Empire using Steam; Gamespot interview/preview

[Intrepid Sidekick]

Hi Dreadking

For more information go to the Steam website here:

General stuff and an idea of what the app looks like

http://store.steampowered.com/about/

and here

For more frequently asked/answered questions and known issues

https://support.steampowered.com/

As an immediate response. You do not have to have steam connected to the internet while playing the game in single player mode. You can chose to play offline. A one time connection to the Steam server for authentication is all that is required to play the game.

[Dreadking]

Thank You Intrepid. I've never heard of this feature before, just wanted to know what all the commotion was about, so thanks!

[HopAlongBunny]

Steam doesn't sound too bad.

I am worried about stuff that jumps up from time to time to "call home"; I don't want a program to do anything unless I tell it to_apparently not an issue (Yay!) I am concerned about portability but that also sounds like it is not an issue.

On the thread derailment, I completely agree with Akka. My first exposure to a TW game came thanks to a person who never bought a game in her life; handed me a disc and a piece of paper and said, "I think you'll like this"; it was MTW (full version)_ I installed, played it for a cpl hours and bought the game the next day. People who game w/o paying will always find a way to do so; people who buy their games will do so whether they need to or not. The absolute numbers may change but I doubt the ratio differs much over time.

[Nebuchadnezzar]

As an immediate response. You do not have to have steam connected to the internet while playing the game in single player mode. You can chose to play offline. A one time connection to the Steam server for authentication is all that is required to play the game.

Are you sure?

• During authentication will it insist to download the latest version of steam?
• Will I need to authenticate if I do a reformat? For many this being a regular occurance and sadly the nature of windows.
• Will I need to download patches via steam and can I keep a backup copy for future use rather than re-downoad every time?
• Will the makers of steam never change their terms of use so that this game authentication requirements don't change whether now or in the future?
• Will I need to authenticate everytime I re-install the game?
• Some clarification regarding mods would also be very welcome.

[JR-]

Are you sure?

• During authentication will it insist to download the latest version of steam?
• Will I need to authenticate if I do a reformat? For many this being a regular occurance and sadly the nature of windows.
• Will I need to download patches via steam and can I keep a backup copy for future use rather than re-downoad every time?
• Will the makers of steam never change their terms of use so that this game authentication requirements don't change whether now or in the future?
• Will I need to authenticate everytime I re-install the game?
• Some clarification regarding mods would also be very welcome.

all good questions.

[AussieGiant]

Yes very good questions Nebuchadnezzar.

I'd like to see a response to those.

And just to be clear.

There is a ONE TIME ONLY requirement to register the copy with Steam? Not a one time per single player session?

That means; I install the game from DVD or CD; install the "Steam" client as part of that install process; then register the game; then shut "Steam" down and play happily ever after wards; unless I see a patch of course in which case; I start "Steam" up again; download the patch; then shut "Steam" down again?

Correcto?

[Martok]

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

It's just, I mean i love GC III, why can't more people do the stardock thing.

What?? Stardock's making Galactic Civilizations 3 already? What do you know? Tell me! TELL ME!!

[Martok shakes Polemists for information]

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Yeah, I know that was a typo on your part, and that we won't be seeing GalCiv 3 anytime soon. I had to do it anyway, though.

Anyway, back to topic:

And just to be clear.

There is a ONE TIME ONLY requirement to register the copy with Steam? Not a one time per single player session?

That means; I install the game from DVD or CD; install the "Steam" client as part of that install process; then register the game; then shut "Steam" down and play happily ever after wards; unless I see a patch of course in which case; I start "Steam" up again; download the patch; then shut "Steam" down again?

Correcto?

That's my understanding of how it'll work, yes. From what CA has said, we'll only need Steam for the initial install/authentication and for patches/updates (if you play only singleplayer, that is). Otherwise we shouldn't need to bother with it.

[Upxl]

Ha steam,
I remember the old days when me and my cs clan blasted those noobish clans away.
We had computers so didn’t needed girls…
Thank god that all changed J.

But seriously, I remember when steam came out and have to honestly say that I have always been a happy steam user.
And if I would ever feel the urge off playing online again Steam will be the first program I’ll install.

[LadyAnn]

I bet you still need girls, whether you have them or not :)

Annie

[Zenicetus]

Originally Posted by Nebuchadnezzar View Post
Are you sure?

* During authentication will it insist to download the latest version of steam?
* Will I need to authenticate if I do a reformat? For many this being a regular occurance and sadly the nature of windows.
* Will I need to download patches via steam and can I keep a backup copy for future use rather than re-downoad every time?
* Will the makers of steam never change their terms of use so that this game authentication requirements don't change whether now or in the future?
* Will I need to authenticate everytime I re-install the game?
* Some clarification regarding mods would also be very welcome.

all good questions.

Agreed, but in all likelihood we'll never get a straight answer to #4 ("Will the makers of steam never change their terms of use so that this game authentication requirements don't change whether now or in the future?"). It's related to these questions:

• What happens if the company goes out of business, or is absorbed by a larger company that's no longer interested in paying to keep the authorization servers online?
  
• If I keep an old computer around to run games I consider classics and might want to re-visit, and it's running a OS version several versions old.... will you guarantee that your current version of DRM, Steam, whatever will still authenticate the game on that older platform? What are you promising, in essence, for future support?

I've never seen a game rep give a straight answer to these sorts of questions, whenever it comes up in other forums. "Don't worry, we'll take care of you" is not a straight answer, but it's the closest I've seen to any kind of commitment for future support, no matter what happens to the company.

