Civ5 Official Steamworks FAQ

[slowtarget]

Is it possible to force Steam into offline mode *before* installing the game (and thereby preventing the first update/patch-cycle) ?

No. You need to connect to the internet to validate the installation. That can't be done in offline mode.

Do I have to manually force Steam into off-line mode every time I want to play ?

No. Once you put it in offline mode it should stay that way.

Or is blocking the Steam-service in a firewall the only way to ensure it never tries to connect on-line ?

Actually, if I were you I'd avoid using a firewall to artificially block Steam. This is reportedly one of the ways to make Steam refuse to go into offline mode. If it goes into online mode for any reason, but fails to connect, it (reportedly) won't let you go into offline mode without first re-connecting to the Steam servers. No offline mode means you're not playing your game. This holds even if you later completely disconnect from the internet.

If you want to use offline mode, use it as it was intended. Don't try to artificially filter the packets from the client. That puts you into the "suspicious activity" category and you shouldn't be surprised if you're treated with suspicion by the service.

The fact that I can't patch in off-line mode using alternate sources is something I do not like.

The idea of using off-line patching from alternate sources is something that is becoming increasingly rare, and the reasons for this are not all based on corporate greed. I disliked going to some third party website to get a game patch just as much as you dislike being forced to get it from the source.

[smithxxl]

Yes, I do use it some, as I do sometimes play TF2, and I barely tolerate that steam junk for Valves own games. most of the things you bring up as improvements are fluff or obviousness, lets see, steam is mainly meant for multi-player games, not single-player like the Civ series.. so for a shooter of course you want a friends-list so you know when your team-mates are online.. group chat? just what you find in any IM client, nothing special. in-game layer system, that window at shift-tab? not really usefull. groups, what is this? facebook. (ok, its for Clans, another shooter game mainly feature). Gifts, its a webstore, duh, ofcourse it got gifting options, so do amazon.co.uk nothing new. Demos, is that new? come on, Demos have existed for ages, we had demos last CENTURY.. (only 10/11 years since that happened, hope you got the joke). Free games, they exist outside steam too. Cross-Platform PC/Mac, one more that panders games to a OS made to make pretty pictures for adds, newspapers, making and editing videos and no other functions. (Joke about Macs, they can do moore).

So a billion different websites with a billion different functions... yeah.. not a fan of that. Steam integrates so much into one place for a great gaming experience. Hopefully adding even more features as time goes by. And Yes demos have existed for years. I was playing Commander Keen shareware off old dialup-bbs days, but several of these demos, beta's, and free games are making it easier to install, try, and buy. I can't say anything about Mac.. Not a fan really. However, I am a linux fan, and it's getting closer to work natively without having to use wine or emulators.

I'm not trying to say Steam is perfect. I have had many, many problems especially with the LAN party scene. My last LAN, I had to block tons of ports and games just so Auth and Cloud support to work. I am just trying to point out that it has made many strides over that last few years which has enriched online gaming.

[smithxxl]

@2k Greg

Q. Will you be adding Achievements that will be listed on Steam?

[Bantams]

@2k Greg

Q. Will you be adding Achievements that will be listed on Steam?

On yesterdays live polycast dennis said yes

[Atticus Lowa]

Personally i never had any major issues with steam, i have more problems with Games for windows live but thats me, at the end of the day as i know ive said before, companies have ALWAYS used some form of DRM even in the very begining (you know manual copy protection), considering the most henious of DRM steam is mild, if it comes from a major publisher there will be DRM, the execption is with small companies that will probably collapse anyways, im happy some major publishers are at least bumbling towards more "benevolnt" DRM but thats how its going to be, publishers want to get their money back and not just that they want to make 100s of times more than what they initally invested or they drop it, i don't like it but thats how it is just keep the leash on the publishers and tell them not to go crazy, heck i was looking forward to R.U.S.E. until i learned it was a permenant internet game.

