[frio]

What gets me about Steam are the extra layers of DRM crud games get layered with by publishers. I recently purchased Arkham Asylum in a sale; to play it, I need Steam, GfWL and SecuROM activation. I understand that in this instance Steam is merely the distribution tool, and that the extra DRM is installed by the publisher for retail sales, but it sure is a pain in the arse to get the game loaded.

The same could be said of GTA IV (Steam, Rockstar Social Club, GfWL) or Riddick (TAGES). I wish publishers would just give up on these other activation methods altogether.

[stonemetal]

Also note that if you pickup the add ons for GTA IV then you get to download the game twice(sure connections are fast these days but an extra 16GB really?). It doesn't integrate with GTA IV. So if you load up GTA IV and click on the expansion pack it takes you to a screen to buy it and vice versa.

[teamonkey]

Yes, you don't get the two episodes as DLC over Steam, you get the standalone SKU "Episodes from Liberty City". Just the same as if you bought the EfLC retail box on PC.

[jcl]

To GTA IV's credit, if you click the right options when starting the game, you can play a single-player, local game without setting up a Rockstar Social Club or Windows Live account. They still present the login each time you run it, though.

[ElliotH]

Agree 100% - the layers of DRM detract from what makes Steam's DRM tolerable - the user experience. Particularly games like GTA when they require a login. Global logins with Steam are one of the best bits.