Will GalCiv3 be coming to Steam Access? And regardless of this will those who pre-purchase it now get a steam key in the future?
I'm here.
AND PROUD!!!
EDIT: Where is my founders badge?
How do I name a star?
They will be sending more info on star naming later.
Piccu
void rant() {
It's not in the remote part. It's at the center of the screen at the same spot all print that is not related to advertising is located. This is not a new or sneaky mechanic. They have to let you know about steam they are not required to sell you on Steam. If you wish to ignore fine print thats your choice. If you cannot read it hold the ctrl key and zoom your mouse wheel.
Steam is not copy protection its a digital distribution platform. The only "copy protection" like features that steam has is that it requires a login, requires you to be online to activate your game (ie you can play offline after that), and only 1 computer at a time can be logged into your account. That is hardly Stardock misleading you. This is not to be confused with the other bs systems where you can only activate on E.A.'s favorite: 1 to 3 computers ever or rebuy the game, digital river's after 30 days of purchase you have to rebuy the game, CD's always in the drive, or other systems.
}
That confirm me that the intent is misleading. I don't find other explanation why steam magically cease to be a drm and copy protection (AND a digital distribution platform) and is reported only in small note after an asterisk that is actually what you do to pass an information with the intent to make it appear less important. The same reason why that it's not explained in the FAQ, which should be a good place to be clear instead of ambiguos.
You are right, the information exist, but if you are completly honest about the intention you should try to convey it more clearly and with the customers in mind. An I believe customers want to know where they'll have to download the game. Clearly.
/facepalm
Don't buy it if you don't agree with Stardock's "sneaky tactics". I for one will enjoy the next GalCiv3.
You already explained yourself and I think for me it's clear. All I said is that it would take really no effort to write it clearly and visible. Is there a reason not to do so and clear every doubt? It doesn't have anything to do with enjoying the game or not, that will be decided when the game will come out.
64 Bits ? Sniff i am out.
A so long wait
Proud and now sad owner of GC2 and fallen enchantress
I was near to order it, as the 64 bits need was not said on the preorder page
I really don't want a Steam version. While it is true Steam doesn't have to be DRM it usually is. It is possible to use Steam as a digital delivery platform only but almost no one actually does this. An easy test is:
Can I install GalCiv 3 from Steam then UNINSTALL STEAM and have GalCiv remain and continue to function (although without automated updates). It is my understanding that a rare few games use Steam this way and then it really is just a digital distribution system. The fact is though that VERY FEW steam games do this and my guess is that GalCiv does NOT. (when used this way you can also run the game exe without steam running and the game will function)
I suspect GalCiv requires you to be logged into STEAM to even run a offline single-player game. It that is indeed the case then Steam IS being used as DRM. Support for Steam's glitchy offline mode where you have to specify in advance that you are going to be offline then you can play your games for a limited amount of time before having to reconnect does not mean it's not DRM. The fact that Steam is popular and well known also does not mean it is not DRM. DRM doesn't have to be unpopular, it doesn't have to be sneaky, it's still DRM.
Personally I'd prefer a disc copy which doesn't seem to even be an option for the founders editions. If I have to go with digital distribution I'd rather just download it from Stardock using my Stardock account which is what I thought the FAQ copy protection question was referring to... there is no reference to Steam on the FAQ page (except a little note that Steam is a registered trademark of Valve)... and it's only in tiny print on the bottom of the order page.
That said - I started this thread because the info about Steam wasn't clearly visible and I wasn't sure about it. And I love Steam, I don't consider it to be DRM and want the game to be on this platform. So maybe that information should be given a little more clearly...
When did you last run steam in offline mode? You do not have to specify in advance, it goes offline if your internet doesn't work. In the past there were problems with it, but not any more. At worst it is the same as disc in the drive protection, but a disc can break and some (like me) don't even have a disc drive anymore, it's an outdated mode of storing data...
Anyhow - look at Dungeons of Dredmor - it has full steam support including achievements, cloudsaves and mods, but you can run the exe file with steam being closed or even uninstalled and the game will start and work. So the problems doesn't lie in Steam itself but how it is handled by the developer.
I had to register on this forum because i cannot read this nonsense.
Please do not put your own limitations on other people!Why should awrybody enjoy low res graphic and stupid AI and other compromises because u do not want to buy a new good computer?!
P.s.I hope Stardock will continue to make the best possible games and will not compromise their games because of people like u.
i think this is what do junk companies. They care to sell more copies of their products then actually to make their products as best as possible, so in the games industry for example that's why they can cut alot of features in games and make it possible to play on very old computers and make games where u even do not need to think .
Please Stardock , i hope you do not listen to thouse people with Pentium 2 computers or other prehistoric hardware. Please make ur games as best as possible and do not put any limitations on them because as i heared you care about making fantastic games but not about riping off people with as much $$$ as possible.
Paradox and Stardock are my two favorit game developers companies right now.
I found an interesting post #16 from maby one of Stardock developers https://forums.galciv2.com/365558/page/1/#3277085
Also i am interesting to see that Stardock will support Apple Retina displays or other 4k video resolutions technologies.