PS: i know im exaggerating but you get my point, anyone who hates digital distrubision games has been living in a cave for the past 10 years... whining about it is going to get no attention from anyone now because its not that bad, afterall steam has been a HUGE sucess for valve and that must mean it works for people, maybe pre-2007 steam it was crap but it works now and ive noticed it downloads much more efficently than other download clients.
Im happy with steam and it just doesn't bother me.

[Arrowdel]

PS: i know im exaggerating but you get my point, anyone who hates digital distrubision games has been living in a cave for the past 10 years...

People don't have problems with digital distribution, people have problem with Steam being forced down everyone's throats for no reasons, people have problems with STEAM EXCLUSIVITY which is against the idea of digital distribution if you haven't noticed, people prefer other dd channels and so on, people don't want to install an intrusive shop client just to be allowed to play a boxed copy.

Stop living in the cave, digital distribution =/= Steam.

whining about it is going to get no attention from anyone now because its not that bad

Weren't you whining about Ubisoft's "always online" DRM in your post? Stop living in the cave, it's the future, it's not that bad.
Ubisoft's DRM can at least be patched out and doesn't install any crap.

afterall steam has been a HUGE sucess for valve and that must mean it works for people, maybe pre-2007 steam it was crap but it works now and ive noticed it downloads much more efficently than other download clients.
Im happy with steam and it just doesn't bother me.

Lots of people disagree with you and would prefer not to touch Steam at all.

[2K Greg]

Is it possible to force Steam into offline mode *before* installing the game (and thereby preventing the first update/patch-cycle) ?

Do I have to manually force Steam into off-line mode every time I want to play ?
Or is blocking the Steam-service in a firewall the only way to ensure it never tries to connect on-line ?

The fact that I can't patch in off-line mode using alternate sources is something I do not like.

slowtarget is correct; you must launch the game once while in online mode to activate your game before you can switch to offline mode.

@2k Greg

Q. Will you be adding Achievements that will be listed on Steam?

Yep.

Is there some advantage to pre-buying Civ from Steam? In particular, will you get extra features of any kind that are not included in the standard or collectors editions that you might have bought from someone like Amazon?

The pre-order bonuses from each retailer are listed on their store pages. For example, Amazon is offering "Cradle of Civilization: Asia" and Steam is offering "Cradle of Civilization: Mesopotamia"

I do not know if these are exclusive to these retailers.

Other than those kinds of bonus things, the versions from different retailers should all be identical. Well, the boxed versions get you a box, obviously

[EnigmaCode]

The pre-order bonuses from each retailer are listed on their store pages. For example, Amazon is offering "Cradle of Civilization: Asia" and Steam is offering "Cradle of Civilization: Mesopotamia"

I do not know if these are exclusive to these retailers.

Other than those kinds of bonus things, the versions from different retailers should all be identical. Well, the boxed versions get you a box, obviously

So there's different pre-order bonuses from each retailer? I really hope they're not exclusive. I don't need to be hunting across x amount of retailers trying to get a "complete" Civ V package.

With Amazon offering Cradle of Civilization: Asia, can you tell us what those civilizations are going to be? And the D2D DLC also has separate civs? So all these bonuses contain separate civs? Sounds slightly confusing.

It would be nice to just buy one "complete" addition with every bonus from the various retailers included.

[2K Greg]

So there's different pre-order bonuses from each retailer? I really hope they're not exclusive. I don't need to be hunting across x amount of retailers trying to get a "complete" Civ V package.

With Amazon offering Cradle of Civilization: Asia, can you tell us what those civilizations are going to be? And the D2D DLC also has separate civs? So all these bonuses contain separate civs? Sounds slightly confusing.

It would be nice to just buy one "complete" addition with every bonus from the various retailers included.

I am working on putting together a page on our website that will detail all of the pre-order bonuses from the retailers that have one. You could wait for that page to go up to be sure you know all of the information.

As for what the Cradle of Civilization Map Packs are, I am getting that information for you guys.

The D2D DLC bonus is free access to the first DLC pack, which will contain 2 new civilizations and a scenario. This DLC will be purchasable by anyone; the D2D bonus is simply to get it for free.

