To Steam or not to Steam

[OmahaBaseball]

Originally Posted by snepp

I think what he's saying is that you could launch OOTP without an active Steam connection if you wanted/needed to. I know you can launch OOTP through Steam while fully offline, I did it during a storm this past summer.

I play OOTP while flying on business travel -- no internet connection needed.

[uruguru]

Originally Posted by Cod

I prefer games DRM free / not linked to distribution service because I like having more control over my games. .

This is a big issue for me, plus I would rather Steam not take a 30% cut of the payment. I want all of that to go to the devs.

I don't understand the convenience issue. I double-click an icon on my desktop and the game starts just fine. It's very convenient.

[Sweed]

Originally Posted by uruguru

This is a big issue for me, plus I would rather Steam not take a 30% cut of the payment. I want all of that to go to the devs.

I don't understand the convenience issue. I double-click an icon on my desktop and the game starts just fine. It's very convenient.

Fast Spring does it for free?

I'm reasonably sure Steam gets a bigger cut than FS, but it also provides exposure to millions of gamers.

[rudel.dietrich]

And a license key is a form of DRM...

[uruguru]

Originally Posted by rudel.dietrich

And a license key is a form of DRM...

A license key that you enter only at install time is not even remotely comparable to using Steam. You do what you want to do. I'm perfectly fine not using Steam.

[uruguru]

Originally Posted by Sweed

Fast Spring does it for free?

Just looked it up. FastSpring has two options: 8.9% or 5.9% plus 95 cents.

At $32, it becomes better to use the latter option.

So, for a $50 game, Steam will take will $15 (30%), whereas FS will take $3.90 (7.8%).

That means Steam will be taking almost 4x as much in fees for OOTP25.

Originally Posted by Sweed

I'm reasonably sure Steam gets a bigger cut than FS, but it also provides exposure to millions of gamers.

Well, sure. No one is suggesting they take it off Steam. But if the question is about which is better for the devs for your purchase, it's always going to be FS if you are fine with either option.

[David Watts]

Originally Posted by uruguru

Just looked it up. FastSpring has two options: 8.9% or 5.9% plus 95 cents.

At $32, it becomes better to use the latter option.

So, for a $50 game, Steam will take will $15 (30%), whereas FS will take $3.90 (7.8%).

That means Steam will be taking almost 4x as much in fees for OOTP25.



Well, sure. No one is suggesting they take it off Steam. But if the question is about which is better for the devs for your purchase, it's always going to be FS if you are fine with either option.

So, do you preorder?

[uruguru]

Originally Posted by David Watts

So, do you preorder?

Absolutely not.


I wait until there are a few patches out so that the new version is stable. Then I pay full price for it.

[Sweed]

Originally Posted by uruguru

Just looked it up. FastSpring has two options: 8.9% or 5.9% plus 95 cents.

At $32, it becomes better to use the latter option.

So, for a $50 game, Steam will take will $15 (30%), whereas FS will take $3.90 (7.8%).

That means Steam will be taking almost 4x as much in fees for OOTP25.



Well, sure. No one is suggesting they take it off Steam. But if the question is about which is better for the devs for your purchase, it's always going to be FS if you are fine with either option.

Sure, they get less per game, but Steam is a volume business. Less per game, but more games sold. Steam is not hurting the developer.

Honestly what is best for the developer is whatever it takes to get a customer to buy the game. As a long time customer that was here way before Steam I'm all for Markus making as much money as he can (notice how I don't complain about PT even though I don't play it? ). Totally understand and have nothing but respect for anyone that buys direct so more ends up in their pocket from those sales. If I didn't like the conveniences that Steam offers I'd buy direct. But I do like what Steam gives me and it's much more than a shortcut on my desktop. It's enough to make me fore-go the three day early release, and that is saying something.

[NoOne]

Originally Posted by uruguru

Absolutely not.


I wait until there are a few patches out so that the new version is stable. Then I pay full price for it.

you don;t want to work as a debugger for free? :P

i'd say wait for one of the typical discount days, but they'll take those away if too many do it that way, lol.

in regard to some other stuff about licenses... i've never let a software i bought and therfore own tell me how to use it. If i want it on 5 computers, i will put it on 5 computers one way or another. Good luck prosecuting if only home-use, lol.

The hubris to sell me soemthing then try to dictate how i use it, LOL, nope.. those types of software vendors (and anything akin to this context) can go shove their thumbs up their butts in the corner and sniff it.

I will move my saved game anywhere i need it and whether it's the 2nd computer or 10th, I will make it work without any guilt about doing it, and others should too. I will not be inconveninence by a licensing shuffle. That's ridiculous. It's my goddamn property..