Sorry I don't have the dates of my last attempt logged. According to Steam's own page though:
https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=3160-agcb-2555
You have to log into steam and select "Go Offline" then click "Restart in Offline Mode". When last I did it, and perhaps it has changed since, you could not log into steam and select "Go Offline" if you were already offline. So you had to know in advance that you were going offline, log into steam, issue the Go Offline command, then you could disconnect and go. I believe there was also a limit to the amount of time you could be offline before steam needed to revalidate though I don't seem to see where this duration is documented so maybe they've gotten rid of it. In any event I'm not saying Steam is horrible DRM but if the game requires steam to be running (in offline mode or not) in order to function then it IS being used as a form of DRM and not JUST a digital distribution platform.
How does this differ from what I said? I already stated it is possible to use it as only a digital distribution platform and sure some games do that, listing one doesn't mean anything. My entire point was that Steam didn't have to be DRM but more often then not is. If GalCiv3 is going to be steam only I'd like assurances that it is in fact not using Steam as DRM but I strongly suspect that it is because the vast majority of Steam games use it that way.
I believe it was Stardock's own "Gamer's Bill of Rights" that stated:
"Gamers shall have the right to demand that download managers and updaters not force themselves to run or be forced to load in order to play a game."
In this case Steam is the download manager/updater... if it must run for GalCiv3 to play then it violates their own bill of rights.
It doesn't I just meant do not complain about steam, the potential problems are not inherent to that platform, just the matter of implementation.
Will it (I mean the final GC3) be sold exclusively via Steam?
When I try to play one of my few Steam games, I am welcomed by the Steam update. While waiting for it to complete I usually lose the interest to actually play. Then Steam forces me to re- login, kindly forgeting my password (for sure in my defense) that I have to dig up. Once logged in I am invaded by the great offers of the day. Then I can (could) start the game I paid for.
Instead of argue with each other is more usefull to discuss the reason.
I myself not particularly like unreasonable requirement in games. So let's discuss that. I don't have issue with the only know requirement, I run a 64bit OS and my video card support DirectX 10 o 11.
But I believe that the reason for the 64 bit requirement is that the required ram will be more than 3Gb that is the max a 32bit OS could use.
I don't instead know the reason for the DirectX requirement.
As you should know, Stardock never cared and took back the Gamer's Bill of Rights that was only used for a marketing stunt back then before changing policy completly. They also don't like the matter to be brought to light again or used to do a coherence check with their present and future decisions. It will fail but the past is the past e we should concentrate on the present and what kind of company SD will be in the future.
run steam at start-up? and offers can be disabled, there are options you know.
Except Steam is a poorly implemented piece of software for a multi-user environment. If you have it log in automatically that setting is stored for ALL users instead of in your own profile. This means every user of that computer (even guest!) will be able to play your games. I have no idea why they haven't fixed this by now. It shouldn't be too hard to save the log-in info in the user profile but they seem to have no intention of fixing it.
But how is that a problem? so a family member can use your computer and play your games if you don't log out...seems rather logical.
Is this what your looking for?
http://store.steampowered.com/sharing/
It's in beta.
Lots of ranting and angst in here...
I for one am thrilled to hear that GC3 is going 64bit; they are incredibly common nowadays, and they don't force developers to write code that bottlenecks the majority for the sake of the obsolete (read: cheap).
^ Yeah cannot hang back in the past forever, very glad to hear this myself.
I know I'm quoting my own post but. I received a reply from DanQ of Polycast that the episode I'm refering to is 176. Brad (Stardock CEO if you don't know, Frogboy) shines some light on the benefits that a 64 bit processor brings. I'm glad that companies are moving past DirectX 9 and 32-bit processors. I know the feeling of being forced to upgrade an outdated machine. My last rig budget store bought budget pc that I purchased in 2000 and lasted me until 2010. I think I had a 10g harddrive...if that. But, you should be able to build a rig that can run this for little over $400. Considering alpha hasnt started you have time to slowly save up for a new rig before the game releases. BTW build not buy a computer. Most store bought computers are a ripoff.
This is the link to Polycast
http://thepolycast.net/polycast/season7.php#episode176
Except you don't get to pick what to share and what not to. I happen to like Rogue-like games where when you start the game it automatically continues and when you exist it saves and when you die your save is deleted. If someone (family member, guest, whatever) decided they want to take a look at that game and see what it is they could very well ruin many hours of play. Lets say you actually care about the achievements, then you're family members could earn them instead of you. How about having kids that shouldn't be playing certain games that aren't age appropriate. There are any number of reasons and multi-user OS's aren't new, this stuff have been solved long ago Steam is just poorly implemented. That's beside the point though. Some people don't like steam for any number of reasons and it would be nice they offered another option as well for those of us that don't. At the very least they could actually make it clear all you get is a steam version instead of tiny print on the bottom of the page.
64 bit is more a matter of OS now, so at least the license for it. About video card I think that there're even low budget ones that support DX10.
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