Will I be able to play this game without a Steam account?

[Orinsul]

You should be able to play it without Steam running. You need Steam for intallation and patches. And you should be able to copy the folder elsewhere and play there after you first have installed it using Steam.

and how do you first install it if you cant use steam?
you can only remove it after installing if you can install it in the first place. You cant install computer games on library or internet cafe computers, i dont even think they have cd drives in and even if they did it wouldnt be in any way allowed.
Why cant you just install off the cd?

If you can uninstall steam five seconds after installing it, then why need it to be installed as its clearly not needed for the game, just the installation so it shouldn't be needed for the installation at all.

 

[Orinsul]

are you allowed to use a pirated game if you own an actual and legal copy of it just cant use it? or is that still illegal? As if you can install it and then copy it other places, whats the difference? your just getting someone else to do the step that requires steam and skipping straight to the copying part. Exact same results just without the bit that you cant do. As if you can copy it then it works then then all the pirate copy would be is someone having installed it with steam and then copied it onto the internet right?
So if you own it, would that be ok?
so exactly the same as taking your copy to get a friend to do the steam step and then taking it back and copying it onto your computer only you dont know them who is doing the steam step. would that work and be like not illegal or anything?

 

[Johan]

What is so wrong with a steam installer compared to a non-steam installer?

You don't have to run steam when you play if you dont want to..

If you do not have an internet connection on your gaming machine, then no, computer games will not be for you.

Its not as if we're Blizzard with mandatory online to be able to play their games.

 

[Orinsul]

What is so wrong with a steam installer compared to a non-steam installer?

You don't have to run steam when you play if you dont want to..

DO you need to have internet access to install with a steam installer? Does Steam installer need the steam client which is complicated and needs lots of other things?
In which case the difference is, some people CANT install it.
Whereas the current installer all you need is the cd and your away and everythings fine. You just click install and it installs. No, needing a programme that needs the internet to install a game which doesnt need either.

Only i really want to buy and play this game, have since ages before you even started making it, but it sounds like youre saying i wont be able to cos i cant use steam.
And this is all very confusing and i have almost no idea whats going on

If it is just a steam installer and not steam, does it need the internet? or can you install just like with the windows or whatever installer just with different people making the installer wizard?
Or does it mean you need to have steam client installed and on the internet to install the game?

 

[Valiant_Hogers]

I think he means that you basically need internet to play the game(but tbh, if you own computer = internet).
So you have to be connected but with a CD installer(aka offline).

EDIT: Emu'd

 

[steveh11]

And play multiplayer OR get achievements OR get support help from us.

Well, multiplayer and achievements are a bit moot for me, since I do neither, and if you can't access the support subforum, then that explains the lack of support.

 

[Dorevai]

Considering the size of the Steam market vs. non-Steam there really isn't much room for argument. More games are being sold through Steam than otherwise - many more.

In any case, has Paradox screwed us in the past? They've earned my trust. I think this is overblown.

 

[Kluska]

Oh, people and their passions. :laugh:

Steam? Pah!

Paradox, release it as an Origin-exclusive - that'll get the blood boiling!

 

[avee]

I think some people exagerrate Steam problem. Considering what Paradox guys said about CK2 DRM model (aka no DRM), Steam will be no more intrusive than, for example, Gamersgate.

Installation via Gamersgate:
1. Register on GG.
2. Buy a game.
3. Download a downloader.
4. Download and install a game via downloader.

Innstallation via Steam:
1. Register in Steam.
2. Buy a game.
3. Download and install Steam client.
4. Download and install game via Steam client.

The only difference is patching your game - but c`mon, if you have bandwidth to download a game, downloading a patch shouldn`t be a problem.

 

[unmerged(113565)]

Hope there will be a gamers gate version. I have steam but I'm not a huge fan, but the gg style of no mandatory client is infinitely preferable for me. Steam games can be more difficult to mod. You don't know if your mod is going to trigger some kind of anti cheat detection and get your account banned, so I generally don't bother. I don't want targeted adverts popping up when I close or start a game. I don't won't in game adds for DLC.

Didn't the steam customer database get hacked into the other day too...

Why the shift towards steam as opposed to what it was before, standalone, gg and steam... Is it a financial incentive for some kind of exclusivity?

Aren't gamers gate Swedish too?

Another thing I don't like about steam is the install, when you first install it you set it to install all downloaded games to one drive. Ths is fine to start with but once you have bout a few games the steam folder grows very big and you can't install to other locations.

 

[Pete0714]

I think a lot of people are missing the point here on this thread. All too often these threads turn into pro vs con fanaticism about steam. Really, obviously there are reasons to like/ not like steam, so lets stop treating this like we are followers of a religion. The point should not be about whether you like steam or not, but it should be about choice. Steam is not the only distributor of games online, and as such should not be hardcoded into a game forcing distribution through that particular service. It should be a question about freedom to use the distributor you wish, whether it be Steam, gamergate, or any of the others. Personally, I like gamersgate, because I loaded a demo on steam of empire total war and steam started to take over my computer in ways I didn't like. That doesn't mean I am going to attack those who like steam, to each his/her own. Since there are other options available nowadays, there should be other options for the game. If paradox is going to make a gamersgate version, great. If not, that is an unfortunate loss in business, since there is such opposition. I do however, think they wouldn't have said anything about the possibility if they didn't have it in the plans, so good. There is richness in diversity, folks! Stop fighting about this, and realize that the issue is not about which method youa re a fanboy of, but rather why you need to be having this discussion at all.