I religiously put a firewall block on all games i install anyawy.. so some "things" have to happen for it to work on my PC. can't trust software devleopers not to snoop, even if ootp is trustworthy. Again, my propery, my home, good luck telling me i "can't" becuase i obviously can.

[uruguru]

Originally Posted by NoOne

I religiously put a firewall block on all games i install anyawy.. so some "things" have to happen for it to work on my PC. can't trust software devleopers not to snoop, even if ootp is trustworthy. Again, my propery, my home, good luck telling me i "can't" becuase i obviously can.

I am 100% on board with this.

[drummerJ99]

Originally Posted by uruguru

I don't understand the convenience issue. I double-click an icon on my desktop and the game starts just fine. It's very convenient.

There is no convenience starting the game. The convenience is not having to worry about updates. I know steam will automatically update it when I load steam.



Nothing like loading OOTP to export for a league and then realize the export wasn't valid at sim time due to there being a update to OOTP.

[OutS|der]

Originally Posted by drummerJ99

There is no convenience starting the game. The convenience is not having to worry about updates. I know steam will automatically update it when I load steam.



Nothing like loading OOTP to export for a league and then realize the export wasn't valid at sim time due to there being a update to OOTP.

Ah, the ignorance of not having to worry about updates being the thing you should be worried about.

Maybe it's just me, but auto updates that could potentially contain a nuke for my league isn't so convenient. You're welcome to blindly trust and ignore they have done it before, so there's nothing stopping them from doing it again.

The reasons why may be justified but how they went about it was shady as hell.

[Bigdummie]

I normally order OOTP thru the website, never had update issues, but I do miss the add ons central stuff. If I order thru Steam, are there more options to download files like ballparks, logo's ect? Thanks for any info.

[Sweed]

Originally Posted by Bigdummie

I normally order OOTP thru the website, never had update issues, but I do miss the add ons central stuff. If I order thru Steam, are there more options to download files like ballparks, logo's ect? Thanks for any info.

Silvam has put his files in the Steam Workshop for at least the last three versions, Ballparks and historical uniforms, Logos, jersey fonts. I don't know about before as I bought direct. The other big file there is the Complete Universal Facegen Pack.
Along with that the OOTP skin files are there too.

It's as simple as subscribing from Workshop link on OOTP2x's page. Check to subscribe, load OOTP, there is a workshop link on the bottom of the splash screen. Open that, it will list your "subscriptions", tell it which you want installed. Workshop downloads and puts them in the right place.

Keep in mind Silvam doesn't get an advanced copy of the game so it may be a day or two before they are available. Also I don't speak for Silvam so I guess there is always the possibility he decides to not put them up for v25. But I'd be surprised if that were the case.

[Sweed]

Originally Posted by drummerJ99

There is no convenience starting the game. The convenience is not having to worry about updates. I know steam will automatically update it when I load steam.



Nothing like loading OOTP to export for a league and then realize the export wasn't valid at sim time due to there being a update to OOTP.

Originally Posted by OutS|der

Ah, the ignorance of not having to worry about updates being the thing you should be worried about.

Maybe it's just me, but auto updates that could potentially contain a nuke for my league isn't so convenient. You're welcome to blindly trust and ignore they have done it before, so there's nothing stopping them from doing it again.

The reasons why may be justified but how they went about it was shady as hell.

As an online player he has to have an updated copy of the game.

[LansdowneSt]

Originally Posted by Bigdummie

I normally order OOTP thru the website, never had update issues, but I do miss the add ons central stuff. If I order thru Steam, are there more options to download files like ballparks, logo's ect? Thanks for any info.

The three most prominent mods available via the workshop are Silvam's uniforms, Silvam's ballparks and the facegen pack. There are also some additional skins for the user interface.

You can still manually drop files into the respective folders though via mods posted in the forum.

EDIT. Sweed beat me to it ;P

[Bigdummie]

Thank You for all the info. I would still prefer to purchase thru OOTP, so will go with that with your expertise. Thanks to both of you, I appreciate your advice.

[Sweed]

Originally Posted by Bigdummie

Thank You for all the info. I would still prefer to purchase thru OOTP, so will go with that with your expertise. Thanks to both of you, I appreciate your advice.

Your welcome.

There is no wrong answer on how to get the game, just get it and enjoy.

[Bobbyraz49]

I have wondered what is Steam's cut for selling it? I always buy it immediately. Figuring that OOTP maximizes their profit. Then I'll play around with it until it seems close to stable. Once there....let the good times roll !

Take care all....an enjoy the ride.