One answer is quite simple. Not to sell loot boxes.

I mean counter strike and team fortress 2 worked fine and were extremely fun games before they added a virtual slot machine to their games. “they’re just skins” right? If they were given out for free in game it wouldn’t impact the rest of the games experience.

Valve can also prevent the sale of real world money for these items. Especially if it’s been flagged for Gambling.

Or as another stated disable or moderate the usage of their own API on these gambling sites.

The way I see it, they are the lesser of two evils. Just because someone isn’t as bad a Microsoft, doesn’t mean that they are forgiven for their sins.

Predatory lootboxes, and not cracking down on CSGO Gambling site are the biggest sins which Valve has committed.

Going beyond that, no clear path forward for when the Steam DRM Client goes offline. I personally have games which I bought on legacy hardware, that no longer runs on that hardware since Steam discontinued support for it. I don’t expect Valve to support all hardware indefinitely, however I can buy the same game from GOG, and install it on my XP and Win 7 machines without issue.

I am certain that there are other issues, and compared to MS they look like a saint. But for me I diversify my game library and get as much of my games DRM Free or on a platform which has a proven track record for supporting not just their current purchases but also legacy ones.

Beat Sony with a stick all you want. Despite the PSP being 21 years old this year, if I can connect my PSP to the internet, I can still download my digital PSP PSM and PS1 games.

Works in Safari

BluRay is just a data format. PS3 games are just encrypted, which means with a modded PS3 you can back it up.

Same process in order to play it on RCPS3

PS2/PS1 throw it into a DVD player Ron a PC and rip it.

PS3 you’d need to homebrew it. Same process to get the files ready to play on RCPS3

lol, now that sounds fun.

This is a game from 2007, I doubt there are new/replacement discs. That said it appears to be functional so we’ll see.

While I can see why there’s a lot of doubt I can see one reason they would.

For years now Apple has been moving things in house, like moving from Intel to their own designs and chips. And moving away from Snapdragon to their own modems.

If they wanted to buy intel it would be for their fab capabilities to reduce their reliance on TSMC.

Do I think they will… probably not, but as I said, I can see why they would.

So if I download a pirate copy, I’m in the clear because I purchased a license.

Nope since the copy of the software was obtained with someone else’s license. That said this would be hypothetically impossible to prove in court so 🤷

Circumventing DRM is questionable since I think it’s illegal to distribute but not own. So let’s say you have a CD installer for the Sims and download a crack exe to launch it without the CD. You are in the clear but the host for the download is not.

GOG or backing the game up yourself is the only way around this.

Pepper Grinder (Steam/GOG/Switch/PS4/PS5/XB/ONE/S/X)

Released in March of the is year (and in August for non switch consoles) Pepper Grinder is a traditional 2D platformer with a world map, levels, and a gimmick of using a drill to travel underground like a dolphin through water.

Its platforming has a good rhythm to it, with a nice momentum when you go in and out of the dirt. The best way I can describe the game is that it feels like a Mario Gimmick level that’s been expanded to its own game.

If I had any complaints about this game, is that the boss fights are a bit too tedious. Not impossible as I’ve been able to beat them. But requires a bit more precise movement than the levels which preceded it.

Overall though, I haven’t played a 2d platformed in ages which I’ve actually wanted to go through in ages. And it is a welcomed addition to my gaming library.

Depends on usage. If I have 2 hands available Firefox, u lock Origin is a must on a modern web. But if I need one hand free for… let’s say holding an umbrella, then cromite, based on the chrome fork based off of bromite. As much as I don’t like chrome, on Android it’s the only browser that has gestures, which makes one handed usage perfect. Cromite, just has adblockers built int and lacks many of the tracking stuff too.

Pokémon Emerald, and PixelJunk monsters.

DuckTales or DuckTales 2 for the NES playable in the Disney afternoon collection. TBH most of the games there should be your jam based on Shovel Knights influence.

Hollow Knight based though, Guacemelee is good, not sure about its sequel. Axiomverge too. But they are metroid like games so Super Metroid and Metroid Fusion would be another recommendation.

For the first time in over 10 years. LBP Vita. Wanted to record it and just got sucked back in.

Also playing LBP PSP but not getting as sucked in

The Spyro Trilogy. All 3 games are brilliant and technological standouts for the era and has held up very well over the years.

But if we are going weird. Harry Potter 1 + 2 for GBC or PlayStation. They aren’t good games, they are watered down clones of Pokemon and 3d Zelda respectively. But the theming and genera is such a perfect fit that I love them to this day. Plus the Jeremy Soule soundtrack is fantastic.

I miss Pebble. ePaper Display, week long battery life, and I can see all my phones notifications and reply to texts on the watch itself.

Made my old phone with bad battery life usable.

Garmin is the only “smart watch”/fitness tracker that does this and does it well. Wish it wasn’t as pricy for the week long battery devices.

Lutris makes installing GOG games with proton pretty easy. Haven’t had issues on my end