Reply 20 of 121, by Hoping
The version of the photograph is the one I have, in case someone thought I didn't have it, and of course I paid for it with my own money, they didn't gift it to me at the store. It clearly says that it requires Windows 7, Vista or XP.
I don't remember exactly what it said in the EULA regarding compatibility with the game, but I also don't remember that they would decide when the game would no longer be usable on supported operating systems. This box, to me, is a binding contract that says the game works on those operating systems. It's Valve/Steam who decides it doesn't work because they don't want to anymore.
Here at VOGONS piracy and "Abandonware" are prohibited, but we talk calmly that we have to hack our own game, and how to do it, because Valve/Steam have decided so. Perhaps a bit hypocritical to explain methods that can be used to hack, but in the end there is no other option but to do so.
My DVD version of Skyrim may be "Abandonware" because it is no longer supported in XP, because they have explicitly refused and opted out of support. So as long as it's used on XP that was originally intended for it, Valve/Steam have no right to replicate. I do not condone "Abandonware" or piracy. But I have to "hack" my own game to use it in its original form.
In short, I think they should keep a different Steam client for each Operating System they used and for the ones they sold games, discriminating usable games according to the installed client, that is, a client for XP, would only allow to use the original XP functionalities, games that worked on XP, for example.
This would also apply to Windows 7 when support is withdrawn.
I still maintain that Valve/Steam deciding whether or not you can play your game in the original condition you bought it in is clear stealing. If they don't want to do their job, because they're lazy, it's not my fault.
But I'm not a lawyer and I don't understand the law any more than most so that's just my opinion, what I do believe is that in the US where class action lawsuits are common, Valve/Steam should be the subject of a class action lawsuit.
Please note that I am not a collector or anything, just that I have to work to earn my money.
So I apologize to those who feel offended by this opinion.