Valve and Steam

[Vagabond]

Tynan (or someone else qualified to answer this),

Has something like this: http://stonehearth.net/faq/ been considered?

Basically, you buy the game through humble on their website, and it nets you a steam key. You just can't buy it directly from steam. I'm assuming it's so people don't just grab it and then bitch about it not being done.

Getting a steam key is attractive. Steam also allows for easy updating and easier access to all the news to all your games.

It might sway more people to buy. It is what innitially kept me from getting it... It just started to look too cool to pass, and the development was really active.

Cheers,
Michael

[Tynan]

I'd be interested but I don't think Valve would agree to it. They want to have the game sold through Steam itself. Not sure how the Stonehearth guys did this; maybe Humble has some Valve connection.

[Doomlord9]

I'd be interested but I don't think Valve would agree to it. They want to have the game sold through Steam itself. Not sure how the Stonehearth guys did this; maybe Humble has some Valve connection.

Why has the game not been put on Steam yet anyway? It's far more complete and playable than the vast majority of other Early Access games with a modding community only equaled(to my knowledge) by Starbound.

I haven't rationalized my way into buying it yet solely because of the loss of the Steam key if I bought it right now and I know I'm not alone in that sentiment.

[evrett33]

Its refreshing to see a game not on steam. All our eggs are in one basket atm

[Doomlord9]

Its refreshing to see a game not on steam. All our eggs are in one basket atm

In this specific case it doesn't matter as the Steam Key issue has enforced the need for a non-steam version to be developed and supported as well.

As Steam in general having the majority of PC Digital Download users, well if another company would make a comparable product with Steam's basic functionality that makes it so good, that being the ability to just select the game, click download, wait, and then play with no hassle and no extra BS like other game management clients(looking at you Origin) then I would look into them but apparently the ability to provide a hassle free service seems to be beyond anyone but Valve at this point in time.

[hyperkiller]

Didn't I read somewhere that you didn't want to put it on steam as when you update it, most likely it would break their saves for the ones who don't wanted to stop playing that world at first?

but I also found out in the properties in steam, you can specify which version to be on (default is recommended which will auto update)

personally I like it like this right now.

[TheSilencedScream]

I like being up to date with bugfixes...
But I hate having to completely reinstall the game every time there's a hotfix. I, like most people, have a capped internet; RimWorld isn't huge by any means, but it's not the only game I play, and I have Netflix instead of cable - so every little bit that I can save, I appreciate.

To put it in perspective, the first time I found out that I had a cap (which is 300GB), I had hit 482GB. I've made it more manageable by lowering Netflix from HD to standard, and I've begun limiting my digital library and updates. Now, I'm usually hitting 280-285GB monthly, micromanaging.

If it would be at all possible to replicate what Stonehearth is doing, Tynan, would you consider it? The interest in Steam is there, clearly, and the setup would keep RimWorld from being publicly listed on Steam (a quick search shows that Stonehearth doesn't appear on Steam), so you could still have an official release there and not be bogged down by the "We hate Early Access without even trying the game first!" crew.

And, of course, people could still continue updating via the download link and avoid Steam altogether, if that is their prerogative.

[hyperkiller]

yeah, the network can be pretty slow for me, living in the country, get satellite for my internet, suppose to get ~3MB but i rarely ever seen it go above 450 Kbps :/

[Mikhail Reign]

Its refreshing to see a game not on steam. All our eggs are in one basket atm

I don't really get this. Its not like Steam is at risk of going down anytime soon or anything like that.

[Coenmcj]

Its refreshing to see a game not on steam. All our eggs are in one basket atm

I don't really get this. Its not like Steam is at risk of going down anytime soon or anything like that.

In the world of Data... everything and anything can go down at any given time.

What I don't understand is what makes steam so appealing. With a game such as Rimworld, having it automatically update would be more of a problem than a gift, The usual counter-argument is that it's all in one place but that part is simple, one can just add it to their libraries.. Not to mention that everything steam comes with built-in DRM & hoops to jump through, everything needing to be connected to an account... KISS Obviously doesn't apply here.

Don't get me wrong though, I'm not fully against it, I'm just curious why everyone wants absolutely everything on steam, it just doesn't cater to most circumstances that people used to be against.

[StorymasterQ]

Also, for some reason, I can't connect to Steam from my location. So I love me some non-Steam games.

