Yet another steam (Digital Distro) thread

[warhammer]

To celebrate 500 000 forum users Paradox Interactive is giwing away Europa Universalis III:Chronicles in their newsletters, so if you subscribed it, you should get it.
They are also launching they own webstore located at: http://www.paradoxplaza.com/shop and are starting it with 50% discount on "several of their top titles". Looking at the store, it's actually 55% discount and all the games are sold only as Steam Digital downloads. It offers 23 games like A Game of Dwarves, Crusader Kings II, Victoria II, Majesty Collection, Hearts of Iron III, King Arthur's games or Sword of Stars.

Europa Universalis 4 will be sold with Steam only http://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/sho ... st14862099


Celebrate Magicka’s Birthday with Present-Themed DLC Paradox Issues Free Challenge Map for Celebrating Wizards, Title Has Sold 1.8 Million Copies (steam) Bad, bad steam.

[borsook79]

I'm in the process of buying the 2 latest releases from Matrix for PzC. I plan on buying a few more releases, put them on Steam and I stop buying, it's as simple as that !

Why do you mind? Even if PzC was on steam it would still be available at Matrix. Why would you stop buying? Steam is a platform not the devil...

BTW it seems that Unity of Command is doing really well on steam, I'm sure PzC would top their sales...

[Rudankort]

BTW it seems that Unity of Command is doing really well on steam, I'm sure PzC would top their sales...

Indeed, Unity of Command is a similar game, but how do you know it is doing really well?

[borsook79]

BTW it seems that Unity of Command is doing really well on steam, I'm sure PzC would top their sales...

Indeed, Unity of Command is a similar game, but how do you know it is doing really well?

From the Top Sellers list, it was pretty high for a while and from the growth of the number forum visitors. You'd have to ask the UoC devs to get the details, I don't have the exact figures.

[Mordan]

When you design PzC 2 code, please think about Steam !

[Rudankort]

When you design PzC 2 code, please think about Steam !

How code design is related to Steam?

[borsook79]

When you design PzC 2 code, please think about Steam !

How code design is related to Steam?

Achievements and could saves

[Rudankort]

Achievements and could saves

This could be added to PzC, no special code design is required for this...

[impar]

Is there any automatic install and update in PZC now?

I have some time for a strategic game before the release of the new Strarcraft II HotS, its either PzC or a Total War game.
For TW games I just need to open Steam and install, it will be the very last version and a painless proccess. For PzC I will have to install each update and campaign manually one by one?

[borsook79]

Achievements and could saves

This could be added to PzC, no special code design is required for this...

I'm not saying it's difficult to do, just providing the bits that can actually have an influence on the game's code.

BTW Spiderweb Software - http://www.spidweb.com/ is a great example of a small dev with games with "dated" graphics and gameplay (turn-based) going on steam and despite selling at a lower price than before making much more money. It's a one man company and this man runs a blog (you can search it for steam like so: http://jeff-vogel.blogspot.com/search?q=steam) Just my uneducated opinion but personally I think Slitherine/Matrix are too bent on how much they can earn per copy not seeing the possibility to sell more and hence earn more.

[MrsWargamer]

Learning new tricks never comes easy to some of us.

I recently installed Windows 8. At 16 bucks my computer guru (responsible for my computers usually costing half the price you paid, and running better than yours too in most cases) told me 16 bucks is something you just don't ignore. It was a limited duration option, and after this month the intro price of 40 bucks is going to the 'normal' price of 200 bucks. Now MS can think whatever they want, but not one of their OSs has ever been worth 200 bucks. And every one of their OSs has been simple to pirate. Some will like Windows 8 and some will not. Some will pay 200 bucks for it, and some will have paid 16 like me.

But the thing is, following installing it, I of course had to reinstall everything (huurfriiginrah).
Normally I reinstall my OS about once a year, as it takes only about a year before rebuilding of my system has rendered it necessary. Some of you though have never built a computer, and have been using an old archaic OS for like forever (it will be like forever in computer usage terms). It is not impossible to find people steadfastly defiantly still using a computer 'that works just fine'. I might argue that point.

