I just took a look at some of the account profile numbers similar to mine. Profile number 1 is Liam of course, profile number 2 no longer exists, then you have MaximB who directed me to GOL in the first place back in 2009 from his own Linux gaming blog, followed by two people who have not logged on since around the time they first joined, before you finally get me clocking in at number 6. Next active poster is at number 12.

I am officially claiming my right to be called a Great Old One and demanding a holiday home be built for me in R'lyeh.

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Fancy the simple farm life?

Trust me, there is no such thing. :|

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Quoting: jensSorry, re-reading your posting several times, I don't get the essence. Would you mind to explain?

Sure, no worries. It is just that Linux users very often tell Windows users that their choices are bad and that they need to improve, and I can't help but feel that a lot of the people upset with Shmerl would be fine seeing the exact same attitude expressed if he was arguing against Windows usage rather than using Steam.

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Quoting: jensIt actually makes me kind-of sad to read again an implication that my choices are bad and that I need to improve.

I am sure quite a few Windows users say that about Linux users all the time, and not always without good reason.

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Quoting: jensI completely agree with your analysis. Some value spreading Linux more important than DRM-free, other see DRM-free more important than bringing Linux to masses. All care for and love Linux.

Sure, and I for one am completely comfortable about saying that I sit in the latter camp. Which is part of the reason why I have grown more comfortable using WINE to play games over the past few years, and why I am actually quite indifferent when it comes to the likes of Feral. Ten years ago I might have felt different, but when Steam arrived I had to decide where I stood, and I decided to stand apart from it.

Quoting: GuestIdeally, my personal desire, is to see games no longer in support being open sourced. Doesn't mean data files are freely available, but it's really the only way to ensure games can continued to be played if there are large system changes. I know that's not likely to really happen, but it would be nice.

Which is also my ideal outcome as well. I just wish there was more I could do to help support it.

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Purple Library Guy has somehow just managed to recover this train wreck of a thread, I think.

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Quoting: TheSHEEEPTo me, replaying a game despite it not offering anything new would be like visiting the same holiday location every year. Or reading the same book dozens of times. What's the point? What new knowledge or skill is being gained?

To be honest I don't go on holidays either, and I find those that do often only get a very shallow understanding of the places they end up travelling to, just as a how a lot of people only seem to gain a shallow appreciation for the games they play. For me there is no argument; games are art, and art is not something I feel comfortable engaging with once and then throwing in a bin.

Quoting: TheSHEEEPWhy would you replay a game that doesn't even offer replayability?

I don't, it is just that I seem to find more value in the games that I play than you do.

Quoting: TheSHEEEPIf you know the story, you know everything that will be coming, there will be nothing surprising or interesting.

Good writing can always be appreciated and reevaluated. Even bad writing can be fun to learn from.

Quoting: TheSHEEEPIf you have beaten the game, there will not be any new challenges to put yourself against.

That is not really true for a start, as there is almost always more then one way to approach a challenge in a game, but again I can still derive value by simply reengaging with solid puzzle design and appreciating the thought and care that went into making it.

Quoting: TheSHEEEPIf you have seen the world of the game, there will be nothing new to see.

Even if this were true, and there really was nothing you might have missed, someone spent days, weeks, months, or even years building that world for you, and for me that craftsmanship can still be worth revisiting.

Quoting: TheSHEEEPI'm not trying to offend anyone (for once ;) ), I am just really irritated.

I am so sorry that how I derive enjoyment from the games that I pay for has become an irritant for you.

Quoting: Alm888Different people have different tastes. You do not need to "get" their reasoning on this

Which is probably all I really needed to say, so thank you Alm888.

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Quoting: TheSHEEEPLet's be honest, over 90% of games you play exactly once, what good does it do you to own those after that? Nothing.

Not really, no. Almost every game I have ever played in my life I have come back to play again at some point later on. And for those few that I have not, I still very much value having the option to do so. I have never understood how people can find media to be a disposable as they do. Yes, I do find myself going back to old favourites way more often than I end up trying something new, but because of that I end up getting way more value out of the games and media that I do choose to engage with. Gaming for me is not about having one night stands.

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Quoting: johndoeIt makes more sense to play games when they are new and active.

What a horrifyingly narrow world you must live in if the only games you feel comfortable playing are new. I don't know about you, but I fully intend to still be playing the games I buy today for at least as far into the future as the childhood favourites I still find myself coming back to year after year. That is why anything that is specifically designed to block me from doing so is completely unacceptable to me.

Technical challenges can be overcome. DRM legally cannot.

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Quoting: elmapul"Not everyone is going to be both as patient and anal as I am. "
not everyone has time.

Sure, but since we are talking about playing games here, having free time is already something of a given.

Not that I have wasted that many hours of my life getting a game to work with WINE. As long as the game starts at all it is usually fairly trivial to get it up and running in my experience. Especially since as I have already mentioned many of the games I use WINE for will no longer play nice even on a modern Windows system.

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