Have to download through Steam? (for devs)

[colinljx]

Now that we know EU4 will be Steam only, I'm wondering if Steam must be installed just to download the game. Will it be possible to download the game from sources other than Steam like GG? Can we be allowed to download EU4 bundled with Steam in a installer pack from other retailers? (In other words, have more than one source of digital copy)

 

[Baneslave]

You can buy the game from other sources, but you will only get a Steam key, and have to download from Steam.

 

[kingofnoobs]

I hope Steam buys Gamers gate, so that I can port my GG games to Steam =P

 

[AndrewT]

I don't think I fully understand the OP. What would be the advantage of downloading the game and Steam client from GamersGate? Why would Steam allow that?

 

[colinljx]

You can buy the game from other sources, but you will only get a Steam key, and have to download from Steam.

Yes, that's how things are, which I already know.

I don't think I fully understand the OP. What would be the advantage of downloading the game and Steam client from GamersGate? Why would Steam allow that?

Think Total War (Empire, Napoleon), whose box version of installer force you to install Steam since the game is designed for that platform. I'm just hoping Steam is not the only download source for EU4, and having more than one source in my opinion is the advantage. I'm not sure if Steam has a say in how the game will be installed, so you are overestimating Steam a little.

The devs was talking about saving time for patching when justifying switching to Steam, which I understand. Allowing people to download from places other than Steam can solve a lot of problems, for the hassle for me is not having Steam on the computer, but having to depend on Steam as the only mean to own/play the game (even singleplayer).

 

[Torden]

Besides all this Steam bashing, is EUIV going to use the Steam DRM, or just use it to download? (Like CK2 is now)

 

[AndrewT]

I'm just hoping Steam is not the only download source for EU4, and having more than one source in my opinion is the advantage. I'm not sure if Steam has a say in how the game will be installed, so you are overestimating Steam a little.

But your proposal was to download the game and the Steam client from GG or elsewhere. What would be the point of that, for Steam, GG, or PDS? I fail to see any advantage for anyone.

Allowing people to download from places other than Steam can solve a lot of problems

Such as what?

for the hassle for me is not having Steam on the computer, but having to depend on Steam as the only mean to own/play the game (even singleplayer).

Can you explain how downloading from Steam is a hassle, whereas downloading from GG is not? I'm still lost as to what your actual problem is, sorry.

 

[colinljx]

Besides all this Steam bashing, is EUIV going to use the Steam DRM, or just use it to download? (Like CK2 is now)

No one knows, maybe Paradox haven't decided yet. All we know for sure is that the game will be utilizing Steam. (Modding, multiplayer, achievements)

 

[colinljx]

But your proposal was to download the game and the Steam client from GG or elsewhere. What would be the point of that, for Steam, GG, or PDS? I fail to see any advantage for anyone.
Can you explain how downloading from Steam is a hassle, whereas downloading from GG is not? I'm still lost as to what your actual problem is, sorry.

When I download something, I want to download the stuff I want. If Steam is the extra baggage that comes with a game, so be it, but I don't want to have Steam as the doorway between me and my game, which is why I rarely use it.

"Such as what" - Many fear Steam because of the account related issues - history of account hacking, ban, limit... (sure, bad things only happened to a minority of users, but let's face it - Steam is the most controversial one out there) Btw, I never said downloading from Steam is a hassle.

You sir, seemed very offensive towards my proposal here, Steam lover maybe?

 

[Baneslave]

Steam is the most controversial one out there

Not really. Origin, for example, is far more hated. So is Ubisoft's too.

 

[AndrewT]

When I download something, I want to download the stuff I want. If Steam is the extra baggage that comes with a game, so be it, but I don't want to have Steam as the doorway between me and my game, which is why I rarely use it.

You can run CK2 natively without the Steam client running. So this fear is unjustified. It's only required for the download portion, just as being logged into the GG website is required to download games from them.

"Such as what" - Many fear Steam because of the account related issues - history of account hacking, ban, limit... (sure, bad things only happened to a minority of users, but let's face it - Steam is the most controversial one out there) Btw, I never said downloading from Steam is a hassle.

You said "for the hassle for me is ... having to depend on Steam as the only mean to own/play the game (even singleplayer)". Why is that a hassle? And any more so than depending on GG? But note that you do NOT need the Steam client to play CK2 (and so presumably EU4 also) either SP or MP.

You sir, seemed very offensive towards my proposal here, Steam lover maybe?

I've been a GamersGate member almost since it started. And a Steam member for, oh, 2 years maybe. I've not had the slightest problem with either one.

I still fail to understand is what advantage your proposal would have for Steam, GG or PDS? Why would they go to the trouble of implementing such a scheme? I'd be like saying "I'd like to by a new VW, but only from a Ford dealer. So I demand that VW and Ford put in place a business arrangement between rivals so I can do that". Why would they?

 

[anubisfike]

"Such as what" - Many fear Steam because of the account related issues - history of account hacking, ban, limit... (sure, bad things only happened to a minority of users, but let's face it - Steam is the most controversial one out there)

This is just simply untrue. The people who get "hacked" are the people who are dumb enough to use the same password on many different services or who give out their password to a "friend" who gives it to another "friend" and suddenly you lose your account, or anything of that sort, take your pick. There has never been a breach of Steam security as far as user accounts on the service (where your games are stored) is concerned, the most that ever happened was the latest one where some information from the Valve forum was leaked/hacked into that has absolutely nothing to do with your actual Steam account (the information was even still encrypted to such a degree that when the person or persons obtained it they most likely couldn't ever decrypt it, so they couldn't even do anything with it).

