Will Elite Dangerous Launch on Steam?

[TheDoctor]

Even the relaunch of the steam front end this week is because Developers are now struggling to get their game noticed on steam.

1300 games have been added to the platform in the last 9 months and although a lot of them are early access etc, it does mean that FD have come to the conclusion at launch it may be better just handling the publishing themselves.

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-09-22-steam-discovery-update-personalises-video-game-shopping

Funny thing is that this week with the Shadow Of Mordor is that the "bundle" of Game + season pass is £7 MORE than buying both separately on steam.

 

[Tryst]

I really hope that Steam isn't the ONLY outlet. Steam doesn't work on my PC, it won't install the client and even doing some juggling using another PC to download it, It wouldn't run. Steam techs tried everything short of a complete wipe and re-install of Windows to no avail. I'm damned if I'll re-install windows 7 in the hopes of getting Steam to work, it's taken over 1.5 years of tweaking to get it to run games smoothly.

If it's only released on Steam, I won't be buying it simply because I won't be able to download and play it. I had the same issue with Skyrim, nice game but I can't play it because it's only available through Steam, Bethesda lost a sale here because of that.

Also, if it has a single player element which I really hope it does, those without internet won't be able to play it either if it's only available through Steam. Not everyone has internet and the possibility of kids trying to persuade their parents to get an internet connection just so they can play their favourite games is pretty unlikely.

I'm not a backer purely because of this issue. Until Frontier Developments decide on how they will distribute it, I am not backing a game I won't be able to play.

 

[Arktac13]

Steam is simply a convenient way to get games, I'm almost annoyed when I have 90% of my games on steam and I have to go and open some other companies app to play a separate game and in the mean time they attempt to sell me their games.

 

[FoxTwo]

If it's only released on Steam, I won't be buying it simply because I won't be able to download and play it. I had the same issue with Skyrim, nice game but I can't play it because it's only available through Steam, Bethesda lost a sale here because of that.

(off topic)

Unfortunate that Steam was unable to work for you hence you couldn't play Skyrim. However, I have seen Skyrim on sale on Ubisoft's UPLAY store, and was wondering if you had tried Uplay instead?

(/off topic)

ED doesn't have to be released on Steam to get friends to buy. Currently I have added ED as a non-Steam game and whenever I play ED my friends will see it. I also take screenshots and post it up on Steam, plus my videos. I have already had 2 friends buy ED due to the screenshots and/or videos I had posted on Steam.

However, if ED does get released on Steam, and it does not have Steam Achievements, very soon the forums will be flooded with people asking for "achievements".

 

[Tinman]

I really hope that Steam isn't the ONLY outlet. Steam doesn't work on my PC, it won't install the client and even doing some juggling using another PC to download it, It wouldn't run. Steam techs tried everything short of a complete wipe and re-install of Windows to no avail. I'm damned if I'll re-install windows 7 in the hopes of getting Steam to work, it's taken over 1.5 years of tweaking to get it to run games smoothly.

If it's only released on Steam, I won't be buying it simply because I won't be able to download and play it. I had the same issue with Skyrim, nice game but I can't play it because it's only available through Steam, Bethesda lost a sale here because of that.

Also, if it has a single player element which I really hope it does, those without internet won't be able to play it either if it's only available through Steam. Not everyone has internet and the possibility of kids trying to persuade their parents to get an internet connection just so they can play their favourite games is pretty unlikely.

I'm not a backer purely because of this issue. Until Frontier Developments decide on how they will distribute it, I am not backing a game I won't be able to play.

Look two posts before yours and you'll have your answer.

It's not going to be released on Steam. They will distribute it from their own store as they are already doing currently.

 

[Tryst]

(off topic)

Unfortunate that Steam was unable to work for you hence you couldn't play Skyrim. However, I have seen Skyrim on sale on Ubisoft's UPLAY store, and was wondering if you had tried Uplay instead?

I can only find it in the UK on Steam. I have Uplay since I play Anno. I recently bought a DVD thinking it was installable straight from that but then found it was only a transport media for Steam. Had all sorts of trouble trying to get a refund afterwards, they don't like taking games back if they been unsealed so I had to use the "Sale of goods act - Goods must be fit for the purpose for which they are sold."

