Steam defined the modern video game industry

Gather ’round, children, and let me tell you a story about the old bugaboo we used to call DRM. Digital Rights Management was the beast under every gamer’s bed in the mid-2000s, an invisible bit of software baked into game discs that dictated and tracked player behavior under the guise of preventing piracy. DRM software, like SecuROM, limited the times a game could be downloaded and forced players to regularly connect to the internet for authentication checks, at a time when less than half of American adults had reliable broadband connections. DRM features soured the releases of BioShock, Mass Effect and Spore, and by 2010, anti-piracy software had rendered Assassin’s Creed 2 and Splinter-Cell: Conviction unplayable. When Microsoft attempted to release the Xbox One with always-on DRM features in 2013, intense vitriol from fans forced the company to reverse its plans at the 11th hour. There were lawsuits. DRM was a curse word. Meanwhile, Valve was building out Steam. When it landed in 2003, the digital PC storefront was designed to streamline the patch process for games like Counter-Strike and make it easier for Valve to implement anti-piracy and anti-cheat measures. Steam was made to be a DRM machine. In 2004, with the release of Half-Life 2, Valve made Steam a requirement for every player, and even those who’d purchased new, physical copies of the game had to boot up the launcher first. There was some low-level grumbling, but PC players were used to being lab rats, and... Continue reading at 'Engadget'

[ Engadget | 2024-03-04 16:30:21 UTC ]

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Google pledges $10M to support businesses in underserved communities via libraries

Google has long been a philanthropic powerhouse, with STEM education, economic security and inclusion as top priorities. Through its charitable arm, the company also is tackling housing and homelessness, along with criminal justice reform. Next up — libraries. On Thursday, Google.org announced... Continue reading at Silicon Valley Business Journal

[ Silicon Valley Business Journal | 2019-10-03 21:51:27 UTC ]
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Authors and Librarians on Why Schools and Libraries Need LGBTQ+ Books

Book Riot speaks to authors and librarians on the importance of LGBTQ+ books in educational environments such as schools and libraries. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2019-09-27 10:35:05 UTC ]
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Cressida Cowell warns industry will become 'dead in the water' without school libraries

Author Cressida Cowell has argued that the industry will become "dead in the water" without more support for children's reading, as she reiterated her campaign to make school libraries a statutory requirement. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-09-24 04:02:45 UTC ]
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For the Love of Libraries: Four Authors on What Makes Libraries Wonderful

Writer's Digest asked four authors about what libraries mean to them. Here’s what the greats have to say about what makes libraries so great. The post For the Love of Libraries: Four Authors on What Makes Libraries Wonderful by Ericka McIntyre appeared first on Writer's Digest. Continue reading at Writer's Digest

[ Writer's Digest | 2019-09-23 15:22:30 UTC ]
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OverDrive’s Steven Rosato: The Arab World’s ‘Enormous Advantage’ in Libraries

At the IPA Amman seminar, OverDrive's Steven Rosato will stress that in moving to a digital library ecosystem, 'It's the publishers who must take the leap.' The post OverDrive’s Steven Rosato: The Arab World’s ‘Enormous Advantage’ in Libraries appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2019-09-16 05:30:15 UTC ]
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A Handy Guide To Academic Libraries For New Students

This one's for all of the readers going back to colleges and universities who want to get to know what those libraries can offer. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2019-09-14 10:32:24 UTC ]
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S&S UK Children's launches Love Your Library campaign with Peters

Simon & Schuster Children’s UK is partnering with specialist book suppliers Peters to launch the ‘Love Your Library’ campaign, supported by the Great School Libraries campaign, the School Library Association, CILIP and CILIP’s School Libraries Group. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-09-11 18:20:15 UTC ]
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From the Ruins of Rome to the Invention of Perspective

For the most part, humanism was a literary and philosophical movement focused on books and texts. Itinerant scholars such as Poggio Bracciolini traveled far and wide in an effort to locate lost ancient works that might be hidden away in the monastic libraries of Europe. Seeking out the most... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2019-09-10 08:48:53 UTC ]
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How Little Free Libraries Inspired Little Free Pantries: Critical Linking, September 6, 2019

An awesome daily roundup of the most interesting bookish links from around the web. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2019-09-06 10:30:08 UTC ]
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Libraries Connected launches training scheme to tackle lack of diversity

Libraries Connected has secured £342,000 in funding from Arts Council England to develop a new training programme supporting potential female and BAME leaders. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-08-28 11:24:48 UTC ]
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The Most Popular Under The Radar Books In Libraries: Spring/Summer 2019

Curious about the most popular books in libraries that maybe are under the radar? Dig into the data that Panorama Picks offers up for Spring circulation. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2019-08-28 10:33:14 UTC ]
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Hamlyn bags book from Loose Women stars

Octopus imprint Hamlyn has bagged a book of anecdotes, laugh-out-loud moments and uplifting life lessons from ITV panel show “Loose Women”, marking its 20th anniversary. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-08-20 04:41:45 UTC ]
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London Book Chain To Provide Libraries For Retirement Homes : Critical Linking, August 19, 2019

Awesome daily roundup of the most interesting bookish links from around the web! Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2019-08-19 10:30:38 UTC ]
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Do Publishers Suddenly Hate Libraries?

Why the tension between libraries and publishers is ramping up in the e-book market—and why we must tamp it down. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-08-16 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Foyles to launch libraries in retirement homes

Foyles is entering the housing sector by partnering with property developer Elysian Residences for specially curated libraries in their retirement homes. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-08-11 13:23:15 UTC ]
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Libraries Act as Cooling Centers in Heatwaves

If you needed yet another reason to love libraries: they help during heatwaves. Libraries in Missouri, New York, Pennsylvania, California, ... Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2019-07-28 10:31:48 UTC ]
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Amazon opens way for apps on Fire TV to sell ads with The Trade Desk, Dataxu

Amazon has struck a deal with The Trade Desk and Dataxu, two sources of online advertising, to deliver commercials to Fire TV. On Friday, Amazon announced the new arrangement developed for media companies that stream video on Fire TV. The video publishers can now set up what are known as... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2019-07-27 00:05:42 UTC ]
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21 Must-See Bookstores And Libraries In Asia: Critical Linking, July 21, 2019

Critical Linking is a daily roundup of the most interesting bookish links from around the web sponsored by Libro.fm. “This ... Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2019-07-21 10:30:01 UTC ]
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Panorama Project Pivots, Taps New Project Leader

As library e-book issues gain urgency, the OverDrive funded effort to measure the impact of libraries on authors and publishers taps industry vet Guy LeCharles Gonzalez to take the project to the next level. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-07-19 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Canongate signs Bolinda deal for library audiobooks

Canongate has joined forces with audio publisher Bolinda to make its audiobooks available to libraries in a new partnership. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-07-18 10:30:26 UTC ]
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