Don't understand the big deal about steam, so you click your shortcut and a small steam version of "loading" comes up for two seconds, oh no?

Xervitus wrote:
Don't understand the big deal about steam, so you click your shortcut and a small steam version of "loading" comes up for two seconds, oh no?

It's not that easy. From the get go Steam has a client which must be running for you to launch your game, so even if they are 0.00001%; it still is taking up extra resources. Before playing for the first time, you must connect to the internet so Steam can validate your game; only then you can run the game in "offline" mode. Moreover, even when it's not nearly as intrusive as Origin(EA's equivalent of steam) Valve is getting information from you; which they can sell or use it to improve their own products. Such information can be as simple as hardware specifications or as complex as statistical playtime/activations/etc based on genre, location, etc. So yes, for most users having Steam implies that they must see their "loading" screen for a few seconds; but this in all instances means much more. I must say that, even when I just listed some if not all its negative points, I do use it for 80% of the games I own(about 200). Impulse(now Gamestop apparently) is also an excellent digital service, specially their local currency automatic exchange; which guarantees same price for everybody and none of that region based pricing BS we see in Origin nowadays. But the best one is probably gog.com, since they are anti DRM and anti region pricing; but just recently they started working with new games and it is said that companies will allow no DRM on their games only after a year or so of being released.

reynanuy wrote:
It's not that easy. From the get go Steam has a client which must be running for you to launch your game, so even if they are 0.00001%; it still is taking up extra resources. Before playing for the first time, you must connect to the internet so Steam can validate your game; only then you can run the game in "offline" mode. Moreover, even when it's not nearly as intrusive as Origin(EA's equivalent of steam) Valve is getting information from you; which they can sell or use it to improve their own products. Such information can be as simple as hardware specifications or as complex as statistical playtime/activations/etc based on genre, location, etc. So yes, for most users having Steam implies that they must see their "loading" screen for a few seconds; but this in all instances means much more. I must say that, even when I just listed some if not all its negative points, I do use it for 80% of the games I own(about 200). Impulse(now Gamestop apparently) is also an excellent digital service, specially their local currency automatic exchange; which guarantees same price for everybody and none of that region based pricing BS we see in Origin nowadays. But the best one is probably gog.com, since they are anti DRM and anti region pricing; but just recently they started working with new games and it is said that companies will allow no DRM on their games only after a year or so of being released.

It's that kind of intrusion I don't like. I'm forced to have Origin installed (my wife and my daughter want to play Sims 3 -___-) I don't want more of that kind of intrusive softwares.

My issue with Steam is just simply getting it to run from within China. It's hell to get them to acknowledge I am not a perceived hacker form beyond the Great Firewall. so yeah. not a huge fan of Steam as a base requirement.

Okay as you said yourself its very small system reqs - the system resources thing isn't really a valid argument, steam takes up less system memory than a typical web browser, so unless you're on an ancient computer that should be a non-issue.



As for the "intrusiveness", I guess that's up to you...I don't personally see how it can hurt you for them to be gathering statistical information on your gaming habits and purchases or computer specs. Tinfoil hats or what? I guess what I am trying to say is; if they want to log how much I play of each game and what-not I could care less, there is nothing negative that will come of it and it is helping them market and develop their product better.



As you said, you only listed the negatives (if you even consider them a negative) there are many positives and at worst its one more minor program you have to run in the background (you could even hide the tile and pretend its not on at all!)



I guess I am just curious as to the rationale behind this attitude as I have seen it come up before on other forums



To each his own...



Cheers,

Aw man, Endless Space is going to require Steam? There's a buzz-kill.

Xervitus wrote:
Okay as you said yourself its very small system reqs - the system resources thing isn't really a valid argument, steam takes up less system memory than a typical web browser, so unless you're on an ancient computer that should be a non-issue.



As for the "intrusiveness", I guess that's up to you...I don't personally see how it can hurt you for them to be gathering statistical information on your gaming habits and purchases or computer specs. Tinfoil hats or what? I guess what I am trying to say is; if they want to log how much I play of each game and what-not I could care less, there is nothing negative that will come of it and it is helping them market and develop their product better.



As you said, you only listed the negatives (if you even consider them a negative) there are many positives and at worst its one more minor program you have to run in the background (you could even hide the tile and pretend its not on at all!)



I guess I am just curious as to the rationale behind this attitude as I have seen it come up before on other forums



To each his own...



Cheers,

I am all for Steam, I use it since 2008 and have had little problems with the service itself; but I can see how other people might not like it much. Thus my post. Another thing is that we need to ensure that Steam doesn't monopolize the market, specially now that the majority of PC games sales comes from digital sales; the large market share Steam now has can be dangerous in the long term for everybody. That's why even if Valve keeps bringing free services like Steamworks for developers, the games should be available in as many digital game services as possible; including friendly anti DRM and region pricing services, such as gog.com.

