Do you own your games?

[MissChief]

An interesting article on RPS today regarding how much we 'own' our games and what happens if someone, somewhere decides you've done something wrong and decides to suspend your account, in this case on Steam.

As the article says, Steam's EULA gives them the power to remove £100's and possibly even £1,000's of pounds of games from you without telling you why. I know EULA's haven't been tested in a court of law and many think them highly unfair in terms of consumer protection law, but are you happy knowing you haven't specifically 'owned' any of your games for years?

 

[arc@css]

No one owns a game bought via retail or otherwise.

 

[asim18]

No one owns a game bought via retail or otherwise.

True.

The money you pay just gives you license to "use" it according to their terms.

Also, I wouldn't lose any sleep over it. I don't think Steam has a habit of randomly removing peoples games, unless you've done something very naughty of course!

 

[Cupra]

True.

The money you pay just gives you license to "use" it according to their terms.

Also, I wouldn't lose any sleep over it. I don't think Steam has a habit of randomly removing peoples games, unless you've done something very naughty of course!

i lost mine for ages and if it wasnt for my mass emailing them id never have got them back

i also know someome who never got them back

both times the reason was "security reasons"

 

[tibbsey]

are you happy knowing you haven't specifically 'owned' any of your games for years?

Not in the slightest.

**** all I can do about it though if I want to keep playing games.

 

[Sin_Chase]

i lost mine for ages and if it wasnt for my mass emailing them id never have got them back

i also know someome who never got them back

both times the reason was "security reasons"

If you legitimately lost them then you should have emailed Gabe directly.

When my account had issues he replied and cut through the normal CS within an hour. Was fixed within 2.

 

[marc2003]

i only play single player games so i'd have no qualms about acquiring them from other means if steam permanently blocked me. that's not likely to happen though. as i don't play multiplayer, i'll never get kicked for cheating. and i think my account getting compromised is highly unlikely too. (famous last words... )

 

[Nitefly]

No one owns a game bought via retail or otherwise.

I find this statement a bit odd - of course you own a copy of the game if you buy it in a shop, you just aren't entitled to any associated legal rights of ownership of the software. Accordingly you are entitled to sell it.

To dress it up any other way is unnecessary.

 

[Begbie]

I got banned from playing multiplayer on CSS. I did cheat though, so my own fault.

I promptly paid again and never cheated.

 

[Alphane]

EULA isn't the be all and end all, trading standard laws still apply as do all local laws

 

[MooMoo444]

This is the major worrying thing with Steam. One day, it might fall apart, and then everyones games are gone.

Steam wont last forever!

 

[Jay794]

Just because Steam can remove the game, doesn't mean they will

Nobody reads EULA's anyway, as per Human Centi-Pad lol

For all I know the iTunes EULA could say, by clicking accept you agree to give us your house and all your personal belongings, point is, they won't let you use the software unless you click yes, it's not like you have a choice, why would you buy a game, then disagree with the EULA so you can't play it?

TBH I don't even know why they even show you the EULA and give you an option, surely buy purchasing the game in the first place you have already shown you intend to play it, thus pre-acknowledged the fact that you'll agree to the EULA

MADNESS

 

[Cosimo]

I have so few on there that I really don't care.

 

[King Damager]

If you legitimately lost them then you should have emailed Gabe directly.

When my account had issues he replied and cut through the normal CS within an hour. Was fixed within 2.

Not sure if serious.....

kd

 

[Street]

If you legitimately lost them then you should have emailed Gabe directly.

When my account had issues he replied and cut through the normal CS within an hour. Was fixed within 2.

So thats why Episode 3 is taking so long.. Hes spending too much time sorting account problems instead of getting on with making the game!

 

[Lysander]

i lost mine for ages and if it wasnt for my mass emailing them id never have got them back

i also know someome who never got them back

both times the reason was "security reasons"

I lost all my Steam games for about six months due to Paypal messing up.

After an email to a nice person at Steam they re-enabled my account last month but just blocked my access to the game which caused the problem in the first place [Portal 2]. I was thrilled to have my account back because I was having desperate L4D2 withdrawals. I'd be quite happy if that were the only game I ever played from now on.

 

[ThundyCat]

I lost all my Steam games for about six months due to Paypal messing up.

After an email to a nice person at Steam they re-enabled my account last month but just blocked my access to the game which caused the problem in the first place [Portal 2]. I was thrilled to have my account back because I was having desperate L4D2 withdrawals. I'd be quite happy if that were the only game I ever played from now on.

Welcome back.

 

[Lysander]

Thanks, Thundy. I was lurking for months but I don't [at this point anyway] intend to contribute to the extent I did last time.

 

[Nitefly]

I lost all my Steam games for about six months due to Paypal messing up.

After an email to a nice person at Steam they re-enabled my account last month but just blocked my access to the game which caused the problem in the first place [Portal 2]. I was thrilled to have my account back because I was having desperate L4D2 withdrawals. I'd be quite happy if that were the only game I ever played from now on.

Just like Thundy, I immediately clocked who was posting.

Hello and welcome back again \o/

 

[TommyV]

I got banned from playing multiplayer on CSS. I did cheat though, so my own fault.

I promptly paid again and never cheated.

Same here on an account about 5 years ago, seeing people through walls is awesome.

Bought a new account, wouldn't dream of doing it again although it was funny for those few days!