[EnigmaCode]

I am working on putting together a page on our website that will detail all of the pre-order bonuses from the retailers that have one. You could wait for that page to go up to be sure you know all of the information.

As for what the Cradle of Civilization Map Packs are, I am getting that information for you guys.

The D2D DLC bonus is free access to the first DLC pack, which will contain 2 new civilizations and a scenario. This DLC will be purchasable by anyone; the D2D bonus is simply to get it for free.

Ok, thanks Greg. I'll be waiting for that page.

[Great Tiger]

The pre-order bonuses from each retailer are listed on their store pages. For example, Amazon is offering "Cradle of Civilization: Asia" and Steam is offering "Cradle of Civilization: Mesopotamia"

I do not know if these are exclusive to these retailers.

Other than those kinds of bonus things, the versions from different retailers should all be identical. Well, the boxed versions get you a box, obviously

I was afraid of that. Like EnigmaCode, I really don't want to miss out on any part of Civ V.

I guess I'll wait for the page too. Fingers crossed that each map pack will just end up as DLC later on.

[slowtarget]

So there's different pre-order bonuses from each retailer? I really hope they're not exclusive. I don't need to be hunting across x amount of retailers trying to get a "complete" Civ V package.

In the age of DLC, especially exclusive DLC used by retailers to pull in buyers, the reality is that there may not ever be a "complete" Civ V package. I know that will annoy some people, but at some point, you really just need to accept it.

Example: Bioware has used differentiated DLC with various vendors. In many cases the venders paid to have the DLC created so it could be exclusive. For Mass Effect 2, people who bought through Amazon got a set of red armor. Those who bought from Gamestop got a gun that shoots black holes. Since my wife likes the big boom, we bought from Gamestop. The red armor suit has already appeared as DLC-for-purchase, but the black hole gun reportedly never will. Similarly, collectors edition buyers got items that have never appeared as DLC. Now, this angered some people because they could not accept the fact that there was someone else out there in the world who had some item that they didn't have. The rest of us just moved on. The game was fun, no matter what items you had.

[Liberal]

I am working on putting together a page on our website that will detail all of the pre-order bonuses from the retailers that have one. You could wait for that page to go up to be sure you know all of the information.

Excellent. Wow, you really do listen. Thanks.

The D2D DLC bonus is free access to the first DLC pack, which will contain 2 new civilizations and a scenario. This DLC will be purchasable by anyone; the D2D bonus is simply to get it for free.

Due respect, but nothing is free. What do those acronyms mean?

[2K Greg]

Excellent. Wow, you really do listen. Thanks.

Due respect, but nothing is free. What do those acronyms mean?

D2D is Direct2Drive, an online digital retailer. DLC means "Downloadable Content"

[Liberal]

D2D is Direct2Drive, an online digital retailer. DLC means "Downloadable Content"

Okay, so — not to be obtuse — you're saying that pre-ordering from Steam (or is it Valve?) will get us two bonus Civs, is that right?

[2K Greg]

Okay, so — not to be obtuse — you're saying that pre-ordering from Steam (or is it Valve?) will get us two bonus Civs, is that right?

I am not saying that in any way. Can you point out where I may have implied that so I can correct it?

Pre-ordering from D2D gets you free access to the first "Premium DLC" when it is released. You can think of this as getting a coupon for it. Everyone else will have to pay for it, but you would get it for free.

[Liberal]

I am not saying that in any way. Can you point out where I may have implied that so I can correct it?

Both in your previous post and in this one. But then, perhaps my inference is not inline with your implication.

Pre-ordering from D2D gets you free access to the first "Premium DLC" when it is released. You can think of this as getting a coupon for it. Everyone else will have to pay for it, but you would get it for free.

I assumed, by modus ponens, that buying from Steam (or is it Valve?) would get us what you called "2 new civilizations and a scenario" since Steam (or is it Valve?) is a D2D: "an online digital retailer".

[CanuckSoldier]

Well I think you are being obtuse, D2D(http://www.direct2drive.com/) is a specific online retailer, Steam(operated and owned by Valve) is another one.

