Civilization V to use Steam/Steamworks

[drone]

So what exactly is the beef here? The game is not a Steam exclusive, it just uses the Steamworks API (which is currently free, so Valve won't get a dime of your money if you buy retail.) It does require the Steam client to be active and connected to validate the install, but doesn't require an active connection to play, just like current Steam SP games.

Some people don't like the idea of paying full price to rent games. I am one of them, Martok appears to be another. And Valve does get money from retail sales, the Steam DRM is licensed to the the publisher, so they get a cut from the sale.

The "Digital Deluxe" crap is another issue altogether.

[Crandaeolon]

Some people don't like the idea of paying full price to rent games.

If you like to buy only boxed games, that's of course your choice. Point is, Steam doesn't really markedly differ from other digital distribution services.

And Valve does get money from retail sales, the Steam DRM is licensed to the the publisher, so they get a cut from the sale.

Your source for this is...? Steamworks's site claims differently:

Steamworks is entirely free. There are no licensing fees and there’s no charge for bandwidth, retail copies, or OEM distribution.

[Skullheadhq]

No, you don't have to pay for using steam, but the game makers have to to sell their games there.

[al Roumi]

For games that I really value -as Civ V will likely be, I usually get a box - I always want a hard copy backup just in case.

The "Digital Deluxe" crap is another issue altogether.

I agree, but tbh, in all the years of playing Civ4, I've only ever played a couple of mods and my proportion of play on a 4000bc-2000ad world campaign has got to be well over 95%. As it is, I'm not at all bothered to miss out on a Mesopotamian map...

[drone]

For games that I really value -as Civ V will likely be, I usually get a box - I always want a hard copy backup just in case.

The hard copy will do you no good (legally), as the activation through Steam is still a necessity. Unless you want to risk the DMCA and follow Kekvit Irae's advice.

I think Martok's problem is that Steamworks is unsupported by Camels' OS.

I'm sure Valve is working to get over that hump.

[jabarto]

I really don't get all this Steam hate. I know it was a buggy, intrusive piece of crap back when Half-Life 2 came out, but that was seven years ago and it's now the most popular, reputable, and effective digital distribution service out there.

What we should be railing against is this godforsaken trend of overpriced, low-quality "downloadable content" that seems to have gaming by the throat. No I will not pay $10 extra to have a leader that the community will mod in within weeks of the game's release.

[Krusader]

I really don't get all this Steam hate. I know it was a buggy, intrusive piece of crap back when Half-Life 2 came out, but that was seven years ago and it's now the most popular, reputable, and effective digital distribution service out there.

What we should be railing against is this godforsaken trend of overpriced, low-quality "downloadable content" that seems to have gaming by the throat. No I will not pay $10 extra to have a leader that the community will mod in within weeks of the game's release.

That's what someone is worrying about. With map packs and other DLCs how will it affect modding.

[Husar]

I find the new UbiSoft protection a lot worse, especially since it has no offline mode.
I do however know people who think I'm completely overreacting, they're always online anyway and they have to be to play WoW as well etc.
But I'm just unwilling to spend money for a game that wants me to be online to play single player.
And besides I think a publisher is far more likely to go bankrupt than a retailer.
And well yeah, my internet is less reliable than Steam's offline mode in my experience.

And Kekvit, I was wondering where you got some of these games from.

[Kekvit Irae]

And Kekvit, I was wondering where you got some of these games from.

Open up notepad, save the blank file as "Prostitution Tycoon" (without the quotes). Go to your folder options and make sure known file extensions are hidden. Now go into Steam and choose Add Game and select the file you just saved. When you open it from Steam, you'll open up the blank notepad and everyone else will see the pop-up notification "Husar is now playing Prostitution Tycoon."
If you don't have file extensions hidden, it will say "Husar is now playing Prostitution Tycoon.txt." instead, which ruins the joke.

:)

[jabarto]

That's what someone is worrying about. With map packs and other DLCs how will it affect modding.

True enough. I must have missed your post earlier.