Steam Release?

[jamoecw]

well said, i guess there is only the fact that slitherine studios was mentioned quite a bit on spike via a program call deadliest warrior (at least for the first 2 seasons), though whether or not this is the same slitherine, or if they had any input, i am unsure. they aren't entirely unknown, which is the point i was getting at.

[IainMcNeil]

Yes we did work with Deadliest warrior.

We've already said we are going to start using Steam as an alternative delivery method for some games. Panzer Corps is the first. Steam has pros and cons. We'll test it out and see how it goes. It is not the Nirvana that some seem to think and I have heard some good and some bad stories about it. If you have no other way to sell your games it is great but we have a vibrant store of our own and it is far more less clear cut if there are benefits to us in the long run but we're going to test it out.

That will determine what happens next so there will be no decisions on Pandora until we see how PzC goes.

[pancakewizard]

Yes we did work with Deadliest warrior.

We've already said we are going to start using Steam as an alternative delivery method for some games. Panzer Corps is the first. Steam has pros and cons. We'll test it out and see how it goes. It is not the Nirvana that some seem to think and I have heard some good and some bad stories about it. If you have no other way to sell your games it is great but we have a vibrant store of our own and it is far more less clear cut if there are benefits to us in the long run but we're going to test it out.

That will determine what happens next so there will be no decisions on Pandora until we see how PzC goes.

Another gamer waiting for a Steam release here:

What you say makes sense, and if you want some advice: Go all-in when you use PzC as a test bed. By that I mean, integrate Steamworks and maybe some achievements, and don't use any additional DRM (not that I except you to). It's going to be the best indication of whether it's worth it for you to use on games in the future as long as you embrace the Steam features rather than tentatively dipping a toe in.

[BlueTemplar]

Note that your game can have Steamworks features without the Steam DRM that forces you to run Steam to play the game (though some of these features will be disabled if you run the game without Steam), Crusader Kings 2 is an example of that.
Of course in any case the game will still probably need to use the Steam key DRM (that binds one game key to one account), but I don't think anyone would be bothered by that and Pandora already has this form of DRM anyway...

[jamoecw]

the downsides that i see is that they would need to give a cut to steam, and at the same time have at least a person in charge of dealing with steam relations/issues. hence an increased cost of doing business.

the cost of increasing business means more people posting on their forums and bugging them, and thus an increase in customer support would be needed. so not only does steam need to increase the revenue by enough to cover costs of doing business with them, but they also need it to increase enough to cover the costs of increasing business (thus if the increased business only covers the cost of doing business with steam then they will ultimately lose money to maintain their current level of service).

that all assumes that steam is as great as everyone thinks, and that there isn't a shift in demographics that is using the game (different interests, and thus new pressure for different things).

[ErissN6]

your game can have Steamworks features without the Steam DRM that forces you to run Steam to play the game
though these features will be disabled if you run the game without Steam.

What? Non-DRM features though they are DRM features???

Of course in any case the game will still probably need to use the Steam key DRM (that binds one game key to one account),

Yes, a Steam key will be necessary to have the complete game (with the Steamworks features). The game will be sold uncomplete to those who don't have a Steam key.

but I don't think anyone would be bothered by that

Compelled to Steam to have the complete game is not my pleasure. If it were, I would not have bought the game.
You want Slitherine being a whore of Steam, like many others?

and Pandora already has this form of DRM anyway...

Yes, even they promised not: The released version needs the Slitherine DRM to be updated.

[BlueTemplar]

- Steamworks is much more than just DRM : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steamworks ... ctionality
And again, you can have Steamworks features like mod support, achievements, and such, without having the Steam DRM, like it's the case for Crusader Kings 2.

- Depends what Steamworks features would be implemented, and whether you could consider a game that didn't have them incomplete (assuming non-Steam games didn't have similar features implemented to compensate)

- No, I meant that having to input a serial key in order to install a game is not going to bother many people.

- Maybe so far, but considering this : http://www.matrixgames.com/products/latestdownloads.asp - you will probably be able to download patches for Pandora from there at some point.

[IainMcNeil]

Guys we've heard all the opinions and this is not really adding anything at this point so before it degenerates in to personal attacks I'm going to lock it up.