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If you don't wish to accept the new Steam Subscriber Agreement...

I have to admit I am enjoying seeing you go through all that shit just because of some overblown outrage. It is highly amusing.

Remind us about that outrage when they require a minimum amount of purchases or add a monthly subscription fee to access your beloved Steam.

2rF5km.png


I opened Steam and let the ToS prompt come up. I launched Steam again in a separate process (middle click or CTRL+click the taskbar icon in Windows 7). TF2 and SMNC started updating!
mh6cP.jpg


I couldn't interact with the main Steam window at all though because the ToS thing was blocking all mouse clicks and whatnot. Until I right clicked the taskbar icon and clicked "Library". Then I had full access to the main Steam window, including chat and the library.

But when I tried to run TF2 and got this nugget:
UqGgx.jpg


But fuck that window, he's not the boss of me! I closed that window without even implying I agreed with his bullshit. So then I went to %ProgramFiles(x86)%\Steam\steamapps\username\team fortress 2\ . I shift+right clicked in a blank area for the handy-dandy "Open command window here" shortcut. From that command prompt I ran:
Code:
hl2.exe -game tf

I was in the updated version of TF2. Without agreeing to any bullshit. With full chat capabilities. (Didn't try gifting.)

I can play all my other games I had downloaded (tested about 6 of them) via their .exe's as well. This part likely isn't news to anyone, but getting Steam to update their shit, as well as install shit they didn't have installed, all without ever explicitly or implicitly agreeing to anything may be.

Currently installing everything I own on Steam and making a backup.

  • Open Steam.
  • Let the ToS prompt come up.
  • Ignore the ToS prompt.
  • Open Steam again (middle click / ctrl click on the icon in the task bar on Vista/7).
  • Right click icon in task bar and click Library.
  • Tell Steam to download whatever you want.
  • When shit is downloaded, run it via the main exe directly from the installation folder.
  • Look online for various launch options needed for some games (TF2 is hl2.exe -game tf).
  • Never agree to the explicit ToS prompt.
  • Never see the implicit prompt with the 5-year-old logic of "If you read this you owe me one million dollars".

Great work, I found my bypass by launching dconline directly. After steam hung up and I terminated it I relaunched steam with DConline still active in the background, though it wouldn't let me play tell I launched steam again. Steam is working 100%, and I have not seen the window appear since. If it comes back I'll try your method. Thanks!
 

Danny Dudekisser

I paid good money for this Dynex!
Where's this coming from now?

Ze asshole



But it says that by using the game you've agreed to the subscriber agreement. Doesn't matter that you didn't click anything.

Mm... but it says the agreement updated in like... November of 2005. Which wouldn't contain the provision. So it's like, whatever Gabe, suck my Steampipe. Or something along those lines, I guess?
 

Mudkips

Banned
But it says that by using the game you've agreed to the subscriber agreement. Doesn't matter that you didn't click anything.

If you read this post you owe me $1,000,000.00 .
And the method I posted above can be used by people to not even see that prompt.
 

Danny Dudekisser

I paid good money for this Dynex!
If you read this post you owe me $1,000,000.00 .
And the method I posted above can be used by people to not even see that prompt.

That's not quite how contracts work. However slimy Steam's agreement might be, it's actually resembles a legal agreement.
 

Valnen

Member
Remind us about that outrage when they require a minimum amount of purchases or add a monthly subscription fee to access your beloved Steam.

I know right, and god forbid when Gabe Newell starts devouring live puppies and national television. THAT'S a deal breaker.
 

Mudkips

Banned
That's not quite how contracts work. However slimy Steam's agreement might be, it's actually resembles a legal agreement.

Contracts also don't work by having one party unilaterally change them while the other party has no recourse . Contracts also don't work by putting up a "You agree because we say so." message.
 

Game Guru

Member
That's not quite how contracts work. However slimy Steam's agreement might be, it's actually resembles a legal agreement.

This is true... TF2 is, by technical rights, a service. To my knowledge, it is a online only game without a single-player mode offered for free to users on Steam. If you played TF2 online, then Valve would logically assume that you had read their agreement and agreed to it.

Mudkips, I know you want to fight the good fight, but if you are so pissed off at Steam for locking you out of the games you purchased if you wanted to keep your rights for a class action lawsuit, then you should've stop using Steam and just started a class action lawsuit against them for that. Not go through all this trouble to use Steam without agreeing to it. You know what's in the Steam Subscribers Agreement and despite that, you are still using Steam. Even though you cheated so as to not click on the agree button, you are still using Steam and thus by still using Steam agreed to its agreement.
 

