Elite Dangerous now on Steam

[FuzzySpider]

No one (that I have seen) is asking for a Steam key that would give them an additional account.
Yet so many of the people bafflingly opposed to the option for others to get a Steam key keep holding up that strawman.

If Steam were a free service no problem. The fact this'll cost Frontier money, leading to possible cuts in the game development budget is what bothers me.

Valve are a business. All the people here, fighting on behalf of a business, trying to insist that business make even more money, it doesn't care about you.

 

[Nikita]

No need for insults.

I am slightly confused, I've added Elite Dangerous to Steam, and I can use screenshots, broadcasting and such just fine, updater is nice to have but not really needed imho launcher is fine. That said steam VR isn't even out yet, so we actually do not know if or if not it will work with Elite, and considering it requires more then just the steam client, but actually requires games built for it, at least as far as I checked, this is still an unknown.
If steam does not take a cut from additional steam keys, then I do not think it would be a problem or lengthy process, which it is when you look at games outside steam joining it.

But both of you, could you please state what benefits that I actually miss out on, because as I see it, the only one that is mentioned so far, is writing review, and seeing my game played time?..

You are not paying attention. I did not talk about the HTC Vive VR headset. I was talking about "Steam VR" the virtual reality version of the steam application itself, that we have been using for about a year now. The convenience of using Steam VR to launch and handle VR games is significant enough that I am even considering buying another damn key on steam so I can use the feature. As for steam taking a cut. You can lookup the steam FAQ on this yourself. It was posted here before, I am sure you can find it. No fee on FDEV's side, which is why so many people are irritated about the situation. I wish FDEV would just give us an update on the steam key issue. Perhaps come up with an "upgrade" price that we can agree on, so we can move on. I'd rather not have to buy the game all over again, but I am willing to pay a fee to make it happen. EDITED: Tbh, I suspect the real reason why we did not get steam keys is that FDEV is worried about what reviews we would write

 

[Jaynay27]

If Steam were a free service no problem. The fact this'll cost Frontier money, leading to possible cuts in the game development budget is what bothers me.

I don't think this is an unreasonable concern, but steam does not charge for keys issued to publishers (for marketing/promotion purposes or for previous buyers of the game). Previous quotes from Steam's own TOS (in this thread) confirm that.

That is not to say there is no cost, but generally we are talking about the wages for staff from Frontier to organise and distribute the keys, which should be pretty much minimal...maybe a couple of days work at the most?
I highly doubt this (minimal) cost would come from Frontier's development budget (more likely sales and marketing) and even if it did we are comparing a cost in the hundreds, maybe thousands, to a development budget measured in the tens of thousands (at the very least).

A steam key would be a nice convenience, and yes, if possible I would like to have one, but if there is a significant impact to the games ongoing development I would be happy to go without.
I just don't think there will be a significant impact in this area.

My main issue is one of customer service - I would have thought we would have had an answer by now, but as Frontier have stated they are looking in to it.
I do worry that as a kickstarter backer with lifetime expansions included (and I am not one to buy skins etc), I am effectively no longer a customer (I am a previous customer) and I worry that my voice is no longer important to Frontier.
That's probably just me though, and my brain messing with me.

 

[xondk]

.

I am not trying to trivialize anything, but it really seems like a non issue to me, if I start the launcher and there is an update then I let it update and then play.
If I know I need to play together with someone I make sure the game is updated and ready.
It is to me, just a convenience thing, and by no mean required, would be nice to have, but the game is perfect on its own.

I have nothing against steam, though I am wondering with the rep they try to have, that such things as their profit from the games is something hidden from us, and if the 30% thing is true then that is a huge cut to take away from the developer, which ultimately means the game itself will have less money to work with. Sure it can be argued that with steam, they will reach a larger portion of players and the increased sale will make up for the cost, but it still seems like way way too much to ask for.

As far as I know, though some state otherwise, steam will want money for those keys. And I cannot imagine that if steam didn't want money that we wouldn't have gotten our accounts linked yet. So I really think that steam does want money, and frontier is currently in negotiation with them, and considering frontier is a small company, if steam wants the same cut as they get off the other client things and if it is true that it is 30% that is a HUGE amount of money to suddenly lose, and I cannot understand why people don't understand that frontier might, for very good reason, be resistant to this, since they are still developing the game.

You are not paying attention. I did not talk about the HTC Vive VR headset. I was talking about "Steam VR"

As for steam vr, must admit, didn't even know it was out, which naturally is because I am not part of the people that have an oculus or such, in my mind it is still a developing device, and not optimal yet, but yes if you have one this is an important thing, but the vast majority do not.

