Warlords and Steam ?

[DrSpike]

Originally posted by Strudo


Not needing the CD in the drive for starters

Well that can easily be arranged.

[Solver]

/me makes sure his banning rod is nearby

[Adagio]

Originally posted by DrSpike
Well that can easily be arranged.

Care to explain with more detail?

[AreliusMaximus]

I purchased it off steam for almost all of the reason Solver mentioned. I've seen Civ III in software shops for years. I've seen Civ IV there as well, but it was mostly a curiosity to me and I was usually playing a game at the time anyways.

When it showed up on Steam, I wasn't really playing anything else and I happened to be looking for a game to play. Civ is something I've wanted to try practically since Civ II came out, so it popping up on Steam coincided perfectly with me looking for a game.

I like getting things from Steam partly because of the no-CD check. But mostly because I don't have to worry about keeping up with a box and CD, and usually a CD key. Even if something happens to my hard drive and I have to get a new one, I can just download the Steam client and re-download all my games in a couple hours.

There are also some games, like Half-Life 2:Episode One, that you can't play without Steam even if you buy it in the store. I'd rather just download them and not worry about keeping up with the box and such.

I'm not opposed to buying things in the store, I just purchased Warlords there. But the scenario went like this. I drove about 7 miles to the Gamestop that had a copy. Looked around the store for a bit, found it, stood in line behind the dozen or so people inquiring about Wii pre-orders. Finally got to the counter, the guy had to find a real copy as the one in my hand was just for display. Finally got it and drove another 7 miles back home.

When I went to open the box I found it was already nicely opened. And nothing but a manual inside. I remembered the guy had both copies (the display and the real copy) on the desk at the same time. So I had to drive back out there, wait in line again, and then explain what had happened. They had no problem switching it out, and I drove back home to install it.

Now that's a bad example, but I could have saved myself 14 miles of driving, gas, and probably an hour of time just from the first trip if I could have just clicked "Buy" on Steam. That's the real power behind purchasing on Steam.

[Solver]

But mostly because I don't have to worry about keeping up with a box and CD, and usually a CD key.

I have to say, one of the advantages of Civ4 (retail) is that it doesn't have a silly and useless CD key.

And see, guys, the following story by AreliusMaximus is one of the reasons why Steam is sometimes convenient. From my viewpoint, I can say that there are many games that are impossible or near-impossible to buy in a store, and only accessible through Steam or similar systems (Stardock Central among others).

[snoopy369]

By the way, Aurelius and others, Warlords is available now on Direct2Drive (IGN's service, like Steam, except no online validation each time you play, just an emailed-to-you unlock key).

Warlords D2D works fine with a CD version of Civ4 (mine) and has patch 2.08 working wonderfully No CD in drive required (not even the Civ4 CD) and very fast download

[AreliusMaximus]

Originally posted by snoopy369
By the way, Aurelius and others, Warlords is available now on Direct2Drive (IGN's service, like Steam, except no online validation each time you play, just an emailed-to-you unlock key).

Warlords D2D works fine with a CD version of Civ4 (mine) and has patch 2.08 working wonderfully No CD in drive required (not even the Civ4 CD) and very fast download

Doh.. Just a few days too late. I could have saved a couple hours if I'd known (or if they'd released it).

Ahh well, I've got Warlords. I can't complain

[zeep]

Re: Re: Warlords and Steam ?

Originally posted by Adagio
People buy Civ through steam?

Sure.

Thats the easiest way to get a non-localised version of the game. And since i have dozens of Mbit/s available, downloading a whole game isn't a problem (CIVIV took an hour or so..).

I don't like steam in detail, but i like downloading things, pay for it, use it.

z.

[Addled Platypus]

Originally posted by Kuciwalker
Be nice the the newbies, Solver

Nikolai a newbie ???

me dont think so

[Nikolai]

My thought too.

[foudres]

Originally posted by AreliusMaximus
I purchased it off steam for almost all of the reason Solver mentioned. I've seen Civ III in software shops for years. I've seen Civ IV there as well, but it was mostly a curiosity to me and I was usually playing a game at the time anyways.

When it showed up on Steam, I wasn't really playing anything else and I happened to be looking for a game to play. Civ is something I've wanted to try practically since Civ II came out, so it popping up on Steam coincided perfectly with me looking for a game.

I like getting things from Steam partly because of the no-CD check. But mostly because I don't have to worry about keeping up with a box and CD, and usually a CD key. Even if something happens to my hard drive and I have to get a new one, I can just download the Steam client and re-download all my games in a couple hours.

