Empire using Steam; Gamespot interview/preview

**JR-** · 11-17-2008, 16:20

Originally Posted by Nebuchadnezzar

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** · 11-17-2008, 18:11

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** · 11-17-2008, 18:49

Spoiler Alert, click show to read:

Anyway, back to topic:

Originally Posted by AussieGiant

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** · 11-18-2008, 20:13

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** · 11-19-2008, 22:02

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

Annie

**Zenicetus** · 11-19-2008, 22:25

Originally Posted by Furunculu5

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** · 11-22-2008, 12:51

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** · 11-24-2008, 20:26

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** · 11-24-2008, 22:36

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.