I'm pretty sure you can do exactly that. Just put Steam into Offline mode before you start the game. Since it's not connecting to the internet it has no way of knowing whether you've also playing a different game on the other computer.Beorg wrote:I can understand that I cannot play two copies of the same game. But why should I not be allowed to run Civ 5 on computer A and PoN on computer B at the same time?
As for the general point: yes, Steam is a form of DRM. It's much less intrusive than, say, Starforce; and it's a lot more convenient than having to keep the physical disk in your drive whenever you play a game. I'm afraid I can't understand people who object to DRM just on the principle of the thing: do you also object to people locking their door when they go out? But as well as being DRM, Steam also lets me buy both new and classic old games at very low prices, and automatically patches them and keeps them up to date for me.
The only time I'd ever hesitate to buy a game through Steam is if it's something like a Paradox or AGEOD title where I know there are going to be lots of beta patches and hotfixes, because Steam only support actual released patches. (Oh, and if I want a printed manual for some reason, or a glossy artbook or something being offered with the physical disk.)