Mudkips

Banned
This is true... TF2 is, by technical rights, a service. To my knowledge, it is a online only game without a single-player mode offered for free to users on Steam. If you played TF2 online, then Valve would logically assume that you had read their agreement and agreed to it.

Mudkips, I know you want to fight the good fight, but if you are so pissed off at Steam for locking you out of the games you purchased if you wanted to keep your rights for a class action lawsuit, then you should've stop using Steam and just started a class action lawsuit against them for that. Not go through all this trouble to use Steam without agreeing to it. You know what's in the Steam Subscribers Agreement and despite that, you are still using Steam. Even though you cheated so as to not click on the agree button, you are still using Steam and thus by still using Steam agreed to its agreement.

Thankfully, that's not how contracts work. And depending on the response I get from Valve's legal department, I may indeed sue, though I have no intention of pursuing class action.
 

NBtoaster

Member
Relevant:

If Valve amends the Agreement, such amendment shall be effective thirty (30) days after your receiving notice of the amended Agreement, either via e-mail or as a notification within the Software...Your failure to cancel your Account, or cease use of the Subscription(s) affected by the amendment, within thirty (30) days after receiving notification of the amendment, will constitute your acceptance of the amended terms. If you don't agree to the amendments or to any of the terms in this Agreement, your only remedy is to cancel your Account or to cease use of the affected Subscription(s).
 

Mudkips

Banned
Relevant:

Not relevant because such terms don't meet the legal definition of a contract. You can't just say something and have it magically be enforceable.
Furthermore, I have already registered with Valve my express contention of disagreement to the proposed ToS.

Just because it's in a ToS or EULA doesn't mean it constitutes a legal contract.
Furthermore, it hasn't even been 30 days.
 
Yes because most of you folks who claim you will never buy another game from Steam or Valve are lying just like those who belonged to the L4D2 and MW2 boycott groups. If you really mean it and don't buy another game then fine but the vast majority of folks who are all 'BOYCOTT BOYCOTT' don't stick with it.



Except when said game is a Steamworks game, like Borderlands 2, Bioshock Infinite, Black Ops 2, etc.

Are you seriously using the dumb screen shot of a PUBLIC group on steam that anyone could join as proof that everyone is a hypocrite? You can't be this dumb dude, ANYONE could join that group, that screenshot doesn't mean anything.
 
such amendment shall be effective thirty (30) days after your receiving notice of the amended Agreement, either via e-mail or as a notification within the Software.
I don't think Mudkips has received the latest agreement through either of those ways. If he never sees the contract, how can he be bound by it?
 

NBtoaster

Member
Not relevant because such terms don't meet the legal definition of a contract. You can't just say something and have it magically be enforceable.
Furthermore, I have already registered with Valve my express contention of disagreement to the proposed ToS.

Just because it's in a ToS or EULA doesn't mean it constitutes a legal contract.
Furthermore, it hasn't even been 30 days.

It doesn't matter, it's their service and you use it on their terms. If you disagree with the terms but keep using it, they have every right to block you from using it.
 
All this complacency by gamers makes me think that next generation and the next few years is going to be horrible for consumer right. SMFH to anyone who defends Valve´s or any company´s shitty anti consumer behavior.

I have over 300 games on Steam and this doesn't really bother me. If I want to play a game that could one day be unavailable, I'll go out and buy it again. Games are cheap and stomping around complaining about this seems like a huge waste of time.
You gotta be fucking shitting me. What kind of crappy attitude is this?
 

Mudkips

Banned
It doesn't matter, it's their service and you use it on their terms. If you disagree with the terms but keep using it, they have every right to block you from using it.

They could block me, sure. But I'd then sue for the full purchase value of my account, less purchases gifted to other accounts and in-game purchases. They have been formally notified of my position.
 

apana

Member
Absolute power corrupts absolutely. So this is how liberty dies....with thunderous applause. I was alwasy skeptical of the digital download only advocates. Anyways I knew Steam would do this but I signed on anyways. I don't own too many games so it is no big deal at a personal level, actually I don't own any games apparently.
 
Nope.

Just common sense being applied to a situation that has been done by worse companies before.