 

[Ketzerfreund]

I think Steam have got enough trouble to be getting on with right now. I'm not sure that them throwing Bethesda under the bus was the wisest tactic, but their PR team appears to make Frontier's look like a bunch of geniuses.

Wait... Are you referring to the sellable mods thing? And you seriously think Bethesda wasn't on board with this? Skyrim is "old" by publishing standards, it has sold all its DLC, there's no more money coming in. The mods-for-sale idea is a perfect way of pressing a couple more pennies out of it. Nobody "threw Bethesda under the bus", that's just silly. I wouldn't even be surprised, if this was Bethesda's idea in the first place. The problematic implementation of this concept pretty much mirrors what bugfests their releases are.

 

[Jackie McMackie]

The ambiguity is killing me. It doesn't bother me as much whether I get a key or not - I just want answers.
I would very much like a Steak key for a few features, but it's hardly going to affect the amount of time I spend on the game.

 

[Uueerdo]

I am not trying to trivialize anything, but it really seems like a non issue to me, if I start the launcher and there is an update then I let it update and then play.
If I know I need to play together with someone I make sure the game is updated and ready.

I'm not even talking about scheduling a time to play with others, just finding time to play at all. I'm not always sure ahead of time which game I will feel like or have time to play; it is just not feasible for me to update every single one individually. Is this the only game you play? I ask because people with smaller active game libraries tend to put less importance on these kinds of features.

 

[The Nude Wizard]

Shoulda done it earlier but there wasn't much reliable/helpful information around so I wasnt sure it was possible but I got tired of wondering and waiting. So I sold one of my TF2 weapons on the steam marketplace for ~70US , linked my account at https://steam.elitedangerous.com/ and bought elite and a few skins for effectively nothing but some pixels from a game I don't play anymore.

Murphys law says they'll give out steam keys to everyone tomorrow.

 

[Jim Steinman]

I would very much like a Steak key...

I'd like a Steak key as well. With a nice BBQ sauce.

 

[Armour]

Wait... Are you referring to the sellable mods thing? And you seriously think Bethesda wasn't on board with this? Skyrim is "old" by publishing standards, it has sold all its DLC, there's no more money coming in. The mods-for-sale idea is a perfect way of pressing a couple more pennies out of it. Nobody "threw Bethesda under the bus", that's just silly. I wouldn't even be surprised, if this was Bethesda's idea in the first place. The problematic implementation of this concept pretty much mirrors what bugfests their releases are.

Gabe Newell basically said on Reddit that it was Bethesda who chose the figure of 45%, in response to a criticism of the greed shown by only offering the mod authors 25%. So he was basically saying "we're not the only greedy ones, blame Bethesda too!". In reality, that 45% figure was probably as a reaction to the fact that Valve are asking for 30% when all they are is a glorified hosting company in this case. At least Bethesda actually made the game. (I think the mod author should be getting 75% of any donations, not Valve and Bethesda).

The community are left to police bad mods (in the same reddit AMA). The mod makers are left to provide any support. You can't get a refund on bad mods once purchased - Steam store credits are not a refund, they still have your money. Yet they still get 30%. Yeah, I really want to give these shysters more money.

 

[FuzzySpider]

Gabe Newell basically said on Reddit that it was Bethesda who chose the figure of 45%, in response to a criticism of the greed shown by only offering the mod authors 25%. So he was basically saying "we're not the only greedy ones, blame Bethesda too!". In reality, that 45% figure was probably as a reaction to the fact that Valve are asking for 30% when all they are is a glorified hosting company in this case. At least Bethesda actually made the game. (I think the mod author should be getting 75% of any donations, not Valve and Bethesda).

The community are left to police bad mods (in the same reddit AMA). The mod makers are left to provide any support. You can't get a refund on bad mods once purchased - Steam store credits are not a refund, they still have your money. Yet they still get 30%. Yeah, I really want to give these shysters more money.

Most Skyrim mods are on the Skyrim Nexus anyway. And there you can donate directly to the mod author.

 

[Fisker]

Gabe Newell basically said on Reddit that it was Bethesda who chose the figure of 45%, in response to a criticism of the greed shown by only offering the mod authors 25%. So he was basically saying "we're not the only greedy ones, blame Bethesda too!". In reality, that 45% figure was probably as a reaction to the fact that Valve are asking for 30% when all they are is a glorified hosting company in this case. At least Bethesda actually made the game. (I think the mod author should be getting 75% of any donations, not Valve and Bethesda).

The community are left to police bad mods (in the same reddit AMA). The mod makers are left to provide any support. You can't get a refund on bad mods once purchased - Steam store credits are not a refund, they still have your money. Yet they still get 30%. Yeah, I really want to give these shysters more money.

Well he had the option of saying no, though Bethesda may have some EULA clause or something to block it?

