Steam Release...is it possible?

[Lowpe]

I noticed that a lot of Matrix games have migrated to Steam, in addition to the Matrix site, but not WITPAE. In fact I am going to start
a super slow game of Distant Worlds again because of it.

I am curious if anyone knows why AE hasn't migrated. At the very least it might make running on Linux in Steam(proton) super easy.

[btd64]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

I noticed that a lot of Matrix games have migrated to Steam, in addition to the Matrix site, but not WITPAE. In fact I am going to start
a super slow game of Distant Worlds again because of it.

I am curious if anyone knows why AE hasn't migrated. At the very least it might make running on Linux in Steam(proton) super easy.

My guess is the age of the game and the fact that an update to the game at this stage is not going happen. Most new games are going to steam....GP

[spence]

What is STEAM and how does it change the playing of the game (my intro to computers involved a teletype machine and feeding cards into machine that occupied an entire room)?

[Lokasenna]

I don't see why there would be any incentive to shift it to Steam, other than advertising purposes.

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: spence

What is STEAM and how does it change the playing of the game (my intro to computers involved a teletype machine and feeding cards into machine that occupied an entire room)?

It is basically a game delivery platform. A centralized library of games, run by Valve (makers of Half Life, etc.). It helps to facilitate multiplayer as well.

It does not substantively change gameplay in any way of the games that are on it.

[bradfordkay]

this is the old geezer in me talking, but I have pretty much dropped computer games completely because of Steam. Matrix was my last refuge. I do not appreciate having to log on the some internet service just to play a game whose disc is in my drive - and I will never buy a game without a disc.

I can play AE on my laptop anywhere - while camped in the middle of nowhere if that is what I feel like doing. Games that require Steam? No can do...

If my internet connection is acting up again - as it often does in my neighborhood - I can continue to play AE without interruption. My CRPGs have migrated to Playstation nowadays - no I can't play them anywhere but I am not required to connect to the internet just to play them.

[rustysi]

I do not appreciate having to log on the some internet service just to play a game whose disc is in my drive

I get where you're coming from, but...

If its on your drive you don't have to go online to play games downloaded from Steam. At least you didn't have to the last time I played a game I got from them. Not only that you can re-download your games whenever you like IIRC.

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: rustysi

I do not appreciate having to log on the some internet service just to play a game whose disc is in my drive

I get where you're coming from, but...

If its on your drive you don't have to go online to play games downloaded from Steam. At least you didn't have to the last time I played a game I got from them. Not only that you can re-download your games whenever you like IIRC.

This is correct. If you don't want Steam to start up every time you boot up your computer, you can remove it from the start up list.

You also don't need to be online or connected to the internet to play any games that have offline play.

There are some developers that, as part of their DRM (digital rights management, basically verifying that you did not pirate the game), used to require an internet connection even for a single player game. EA and/or Ubisoft did this in a particularly infamous fashion some time back, although I forget the details. I don't think anybody really does this anymore.

Steam is really, mostly, just a digital games marketplace and library/organization tool. It is not onerous at all - at least not for the games I play, which are fairly major (mostly AAA) strategy or roleplaying titles for the most part.

[Trugrit]

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

ORIGINAL: rustysi

I do not appreciate having to log on the some internet service just to play a game whose disc is in my drive

I get where you're coming from, but...

If its on your drive you don't have to go online to play games downloaded from Steam. At least you didn't have to the last time I played a game I got from them. Not only that you can re-download your games whenever you like IIRC.

This is correct. If you don't want Steam to start up every time you boot up your computer, you can remove it from the start up list.

You also don't need to be online or connected to the internet to play any games that have offline play.

There are some developers that, as part of their DRM (digital rights management, basically verifying that you did not pirate the game), used to require an internet connection even for a single player game. EA and/or Ubisoft did this in a particularly infamous fashion some time back, although I forget the details. I don't think anybody really does this anymore.

Steam is really, mostly, just a digital games marketplace and library/organization tool. It is not onerous at all - at least not for the games I play, which are fairly major (mostly AAA) strategy or roleplaying titles for the most part.

