Steam Game Sharing?

[Guitar]

Those who opted into the Steam client beta may see some interesting language alluding to game sharing in the "steamui_english" file of the latest update. It's suggested that Steam users will be able to set a shared game library – when the original owner logs into the game, the game sharer gets a prompt to quit out.

If you want to see the file for yourself, you'll need to be running the beta version of Steam – go into Steam settings and opt in, then restart the client. Then, you'll need to head into your public folder and open the "steamui_english" file in a text editor like Notepad. Final step: crack open a cold soda, sit back and feel good about being a computer genius.

http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/19/rumor-steam-beta-update-file-suggests-game-sharing-is-coming/

This sounds pretty awesome, if true. There are a lot of old games I don't play that I'd be willing to share with friends, and there are some that I'd want to play but not sure about actually buying as well.

 

[Sasqui]

http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/19/rumor-steam-beta-update-file-suggests-game-sharing-is-coming/

This sounds pretty awesome, if true. There are a lot of old games I don't play that I'd be willing to share with friends, and there are some that I'd want to play but not sure about actually buying as well.

A lot of questions... assume this means your account can be logged into on different computers, user 1 plays game A and user 2 plays Game B, but they can't both be playing the same game at the same time...?

 

[MasterInvader]

Nope, and get my account banned because some "friend" decided to use hacks.... hell no

 

[qubit]

As a Steam user, I think this is a good idea.

Valve will put in safeguards against people wanting to do naughty things with your account and getting you banned. There's no way they'd make an oversight like that.

 

[Guitar]

A lot of questions... assume this means your account can be logged into on different computers, user 1 plays game A and user 2 plays Game B, but they can't both be playing the same game at the same time...?

I doubt it. I would assume it is somewhere along the lines of you can give a certain person permission to use your game. They can download it on their PC and play. If you want to play, they get a message telling them that and there is likely a small waiting period (I'd hazard a guess to say less than a minute would make sense) and then it kicks them out and allows you to play. It does sound like they aren't going to allow at the same time, which would make sense...I mean, if you could do that, you and a friend get one copy of a game and then you're done - less revenue for Steam and developers.

Nope, and get my account banned because some "friend" decided to use hacks.... hell no

As said below, there will probably be a safe guard. Not only that, again, assuming you share the game, they are using their account to play it, but I guess that depends if they ban a CD key or what. I'd also not let a friend who hacks play my games...but that's just me.

As a Steam user, I think this is a good idea.

Valve will put in safeguards against people wanting to do naughty things with your account and getting you banned. There's no way they'd make an oversight like that.

Agreed, if they allow this I'm sure they have something figured out in this regard, even maybe issuing a temporary game key to a friend.

 

[Mindweaver]

I think this is geared more towards someone letting a friend play the game. They could set it where it's time limited or get to a certain spot and the game stops. I think this is a great idea. I'm sure it will be like there weekend free play. If someone likes the game enough then they will buy it.

 

[FordGT90Concept]

It sounds to me more like that they're allowing Steam to be logged in from more than one location. It isn't really game sharing, it's just allowing better continuity of service across their software.

Valve would have to renegotiate all their contracts to literally share games across multiple users. That's very unlikely. Although, something like what XBone has could be coming from digital distribution services (others pay a discounted price to play a game a friend shared with them).

I don't get why they didn't just include the freakin' lines but here they are:
SteamUI_JoinDialog_SharedLicense_Title "Shared game library"
SteamUI_JoinDialog_SharedLicenseLocked_OwnerText "Just so you know, your games are currently in use by %borrower%. Playing now will send %borrower% a notice that it's time to quit."
SteamUI_JoinDialog_SharedLicenseLocked_BorrowerText "This shared game is currently unavailable. Please try again later or buy this game for your own library."

Edit: Looking at the language of the text, it sounds awfully similar to what XBone is doing.

 

[DLGenesis]

steam is fine as it is..
how this affects sales would be the right reason

 

[Deleted member 24505]

I'd be up for this, I've got 108 games on my steam AC, some oldies too and some I got from the humble bundle.

 

[DLGenesis]

dont know if this is relevant but...

GS News - Microsoft ditching Xbox One family sharing plan

hohoho

 

[qubit]

Agreed, if they allow this I'm sure they have something figured out in this regard, even maybe issuing a temporary game key to a friend.

Thinking about it, all they need to do is associate the gaming session with that of your friend which will be dome by default and you should be free from the consequences of any damage they do. Valve would then likely disable or restrict the offending account in some way.

 

[FordGT90Concept]

dont know if this is relevant but...

GS News - Microsoft ditching Xbox One family sharing plan

hohoho

Which could mean it's dead for Steam too. We'll have to see.

 

[scoutingwraith]

I think it might come down to one master account (yours) and an access account for somebody else to play for and you setting the conditions of it. If so this might not be a bad idea.