Well the only way to make our voices heard, is by not Downloading from steam.

Personally i hate the idea of my computers programs talking to others all the time. And i hate the idea that i have to allow a program to do so. But i can suffer an initial verification. But once then it needs to be over.

But where i really feel for it, is that my cousin is an TW fan and lives in the outback in Australia. He doesn't have internet.

How does he activate the game to play it? Anyway i forgot to tell him, and when he found out, he and his friend, lives next door to them, (about 40km away). Have cancelled their pre orders.


THen with steam, if two people play a modded version of the game, is steam going to recognise that? Or is it going to block it thinking it's a cheat version?

I do hope they have PP play.Thereby stopping steam from being too nosey.
The ability to by pass steam. It's going to be a bugger cracking it.
but will not be impossible.
It also maybe a case for Australian, New Zelaand, and UK laws on right of quiet possession, if people who buy the game cannot play the game. Or have to always rely on steam in which to do so. Thereby involving a 3rd party in the game that have no contract with you.
However if you buy the game from steam, there will be a contract with you and steam, as the retail vendor.
However if purchased from a shop. The contract is with the shop. only under the law of tort will you be able to get at sega behind.
So where the start up verification maybe with steam. I cannot see a problem. Where the problem will come about. is if someone finds out the game keeps talking to the game.
Which then breaches privacy laws.

So if people in these three countries have to be monitored by steam for game use. With out their written consent. Then there is a case to answer for.
Remeber the shrink wrap click if you agree means nothing. It is not law. And hold no legal basis in these three countries.
And any position of companies trying to upsurp the power of law will be seen in a "extremely" disapproving light by the courts.

So my advice. Though not paid for. And holds no legal commitment. Or want of duress, or to enforce any concepts and ideas.
Would be to by your game from a Shop retailer.
Register it with steam. The close off your fire walls to it. If the game then doesn't work. COMPLAIN like hell under Quiet possession of the consumer act.
However. If you have to use steam to play together. You have to accept that you will need to be traffic monitored in some way.



Anyway, those of us that have had steam from the first day. All know the bollocks that steam puts forward. About anti cheats et cetera...
And we all know how to get around them.


These thoughts are my own and do not represent legal adive. Just my experiance with the law.


Sincerely


fenir