As long as it is available as a direct download from Frontier too ( when I pledged I made the agreement for a direct download with Frontier not a third party) , I see no problems with availability on Steam, as long as I don't *have* to use it, and that patching directly from Frontiers servers is trouble free if I choose not to use Steam.
- Status
Strike Suit Zero is a kickstarter that got released on Steam yesterday and their backers got a steam key if they wanted it. They also got the option to have it via GOG (albeit at a slightly later date) which is a DRM-free provider so it's definitely feasible. I suggest that Frontier set themselves up on Steam Greenlight if they wish to take advantage of Steam's services so it can be all set in place.
Personally, I'd prefer it via Steam simply for convenience plus utilising the existing framework for achievements, etc.
Personally, I'd prefer it via Steam simply for convenience plus utilising the existing framework for achievements, etc.
There are games that are available on Steam and Desura that are being crowdfunded -seems to work out for them.
I wonder if FD are avoiding that for some reason at this time. Maybe when it makes alpha they can get greenlit or something - when most of how the game is going to be is settled by interaction with the pledgers.
I wonder if FD are avoiding that for some reason at this time. Maybe when it makes alpha they can get greenlit or something - when most of how the game is going to be is settled by interaction with the pledgers.
That would make sense.
Absolutely. I have lost a lot of faith in Steam recently
I wouldn't want to tied in to it long term any more.
My only reservation over Steam is that they tend to have idiotic pricing for releases outside of the US and the EU.
@StephanosA - Steam is an online digital distribution network that effectively eliminates the need to 'print' a game into hard copy and also the requirement for gamers to wait for games on release. You install a client on your PC and then purchase a game and it downloads directly to your hard drive. It has the advantage of a nicely structured install directory that can be relocated easily so any rebuilds of your computer means that installation of all your games is as simple as re-installing the client and pointing it at your games directory. The downside - you have to install the client and you don't have any lovely boxes and DVDs to stack on your shelf.
Personally I like Steam but their pricing structure irks me.
@StephanosA - Steam is an online digital distribution network that effectively eliminates the need to 'print' a game into hard copy and also the requirement for gamers to wait for games on release. You install a client on your PC and then purchase a game and it downloads directly to your hard drive. It has the advantage of a nicely structured install directory that can be relocated easily so any rebuilds of your computer means that installation of all your games is as simple as re-installing the client and pointing it at your games directory. The downside - you have to install the client and you don't have any lovely boxes and DVDs to stack on your shelf.
Personally I like Steam but their pricing structure irks me.
I'd second what Steve says, I've been using steam across many PC over 7 years I think (I have an "Acheivement" for that!) - but it provides a great way to organise and get games and even demos. It also has some chat/voice options my son uses when playing games with friends
I'm personally a huge fan of Steam (especially their sales ), it actually annoys me quite a lot when I look at my desktop that some games have their own icons, like Minecraft and Starcraft, instead of being all neatly tucked away in Steam with all the others!
), it actually annoys me quite a lot when I look at my desktop that some games have their own icons, like Minecraft and Starcraft, instead of being all neatly tucked away in Steam with all the others!
I hope we have option to install ED without having to install the Steam Client and have other option to download ED, some ppl really like Steam but I've never been a fan of being forced to use 3rd party clients etc. This was one of the reasons stopped playing Total War games.
I don't like the control that Steam has over PC gaming currently, i feel it is often too heavy handed, too intrusive, too monopolistic in nature and often too unfair to the dev over what prices it sets, and so is not a DD system i care to use (i did have to make an account once on a game i bought in retail, there was small print on the back about needing Steam that i didn't pick up on, so i have experience of it, just avoid it now).
I prefer and use Desura and GoG with no issues, being a fan of anti-DRM in our near saturated AAA DRM infested industry, sometimes to the point of making you the legitimate gamer feel like you have done something wrong by buying a DRM ladden game. The DRM free stance that David launched the Elite: Dangerous KS with i feel important in this current environment.
Having said that, i have no issue with any game also being on Steam as long as it doesn't evolve to become solely dependent on Steam (which again, is one of the things Steam tends to encourage, leading to the reservations i made at the top of this post). The more gamers that can easily get access to Elite: Dangerous, the better.
Just keep it pro-gamer, DRM free and not tied to any one DD platform
I prefer and use Desura and GoG with no issues, being a fan of anti-DRM in our near saturated AAA DRM infested industry, sometimes to the point of making you the legitimate gamer feel like you have done something wrong by buying a DRM ladden game. The DRM free stance that David launched the Elite: Dangerous KS with i feel important in this current environment.
Having said that, i have no issue with any game also being on Steam as long as it doesn't evolve to become solely dependent on Steam (which again, is one of the things Steam tends to encourage, leading to the reservations i made at the top of this post). The more gamers that can easily get access to Elite: Dangerous, the better.
Just keep it pro-gamer, DRM free and not tied to any one DD platform
Steam driven spaceships? Where are they going to keep all the coal and water?
