You probably won't ever see this, but I had someone verify, and Fallout 3 (GFWL) is like this, but New Vegas (SteamWorks) is not. If you launch New Vegas' main EXE, it launches the Steam client as would be expected. So Skyrim is definitely special, and I won't be surprised if they "despecial" it soon.

This is phenomenal, because the Steam version of Oblivion was tied to the Steam client and required Valve's assistance to get it working with the script extender. It was using the basic Steam wrapper. There were worries that Skyrim would be using the new Valve CEG encryption, which would have probably, nixed a script extender completely but Bethesda's VP confirmed otherwise.

This is much better than expected!

I've seen several trustworthy people (have yet to get my activation code to verify this) that said that the main executable TESV.EXE is not tied to the Steam client; only the launcher is.

So, briefly, until they very possibly patch that out, once installed it can be run stand-alone with no Steam client, so no DRM.

They were successfully sued (albeit more of a slap on the wrist) for antitrust violations simply for bundling a browser with an operating system.

Colluding with hardware manufacturers to actually lock out rival operating systems making them an enforced monopoly is several orders of magnitude more severe. Why would they risk that when other operating systems have such a tiny market share anyways? The possible penalties are not worth it for a small increase.

... to switch to Dvorak.

It would never be perfect, but it would be pretty damned effective for all but the most determined/informed geeks."

VPNs aren't that geeky anymore.

The Right To Read from 1997:

Dan would eventually find out about the free kernels, even entire free operating systems, that had existed around the turn of the century. But not only were they illegal, like debuggers--you could not install one if you had one, without knowing your computer's root password. And neither the FBI nor Microsoft Support would tell you that.

Not so sensationalist or paranoid now, is it?

(My apologies... posted anonymously.)

Just about every PC game out now or in development is using SteamWorks [wikipedia.org]. Square Enix's products are some of those that do.

SteamWorks makes a game DVD into a Steam game so it's no different than buying it online with no DVD. Because of this, the buyer isn't allowed to trade, lend or resell the DVD under the TOS [steampowered.com]. If they are found doing this the account and the DVD key may be terminated. Unlike MMOs this is being applied to single-player games that don't use the internet at all. This may be unprecedented.

Several questions arise from this. We're only supposed to ask one so I guess just pick the one you like best!

1) Is there any legal precedent for or against this practice? ie Does the Right of First Sale apply? (As this is a physical medium rather than digital-only, as it has been confirmed to apply to digital data on a disc (UMG v. Augusto) regardless of the copyright holder trying to restrict the sale.) If not, even though it's a maxim that "software is licensed not sold" what is the relevant actual law that says this?

2) If the EULA that enforces this is in fact legally binding (which has not been established with any regularity as there have been decisions for and against) does this mean that these discs should not legally be allowed to be sold to minor persons who can't sign contracts? (This is to be contrasted with online purchases where the buyer is presenting evidence of being age of majority by their method of payment. Someone else also asked this before I was done typing mine.)

Already up for pre-order on Steam, and they will probably be using SteamWorks activation for the DVD (when asked about it, Todd Howard's only reply was "We like Steam") so whatever policies Steam applies will hold.
If it uses SteamWorks it will require an internet connection to activate but can be played offline after this.