   X-Vector 

#28

Odd to see two demos on that list.
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User is offline   leilei 

#29

Most of that list is third-party DRM'd titles which would prohibit sharing anyway.

This post has been edited by leilei: 13 September 2013 - 01:56 AM

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User is offline   Inspector Lagomorf 

  • Glory To Motherland!

#30

View PostTetsuo, on 13 September 2013 - 12:17 AM, said:

At the very least the existence of that contradicts points 3 and 5 on Comrade Major's list.


Fine; she wants GOG Plus then.
0

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