I don't know the answer to that, I'd think there'd be no issue with IP connect sessions, there's no reason there should be.

I was just wondering if those of us who already have DW and already have Steam are going to have a problem, as I know that Steam often requires a decryption of the data. Then again, I suppose it is possible based on my experience with mods that the game will just show up in the Steam client as ready to play.

well the $50 million question for me is: can modded people play with non-modded people or are we going to have to have 2 seperate installs of Dangerous waters? Also, will the 3.00 mod be popular enough that this won't be an issue. AS it is now, I find many of the ppl who host games through Hyperlobby don't have the mod. However, I can still play. Will this continue after steam?

if I have to make 2 seperate downloads, is there a way to make 2 catagories for steam? meaning have one game say LWAMI DW and another say regular DW so I play with both parties? Will steam even allow a connection to be made when the host and client databases are different?

Another question is that DW is a IP game. How will servers work? will we go online, host and just wait in the lobby till someone joins or what?

Well the situation right now is that steam notwithstanding all the players need to have the same files (dll and database) to play one against the other.
You can't play if you and your antagonist have different databases.
With doctrines the story is different because the players use the doctrine files of the host so it is irrelevant wether you have the same files as the host.

Man, potential problems aside, if it were up 24 hours ago I would have paid and DL'ed. I'm a big fan of Sonalysts games, but I've been in China or overwhelmed with work. I have free time for a week, though, and last night I was feeling weak.

Feb 7th, though...maybe a week too late. I'll be swamped by then.

I'll ask you a question, the game costs 40$ on steam and all you get is the electronic download.
The retail version costs 40$ and you get 2 physical cd's and a box.

Honestly I wonder who is going to buy the steam version ?
Pay the same as retail and get less ? :nope:

Two CDs and a box? I'll survive :) I'm in Hong Kong now, and it's significantly cheaper and much faster by Steam. If I get it I know it'll be very much an impulse purchase, as there a lots of good reasons not to get back in the water. I just more vulnerable through Steam.

I guess I also feel generally comfortable with Sonalysts not leaving me "stuck" if Steam doesn't work out, and I half expect some of the freeware mods to be available, saving me some of the hassle and also making it more likely that other people will be playing with the same game.

Well I plan to make my own backup CD's using steam's facility and then I'm going to get my crayons and an old cornflakes packet and make my own DW box :-j

So you prefer to spend 40 $ plus the cd's + crayons + time to build the box and paint it instead of spending 40$ for the retail version.
I will never understand this line of reasoning.

Cornflakes? $3
Crayons? $2
A weekend afternoon unleashing your inner naval artist?

Well...you know.

The economics are EASY!

$40 vs. PRICELESS.

PRICELESS!

That's a lot!

goldorack I think you are scaremongering.

Unmodded and modded players of DW CANNOT play together even now.

So yes you would need two installs.

As for non steam and steam versions. Well if retail, BF copies and steam copies are all at 1.03 then they can play together.

it is the exe and database that stop people from 1.01 and 1.02 from playing with each other. I doubt that retail and steam versions will stop being able to play with each other because one has steam and the other doesn't. Non-sensical and SCS aren't stupid. Steam is just another way to get the game out and increase the customer base.

If you really want answers then ask Jamie directly. He will answer.

Sorry guys, I've been out of the office today with a cold, but I will try to answer these questions quickly (let me know if I missed any):

1) Retail customers play on Steam?
Yes. If you own the retail (v1.02) or Battlefront (v1.00) versions you will be able to download DW on Steam at no extra cost. You obviously need a Steam account and one of the CDs in your drive, but it's not that difficult.

2) Modding on Steam
The files are extracted from the Steam archive with the EXE (and a few other files) encrypted so that you cannot copy DW from one computer to another and play without paying for it. We control which files must be identical to the archives on Steam (i.e. which files will be overwritten whenever Steam starts up) and these will not include the 3D group, Graphics groups, Doctrines, Database, etc... It will simply be the game EXE and the DLLs most likely.

3) Multiplayer - Steam (v1.03) and Retail (v1.03)
This is precisely why the v1.03 patch is taking so bl00dy long, guys! We want the v1.03 EXE to have all functionality in it for Steam whether you are using Steam or are just a Retail customer waiting for the patch (in which case that Steam functionality will not affect you). With IDENTICAL checksums on the important files, we ensure that ALL customers will be able to play DW together on Gamespy, Hyperlobby, and just normal MP play. This was a very important detail we considered when going with Steam and Valve has been very helpful in implementing it.

4) Price on Steam
The initial price is $36 (10% discount) and you're right it's probably not terribly competitive with the Retail version, but the Steam version will be able for sale for YEARS TO COME while the Retail version will fade from the shelves fairly quickly (as do all retail games). I'm sure the price will adjust over time, so clearly if you would like to wait for that adjustment to happen before buying you are entitled to do so, obviously (you are the consumer after all :)).

5) MP Matchmaking on Steam
There isn't any support for this at the moment, but we will investigate it for the next update on Steam. We have been told that it's not terribly difficult to implement if we already support command-line arguments, which we do for Gamespy Arcade and Hyperlobby.


Hope that clears things up, I need a nap. ;)

Jamie,

This is good news. This sounds like it's been planned well.

Cheers

James

Jamie,

This is awesome! Glad to hear it!

That’s very good news for me. This has been a question that has lingered long in my mind. And thank you Jamie, for explaining things. Not sure if I should tell you this but I was thinking off buying a second copy over steam, just in case. :) I do however still have some questions. I’m the kind of guy who likes to have every thing ready to go and all sorted so that when Dangerous Waters is out on steam all I have to do is decrypt the files and start playing. Now that the pre-load is available is it possible at this time to download the files free of charge using my v1.0 cd and if so, how?

I had a go at it already. I tried putting my cd in and loading up steam but I was only getting the option to pay the $35.95 and pre-load it. How do I get steam to recognise I own Dangerous Waters and integrate it in to steam?

p.s. Hope the nap did you good.