But the thing is, I am no stranger to installing an OS. I don't care for it, but the worst part of installing an OS has nothing to do with the OS, it is the putting back on the computer all of your programs. And let me tell you, anything that makes the process a hassle, is endangering the worth of the software.
Matrix Games/Slitherine sell their games via the most totally simple totally easy, no effort required, installation methodology on the market. They have no superiors, and maybe only a few equals (although I have not met them, I am assuming they might exist only). It takes no hurdles, no hoops to jump through. An internet connection is not required ever at any time other than at point of purchase unless the gamer has found a magical manner of talking to the 'store' without needing to be online at the time. Because even to get a mailed physical copy, you still need to be online buying it. If you an get online once, to buy their game via digital download, then it is clear you could spend the few seconds to register it. Following that, well you no longer ever need to be in contact with them to play the game. You can install it as often as you like wherever you like. It's perfection.

So anything that can't keep up with that, is going to be in second place regardless of the situation.

But what about the developer? How much money will they be making in the end? Because in the end, it is logical to conclude they want to make money, lots of money is not a bad thing either. Unless they want us to seriously think them weird and that they did it only for laughs, and they are so well off they couldn't care less about profit.

Is Steam seriously a bad idea? It depends. If Steam is the ONLY source, it likely is not acceptable. My copy of Civilization V is totally worthless to me if I can not go online during installation. So if my computer evolves and I have no internet access, I have no game. There is no work around during install. You can play the game post install offline, but, if anything comes between you and Steam, no game.
If Steam is merely an option, then the situation changes. Because if I could install ALL of my Matrix Games/Slitherine titles via Steam, it would be ok, just as long as it was not mandatory. I am much happier buying via the non Steam method. But I am ok letting Matrix Games/Slitherine (and all their developers as a result) exploit the usefulness of Steam.

And to be clear, Steam IS useful, and saying it isn't just brands the person a fool. Hey it's your prerogative to be foolish, and it is our prerogative to call you a fool for it.
If Steam makes you NO money, then sure, don't use it. If it makes you MORE money than your own company site can manage, then it is silly to avoid it. But hey, no one is saying a company can't go it there own way. But companies often go it their own way and often they also 'go away' in their own way too.

When you look at Steam, you don't always see the obvious though. They have a forum. That means word of mouth and discussion and it is not your headache to maintain too. They have a library function that allows users to list all of the games, not just Steam titles too. Which means free publicity, because I have actually bought games in the past I had never heard of until I stumbled on to them out of the blue. They are a common meeting ground for the entire industry. They are advertizing without even trying to advertize, and we all know advertizing is never free normally.

Yes they sell games for absurd prices. They sell games so cheap sometimes one has to wonder how they make any money at all. But the world is full of gamers, and we likely number in the BILLIONs, not millions. But how many of them have ever heard of Matrix Games/Slitherine? You likely don't want to know. Unless you WANT to remain a hidden invisible company selling to a very small finite niche of grumpy old men you need to go out and stand in full view of other gamers. When I was 15, I looked like every single gamer out there, only I discovered something new called wargames. It is no miracle to get a teenager interested in a wargame. But it IS a miracle to get a teenager interested in hunting for something that they have never heard of.

Just the other day, I had the pleasure to play my son a game of Civilization V after I bought him the copy. Played against 3 of his online contacts as well. They could be future wargamers, or not, based entirely on whether they actually ever encounter them. They all clearly are using Steam. But the young are more likely to try the new, something you can't expect a lot of from grumpy old buggers in their 50s and older. And to be honest, I have found more to dislike from my own age group, than I ever have from the young online. Yeah sure they might be a mouthy bunch in their own way, but then, most of us have kids, and you should already know how to deal with that at any rate.