Now no matter were you buy the game Steam is DRM(digital rights management) system. So Steam has to activate it. But that doesn't stop other retailers from selling it and offering unique bonuses as is the case with D2D.

CS

[Liberal]

Well I think you are being obtuse,...

Maybe so, but not deliberately.

D2D(http://www.direct2drive.com/) is a specific online retailer, Steam(operated and owned by Valve) is another one.

Who knew.

Now no matter were you buy the game Steam is DRM(digital rights management) system. So Steam has to activate it. But that doesn't stop other retailers from selling it and offering unique bonuses as is the case with D2D.

Despite that the information was spitten out like a cowboy pissing on a fire, it's good to know that "D2D" is a SPECIFIC online retaler — an important qualifier (adjective) that previously had not been mentioned.

Thanks for the info. The attitude, though, was a bit like a fart at a Thanksgiving table: both unpleasant and unnecessary.

[slowtarget]

Okay, so — not to be obtuse — you're saying that pre-ordering from Steam (or is it Valve?) will get us two bonus Civs, is that right?

I think I see the disconnect here:

Direct2Drive is not Steam. Its a different digital distributor. While Steam might be the biggest digital distributor, its not the only one. Direct2Drive and Microsofts Game For Windows Live are probably the next most popular services.

[TheBadSeed]

Ok, I'll be a little obtuse here as well;
So, D2D is going to have digital distribution rights for CIV5 as well? I'm confused.. thought Steam was going to have exclusive digital distribution rights:

So, this is an important point for those like me who haven't decided where to buy the game yet; Steam comes with an extra map pack, Mesopotamia, Amazon comes with Asian map pack, and D2D comes with 2 extra civs and a map pack?!?!

It's all confusing. And you'll have to pardon Canuck's farting at the Thanksgiving dinner table.. he's Canadian.. he doesn't understand Thanksgiving etiquette. Mostly just shovels food in and garbles.

[Shadowdragoon]

Ok, I'll be a little obtuse here as well;
So, D2D is going to have digital distribution rights for CIV5 as well? I'm confused.. thought Steam was going to have exclusive digital distribution rights:

So, this is an important point for those like me who haven't decided where to buy the game yet; Steam comes with an extra map pack, Mesopotamia, Amazon comes with Asian map pack, and D2D comes with 2 extra civs and a map pack?!?!

It's all confusing. And you'll have to pardon Canuck's farting at the Thanksgiving dinner table.. he's Canadian.. he doesn't understand Thanksgiving etiquette. Mostly just shovels food in and garbles.

Quick point, seems D2D will sell the game, but even if you buy it at D2D, you will just get a CDkey to enter into steam to download and play the game. So directly its still steam locked, steam just probably just gets 15% instead of 30% (numbers are a guess) of the price.

[TheBadSeed]

My question about Steam is; How will multiplayer matches be set up, joined?

Despite Gamespy's woefully inadequate connectivity and stability, the actual method of setting up the game is pretty solid. Should we expect similar from Steam, in that you can host a game with password protection or not, and allow or disallow specific players from it?

Also, I have often thought that the lobby used for CIV IV provided by Gamespy is probably the single largest deterrent for online, multi-player play. It's completely unregulated, and abused by spammers, game ruiners, and general racist ranters. This tends to make gamers like me feel like they have found the wrong place to be. Are there going to be any regulations or a monitor for such activity in a CIV 5 lobby?

Also, is there going to be any means of suspending or banning abusers who repeatedly foul the lobby?

[slowtarget]

My question about Steam is; How will multiplayer matches be set up, joined?

I'd be surprised if Greg is going to have details like that for us now. You'll either have to wait or take guesses like the rest of us.

Despite Gamespy's woefully inadequate connectivity and stability, the actual method of setting up the game is pretty solid. Should we expect similar from Steam, in that you can host a game with password protection or not, and allow or disallow specific players from it?