This goes to the heart of whether we're renting or purchasing games. It's much more relevant for a strategy title like TW, which gamers might want to re-visit in the future, than something with limited replay value like a FPS game. If I'm only going to be renting my games with no guarantee of future installation whenever I want, then I want a different price structure.

[Arcana]

Meh, I prefer Impulse to Steam, mostly because it's non-invasive and doesn't require itself to be running in order to play the game.

That's Steam's main failing for me - it has to run in the background. Whereas my GalCiv runs quite happily just having been authenticated. I don't run Impulse unless I want to update (offtopic: FINALLY Stardock gave us 2.0 of Twilight. I thought I was going to die of old age before it came, but I digress), which, to be fair, I rarely do. Ideally I'd have seen ETW on Impulse than Steam.

I do see the uses of both systems. I can see why companies use them. But I think it's unfair on those who've grabbed a boxed copy to have to authenticate online. If you buy it to be downloaded over steam, fair enough! But for those of us who've got a disc, why should we be limited? I hate that companies treat good honest users like criminals. I'm convinced that there's something in law that prohibits the crap game companies (particularly EA) are pulling these days.

I am, however a bit irked by the argument of "It's not as bad as SecuROM". While this may be true, "not as bad as" does not mean it is "good". Brussels Sprouts are not as bad as running your tongue over razor blade ice cream, but I still don't want them near my tongue, thanks very much.

[AussieGiant]

But that was the nature of my question Arcana.

Based on the description, Martok has agreed there will be no need to run it in the background while playing Single Player. Of course you maybe speaking about Multiplayer.

[Arcana]

I hope that's the case. In general, for steam games I've previously encountered you have to set Steam to an 'offline mode' which it automatically tries to get out of every time you fire it up...irksome.

[macduro]

[*]During authentication will it insist to download the latest version of steam?

Yes , it does automatically when steam starts
[*]Will I need to authenticate if I do a reformat? For many this being a regular occurance and sadly the nature of windows.

You don't need to autenticate the games again if you reformat , but you will need loguin on steam
You have no limits to download the game , you can install and reinstall it all the times that you want.
[*]Will I need to download patches via steam and can I keep a backup copy for future use rather than re-downoad every time?

Patches are downloaded atumatically , and yes you can do backups , but it use to be more usefull just to copy and paste the game directory.
[*]Will the makers of steam never change their terms of use so that this game authentication requirements don't change whether now or in the future?

NO , they will never change the terms.
[*]Will I need to authenticate everytime I re-install the game?

No , but you will need loguin onto steam



I see that not so many people here knows how steam works.

To play a Steam game first of all you will need to have a Steam account . The games that runs under steam are ALWAYS linked to the Steam account , games can't be moved to another account or sell to another user .
If you buy ETW on retail you will receive thegame with a keycode , you will to open the steam program , loguin onto your account and put the ETW keycode onto your steam account . You can only do it one time , and once done you will not be able to change the game to another steam account.
And be aware , all the games that runs under steam needs at least connect to internet one time in order to run . You can install the game from the CD but you need to autenthificate it on the steam net .

If you go to visit family or friends you can play the games that are associated to your steam account easily , you only need to download steam again in another computer , loguin in your account and download the games . No matter where you are , you can activate your steam client everiwere with your games alwais ready to donwload an play.

Actually Steam , Nvidia and ATI gifts some games to the owners from a graphic card from one of those companies . If you don't have a steam account you can use those links to start ...

http://www.steampowered.com/nvidia/

http://steampowered.com/ati_offer1a/

[Nebuchadnezzar]

[*]Will the makers of steam never change their terms of use so that this game authentication requirements don't change whether now or in the future?

NO , they will never change the terms.

Forgive me for being skeptical here but you know this how?

[macduro]

Forgive me for being skeptical here but you know this how?

I'm sure . This is because steam is only a distribution tool , the terms of use for the game only concern to Sega , the owner . They are the only one than can decide about game athentification , adding DRM or other tools or redirecting you to another loguin place as games for windows live ...

[Nebuchadnezzar]

I'm sure . This is because steam is only a distribution tool , the terms of use for the game only concern to Sega , the owner . They are the only one than can decide about game athentification , adding DRM or other tools or redirecting you to another loguin place as games for windows live ...

LOL I don't think so! I'm sure SEGA's EULA will include something about users also accepting Valves T&C

and guess what? No surprises to see Vaves TC contains a clause where they can change their agreement whenever it wishes.

Perhaps you forgot Kingdoms and Securom. Sega washed their hands on those having problems and redirected them to securom for help. SEGA may be the publisher/developer but I doubt they take much responsibility for the third party inclusions.

[macduro]

LOL I don't think so! I'm sure SEGA's EULA will include something about users also accepting Valves T&C

and guess what? No surprises to see Vaves TC contains a clause where they can change their agreement whenever it wishes.

Perhaps you forgot Kingdoms and Securom. Sega washed their hands on those having problems and redirected them to securom for help. SEGA may be the publisher/developer but I doubt they take much responsibility for the third party inclusions.

Well , if you don't believe me you can go to the steam forums and ask about it . Valve can change the EULA for the Steam tool , but not the EULA for games that are not from Valve .
I told you again , Valve just rent a space in to the Steam to other companies for sell his games , and are those other companies who decide over his games , about the support , upgrades or about how the people can acces the game .

From the Steam EULA :

6. THIRD PARTY CONTENT

"Third Party Content" means software and other content provided by third parties, other than Valve, that is designed to work in conjunction with the Steam Software (e.g. mods of Valve game products). In regard to all Third Party Content, Valve acts merely as an intermediary service provider. Valve does not screen Third Party Content available on Steam or through other sources. Valve does not assume any responsibility or liability for Third Party Content.