I still don't like having to use my internet to download and play a single player game though. Virgin don't like you using too much bandwidth, less than 3gb between 4pm and 10pm or they halve your speed for the next 6 hours. It seems they don't realise that many games now are 8gb or more in size and so many are using Steam to distribute them.

 

[Nuarda]

Being an old fart I tend to hang on and cherish the way games use to be sold. I long for the return of the big box style, with its lush game box art. To have something to that's physical - you can hold in your hands I it lovely.

When in town I pop into Game - struggle past the sweaty teenagers, walk past the massive sections for the Xbone, 360, PS3/4, Handhelds, etc., and get to the little stand at the back with about 50 PC games on it. Its number may be small but oh how I bask in the gorgeousness.

BUT, despite my musings I understand that games are now distributed over the net and sites like steam are a necessary evil. Its how the PC gaming industry survives I suppose. I wish there was the second market for PC game like their is for consoles - but oh no - manufacturers designed it so this isn't the case. Again, I understand that sites like steam are there primarily to reduce game piracy which is s good thing.

Still, as I said, being an old fart I still hanker for those physical big box days!

 

[[VR] Mad Mike]

Its more of a pejorative than an insult and frankly I think its an apt term.

Pejoratives and insults aside, ED releasing on steam will be nothing but good for Frontier, it can only mean more sales and more revenue, which in turn means better support for the game so everyone wins. So long as there remains the option to purchase and run the game outside of steam I cannot see why anyone would have a problem.

so I take it you would be happy to pay any and all costs associated with steam?

ie if FD were to sell on their own site for £39.99 but then sell on steam, but with the 30% steam cut added on top? steam is not a charity, it is not a cheap process putting your software on the platform)

if this was the case, which version would you buy?.... me personally I would buy it direct.

imo why should FD be forced to pay the steam premium if they feel they can market it themselves? when the cost of the game comes down in the future then maybe it will go over to steam but imo they are sensible to keep off steam, at least at the start when it is full price.

 

[Ravenbb]

Steam and its issues

Tryst sounds like you have the short end of the stick using virgin which limits your download, to a motherboard that wont accept steam and you have been living with this for over 18 months, its easy to switch ISP if needed to be able to download unlimited amount of data with BT and how easy it is to pick up another motherboard for £50 - £80, but it seems to me you decided to live with your issues rather than hunt down the problem and replacing it all together, at a small cost. Just my advice, brighter days ahead i suppose with newer equipment. As for people not liking steam and saying its using to much ram they are just stubborn and have other issues that they haven't mentioned, computer these day with over 4-8GB minimum up to 16 and 32GB, whats a few MB of ram in in a large pool of 32GB you can play steam game offline and if you want to run your games without steam running you can crack the games you bought, the great thing about steam is the community and workshop, they are fantastic options to the gaming world. There`s about 50 programs running in the background of your pc just to get your normal games running so anyone argument about 3rd party programs running in the background carries no weight. If you only knew what was really running in the background. Sorry don't mean to rant, just everyone complaining doesn't make sense to me, there seems to be a bigger picture to there issues, just a simple understanding how things work should smooth out teething problems. I hope everyone gets into space with no issues at all when the launch day commences. Over and out commanders.

 

[Crab]

Steam is very good place for games and players.

Steam can make ED more popular.

Of course, FD still can offer ED by his own distribution, but why not on all interesting places too?

 

[Fonger]

Steam is very good place for games and players.

Steam can make ED more popular.

being on steam will flood ED with new players

probably 2-4 orders of magnitude increase in the player base in the first 2 weeks

with a substantial number of these dropping cash into game extras

most of you won't believe this prediction, but it happened to Firefall

steam == flood

flood of players and cash


never figured out how few of these new players made it out of the starting dock

 

[Tempered]

I agree that steam will make the game much more popular, but steam also charges a decent percentage of sales for the privilege. I don't know that FD would care to pay the premium.

 

[Tempered]

Being an old fart I tend to hang on and cherish the way games use to be sold. I long for the return of the big box style, with its lush game box art. To have something to that's physical - you can hold in your hands I it lovely.

When in town I pop into Game - struggle past the sweaty teenagers, walk past the massive sections for the Xbone, 360, PS3/4, Handhelds, etc., and get to the little stand at the back with about 50 PC games on it. Its number may be small but oh how I bask in the gorgeousness.