Steam's server browser and multiplayer environment is generally considered to be superior to Gamespy in most respects. That said, a lot of the things you want are the responsibility of the game, not Steam. That said, since even Civ4 multiplayer had the ability to password protect a game and kick players, I think its safe to assume that you're gonna see the same abilities in Civ5. The allowing of specific players might take a little more work. Even some of Valve's own multiplayer games (TF2, L4D2) require mods to implement this. It's certainly possible through Steam, but we'll just have to see what Firaxis does for us.

Also, I have often thought that the lobby used for CIV IV provided by Gamespy is probably the single largest deterrent for online, multi-player play. It's completely unregulated, and abused by spammers, game ruiners, and general racist ranters. This tends to make gamers like me feel like they have found the wrong place to be. Are there going to be any regulations or a monitor for such activity in a CIV 5 lobby?

In most of the multiplayer games I've played that use Steam for server browsing, there simply isn't a place for spammers or idiot racists to spout off. Once you join a game, the game usually implements a chat lobby. At that point, it just depends on the people who joined. I'd like to think that a game based on playing from the viewpoint of different civilizations would be short on racists, but the world continues to surprise me.

Spammers, however, should be pretty rare. While Steam accounts are free and you can get one without a game, the lack of a public lobby means that in order to spam, the spammers would have to buy the game and then join games just to spam the other three people there. It's just too much work. Furthermore, I believe that repeated abuse is a violation of the Steam SSA and after enough complaints, Valve would probably ban the account. No guarantees, though. To be honest, I've never seen much spamming at all, and I play some of the more popular games.

Also, is there going to be any means of suspending or banning abusers who repeatedly foul the lobby?

A lot of multiplayer games are now coming out with the ability to kick/tempban/permaban players via the server. It would be nice if Civ5 implemented this as well. It shouldn't be hard to do. Again, we'll have to wait and see.

[CanuckSoldier]

Yes I think slowtarget has answered it all TBS. We will just have to wait for the promised details of MP from Greg. And yes no matter were you purchase Civ5, steam manages the keys to it. The difference between retailers both online/digital and box store will be price and added DLC bonuses. And of course if you want the Collectors Edition you have to but a physical game from a box store to get those goodies.

CS

[CanuckSoldier]

Maybe so, but not deliberately.

Who knew.

Despite that the information was spitten out like a cowboy pissing on a fire, it's good to know that "D2D" is a SPECIFIC online retaler — an important qualifier (adjective) that previously had not been mentioned.

Thanks for the info. The attitude, though, was a bit like a fart at a Thanksgiving table: both unpleasant and unnecessary.

Well I appoligize if I came across to strongly but this info has been published on many fan sites for months now, I found it odd that you would not already know about these things and it looked like you were just giving Greg a hard time for no real reason. And maybe it was just the end of a long day for me :-/

CS

[Liberal]

Well I appoligize if I came across to strongly but this info has been published on many fan sites for months now, I found it odd that you would not already know about these things and it looked like you were just giving Greg a hard time for no real reason. And maybe it was just the end of a long day for me :-/

CS

I conditionally accept your conditional apology ("...if I came across...").

We'll see how it goes from here. I don't hang out at other fan sites for the reasons I specified when I joined up here: namely, the noise to light ratio is too high. CivFanatics is pure chaos, and Apolyton is too snooty and snarky. One ought not to project one's own experience onto others — especially onto others whom he does not know. And you do not know me.

At least your motive was not completely ignoble. You sought to protect Greg, but I'm sure he can take of himself just fine.

I'm sorry you had a bad day. (Note the lack of any conditional phrase.)

[tviceman]

Quick point, seems D2D will sell the game, but even if you buy it at D2D, you will just get a CDkey to enter into steam to download and play the game. So directly its still steam locked, steam just probably just gets 15% instead of 30% (numbers are a guess) of the price.

Steam/Valve doesn't get any of proceeds if you purchase a steam-bound game from D2D, or from anywhere besides steam for that matter. This has been said by Valve and developers repeatedly since Steamworks came out.

