There is a DD store that allows you to trade-in your games online and buy second hand digital games, it's called Green Man Gaming.

What, they have games available? Last I checked, there were way too few games. And if that trade-in value is what I get for selling the game, it's definitely not good. I get what, a maximum of 50% of what I would get if I sold a game in an online auction (like eBay).

1. I've never lost or damaged a disc of mine. If one is careless enough to do so, he fully deserves it. Also, I'm not ready to throw my rights out of the windows no matter what everyone says.

2. This guy mentioned this as a way towards having one standard, and that standard is Steam. That's the future I don't want. Like you said, now there is competition.

1. I'm fine with that as long as I'm not forced to use that system. Especially if that system also includes mandatory DRM. It would be pretty good if they made it so you get the game when you buy it but you can register it on Steam (using CD-key like always) and get all the benefits from Steam, as well as DRM. If Steam really is so great everyone should use it, then obviously piracy would disappear because everyone would want all those neat extras. Right?

I didn't think so either. But it would be a good system nevertheless, much better than current system. Retail titles forcing me to use Steam = EVIL.

2. Competition goes beyond prices. I'm more than a bit concerned about what happens to my games in the future. Also, I don't buy too much stuff on consoles either.

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Also, I don't want useless software running in the background all the time. I don't want to use some useless piece of software every time I want to play my games. That's one reason why I prefer Impulse over Steam if I want to buy something digitally. And GOG.com is the best thing to have happened to digital distribution, only it's a bit limited. I get what I pay for, and only what I pay for - the game. No DRM, and if I want something else, for messaging for example, I can grab it somewhere else.

They have about 271 games, not as many as Steam, but considering it was launched this year I say it's doing pretty good. Some games give you a good trade in values, others don't, depends on the publisher.

1. You can get PC games far cheaper than on retail. Even if you consider trading, the digital version will still often cost less money. Due to the open of competitive nature of PC Gaming, the PC DD services are forced to constantly improve so as not to stay left behind.

Now, ALL PC DD services have ridiculous sales every week, some bordering insanity, and which service started it all? It was STEAM!!! If you can find Masss Effect for $5 on Retail, Bioshock for $5 on retail, Team Fortress 2 for $1 on retail, 20 THQ games for $25, ALL id Soft ALL Bethesda games for $50, etc...

2. There's only going to be more competition, and the fact that you think there will only be Steam definitely shows that you're not a PC gamer, or don't follow PC Gaming at all. Battle.Net, Onlive, Gaikai, Gamersgate, Impulse, etc... all these services are emerging and improving at a fast pace. The only service that is being left behind is the terrible GFWL.

1. Uhhhh you are FORCED to use Xbox Live. You are FORCED to use PSN. If you buy a X360, you can only use Xbox Live, and if you buy a PS3, you can only use PSN there. You can't use other DD services on the consoles. Xbox Live has no competition on the platform they're at. PSN has no competition on the platform they're at.

Dude, CD check itself is DRM. ALL console games have DRM. At least with Steam you don't need the disc to play the game, and you get unlimited downloads, convenience, portability, etc... Tell me, most PCs nowadays are laptops or notebooks. It would be very hard for a PC gamer to travel and play on his laptop if he was forced to bring all the DVDs, just to play the games.

"If Steam really is so great everyone should use it, then obviously piracy would disappear because everyone would want all those neat extras."

Stupid statement is stupid. Piracy will only disappear when the governments start protecting digital goods for real.

2. I can assure you that Valve and Steam will still be here 10 years in the future. It is making billions.

Nooooooo!!!!!!!!!!

1. Haha, what a joke. Only when there's a huge sale going on, otherwise it's practically the same. And like I said, I occassionally buy games on Steam when there's a huge sale going on. Like I said, it's not a big loss if some day I can't play the game. Anyway, to me it actually seems that unless there's a sale, games on Steam are actually more expensive than retail copies, not cheaper.

2. Again, I was referring to the guy who said he wants there to be only one standard. I know the situation isn't alarming either now or in the near future, and probably never will be.

1. I'm forced to use them only if I plan to play online or buy something digitally, and that's fine with me. But games that use Steam require me to have Steam for even single-player.

I know CD check is DRM. But it doesn't make me dependant on some distant server which I may not always have access to or that may some day not even exist. All there is to do beside installing is pop in the disc and play. All I need is a disc drive. And I'm fine with having a disc in my PC, it's not any different from consoles. Sure there are gaming laptops and having the option for digital distribution and no need for a disc is fine. But only as long as it's kept as an option. I want choice. Also, while it's not equally convenient, you can use cracks. They have other use than just making pirated copies work.

As for my 'making piracy disappear' comment, I already said I didn't think so. I just wanted to bring attention to the fact that Steam isn't all that good and saviour of all. People always tell me Steam is good, Steam is great, you should use it, it's not a resource hog and all that stuff. I hate it (not Steam but people telling me that).

2. Ten years is not enough. Besides, things might change. The whole market is changing, and will probably do so even in the future. And I have no idea what might happen. And even if Steam stayed until the end of the world (if there will be one), I still don't want to be dependant on something like that.

What's the problem with GFWL ???

I like it because it allow me to to go on Xbox Live from my PC. I can check mailbox, see connected friends, unlock achievements...

Isn't it obvious? The real problem is that it is a ms product!

http://www.thehut.com/games/platforms/pc/mass-effect/9965618.html - 19,99€ on steam

http://www.play.com/Games/PC/4-/1063383/-/Product.html?page=title&P36=QFKM2E&affid=finddvd&awc=buyat&_$ja=tsid:11516|prd:finddvd - 13,99€ retail vs 19,99€ on steam

TF2 is 19,99€ at the moment on steam.

http://www.shopto.net/page.php?page=dettagli&codart=PCHA09

But yeah, you are talking about deals. Guess what? Retail has them too! Usually you get a physical copy for cheaper than a download. You can also sell the physical copy later. You are stuck with your steam download. Can you even sell your steam account? Propably not, since steam is such a ripoff.

If it was just steam they could price however they want. Competition is not a bad thing...whether the service is good or not, more options (bad or good) are better then no options at all