ZeroDevil
12-29-2011, 10:38 AM
Okay, I'll make it quick.
Items for games that have them on Steam are stored on item servers.
No connection to the item servers = no items for you.
I think this is a bad idea; in the event that the item servers go down or an update accidentally ruins the connection to your item account, you can't access the items you've worked for, and in some cases payed money for, in game.
That said, I was thinking it might be possible to ALSO have items stored as an encrypted file somewhere on the user's computer (encrypted or set up in such a way that it cannot by modified by the user to gain items via hacking or cheating easily).
I've already taken into account the problems with this:
1: Hackers/code-crackers/script kiddies/GENERAL CHEATERS: There will ALWAYS be those who want to cheat to gain items. This is bound to happen no matter what system of items you use.
A possible way around this is for games, such as Team Fortress 2, to check these files to see if any changes were made to them by any source OTHER than the game, Steam Servers, or any other servers that run Team Fortress 2. If a change that didn't come from the steam client/game/server/ect. is found, it is undone and the hacked item is removed from the file.
2: File swapping: the act of getting an item file from someone else to obtain their set of items: The encrypted files could contain one or more "ID tags" or some sort of identification that the steam client and the corresponding game will read. The file will be matched up to a designated steam account and will only be able to be used via said steam account.
3: Data loss/virus damage/worm damage/ect: This is one of the more real problems that would still necessitate the use of an online backup. If the item files were damaged/deleted by accident, the data from the item servers (similar to what current exists) could be copied back onto the user's PC and thus allow them to regain lost data from the result of a virus attack/PC crash/PC damage or replacement/ect.
In all, I am not suggesting that item servers are totally done away with, but that they are augmented to store the items on the user's PC as well in the even that the item servers are down, or that the user wishes to play their games in offline mode.
We, the players, have put our time (and in some cases, our money) into the games, and their corresponding items. I think that it should be possible for us to use said items even if we cannot have a solid internet connection at the time, or in the even that the item servers are down (a factor far outside of our control).
Items for games that have them on Steam are stored on item servers.
No connection to the item servers = no items for you.
I think this is a bad idea; in the event that the item servers go down or an update accidentally ruins the connection to your item account, you can't access the items you've worked for, and in some cases payed money for, in game.
That said, I was thinking it might be possible to ALSO have items stored as an encrypted file somewhere on the user's computer (encrypted or set up in such a way that it cannot by modified by the user to gain items via hacking or cheating easily).
I've already taken into account the problems with this:
1: Hackers/code-crackers/script kiddies/GENERAL CHEATERS: There will ALWAYS be those who want to cheat to gain items. This is bound to happen no matter what system of items you use.
A possible way around this is for games, such as Team Fortress 2, to check these files to see if any changes were made to them by any source OTHER than the game, Steam Servers, or any other servers that run Team Fortress 2. If a change that didn't come from the steam client/game/server/ect. is found, it is undone and the hacked item is removed from the file.
2: File swapping: the act of getting an item file from someone else to obtain their set of items: The encrypted files could contain one or more "ID tags" or some sort of identification that the steam client and the corresponding game will read. The file will be matched up to a designated steam account and will only be able to be used via said steam account.
3: Data loss/virus damage/worm damage/ect: This is one of the more real problems that would still necessitate the use of an online backup. If the item files were damaged/deleted by accident, the data from the item servers (similar to what current exists) could be copied back onto the user's PC and thus allow them to regain lost data from the result of a virus attack/PC crash/PC damage or replacement/ect.
In all, I am not suggesting that item servers are totally done away with, but that they are augmented to store the items on the user's PC as well in the even that the item servers are down, or that the user wishes to play their games in offline mode.
We, the players, have put our time (and in some cases, our money) into the games, and their corresponding items. I think that it should be possible for us to use said items even if we cannot have a solid internet connection at the time, or in the even that the item servers are down (a factor far outside of our control).