[slowtarget]

Steam/Valve doesn't get any of proceeds if you purchase a steam-bound game from D2D, or from anywhere besides steam for that matter. This has been said by Valve and developers repeatedly since Steamworks came out.

Er... okay... that directly contradicts statements I've heard from developers who actually sell their games on Steam. If that were true, D2D would want to sell all their games as Steam games. They would get all the profits, pay virtually no maintenance, and force their competitor to increase their overhead and maintenance costs.

Could you point out some of those statements?

[CanuckSoldier]

I conditionally accept your conditional apology ("...if I came across...").

We'll see how it goes from here. I don't hang out at other fan sites for the reasons I specified when I joined up here: namely, the noise to light ratio is too high. CivFanatics is pure chaos, and Apolyton is too snooty and snarky. One ought not to project one's own experience onto others — especially onto others whom he does not know. And you do not know me.

At least your motive was not completely ignoble. You sought to protect Greg, but I'm sure he can take of himself just fine.

I'm sorry you had a bad day. (Note the lack of any conditional phrase.)

Perhaps you should try WeplayCiv for SP info and Civplayers for MP info. Both have high "signal to noise" ratios. The problem with here at the 2K forums is that actually the quality of posts are generally not as good as at the major fan sites, in fact most Civers don't every bother to visit here, it's just easier to head to one of the big 4 fan sites were dedicated Civ fanatics post detailed and often very accurate info and predictions.

Nothing against Greg and Elizabeth but they are limited by what 2K marketing will let them say. That doesn't apply to the other fan sites.

I do agree that Civfanatics is a large often chaotic site, but buried in their is alot of jewels as well, so not visiting at all is probably limiting your knowledge and I do firmly believe that knowledge is power as the saying goes.

Just my 2 cents though.

CS

[Liberal]

Okay, CS. Good advice all 'round. Thanks.

Lib

[JayFirelance]

Hey everyone, new user here.
Anyway, my question is:

If I buy from D2D, will D2D provide the key in time for release?

I know, this might sound like a minor question, but on the day of a new release, steam server are usually overloaded due to the insane amount of users downloading the game at once. Usually, the smart ones will switch to a different server location until they find one with a stable speed, but that's not the point.

Furthermore, on the topic of steam bashing, I think you Anti-Steam players should try it first. To be honest, I think Steam is one of the major elements keeping PC Gaming alive. Sure, you can call it DRM, but if a DRM allows you to install on any computer at any time, without a disc or requiring to input a code every time, I'd say it's pretty reasonable. Plus, what other DRM will allow you to buy quality games for a couple dollars? Seriously, stick around until Christmas, that's Steam's biyearly sale period.

[EnigmaCode]

Hey everyone, new user here.
Anyway, my question is:

If I buy from D2D, is the D2D installer compatible with steam and will D2D provide the key in time for release?

If you buy Steam from D2D it will be compatible with Steam as the game requires Steamworks. D2D is just the outlet; you still require Steam to play the game.

Furthermore, on the topic of steam bashing, I think you Anti-Steam players should try it first. To be honest, I think Steam is one of the major elements keeping PC Gaming alive. Sure, you can call it DRM, but if a DRM allows you to install on any computer at any time, without a disc or requiring to input a code every time, I'd say it's pretty reasonable. Plus, what other DRM will allow you to buy quality games for a couple dollars? Seriously, stick around until Christmas, that's Steam's biyearly sale period.

I totally agree with you on that point. Before you make up your mind that you want D2D perhaps you should wait for the page on the Civ V site about the different DLC bonuses that come with each retailer.

As far as we know now, Steam gets the Cradle of Civilization: Mesopotamia (which has Babylon), D2D gets 2 civs (unknown) and scenario pack, and Amazon gets a Cradle of Civilization: Asia (which contains unknown civs).

In addition, if you have any further questions about D2D or Steam, feel free to ask slowtarget. He is an excellent source on Steam and will probably be able to answer all your questions.

[JayFirelance]

If you buy Steam from D2D it will be compatible with Steam as the game requires Steamworks. D2D is just the outlet; you still require Steam to play the game.

