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Message: <blockquote data-quote="GreyLord" data-source="post: 9462962" data-attributes="member: 4348">I don't use Steam.  As far as I'm concerned, it's DRM...and I am solidly against DRM.That said, I know many love Steam.  Many say...simply put it in offline mode (I've heard that only works for so long though before it needs to "phone home" and even then, many games don't run in offline mode) to play games without Steam requiring to hook itself up.  My personal opinion...Steam is still DRM and FAR more restrictive than what was starting to come before it delivered it's DRM love down the pipe (prior to that, games were starting to simply resort to CD checks, and then some were experimenting with no checks at all and being DRM free...and then...STEAM).However, this isn't about Steam's DRM, but the ever increasing ways that companies are trying to "combat" piracy...and/or using the same ideas and practices to gather your information.Right now, I've been reading online about a new PC release from Sony...GoW: Ragnarok.  In order to play it (even single player) via Steam, you also need to make a PSN account.  Simple and easy...right!?Not in the UK it isn't (and this may extend elsewhere, unsure).  You have to give them your phone number in order to create an account (which, unfortunately is something Google has started with it's accounts as well).  NOW...here's where it gets squeezy.It rejects the phone number sometimes...even if it's a legit phone number.  The ONLY recourse then is to upload your personal ID and have it verified.  That's right, the company that installed rootkits on your computer, that got hacked and lost all sorts of personal information in the famous Playstation hack....requires you to upload your personal ID so you can play a single player game.Oh...if that was all it was...I wouldn't be typing this out though.  I don't use STEAM...remember.  This wouldn't even affect me, even if it affects some people I know...so why is this such a big deal and why am I bringing it up?Remember how I mentioned Steam as DRM...Some are saying this is a test situation in the British Isles (Thus, also including the other nation of Ireland...though I am unsure...haven't heard about this from the Irish).  This is a gearing up for something bigger...more drastic.Next year or sometime in the near future...STEAM will ALSO require more than just a CC, but also could require Personal ID in order to continue using Steam accounts.  Who else has heard of this?Anyone here affected by the PSN situation with Steam as well?PS:  Oh, one reason it may reject your Phone number is when creating an account, if you cannot verify you are human...you will not be considered a human.  In trials of such a system...I am apparently a Robot.  (I assure you, I don't feel like a robot...).  If I'm going to be labelled a Robot...it better be a dang T-800 or better model or they need to get out of here.</blockquote>

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