Maximum PC

I'd like to pick up some older games without SecuROM or something jacking my rig. Can I avoid DRM nonsense by buying games through Steam?

Depends on the game. Some games have no DRM - aside from Steam, of course - even if the retail version has Securom or Tages or some other hellish scheme. Some have really simple DRM where you just copy/paste the cd key. Others, though, still force you to use another form of DRM. Bioshock 2 still uses GFWL, and Dragon Age Ultimate Edition still uses the built-in EA lockout that requires a key, EA registration, and a few other hoops. I don't think that Steam games use securom anymore, but I could be wrong.

If the game uses GFWL then the store page will have it listed in the "requirements" section. Your best bet to finding out, though, is to go to the Steam forum page for the game you are interested in and looking at the threads. Normally people bitch about the DRM if it's a problem, so if you don't see any large threads of that nature, you're probably good.

To be honest, though, if a game has awful DRM like GWFL or Ubisoft's stuff, I would say you should still buy the game instead of ignoring it, just wait until it's $5 on a sale.

http://steamdrm.flibitijibibo.com/

Go there. Look up game.

Hey, thanks for that link!

My hope was that the games would be stripped of DRM aside from Steam's, which I can live with. I'm not into copying or stealing games, because I know how hard the programmers have to work to make them. Still, I've seen DRM interfere with system software, wreck other programs, even try to keep you from playing because you have more than one CD drive or a CD/DVD writer. Lame.

I read about the SecuRom rootkit installed with Bioshock. No wonder people turn to pirated versions. I would download it illegally before installing a rootkit on my PC.

personally I have been playing bioshock since it came out, installing from the original disk. I have never had an issue with the drm.

OK, I've read more about the Bioshock DRM since yesterday evening. Apparently, someone had the bright idea to limit the number of installs to two or three. People who lost hard drives, reinstalled Windows, or modified their computer in any way got screwed over. If you had virtual hard drives on your computer, the game wouldn't run. SecuRom (the company) refused to allow customers any extra installations. There was a HUGE backlash, and the publisher, Take2, upped the limit to several installs. That didn't satisfy customers, either. Eventually, the SecuRom protection in the game was disabled, although it still resides in the code (and on your computer), dormant but ready if the publisher ever decides to use it again.

So the only people hurt by Take2 and SecuROM were the PAYING customers. Anyone who downloaded a pirated version avoided all that nonsense.

I miss the old days, when a CD key was enough.

TBH Almost no DRM has caused me any real sort of headache. GFWL is the only one that's been mildly annoying in past experience.

Yea, the only DRM that has been a nuance was SecuRom on Midway's Area 51 and all it make me do was restart the computer after installation.

There's no good reason for a game publisher to install rootkits on anyone's computer.

Steam itself is DRM. Most Steam versions will have the games DRM protections removed.