I know that it WILL be compatible, I'm asking if I could use the D2D Installer to install for steam.

I totally agree with you on that point. Before you make up your mind that you want D2D perhaps you should wait for the page on the Civ V site about the different DLC bonuses that come with each retailer.

As far as we know now, Steam gets the Cradle of Civilization: Mesopotamia (which has Babylon), D2D gets 2 civs (unknown) and scenario pack, and Amazon gets a Cradle of Civilization: Asia (which contains unknown civs).

In addition, if you have any further questions about D2D or Steam, feel free to ask slowtarget. He is an excellent source on Steam and will probably be able to answer all your questions.

Yea, but as of right now, D2D has the best bonuses. Also, I think I know Steam, been using it for years on a daily basic.

[EnigmaCode]

I know that it WILL be compatible, I'm asking if I could use the D2D Installer to install for steam.

Well, on the D2D official site, you find in the Civ V description, "This title installs and requires STEAM to play."

That probably means that it will install over D2D and then launch through Steam.

[JayFirelance]

Well, on the D2D official site, you find in the Civ V description, "This title installs and requires STEAM to play."

That probably means that it will install over D2D and then launch through Steam.

After doing some digging around, I think it's possible to install it through D2D and scan the files with steam, at the very least. Now, I'm gonna wait for Greg's reply on the key part.

[tviceman]

Er... okay... that directly contradicts statements I've heard from developers who actually sell their games on Steam. If that were true, D2D would want to sell all their games as Steam games. They would get all the profits, pay virtually no maintenance, and force their competitor to increase their overhead and maintenance costs.

Could you point out some of those statements?

Directly from a developer/publisher/company 3000AD who has worked with with both Valve and other digital distribution sites:
http://www.dereksmart.com/2009/11/es...boycott-steam/


"When you consider that a publisher (e.g. Activision) is looking to distribute such a highly anticipated game using a single ESD method, it is bound to raise some flags. Why is why these three – all Valve competitors – are up in arms.

In my less-than-humble opinion, the concern is patently unfounded. Here’s why.

Regardless of what the delivery method is, when an ESD site sells a Steam wrapped game, that sale goes to the ESD site – not to Valve. So even if Direct2Drive were to sell MW2, they would get the sale, but Valve gets to pick up the resources and costs of activation, auto-patching – all the pre/post-release hassles etc...."


If you are interested in reading more, that write up is a good read.

[donald23]

At Valve, they probably recon they earn it back from the other games people tend to buy when they see the shop

[slowtarget]

Directly from a developer/publisher/company 3000AD who has worked with with both Valve and other digital distribution sites:
http://www.dereksmart.com/2009/11/es...boycott-steam/

Yes, I've read that as well, and yes, it's a great write-up and I'd recommend it for anyone interested in digital distribution business models. I guess my only point of contention is the idea that because D2D (or anyone else) makes the primary sale that Steam sees none of the money from the sale. Obviously, D2D would take the biggest cut, but it's not like any publisher has the ability to directly issue activation codes for Steam. That's something Valve has to set up very specifically for titles that wish to use it. I have to assume (and yes, this is an assumption) that Valve doesn't just give out those activation codes for free.

Of course, even if I am wrong and they do, (as I and other have pointed out) Steam still comes out ahead because Steam users tend to become Steam buyers, and the more someone buys from Steam, the more likely they are to continue buying from Steam. So, I guess I can't say for sure. I thought I read in a couple places that the activation codes were an alternate contract between Steam and the retailer and publisher, but perhaps I falsely assumed that "contract" implied "payment".

[boomie]

I have questions about Russian release. Games released here tend to be special region-restricted versions with lower price, as we can see with SC2, so I'd like to make things clear
1) Will Civ5 be released only in jewel case, or there will be box with game manual?
2) Will special edition of Civ5 be available in Russia?
3) Will Russian Civ5 contain code that can be activated on Steam?
4) If so, will Russian version be restricted to only Russian language, or it can be changed?