I'm going to be adding all of my non Steam games into my Steam profile just because I can.
But it would be a good idea, if Matrix Games/Slitherine was doing the same to some extent.
I don't know how much it would cost to use their service, if it costs anything at all. You can write it off as advertizing expense if you need a reason.
You won't get any Steam sales until you have something on Steam to sell. And there is no reason you can't keep selling it through the usual company process, because sure as the sun will rise, you will have stubborn people like me that will insist on buying them that way full price and all.
But a million Steam sales at 1/3 of the price of the store price, is likely going to generate more cash in your pocket than the store does at full price.
And the more often you sell games in full view of the entire gaming industry, the more often your name gets mentioned where it can be seen.

I KNOW it is not easy to get excited about selling on Steam. But look what stubborn has done for the film industry eh. They won't evolve and non cares to listen to their complains.

[Mordan]

When you design PzC 2 code, please think about Steam !

How code design is related to Steam?

Being a programmer I would think so. Integration is never easy nor fun. I'm no expert though.

[Rudankort]

Being a programmer I would think so. Integration is never easy nor fun. I'm no expert though.

Oh, you definitely right about that one - integration with Steam will not be painless, and it will not be much fun either. My only point was that it probably does not require a lot of upfront planning.

But back to the topic. Since this thread has popped up again, what do you guys know about Greenlight? How many "votes" do you need to be approved? Do you know any games similar to PzC which were approved via Greenlight? For example, Unity of Command mentioned above did not go via Greenlight, but now, as I understand, Greenlight is the only way to get into Steam catalogue.

[borsook79]

Being a programmer I would think so. Integration is never easy nor fun. I'm no expert though.

Oh, you definitely right about that one - integration with Steam will not be painless, and it will not be much fun either. My only point was that it probably does not require a lot of upfront planning.

But back to the topic. Since this thread has popped up again, what do you guys know about Greenlight? How many "votes" do you need to be approved? Do you know any games similar to PzC which were approved via Greenlight? For example, Unity of Command mentioned above did not go via Greenlight, but now, as I understand, Greenlight is the only way to get into Steam catalogue.

Greenlight is not the only way, just the easiest provided you don't have the contacts To be published you don't need a number of votes but be in the first... (only steam knows) so it is compared to other games there. As for similiar ones - Strategic War over Europe is trying very hard and recently steam announced it is in top 100. Is this enough? We shall see... But actually it's a much more complicated and much less visually attractive game. PzC follows nicely the steam business model (DLCs) and I think it will be looked upon more favourably. Also now to put your game on Greenlight you need to pay some money (to avoid people posting silly things).

PS. I actually know somebody at Valve but related to the Linux side of things and can't recommend a windows only game

[Rudankort]

Greenlight is not the only way, just the easiest provided you don't have the contacts To be published you don't need a number of votes but be in the first... (only steam knows) so it is compared to other games there.

That's clear, this is what their FAQ states. My question was, how many votes roughly do you need now, to get ahead of other submissions. And yes, I'm sure the guys like Firaxis use other channels to get on Steam.

As for similiar ones - Strategic War over Europe is trying very hard and recently steam announced it is in top 100. Is this enough? We shall see... But actually it's a much more complicated and much less visually attractive game. PzC follows nicely the steam business model (DLCs) and I think it will be looked upon more favourably. Also now to put your game on Greenlight you need to pay some money (to avoid people posting silly things).

Strategic War over Europe is a good reference, thanks. For example, comparing the number of comments on that game with some greenlit game (e. g. Eador) could give a rough idea, although it is all very relative.

[borsook79]

Greenlight is not the only way, just the easiest provided you don't have the contacts To be published you don't need a number of votes but be in the first... (only steam knows) so it is compared to other games there.

That's clear, this is what their FAQ states. My question was, how many votes roughly do you need now, to get ahead of other submissions. And yes, I'm sure the guys like Firaxis use other channels to get on Steam.