 

[Tarnor]

I don't think my stance is hypocritical.

I do see some differences between the need to install a 3rd party tool and making the optional decision to register a subforum.

And up to today, I've cost the Pdox Tech Support nothing. By the way, most of the patches for my games I got via gaming sites.

But maybe I'm just an old fart who want to install and play his bought games without the need of an internet connection.

 

[Phase]

And play multiplayer OR get achievements OR get support help from us.

Multiplayer, mods and support is what I registered for. I also like the icons. Although I have to say that I didn't bother to register some games like Magicka.

I see absolutely nothing rewarding in achievements. However, statistics would be absolutely amazing.

 

[steveh11]

I just asked Johan directly via Twitter if there would be a non-Steam version, and his reply was "Thats a very high likelihood of that happening."

 

[Pete0714]

What is so wrong with a steam installer compared to a non-steam installer?

You don't have to run steam when you play if you dont want to..

If you do not have an internet connection on your gaming machine, then no, computer games will not be for you.

Its not as if we're Blizzard with mandatory online to be able to play their games.

No offence meant here, but I am a bit dissapointed. That was not the most professional response coming from a member of the development team. The remark sounds argumentative, defensive, and prejudicial rather than reassuring, constructive, and informative. Rather than stoking the fire of the argument and adding to the confusion, please help clarify the position of the development team, while being sensitive to and taking seriously the legitimate concerns of the customer base.

 

[Talar]

What is so wrong with a steam installer compared to a non-steam installer?

There has been a lot of posts in this and other threads giving various reasons. As I can remember the main ones can be summed up as:
* Practical problems (like Steam client working badly/not at all in some geographical areas, no internet connection)
* Steam client taking up resources (May possible be a non-issue if not needed except for install/patching)
* Ideological reasons - Even if you will not put computer-wrecking DRM in it it will be a third-party control involved, Steam becoming monopoly, etc
* Concern about playing the game years from now when both Steam and Paradox (really hope not..) may be gone
* Not trusting Steam - Risk of losing access to games based on some mistake, privacy issues etc
* Plainly not wanting to buy games as a service
* Worries about being able to buy games in one country and play in another (some people move between countries and have had problems with this)
* Worries this will prevent modding (but should be pointed out that developer comments rather say the opposite)
* Jump through hoops arguments that getting a pirated copy will be easier (yes Steam games are pirated just like all the rest)
* Personal reasons (previous bad experiences with Steam & their customer support)
* General feeling of Paradox turning to the dark side and becoming big evil business throwing customer relations out the window for quick $$$ (ok, may not be entirely Steam-related, but going Steam-only would in the eyes of Steam-haters be a start down the path of evil)

I probably missed some, but tried my best to sum up the answer to your question. And I think that if you go Steam-only you need to recognize that for many of your customers those are real problems to various degrees ranging from a minor annoyance to a complete showstopper.

 

[chowbeng]

I just asked Johan directly via Twitter if there would be a non-Steam version, and his reply was "Thats a very high likelihood of that happening."

A non steam version that doesn't required steam to register or patch? Some games on gamersgate and elsewhere still requires you to activate via steam.

We would like to have some clarification on this point.

 

[Dorevai]

Steam is so not the dark side. The steam platform is a huge springboard for independent development. Steam isn't the only game in town either, but the alternatives aren't necessarily going to unseat Steam. Bigger publishers are breaking off and trying to form their own versions of Steam. Perhaps we'll get competition that improves the lot of the consumer, but more likely companies like EA that are creating their own portals will just prove how much Steam isn't the dark side.

 

[Frezzin]

No offence meant here, but I am a bit dissapointed. That was not the most professional response coming from a member of the development team. The remark sounds argumentative, defensive, and prejudicial rather than reassuring, constructive, and informative. Rather than stoking the fire of the argument and adding to the confusion, please help clarify the position of the development team, while being sensitive to and taking seriously the legitimate concerns of the customer base.

That's not his job. Johan's job is to be a producer and developer. Public relations is other people's job. You can't expect every person in Paradox to be perfect in every post either. It's unrealistic.

He post is also equally valid. You just can't take it defensively.

 

[Frezzin]

What I don't get is why everyone is still arguing about this?

Here's the facts:

1.) Paradox is going with Steam for primary distribution. There is a high likelihood of a release on Gamersgate. They're doing this because 90%+ of their customers use either Steam or Gamersgate.

2.) You will need Steam to activate the game (at least the Steam version) but not to play it. After that, you can close Steam and play as you like. You will need Steam for patches.

3.) If you don't like Steam or don't have a great internet connect, yes that's going to be a problem for you. But Paradox cannot cater to everyone, especially not when 90%+ of their customers use either Steam or GamersGate. It's unrealistic to expect them to print DVDs just for you, out in the po-dunk hills where internet isn't great. Yeah, it sucks if you live there. I've lived there before. But I didn't blame the distributors for my choice of residence.

At the end of the day, complain if you like but Paradox, like any other business, is going to go where their customers are. And that's Steam or Gamersgate. You can't blame them for creating a distribution model that caters to their customer base and you can't expect them to implement an expensive distribution model just to cater for a minority, regardless of how vocal they are.