Or am I getting the wrong end of the stick
Or am I getting the wrong end of the stick
100% with you. It is my understanding from KS comments that we would be able to download from Frontier directly. If it also goes on Steam eventually for others not a problem, just so long as people that dislike platforms such as Steam do not have to use it.
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Steam driven spaceships? Where are they going to keep all the coal and water?
Or am I getting the wrong end of the stick
Storage space can be kept to a minimum due to maintaining a symbiotic relationship with with the cosmos. While the mothership drifts through space, teeny-tiny dragonflies are sent out to scout and retrieve consumables from nearby asteroids. Dragonflies are remunerated with Mountain Dew for their dedication.
<nods>
Stachel
Banned
Steam can be DRM free. Paradox Interactive games are by and large DRM free and distributed by Steam as well as other means. Once you download the game and extract it, you can run the binary directly from the install without loading Steam. This is something the developer/publisher chooses mind you. Other games are horrible for demanding online authentication every single play through and making Steams snitchware (Steam snitches your pc specs, your personal information ie demographics, software you have installed, how often you use that software, play time, play style, network usage etc etc etc) a 24/7 memory hogging bandwidth hoovering fixture on your desktop. Not a fan of publishers that go down that road! We've all become a little numbed to the invasiveness of snitchware now especially since kids today don't care about it so much as oldies who remember a time before Big Money didn't live in your computer and monitor everything you do.
I actually strongly opposed Steam for years, mainly because of the high prices and the annoying online/offline authentication modes that always seem to contrive to annoy the pants off you. The auto update feature is rather irritating too, despite being user configurable hehe.
Nowdays tho I don't care too much for the alternatives; hard copy is dead as a dodo and obtaining updates is just a pain manually. Would be surprised if FD didn't use Steam. Bethesda and Segas antics in the last couple of years where they sold boxed copies of their games that were in fact just .. the Steam client .. were pretty hilarious and rather telling of the cynical two-fingery approach most publishers have toward end users who want choice and control.
Some advantages of Steam I don't care for but others love are the (chat and stats sharing) community, achievements, localisation etc. You can also have Steam generate and give out CD keys which Paradox uses in a cool way to give people forum icons to show what games they've bought - at what stage they bought them ie full retail release day and such forth. Which is cool. Oh Steam is also pushing Linux games pretty hard now too. So from FD's point of view it could take all the hassle out of cross platform sales, content distribution and updates. Bit of a no brainer assuming FD is happy to pay them their pound of flesh and put up with the inevitable 50, 000 'it doesnt work, I paid £20 and now I want you to come round my house and fix my pc or I will never buy your games again!!' forum posts.
I actually strongly opposed Steam for years, mainly because of the high prices and the annoying online/offline authentication modes that always seem to contrive to annoy the pants off you. The auto update feature is rather irritating too, despite being user configurable hehe.
Nowdays tho I don't care too much for the alternatives; hard copy is dead as a dodo and obtaining updates is just a pain manually. Would be surprised if FD didn't use Steam. Bethesda and Segas antics in the last couple of years where they sold boxed copies of their games that were in fact just .. the Steam client .. were pretty hilarious and rather telling of the cynical two-fingery approach most publishers have toward end users who want choice and control.
Some advantages of Steam I don't care for but others love are the (chat and stats sharing) community, achievements, localisation etc. You can also have Steam generate and give out CD keys which Paradox uses in a cool way to give people forum icons to show what games they've bought - at what stage they bought them ie full retail release day and such forth. Which is cool.
Oh Steam is also pushing Linux games pretty hard now too. So from FD's point of view it could take all the hassle out of cross platform sales, content distribution and updates. Bit of a no brainer assuming FD is happy to pay them their pound of flesh and put up with the inevitable 50, 000 'it doesnt work, I paid £20 and now I want you to come round my house and fix my pc or I will never buy your games again!!' forum posts.
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Definitely in the not forced to use Steam camp here. I do use it for cheap indie games and the sales, and find it perfectly okay at the moment, but am concerned about where it's heading. First Gabe Newell seems to be attacking Windows - the platform Steam makes all its money from - and now they're branching into the hardware market. Something seems not quite right, and doesn't fill me with confidence.
I think in light of recent announcements, it can only be a matter of time before any "Games For Windows" title will only be available through MS's own app store.
I used to HATE steam and what it stood for with a passion...
But having recently changed my pc and then spending the better part of £30.00 for something like 25 games... i cant really complain...
Steam has good points and bad points.
Bad being that as i think someone said earlier, in std form it really hogs your bandwidth.
Good being that you just click a button and away you go.. in an age of almost all areas having pretty good broadband, well except my house.... then its not a great hardship.
I used to HATE steam and what it stood for with a passion...
But having recently changed my pc and then spending the better part of £30.00 for something like 25 games... i cant really complain...
Steam has good points and bad points.
Bad being that as i think someone said earlier, in std form it really hogs your bandwidth.
Good being that you just click a button and away you go.. in an age of almost all areas having pretty good broadband, well except my house....
then its not a great hardship.- Status