Banning also doesn't just "happen" to some people, if you try to cheat or hack or whatever you will get caught by VAC and your account will have some limits but again only if you're actually dumb enough to try to hack. As far as controversy goes I don't think you have any idea what you're talking about. Have you heard of Origin or Uplay?

 

[Baneslave]

Banning also doesn't just "happen" to some people, if you try to cheat or hack or whatever you will get caught by VAC and your account will have some limits but again only if you're actually dumb enough to try to hack.

Hacking and cheating in multiplayer games that are protected by VAC (or similar programs) only stop you from playing VAC protected games in multiplayer.

You actually have to hack the shop itself to get account banned.

 

[anubisfike]

Yeah. That's why I said some limits. I'm not actually sure to what extent you're punished but it's not like they'd just close your account and tell you that you have to buy all of your games again.

 

[Poppy Appletree]

Banning also doesn't just "happen" to some people

Except when it does, which has happened a few times due to errors and Steam incorrectly flagging certain files. It only really gets acknowledged when it affects a lot of people though, and asking about an inappropriate ban on Steam forums inevitably results in a torrent of abuse against the user.

 

[anubisfike]

Except when it does, which has happened a few times due to errors and Steam incorrectly flagging certain files. It only really gets acknowledged when it affects a lot of people though, and asking about an inappropriate ban on Steam forums inevitably results in a torrent of abuse against the user.

Any examples?

 

[Encadi]

When I download something, I want to download the stuff I want. If Steam is the extra baggage that comes with a game, so be it, but I don't want to have Steam as the doorway between me and my game, which is why I rarely use it.

"Such as what" - Many fear Steam because of the account related issues - history of account hacking, ban, limit... (sure, bad things only happened to a minority of users, but let's face it - Steam is the most controversial one out there) Btw, I never said downloading from Steam is a hassle.

You sir, seemed very offensive towards my proposal here, Steam lover maybe?

tbh colin it has been stated many times, if you dont like steam you wont buy more paradox games, they all will use Steam so might aswell stop spamming forums and get with the tiems =/ these anti steam spam is getting annoying quite fast.

 

[colinljx]

Oh my, all of a sudden I became the target of attack from fellow Paradox fanboys... Where should I start? Who should I answer first?

@AndrewT: You and I don't know whether or not will Steam be the DRM, so let's wait and see about how much will Steam be "utilized" and get back to this topic later.
All I want is to have a installer pack that I can download and store in a hard drive so that I feel like owning the game (correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't remember Steam keeping a seperate installer the last time), and I prefer to buy from GG since all my games are bought there. For Steam, they already are happy because I will be forced to use their service again. For Gamersgate, time to do their job as a digital retailer by having actual digital copy of Steamwork games rather than simply selling Steam codes. For PDS, pissed off customers calm down eventually, small favor like this is important for marketing/PR to calm them down faster.

@Baneslave: Origin and Ubisoft's DRMs are horrible garbage without enough benefits to justify the hassle like Steam does, "controversial" will be too kind to use for those softwares but fitting for Steam's online service.

@anubisfike: I guess I fall into the category of "dumb" people you described to some extent and most likely will be hacked in near future. For your question in the end, yes I have heard of them. Origin - I have it installed longer than Steam for Burnout Paradise, and the customer service did give me new code of BF2142 and BF2:SF in a few hours, can't be unhappy about that.

@Encadi: Dislike is not hate, and I hardly spammed at all (1-2 post a day is spam? You have no idea what real spam is like). Who said "if you dont like steam you wont buy more paradox games" anyway... You sir, are the most misinformed person here.

 

[dskod1]

I would like to say before I respond I am not taking a bashing against anyone personally just against what is being said and if you take this personally then really there is nothing I can do about it.

"Such as what" - Many fear Steam because of the account related issues - history of account hacking, ban, limit... (sure, bad things only happened to a minority of users, but let's face it - Steam is the most controversial one out there) Btw, I never said downloading from Steam is a hassle.

I would like to point out that every company online these days gets hacked in one form or another. Lets not forget Sony's huge blunder.

I would say that you need to actually bring proof that steam accounts get hacked successfully more then other companies. After all we are not here to talk about controversies and myths we are here to talk about the facts. If you do have a problem with steam on this I would suggest you actually dispel the controversy yourself by doing a little google research

tbh colin it has been stated many times, if you dont like steam you wont buy more paradox games, they all will use Steam so might aswell stop spamming forums and get with the tiems =/ these anti steam spam is getting annoying quite fast.

Why do you even open and read the anti-steam topics?

 

[DreadLindwyrm]

Is there any information on how much of the market share of non-Steam sales that came through physical copies or digital downloads (such as GG) that effectively downloaded the non-Steam version for games previous to CKII became market share for Steam when the "physical" copies and several digital distribution hubs effectively only gave the Steam codes?

If these had continued to be non-Steam versions, would the market share be significantly different?