[Doomlord9]

What I don't understand is what makes steam so appealing. With a game such as Rimworld, having it automatically update would be more of a problem than a gift

This is easily sidestepped in the same way Starbound is doing it.

They have the general download that is automatically updated and is only used for tested and stable releases, so full version releases, and then the Beta version that you have to manually opt into and would be to test unstable versions for feedback and bugfinding. They also have a third one for Nightly Builds but that wouldn't be something needed with Rimworld.

Rereading my post it sounded more whiny than I meant it to.

What I meant to ask was if there is a technical reason behind Rimworld not being on Steam, like not wanting to force unstable updates on everyone and not knowing about the beta opt in option on Steam, even though it could be sold and marketed as a complete game as is and few would bitch so long as patches and new content are still released or if it's a personal preference thing for Tynan like if he wants to skip being marked as Early Access and only release what he considers to be a complete version.

[Mikhail Reign]

In the world of Data... everything and anything can go down at any given time.

Yeah, it's a hella lot more likely that the couple of servers that Ludeon are using would go down then the world wide network of redundent servers that Value use would.

What I don't understand is what makes steam so appealing. With a game such as Rimworld, having it automatically update would be more of a problem than a gift,

You can turn updates off, and if the developer wants they can host multiple versions that can be accessed in about 3 or 4 mouse clicks.

The usual counter-argument is that it's all in one place but that part is simple, one can just add it to their libraries..

This is a difference between adding a not steam game to my list, and the game being instantly accessible from any computer as long as it has an internet connection, not to mention the steam workshop holding all my mods (which would also auto install and update if I chose)

Not to mention that everything steam comes with built-in DRM & hoops to jump through, everything needing to be connected to an account... KISS Obviously doesn't apply here.

Other then needed a steam account this all isn't true as well. Just because something is distributed through steam doesn't mean it has DRM. Just off the top of my head: Besiege, The Masterplan, Project Zomboid, Artemis, KSP (iirc) and Survivalists are all distributed thro steam, all of  don't use steam as DRM, meaning steam doesn't even need to be running in order to play them.

Don't get me wrong though, I'm not fully against it, I'm just curious why everyone wants absolutely everything on steam, it just doesn't cater to most circumstances that people used to be against.

Don't really get what you are saying here, but the reason I use steam is that it auto updates everything I want and nothing I don't, allows me to sync my games across multiple systems, incorporates streaming, chat, mod discovery acquisition and installation, shows me relevant news at a mouse click for any and all products I own without me having to check individual developer pages, let's me upload videos and pictures and share them with friends and well a whole heap more. I don't see any valid reason to NOT use steam, other them some people don't seem to want to use it, to which I say, buy it thro the developer page and download it from the email links like you currently do, and allow me to do it my way as well.

[TheSilencedScream]

I wouldn't even say I "like" Steam, but...

1.) It's a hell of a lot better than, say, Origin or uPlay.

2.) It's convenient in a variety of ways - autoupdates (without having to download the entire game every damn time), Workshop for mods, easily see what friends are playing and directly connect...

3.) Your "In the world of Data" argument, like Mikhail pointed out, applies to Ludeon as well. Tynan's fantastic, but comparing Ludeon's long-term stability to Valve's isn't exactly winning any points in your argument.

As I said - it doesn't have to be the only venue. Keep updating it the way it currently is, as well. If you don't like/can't access/have had a bad "romantic" experience with/feel awkward around Steam, by all means, I understand. There's very few video game-related businesses that I don't actively despise.

I'm just asking to have an option implemented, and it's one that's in the planned future anyway - it's not something out in left field that everyone's going to avoid.

[Haplo]

It seems that everyone always ignores the big question: is the release of a game on steam in its alpha stage really the best way to go?
You have only one hype after the initial release, where you attract the most customers. And if you don't reach even half of them, because it isn't a finished game, will you reach them later when it's finished, or have you sold the game by then to a much reduced price in a summer sale?
I think these are fundamental questions for any firm. What most people tend to ignore is that Ludeon is a firm which wants to reach as much customers as possible to a price as high as possible, so that future projects can be financed.

This isn't anything against any customer, this is just something every firm needs to think about.
How can I finance my next project as best as I can, or do I want to go bankrupt anytime soon?

Just my personal opinion..