 

[Armour]

Most Skyrim mods are on the Skyrim Nexus anyway. And there you can donate directly to the mod author.

Yes, but Valve have been trying to poach them for their Steam Workshop without calling it that, based upon the remarks made by a couple of them.

 

[fearlessfrog]

Yes, but Valve have been trying to poach them for their Steam Workshop without calling it that, based upon the remarks made by a couple of them.

What has the 'Skyrim High Resolution Horses Genitals Mod $9.99 Drama 2015' got to do with either Frontier or getting an Elite Dangerous steam key for existing purchasers? http://i.imgur.com/y8ocFFr.png

It's not even as if ED is moddable.

Anyhoo, now that Frontier has completed the dev work to link their store with Steam and associating a Steam account with an existing Elite purchase so Steam users can buy ship skins, it's not like that excuse for 'Think of Poor Frontier and ALL the Dev Effort!!' is good anymore.

For anyone that missed it (didn't see any 'news' from Frontier on this as yet) - check it out:

Visits:

https://steam.elitedangerous.com/

You can sign into the Frontier store (which knows you are an existing player), link your Steam account with 'Sign In to Steam'.







Now it's just the politics to do the last bit and get agreement to reveal the 'Show Steam Key' from Frontier management I guess?

 

[Armour]

Everyone knows what the practicalities of it are, that's not the issue is it? Some screenshots are not going to convince David Braben and the FD shareholders to commit to the path you want them to - it's not like they are unaware of how to do it from a technical perspective and need some kind of manual to help them..

 

[fearlessfrog]

Everyone knows what the practicalities of it are, that's not the issue is it? Some screenshots are not going to convince David Braben and the FD shareholders to commit to the path you want them to - it's not like they are unaware of how to do it from a technical perspective and need some kind of manual to help them..

No idea, they don't tend to comment much. Others in this thread have though with 'But, but in Frontier's defence..', and that included saying that the dev work to get keys would be prohibitively expensive or 'take away from other things'. So guess what - Not true.

Others also said that 'Updates don't come through Steam, you have to always update through the launcher only'. Um, yeah. Not true.

Then some banged on about the 'cost of Steam keys', but then we have about 15 other titles published where the dev have indicated they didn't pay Valve for keys. So, guess what - not true (unless Frontier are now this one magic exception, where an NDA magically makes Valve want to charge for keys all of a sudden, which is pretty much the definition of a straw man).

I personally think Frontier have been 100% truthful, in that they are working things out and it'll take time (especially if they need Valve to do anything for them, as they are notoriously slow). What hasn't been so good has been others making up reasons why people here in this thread shouldn't have steam keys for their existing purchase, like they think they are mini-Brabens or simply just have some axe to grind with Steam. No-one cares if you hate Steam, good luck to you.

 

[Armour]

an NDA magically makes Valve want to charge for keys all of a sudden

Unlike when a bunch of NDAs hid the fact that they wanted to charge for mods all of a sudden...

 

[fearlessfrog]

Unlike when a bunch of NDAs hid the fact that they wanted to charge for mods all of a sudden...

If you are reduced to wanting to talk about horse genitals again then it just shows you have no argument to make.

I suggest a new thread where you can lobby Frontier to get the game taken from the Steam store or something. I have no argument about steam keys for you, sorry. Direct your anger at Frontier, or gabe or whatever, not the people just wanting a Steam key.

 

[Armour]

If you are reduced to wanting to talk about horse genitals again then it just shows you have no argument to make.

I suggest a new thread where you can lobby Frontier to get the game taken from the Steam store or something. I have no argument about steam keys for you, sorry. Direct your anger at Frontier, or gabe or whatever, not the people just wanting a Steam key.

Who's angry? I'm not a fan of how Valve does business, that is true, and I think that those campaigning to get their copy of this game linked in to the Steam infrastructure are like turkeys voting for Thanksgiving/Christmas/Turkey-Eating Day (pick the one that applies to you). I'm not emotionally invested in any of it, though. There are more important things to concern one's self with, frankly.

People want to moan about stuff, they like it. I get it. It can even be fun! They moan about this, it either gets done or it doesn't, then they move on and find a new thing to moan about. Unless it's the offline brigade, of course, they take any and every opportunity to point out the evils of Frontier as they see them like street-corner preachers who are curiously always online.

 

[Aussiedroid]

I didn't expect an immediate answer to the Steam question, but going on 4 weeks since the Steam launch and still no official word I wonder what the issues are or if this has been discarded now.

Frontier,

Could you please advise what is going on with the Steam keys? Is it in progress, is it still being investigated, is it still some time off or expecting something to advise your customers any time soon?

Either way it turns out, it would be great to get a response and update to alleviate people's ongoing concerns around this.

Thank you from a patient fan.