There are also some games, like Half-Life 2:Episode One, that you can't play without Steam even if you buy it in the store. I'd rather just download them and not worry about keeping up with the box and such.

I'm not opposed to buying things in the store, I just purchased Warlords there. But the scenario went like this. I drove about 7 miles to the Gamestop that had a copy. Looked around the store for a bit, found it, stood in line behind the dozen or so people inquiring about Wii pre-orders. Finally got to the counter, the guy had to find a real copy as the one in my hand was just for display. Finally got it and drove another 7 miles back home.

When I went to open the box I found it was already nicely opened. And nothing but a manual inside. I remembered the guy had both copies (the display and the real copy) on the desk at the same time. So I had to drive back out there, wait in line again, and then explain what had happened. They had no problem switching it out, and I drove back home to install it.

Now that's a bad example, but I could have saved myself 14 miles of driving, gas, and probably an hour of time just from the first trip if I could have just clicked "Buy" on Steam. That's the real power behind purchasing on Steam.

What the advantage of the retail box ?

I can install in on any computer i want even if i don't have an internet access.

Also when i go to the supermarket anyway it's just another stuff and took ony a few second to add.


I agree that online download can be good, but i do not like steam and the fact i had to install it (and have an internet access) when i brought HL2. I prefer to boycot things like steam and if in need buy online go for another online download store. I just very dislike the way you need to validate a software before using it.

[Strudo]

Originally posted by foudres I agree that online download can be good, but i do not like steam and the fact i had to install it (and have an internet access) when i brought HL2.

That's the standard thing people say when they pirate HL2. Not suggesting you pirated HL2 as you said you bought it, just pointing out something I noticed related to the topic. My brother says the same thing. I told him that you only need net access to install it and then you can play offline. No futher net access required. Of course, that didn't suit his arguement that he pirated the game because of the internet access requirement (despite the fact he has a ADSL2 connection that he hardly uses).

I think steam is a great idea. I wish there was a way to register my copies of civ4 and warlords with steam to get updates and not require the cd, even though I have retail versions of both. I didn't play HL2 for ages and when I played through it again recently saw all the great stuuf that was available that I didn't even know you could get through steam.

My opinion is that if you don't want people looking over your shoulder, you're probably doing something you don't want other people to see.

[Adagio]

Re: Re: Re: Warlords and Steam ?

Originally posted by zeep
Sure.

Thats the easiest way to get a non-localised version of the game. And since i have dozens of Mbit/s available, downloading a whole game isn't a problem (CIVIV took an hour or so..).

I don't like steam in detail, but i like downloading things, pay for it, use it.

Download it, pay for it and use it

But with my way of getting it I get the best of both sides: No trouble with patches and expansion packs, and I also get a nice DVD-box to show I've bought it, not to mention I don't have to wait to get the game

But I guess that's not what here to talk about

[foudres]

Originally posted by Strudo


That's the standard thing people say when they pirate HL2. Not suggesting you pirated HL2 as you said you bought it, just pointing out something I noticed related to the topic. My brother says the same thing. I told him that you only need net access to install it and then you can play offline. No futher net access required. Of course, that didn't suit his arguement that he pirated the game because of the internet access requirement (despite the fact he has a ADSL2 connection that he hardly uses).

I think steam is a great idea. I wish there was a way to register my copies of civ4 and warlords with steam to get updates and not require the cd, even though I have retail versions of both. I didn't play HL2 for ages and when I played through it again recently saw all the great stuuf that was available that I didn't even know you could get through steam.

My opinion is that if you don't want people looking over your shoulder, you're probably doing something you don't want other people to see.

The problem here is if i had used some crack to play HL2 instead of buying it i would not need to deal with steam at all.

Piracy proctection do not prevent people from using illegal software version. Just use your favorite peer to peer program if you want to DL the game it would be a litle slower than steam but it would be free.

I paid something like 55€ a year ago for CIV4, 30€ a few months ago for warlord but the game doesn't bother me to much. When i play, i just play not many security system that scan my computer and refuse to run because i have getright installed or the wrong brand of DVD writer.

I have ordered HL2 (do not remember when) for the full price like 55€... Had this steam crap.

I have ordered a game with starforce protection... It didn't worked on my computer and i had to contact the startforce service to finally being able to play a game i payed for.


That what i don't like... I pay, i want to be able to use my software without restriction or crappy add ons that use part of my computer memory to run and use my internet connection to send statistics about my habits or game usage.


So sorry if i have choice i will buy the box version, not a steam version with online activation (and of course the need to have steam on the computer).