Smashing Toys Demo on Steam - is it DRM infected?

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

Schrodinger - 30 Apr 2009 19:17 GMT

I started to download this demo on Steam, but it wouldn't launch (just kept
saying "download starting").

Instead, I went directly to their website and downloaded and installed from
there.

Before starting that game, however, it came up with a requester about
installing a driver which, when you look into it further, appears to be akin
to (if not actually) that awful Russian rootkit type DRM from those nice
people that encouraged pirating of a game whose name I forget. Needless to
say, I declined and immediately uninstalled the POS.

Anyway, has anyone downloaded the Steam equivalent successfully and, if so,
does it have the same DRM?

Reply to this Message

Andrew - 30 Apr 2009 20:54 GMT

>Anyway, has anyone downloaded the Steam equivalent successfully and, if so,
>does it have the same DRM?

Been trying for a week to download it. Have given up now.

Signature

Andrew, contact via http://interpleb.googlepages.com
Help make Usenet a better place: English is read downwards,
please don't top post. Trim replies to quote only relevant text.
Check groups.google.com before asking an obvious question.

Reply to this Message

KCB - 30 Apr 2009 21:37 GMT

>>Anyway, has anyone downloaded the Steam equivalent successfully and,
>>if so,
>>does it have the same DRM?
>
> Been trying for a week to download it. Have given up now.

Their website has this to say (as of today, 4-April-09) in the FAQ

"I can't download the demo":
The demo is updated on Steam and our website. We apologize for the
inconvenience.

and it also says they will be releasing a patch soon. I guess this game
was released before it's time?

Reply to this Message

Help Desk - 30 Apr 2009 23:37 GMT

>I started to download this demo on Steam, but it wouldn't launch (just kept
>saying "download starting").

I had the same issue with Dawn of War II that I didn't even buy via Steam.
but came with the Steam umbilical cord. It had to update itself and at 99%
it kept saying starting download but never finishishing to 100% and instead
stuck at 99%. I watched this going on for near 20 minutes and then finally I
closed Steam ion disgust and restarted Steam again and then it immediately
said the game was at 100% and ready to play. I am f.cking sick of this
bullshit. I had no idea that Dawn of War II required Steam. I had to enter
the serial code on install, I was also given another code for MP only that I
had to write down, I was forced to install it via Steam and that means I was
given no option to choose which HDD I wanted it installed to. This means I
now have to uninstall some games from the same HDD where Steam is installed
because that HDD is getting full. I also can not sell my Dawn of WarII now
because the serial code is tied to my Steam account which I believe is the
main reason Relic chose to go with Steam as the publisher. At first I didn't
mind Steam but now it is just pissing me off. The only benefits to a Steam
game are auto updates and not having to put a disk in the DVD drive. Apart
from that it is just a cluster f.ck. How stupid is it to install all Steam
games to the same HHD/partition? IMO that is an incredibly stupid thing to
do.

Reply to this Message

Shawk - 01 May 2009 00:18 GMT

> I started to download this demo on Steam, but it wouldn't launch (just kept
> saying "download starting").
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
> Anyway, has anyone downloaded the Steam equivalent successfully and, if so,
> does it have the same DRM?

Maybe they fixed it on Steam. I started d-loading after reading your
post tonight and was playing it 10 minutes later.

It didn't ask me to install a driver but that doesn't mean it wasn't
installed automagically - tell me where to look for such a driver and
I'll let you know.

Otherwise this really isn't a game I'd have d-loaded and 5 minutes
playing it confirmed it really isn't for me... some folk have strange
tastes ;-)

Reply to this Message