I agree 100%. Steam is not bad at all. I've been playing Arma 3 lately in single player and am having a blast.

That is me in the foreground. I'm taking a squad inland on green beach Tarawa to see if I can locate Able Company.
I lost contact with them about an hour ago.

[Lecivius]

Actually, a lot of Steam games require an internet connection anymore. I think, but am no where near sure, it has to do with anti-piracy. There is a growing buzz on Steam regarding this.

[JoV]

GOG.com would seem to be a good fit for WitP. Lots of support, no DRM, good community [:)]

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: Trugrit

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

ORIGINAL: rustysi



I get where you're coming from, but...

If its on your drive you don't have to go online to play games downloaded from Steam. At least you didn't have to the last time I played a game I got from them. Not only that you can re-download your games whenever you like IIRC.

This is correct. If you don't want Steam to start up every time you boot up your computer, you can remove it from the start up list.

You also don't need to be online or connected to the internet to play any games that have offline play.

There are some developers that, as part of their DRM (digital rights management, basically verifying that you did not pirate the game), used to require an internet connection even for a single player game. EA and/or Ubisoft did this in a particularly infamous fashion some time back, although I forget the details. I don't think anybody really does this anymore.

Steam is really, mostly, just a digital games marketplace and library/organization tool. It is not onerous at all - at least not for the games I play, which are fairly major (mostly AAA) strategy or roleplaying titles for the most part.

I agree 100%. Steam is not bad at all. I've been playing Arma 3 lately in single player and am having a blast.

That is me in the foreground. I'm taking a squad inland on green beach Tarawa to see if I can locate Able Company.
I lost contact with them about an hour ago.

Why is the guy on the left shooting sand fleas?

[Olorin]

I have 30+ games in my steam library and none of them require me to log in.

[Trugrit]

"Why is the guy on the left shooting sand fleas?"

I have a special marine for killing sand fleas, he is not in the shot.

[GetAssista]

+1 for Steam. It's also great platform for user reviews.
When I want to try something new I go to steam during sale season and look through the library sorted by reviews. I personally never buy new games or games that do not have overwhelmingly positive reviews. No disappointments so far, and played quite a few enjoyable indie titles I would never ever find on my own.

[MakeeLearn]

Yes it is possible, and in many cases it is a necessary part of the design.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: MakeeLearn

Yes it is possible, and in many cases it is a necessary part of the design.

Looks like they should have changed the gasket instead of polishing the pipes ...
They should also wake the captain up and tell him they are ready for flank speed now.

[bradfordkay]

This was my experience with Steam: I purchased Fallout: New Vegas when it came out and brought it home to enjoy. I then found that I had to install Steam in order to prove that I had a legitimate copy of the game. I spent the time on a bad internet connection to download it, register and then it spent the rest of that evening updating itself. The next evening I came home from work and tried to start up the game, but - Lo! - Steam had to update itself another time!!! I uninstalled both the game and Steam and then purchased a PS3 and the only PC games I have purchased since them have been Matrix games. Everything else is on the console - hell, I even found Tropico 5 for the PS4!

[Fishbed]

Deploying WitP:AE to Steam wouldn't mean an automatic Steam installation, would it? Technically you'd have a Steam edition and a Matrixgames/Digital River (for us old folks) edition compatible with each other, but distinct from each other (the former using Steam mainly as a community platform and a DRM).

The good thing I see in this is that you would certainly enlarge the audience - and renew/enrich the players pool. And you'd have also another forum where you old hands would be happily sharing your knowledge to the youngsters.

But I suppose Matrix/Slitherine has its strategy, and even though it is not that much work, making a Steam edition still requires some efforts & logistics - all this for a platform where they'll loose 30% of their margin before tax.

[wegman58]

Count me in the STEAM - NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! category.

I just logged into Civilization 6, made me log in (and for some reason my auto log in forgot the password).

I DID get a couple of updates BUT if I'm playing at home I do NOT want to have to log in to something that eats resources for something bought and paid for!