I just don't want to HAVE to be online to play it. A game through Steam sometimes does that, and it's a major dissapointment to learn that after the fact. :o

If it also is realeased in a boxed copy.....no worries.

I say they forget the entire protection thing and just release the thing without anything...

ya think these programs will help you not get pirated, think again...

They help hinder piracy and limit the possibility for 2nd-hand sales. ;)

It's not about preventing piracy anymore, not since copy protection evolved into digital rights management.

The problem isn't will it be available on steam, but will it only be available on steam.

Personally I like steam, it's quicker than going to the shops or waiting for a delivery, makes patching a breeze and I don't have to worry about lost or damaged disks. If I had the option to transfer my few remaining boxed games to steam for free I would. I bought Empire through steam and it was a little slow on the first day, due to load, but apart from that everything was perfect.

The anti piracy argument is weak, there are cracked versions of Empire with the latest patches available. Subscription MMOs are the only games that are truly piracy free.

Over all I'd like to see SH5 available on steam (where I'll buy it) and a boxed copy.

I just found out by nasty experience that Valve games bought in Wal-Mart look like boxed games, they rattle like boxed games, they even seem to install like boxed games. But they AREN"T boxed games.

Because Valve's business model is that you can play your games on any computer, not just your own, as soon as your account shows you've bought "Widgets from Hell" that game belongs to your account. You can go to your friend's house, log on with your name and download the game and play it there.

That means that games in boxes are just a convenience so you can install the game quicker than downloading it. You do not have the right to sell that game, for instance, on ebay. Even if you delete the game from your computer it still belongs to your account and you can't sell it. If you do, your buyer has an expensive paperweight.

It makes sense that Steam only games should be clearly marked on their boxes that the game may not be resold. However, reading Steam's EULA and the box doesn't disclose the fact until it is too late, you've spent the money to buy the game and Valve explains to you that the language which purports to be English, means reselling is not permitted, you're out the cash.

That is not due to any dishonesty on Steam or Valve's part, just a lack of info on the box. If you think about it, the right to download the game onto subsequent computers or even multiple computers really is better than having a boxed DVD, which can be lost or damaged. But we should be told what the score is before we buy in case we don't agree.

The only negative I can think of with Steam's business model is that they have eliminated the resale market and all sales have to line their pockets. I can see being irritated at that, even though Steam prices look plenty reasonable for the most part.

Thought I heard my name :rotfl:

I have had no problems with steam in either online or offline modes.

I am going to need a second hard drive though :cool:

I don't mind Steam too much although I'd rather the game not be tied to any system. But above all else don't let it use the horrible "Games for Windows live" which has all but killed off the multiplayer aspect of Battlestations Pacific.

Can't wait to buy Silent Hunter 5 on STEAM!!! Been using it since March 2004 and absolutely love it, its just so neat and clean having my games all up-to-date and in one location where I can easily access.

VALVe & STEAM == t3h OWN4G3

I was going to bring up the Empire: Total War fiasco. For those that don't know, E:TW was available on DVD just like a normal boxed copy of a game would be. They tied the authentication to steam, however. I knew what I was getting into because I actually read the box before buying. People like me who do not normally purchase steam / downloaded games now had to make a steam account and go through authentication. This requires a one-time Internet connection.

The problem for me is that you lose all control over patching. If the game is up to patch 1.4, and you decide you liked 1.3 better, there's no going back. It's also very hard (perhaps impossible) to apply patches from standalone EXEs anymore, since everything for E:TW was applied through Steam. This was a big problem for those that do not normally have Internet access. Downloading a 400 MB patch through a dial-up connection is not fun. Downloading an EXE at your friends' house and bringing it to your computer via CD gave some more flexibility.

Tying game codes to specific steam accounts also kills resale potential. As a consumer of a product, I feel I should be able to sell it down the road.

Except for the patch lose of control, I don't have major problems with Steam, but would prefer they offer it, and not require it.

........................

:06:As for God's name are you in such a crazy idea that word in the mouth to take?
A horrible thought! :wah:

Automatic updates, stored for you online if you ever want to uninstall and come back to it... Steam is a useful tool.

I don't have problems with Steam, in fact I have several games on my Steam account.
But some games require a hard box, SH5 is one of them.
The SH4 map looks good on the wall, I bet the SH5 map looks even better :O:

Agreed, steam is the worst thing to happen to gaming in a long time. It ends up simply promoting piracy since thats the only way to be rid of it.
Its a barrier between me and my games and i just dont like it.

Can you get me some of the crack you're smoking? There's no barrier whatsoever that isn't in any other digital download model, including those such as GoG or Gamersgate. You buy your game, download it, and play. Not connected to the internet? You play in offline mode.

Digital distribution is the future, there's no getting away from it, and it's not the enemy unless you're specifically looking for something to be grumpy about.

Yes:up:

Seriously though, i guess it comes down to personal experience. For whatever reason i find steam just wont let me use offline mode unless im connected to the net?!? + compulsary updates to steam are constantly getting in the way of me playing games, who the hell wants to wait for yet another update to download before youre allowed to play tf2!

I have no problem with sh5 being made available via steam, but just dont force people who buy boxed copies to use steam, remember the fiasco that surrounded the launch of half life2 and more recently empire total war.

empire total war was a disaster due to steam and i struggled to ever play it offline!

Please name another game where it was a total disaster. I want to know if this is an isolated case.


From AA3 to GTR Evolution all games work flawlessly for me via Steam.

A point on the good side of Steam for me is: The offline Modus is working fine. So if you dont want to make Multiplayer Games, keep Steam offline. If you dont want to be patched without your permission stay offline.

The problem with steam is: If you install a new game for steam you are forced to go once online for activation. When a patch at this moment is waiting for the game you have no chance. But further patches you can avoid, if you have enough disk space.

Ex. : SH5 comes with steam and there is a patch for it. You are not sure if you want to use it. Copy the hole folder with the SH5 content on another place on your harddisk. Go online with steam and wait for getting the game updated. When the game ist after patch once started, go offline with steam. Test the patch intensive. If you dont like it copy your backup to the steam folder and dont go anymore onlne with steam.

The thing on steam i really hate is the resale problem. To me its not buying a game with steam but more a kind of leasing.:damn:

I am not sure because Empire Total War is so far my only Steam Game. I think its a pretty solution for people who use different pc's and for real "online games", but i can see no use for offline games. To me there is absolut no difference between ETW 1.2 and 1.3.
And i played absolut no part of the SH series online.

Silent Hunter 4 i only updated when my favorite modder Ducimus forced me to do so. :03:

I would also like to express my plea to not use Steam.
I don't buy games that use Steam.

I really really really don't wanna miss out out on SH5 because of it!

I don't know whether you mean the Steam program or the Games themselves? You can quite easily disable automatic updates on a game by game basis using the properties menu.

As for TF2 its a great game and I play it loads, but that's down to the constant refinements and Free updates it receives. Like any on-line shooter Steam based or not, if you don't keep it up to date then you won't be able to connect to a game server.

In both these regards Steam is not really "getting in your way" of playing your games.