Steam vs Stand Alone

sdw1000 · 03-14-2023, 05:27 PM

I've always bought the game as a stand alone. Is it better to buy it on Steam?

mitchkenn · 03-14-2023, 05:34 PM

i used to just buy/play the game as stand alone. As the patches got bigger and bigger (and longer to download) - i decided to try Steam. It's all i use now. Updates are set to Automatic. And if i want - i can play without being on the internet. I've seen no changes in game play whatsoever. So i'm sticking with steam for the foreseeable future. Either way - the game is incredible and works well on either platform.

r0nster · 03-15-2023, 06:29 AM

i prefer stand alone as i been doing that since 2001. Plus 100% of the money goes to OOTP. the only connection needed is to update software as thats the same as Steam too. To me the only real difference is how much of the share of money goes to OOTP. Not sure as i think Steam is a subscription service. So then you paying more.

Anteater · 03-15-2023, 06:53 AM

Steam is not a subscription service; however, they do charge developers a percentage of each sale. Prices on Steam and direct from OOTP are the same so there is no additional user cost.

David Watts · 03-15-2023, 07:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by r0nster

i prefer stand alone as i been doing that since 2001. Plus 100% of the money goes to OOTP. the only connection needed is to update software as thats the same as Steam too. To me the only real difference is how much of the share of money goes to OOTP. Not sure as i think Steam is a subscription service. So then you paying more.

I'm curious, OOTP uses Fastspring and they use to use that other company, was it Esellerate? They must have to pay them, right? So, are you giving OOTP 100% if your money?

MikeS369 · 03-15-2023, 07:51 AM

Isn't the stand alone sold through Fastspring. Or something like that. I'm sure they take a cut too.

Matt Arnold · 03-15-2023, 09:26 AM

Yeah, it's not 100%, but we do generally prefer it if you want to support that way. But there are good bonuses from having higher steam sales numbers, so we certainly won't hold it against anyone if they choose that method because of whatever reason.

OutS|der · 03-15-2023, 10:21 AM

Steam forces you to use the latest patch, whereas standalone it's up to you to patch.

Not really a concern except for when they pull an international league and scramble your save games. Then you'll want the stand alone so you can roll back as needed.

igor7111 · 03-15-2023, 10:23 AM

Am I able to pre-order on Steam?

Leo_The_Lip · 03-15-2023, 10:28 AM

The main reason I switched back to direct purchase is that Steam only allows one user at a time now (its been that way for a few years now, but wasn't always). So if my grandson wants to play Bloons TD6 on Steam, I can now play OOTP on my other computer.

A small but vital point.

Matt Arnold · 03-15-2023, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by igor7111

Am I able to pre-order on Steam?

You can wishlist the game now, and buy it on release day

uruguru · 03-15-2023, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sdw1000

I've always bought the game as a stand alone. Is it better to buy it on Steam?

I got tired of having to constantly relog into Steam to play the game, so I went standalone. Works fine for me and I don't have to connect to remote servers to play the game now.

PepeSylvia · 03-15-2023, 11:57 AM

I did standalone for early access for ootp 21 but I found the manual patching/the standalone patching system to be cumbersome and obnoxious, so I'm a steam user for the automatic patching.

Maddox · 03-15-2023, 12:12 PM

I choose Steam but I have been on steam for 15 years and have over 500 games on that platform, including 9 consecutive versions of this game.

Sweed · 03-15-2023, 12:24 PM

I've been Steam the last two versions and will be again for v24.

Patches from Steam don't overwrite everything like the full install direct patches do. Yes, you should backup things just in case, but for the most part your mods will be fine.

Steam Workshop for easy mod installation.

AlpineSK · 03-15-2023, 01:26 PM

I always bought stand alone but switched to steam for 22 and 23. If I end up picking up 24 and further I'm probably going to buy stand alone. I feel like at this point it will be less intrusive and I'll have more control over what gets patched in the game and what doesn't.

Bagpipes5 · 03-15-2023, 02:29 PM

I did the stand-alone installer for years but switched to Steam. It's nice to have all of the titles consolidated in one place and not have to keep track of installers and patches as those are automatic as well. Started on OOTP14 with Steam so 24 will be my 11th version.

andyhdz · 03-15-2023, 05:03 PM

I'm a curmudgeon Gen Xer so I grew up with let me install it myself/update it myself type of software. Only use steam when I have no other choice.

Cod · 03-15-2023, 05:17 PM

I prefer the standalone version because I don't like being forced to update my game if I'm not having any issues with it. Also, no messing around with a third-party launcher to install the game, which can be problematic if I don't have an internet connection (which is often).

thehef · 03-15-2023, 06:19 PM

Is one easier than the other when it comes to using mods, such as Silvam's ballparks?

03-14-2023, 05:27 PM	#1
sdw1000 All Star Reserve Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: SC USA Posts: 868 Infractions: 0/1 (1)	Steam vs Stand Alone I've always bought the game as a stand alone. Is it better to buy it on Steam?