BUT, despite my musings I understand that games are now distributed over the net and sites like steam are a necessary evil. Its how the PC gaming industry survives I suppose. I wish there was the second market for PC game like their is for consoles - but oh no - manufacturers designed it so this isn't the case. Again, I understand that sites like steam are there primarily to reduce game piracy which is s good thing.

Still, as I said, being an old fart I still hanker for those physical big box days!

There was nothing quite like opening a Jane's flight sim and skimming through the huge manual before jumping into the game, doing everything wrong and then going back through the detailed manual
I kind of miss those days, but I also like the convenience of having my games in one place and accessible from anywhere, without having to worry about losing mile long authentication codes.
I think there is actually a place for both of these worlds. I would like to see game makers continue with the digital download distribution model, but also add value to their games with a mail order printed manual or map. Those that don't appreciate the printed manual need not buy it.

 

[Mephane]

I agree that steam will make the game much more popular, but steam also charges a decent percentage of sales for the privilege. I don't know that FD would care to pay the premium.

Why when it is "extra sales of which Steam takes a cut" vs "no extra sales", from a financial standpoint the decision is clear. My hunch is that FD wait for the actual release (not Gamma, but when the box hits the shelves) to release on Steam, too.

 

[Lost Cipher]

I do apologize if this comes across quite pointed. But lately I have not been having good relations with steam. In relation to that frankness, here goes.

Steam is annoying DRM, that has become more of a concern for Gabe Newell and friends, than finishing the likes of Half Life or possibly making new games entirely. I do understand it's profitable.

However I vote an emphatic NO! Why: David clearly said that they need to connect with the player directly to support the back-end. So why create another step the player has to go through, just to play the game or keep it up to date. Thus adding useless DRM.

Second, why should they sacrifice up to 30% of their profits for a store page that is being overrun with shovel-ware. And I am not talking about indies with cool games. Nope, the old games or new ones no one really wants, but end up crowding the front store page anyways. Storefront redesign or not.

Third: Steam support is useless. Seriously EA's origin does a better job, that is just sad. Also GOG's support is not too shabby, they like EA offer refunds.

Steam may have started a revolution, but it's quickly finding itself obsolete in comparison to its competitors. And honestly I've had enough and so have others. But if people need to have the game on Steam, whatever... but lets have Frontier finish it first.

 

[Jackruss]

I left the X series of games when they went Steam. It is a pain, they take much needed profits go into selling at silly prices and keep making you download all sorts of rubbish
Don't get me started on the DRM aspect.
Steam sucks.

 

[Hawkmoon]

Steam= gaming 1984. People say they don't want the government to have access to they online activity well guess what steam know what you are doing all the time think about it.

I'll pull the bricks down one by one......1984.......hmmmm yeh....dum dee dum dumm 1984............

 

[Donik]

I left the X series of games when they went Steam. It is a pain, they take much needed profits go into selling at silly prices and keep making you download all sorts of rubbish
Don't get me started on the DRM aspect.
Steam sucks.

I've got over 300 games on Steam. Including the X series. No idea what you're talking about.

 

[freehotdawgs]

Ohh no completely unintrusive DRM that always works, it's the end of the world! I'm glad that people who hate steam are in a very tiny minority. I have never had any issues with steam and own over 250 games on it. It's super convenient. It's never made me download anything extra, just games and their updates. No one even sells boxed PC games around where I live anymore anyway. Steam isn't an extra step for developers either, they don't require any kind of approval for updates or anything. Having steam achievements, stat tracking, friends lists, forum access, sales, etc is great. Anyone who complains that steam makes their games run slower needs to upgrade their PC because it sucks. I've read tons of stories about devs making serious money on steam. I'd say it would be a good idea to have ED on steam, on their own, and possibly on other services as well. I don't see the downside in putting it on as many services as possible as long as they can all play together.

 

[Swan]

Why when it is "extra sales of which Steam takes a cut" vs "no extra sales", from a financial standpoint the decision is clear. My hunch is that FD wait for the actual release (not Gamma, but when the box hits the shelves) to release on Steam, too.

Exactly; I've never really understood that argument.

100 units shifting at £20 > 50 units shifting at £40 as you get a wider spread of customers, more word of mouth, more sustainability and increased long-term profitability.