As for similiar ones - Strategic War over Europe is trying very hard and recently steam announced it is in top 100. Is this enough? We shall see... But actually it's a much more complicated and much less visually attractive game. PzC follows nicely the steam business model (DLCs) and I think it will be looked upon more favourably. Also now to put your game on Greenlight you need to pay some money (to avoid people posting silly things).

Strategic War over Europe is a good reference, thanks. For example, comparing the number of comments on that game with some greenlit game (e. g. Eador) could give a rough idea, although it is all very relative.

From Valve's perspective greenlight is a guideline not a competition, you can't "win" getting on steam, you can just bring the attention to the game, still there are no guarantees... that said I really think PzC would have higher chances than Strategic War... Eador is actually done by a pretty big developer, just Russian but anyway wasn't the issue that there is no will to try getting on steam?

[Rudankort]

From Valve's perspective greenlight is a guideline not a competition, you can't "win" getting on steam, you can just bring the attention to the game, still there are no guarantees... that said I really think PzC would have higher chances than Strategic War... Eador is actually done by a pretty big developer, just Russian but anyway wasn't the issue that there is no will to try getting on steam?

Trying to get PzC on Steam is ultimately up to Slitherine. I'm just asking around to have more information and a better understanding of the whole matter.

[MrsWargamer]

I want to say something so it gets said and it is in the public domain where it can be seen later.

If it came to pass that Slitherine were to get a game on Steam like Panzer Corps, and all the DLC, and in the process the game ended up on sale for peanuts and the DLC was bundled and it ended up being a purchase you could score for pennies, FINE. No objections from me, even if I have paid top dollar for my entire purchase of all of all that is Panzer Corps.

I am standing up to be counted basically. I gave Slitherine full price, and I did it day 1 when each part of the game was offered. And I was happy and glad to do so.

And if they can put it on Steam, and it ends up being on sale for a mere fraction of the price direct from the source, I won't feel like I paid too much or I got somehow ripped off or regrets for paying full price when I might have gotten it cheap on Steam.

And this bird is for anyone that MIGHT bitch and whine later if it comes to pass that it can be sold on Steam, and they paid full price earlier and now dislike that.

I consider Slitherine to be friends. I consider their various developers to be friends of friends. I WANT they to end up with the best pay out from their games.

Go for it guys, try and score some sales on Steam.

[borsook79]

I want to say something so it gets said and it is in the public domain where it can be seen later.

If it came to pass that Slitherine were to get a game on Steam like Panzer Corps, and all the DLC, and in the process the game ended up on sale for peanuts and the DLC was bundled and it ended up being a purchase you could score for pennies, FINE. No objections from me, even if I have paid top dollar for my entire purchase of all of all that is Panzer Corps.

I am standing up to be counted basically. I gave Slitherine full price, and I did it day 1 when each part of the game was offered. And I was happy and glad to do so.

And if they can put it on Steam, and it ends up being on sale for a mere fraction of the price direct from the source, I won't feel like I paid too much or I got somehow ripped off or regrets for paying full price when I might have gotten it cheap on Steam.

And this bird is for anyone that MIGHT bitch and whine later if it comes to pass that it can be sold on Steam, and they paid full price earlier and now dislike that.

I consider Slitherine to be friends. I consider their various developers to be friends of friends. I WANT they to end up with the best pay out from their games.

Go for it guys, try and score some sales on Steam.

Good points. Buying early gave me many hours of gameplay that I do not regret. PzC could be bought cheaper without steam (e.g. Slitherine Christmas sale), but getting there early, experiencing the GC as they appeared, that was worth the extra money

[warhammer]

http://steamcommunity.com/groups/Trader ... 8072925592
Paradox Super Sale at Amazon, i think they gets milions of $ form this 2 days sale (all steam keys). Deal of the month for amazon($), steam(new customers) and paradox($).
All games for 1-2$, discount 94-97% (all are 20-50$ games) its shock for me