My intent is not to start yet another steam debate, just to get an answer to the question of whether Steam will be required no matter where/how one wishes to purchase the game. Liking Steam is great, hating it (for whatever reason) is also fine, I don't really care to discuss any of that (and this thread probably isn't a place to do it either).



Simply:



"Is Steam required to play/install/whatever this game no matter where/how you purchase it?"

licker wrote:
Is there going to be a non-Steam option to order the game? And even to play the game? Or is Steam going to be required? Thanks

reynanuy wrote:
Since they mention full Steamworks integration among their goals, I believe that's a no. I mean you can buy the game anywhere, but most likely you will have to install Steam to play; at the very least to access online features(multiplayer for example). May it be be known that this is not a bad thing in my opinion. No DRM at all is always better, but this can't always be done; plus Steamworks provides much more than just DRM.

licker wrote:
My intent is not to start yet another steam debate, just to get an answer to the question of whether Steam will be required no matter where/how one wishes to purchase the game. Liking Steam is great, hating it (for whatever reason) is also fine, I don't really care to discuss any of that (and this thread probably isn't a place to do it either).



Simply:



"Is Steam required to play/install/whatever this game no matter where/how you purchase it?"

We merely drifted into an analysis of Steam and the rest of the digital content delivery services, after answering your question with what we know so far, because it's a natural evolution of the topic; after all such a decision should be justified. Can't see what is wrong with that, even if it's a little off topic; but then again supported delivery services is off topic as well.

Well thanks for your time and interest, but since you don't speak for the devs (I assume?) I'll just wait until there is an official answer.

Hello everyone, I'm back!



To answer your question, the game will be using SteamWorks. There is a simple reason for that, we are a small company and unfortunately we don’t have an unlimited budget.

Beneath the online store that Steam represents, it also proposes very interesting development tools and support for small indie dev teams such as ours (eg: Matchmaking System / Chat System / Tracking System for Game Balancing / Cloud Saving / Auto Update System / etc…). The game will be available through other distribution channels (retail and online) but will still use SteamWorks. There will be no other DRM for the game.

I'm totally fine with Steam. Besides, I think it offers a non negligeable visibility for indie games.

skamaks wrote:
Hello everyone, I'm back!



To answer your question, the game will be using SteamWorks. There is a simple reason for that, we are a small company and unfortunately we don’t have an unlimited budget.

Beneath the online store that Steam represents, it also proposes very interesting development tools and support for small indie dev teams such as ours (eg: Matchmaking System / Chat System / Tracking System for Game Balancing / Cloud Saving / Auto Update System / etc…). The game will be available through other distribution channels (retail and online) but will still use SteamWorks. There will be no other DRM for the game.

Nice to see you're back skamaks! Could I use the opportunity to ask you if a new G2G voting is coming this week and if there are any news that you can share about any upcoming ES gameplay trailer/s (something we talked about in this thread: /#/endless-space/forum/27-general/thread/7188-attract-more-people-to-es)?

Sorry for the OT but we are all anxious to see some new stuff so I thought it would be best to ask here instead of through PM

skamaks wrote:
Hello everyone, I'm back!



To answer your question, the game will be using SteamWorks. There is a simple reason for that, we are a small company and unfortunately we don’t have an unlimited budget.

Beneath the online store that Steam represents, it also proposes very interesting development tools and support for small indie dev teams such as ours (eg: Matchmaking System / Chat System / Tracking System for Game Balancing / Cloud Saving / Auto Update System / etc…). The game will be available through other distribution channels (retail and online) but will still use SteamWorks. There will be no other DRM for the game.

Excellent, thank you for the clarification. Best of luck with the project!

Nice one going the steam route. For sheer convenience and auto updates it sounds wonderful.



I have never pre-ordered a game before... Ever. This'll be the 1st.

skamaks wrote:
Hi guys, we hope to have a pre-order playable version available within a month if everything goes well. We'll give you more info in the weeks to come, as soon as the primary Steam implementation is done. Concerning the FAQ, good point, we'll work on that as soon as possible

So.....how's it coming??

Xervitus wrote:
So.....how's it coming??

I would also appreciate some kind of update. In about week, its going to be month and I can not wait for this game :-). Pretty pretty please :-)

Bumping for my post two above this shoulda waited till a weekday originally...

Not too sure if it's a good idea to stuff many exclusive features in a pre-order package through steam. I'd understand if it was collectors edition box that costs 100 bucks and had other things in addition to it.



But if you get into an beta with that pre-order purchase, I think it's fair to say that it would be more than worth it already. It's candy that not many devs can deliver because they didn't take into account the possibility early enough.

So if they get 10,000 pre orders how are they going to fit our pictures into the office?