Common sense requires you to defend your own right not some inanimate corporation. I don´t care if companies done it before, it´s still as shitty. Steam is just using its dominant position to force people to accept their will, or else they can´t play the fucking games that they already bought. Look at what kind of nonsense you are defending. You are defending a multi billion dollar corporation for taking away your rights.
Sony and MS do, don't they?
Nope. You can still play games that you already bought.
 
Common sense requires you to defend your own right not some inanimate corporation. I don´t care if companies done it before, it´s still as shitty. Steam is just using its dominant position to force people to accept their will, or else they can´t play the fucking games that they already bought. Look at what kind of nonsense you are defending. You are defending a multi billion dollar corporation for taking away your rights.

My god, i have to click YES i will not take part in a class action suit. THE HORROR.
 

Valnen

Member
Absolute power corrupts absolutely. So this is how liberty dies....with thunderous applause. I was alwasy skeptical of the digital download only advocates. Anyways I knew Steam would do this but I signed on anyways. I don't own too many games so it is no big deal at a personal level, actually I don't own any games apparently.

You never did own them. EVER. Even before this change.
 
I dont claim I am standing up for myself and making some sort of statement. Let him sue Valve already and be done with it. The RAAAAAAAAAGE and 'standing up for myself' is funny.

What's funny is those who think their apathy to something makes them superior to those who do care, yet they continue to come into the thread to try to prove how much they don't care.
 
/me raises hand

During last holiday season, an internet pal sent a couple of gifts my way. For one reason or another, a chargeback was placed on the purchase (as I was made aware after all of this). My account, for whatever reason, got wrapped up in this dispute and I was locked out of my entire library for almost 2 weeks. After begrudgingly restoring my account's access, I was told to "be careful who I accept gifts from so I dont lose my account". Couldn't make this up if I tried, I still have the emails saved just in case...

Holly shit. This is ridiculous.
 

Game Guru

Member
They could block me, sure. But I'd then sue for the full purchase value of my account, less purchases gifted to other accounts and in-game purchases. They have been formally notified of my position.

If I remember right, if you do get banned, you would still be able to play the games you bought. You just wouldn't be able to use Steam online or use their online services, which is within their right to not offer services to anyone who did not accept the Subscribers Agreement. Having access to the games that you bought is the real issue here.
 

Boss Doggie

all my loli wolf companions are so moe
All this complacency by gamers makes me think that next generation and the next few years is going to be horrible for consumer right. SMFH to anyone who defends Valve´s or any company´s shitty anti consumer behavior.

You gotta be fucking shitting me. What kind of crappy attitude is this?

Yeah except as people pointed out, this "scam" is essentially what other services already did - it's just that Valve already updated to have a similar EULA, but otherwise remains the same.

And as people pointed out, they can cancel your Steam account but IIRC you still can play the games you have.
 
Im just entertained by te faux outrage and notion that some of you see yourselves as Rosa Park like figures.

It's telling that in order to belittle something you have to exaggerate it past the point that anybody is actually taking it (you're the one who brought up Rosa Parks, not anybody else). Almost like you're deliberately creating a straw man.
 

Mudkips

Banned
You never did own them. EVER. Even before this change.

The laws in many countries state otherwise.
Hell, the EU requires that people be allowed to resell their games. That's why Valve's been hastily replacing purchase with "subscription" all over.

If I remember right, if you do get banned, you would still be able to play the games you bought. You just wouldn't be able to use Steam online or use their online services, which is within their right to not offer services to anyone who did not accept the Subscribers Agreement. Having access to the games that you bought is the real issue here.

Banned / locked accounts have an easier time of accessing their games that people in good standing who don't agree to the new ToS. It's absurd.

Im just entertained by te faux outrage and notion that some of you see yourselves as Rosa Park like figures.

I don't think you know what the word "faux" means.
 
Common sense requires you to defend your own right not some inanimate corporation. I don´t care if companies done it before, it´s still as shitty. Steam is just using its dominant position to force people to accept their will, or else they can´t play the fucking games that they already bought. Look at what kind of nonsense you are defending. You are defending a multi billion dollar corporation for taking away your rights.

Agreed. Anyone who defends this are truly corporate apologists & aren't true gamers.
 

Awesome

Banned
The problem is that many digital distribution lovers use the " you don't own the game just a license to use the product " defense for Valve especially.
 
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