03-14-2023, 05:34 PM	#2
mitchkenn Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Oregon, not by design Posts: 2,853	i used to just buy/play the game as stand alone. As the patches got bigger and bigger (and longer to download) - i decided to try Steam. It's all i use now. Updates are set to Automatic. And if i want - i can play without being on the internet. I've seen no changes in game play whatsoever. So i'm sticking with steam for the foreseeable future. Either way - the game is incredible and works well on either platform. __________________ "This is my opening farewell " - Jackson Browne “They make a desolation and call it peace.” ― Agha Shahid Ali "Maybe she just has to sing, for the sake of the song - And who do I think that I am to decide that she's wrong." - Townes Van Zandt "I saw a young man leaning on his wooden crutch - He called out to me, 'Don't ask for so much' And a young woman leaning in her darkened door She cried out to me, 'Why not ask for more?' " - Leonard Cohen "Hello darkness, my old Friend ...." - Paul Simon Before Mays, before DiMaggio, there was Oscar Charleston. "All the lies about Babe Ruth are true." - Waite Hoyt Avatar is the late great Townes Van Zandt. rip.

03-15-2023, 06:53 AM	#4
Anteater Minors (Double A) Join Date: Apr 2022 Location: Florida Posts: 132	Steam is not a subscription service; however, they do charge developers a percentage of each sale. Prices on Steam and direct from OOTP are the same so there is no additional user cost. Last edited by Anteater; 03-15-2023 at 06:56 AM.

03-15-2023, 10:28 AM	#10
Leo_The_Lip All Star Starter Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 1,703	The main reason I switched back to direct purchase is that Steam only allows one user at a time now (its been that way for a few years now, but wasn't always). So if my grandson wants to play Bloons TD6 on Steam, I can now play OOTP on my other computer. A small but vital point. __________________ "My name will live forever" - Anonymous

03-15-2023, 01:26 PM	#16
AlpineSK All Star Starter Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bear, DE Posts: 1,618	I always bought stand alone but switched to steam for 22 and 23. If I end up picking up 24 and further I'm probably going to buy stand alone. I feel like at this point it will be less intrusive and I'll have more control over what gets patched in the game and what doesn't. __________________ Check out my Sims!! 2013 Boston Red Sox Or my blogs: http://www.medicsbk.com The Sports Medic

03-15-2023, 06:29 AM	#3
r0nster Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2006 Location: Michigan Posts: 3,002	i prefer stand alone as i been doing that since 2001. Plus 100% of the money goes to OOTP. the only connection needed is to update software as thats the same as Steam too. To me the only real difference is how much of the share of money goes to OOTP. Not sure as i think Steam is a subscription service. So then you paying more.

03-15-2023, 07:51 AM	#6
MikeS369 All Star Reserve Join Date: Dec 2020 Location: USA Posts: 594	Isn't the stand alone sold through Fastspring. Or something like that. I'm sure they take a cut too.

03-15-2023, 09:26 AM	#7
Matt Arnold OOTP Developer Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Here and there Posts: 14,155	Yeah, it's not 100%, but we do generally prefer it if you want to support that way. But there are good bonuses from having higher steam sales numbers, so we certainly won't hold it against anyone if they choose that method because of whatever reason.

03-15-2023, 10:21 AM	#8
OutS\|der Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: In A Van Down By The River Posts: 2,247	Steam forces you to use the latest patch, whereas standalone it's up to you to patch. Not really a concern except for when they pull an international league and scramble your save games. Then you'll want the stand alone so you can roll back as needed.

03-15-2023, 10:23 AM	#9
igor7111 Minors (Double A) Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Hawaii Posts: 123	Am I able to pre-order on Steam?

03-15-2023, 11:57 AM	#13
PepeSylvia Minors (Single A) Join Date: Mar 2019 Posts: 56	I did standalone for early access for ootp 21 but I found the manual patching/the standalone patching system to be cumbersome and obnoxious, so I'm a steam user for the automatic patching.

03-15-2023, 12:12 PM	#14
Maddox All Star Reserve Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 903	I choose Steam but I have been on steam for 15 years and have over 500 games on that platform, including 9 consecutive versions of this game.

03-15-2023, 12:24 PM	#15
Sweed Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Iowa Posts: 6,108 Infractions: 0/1 (1)	I've been Steam the last two versions and will be again for v24. Patches from Steam don't overwrite everything like the full install direct patches do. Yes, you should backup things just in case, but for the most part your mods will be fine. Steam Workshop for easy mod installation.

03-15-2023, 02:29 PM	#17
Bagpipes5 Major Leagues Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: TX Posts: 360	I did the stand-alone installer for years but switched to Steam. It's nice to have all of the titles consolidated in one place and not have to keep track of installers and patches as those are automatic as well. Started on OOTP14 with Steam so 24 will be my 11th version.

03-15-2023, 05:03 PM	#18
andyhdz All Star Starter Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Fresno, CA by way of Texas Posts: 1,754	I'm a curmudgeon Gen Xer so I grew up with let me install it myself/update it myself type of software. Only use steam when I have no other choice. __________________ *************************************** It's your game. Play it how you like it. ***************************************

03-15-2023, 05:17 PM	#19
Cod All Star Reserve Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 936	I prefer the standalone version because I don't like being forced to update my game if I'm not having any issues with it. Also, no messing around with a third-party launcher to install the game, which can be problematic if I don't have an internet connection (which is often).

03-15-2023, 06:19 PM	#20
thehef Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 4,861	Is one easier than the other when it comes to using mods, such as Silvam's ballparks?