DEFCON with STEAM concern..

[shamandgg]

Hello everyone!
I have a question regarding purhasing DEFCON over Steam.

How does it work really?
Do I need to have some Steam software and drivers running in the background while playing DEFCON?
Does Steam change something in my system settings? I mean does it autoload on system startup, require installation of some drivers and stuff. How offensive this software is. I hate additional processes and unnecessary drivers. I'm just curious about Steam because Steam purchase is so much cheaper in US$ compared to the boxed one that will be sold in UK pounds.

[SuVir]

You need steam running to play steam games

It does autorun on system startup - but you can turn that off

You won't need to install additional drivers.

If you don't want to buy the boxed copy or use steam you could just buy the download version (of IVs website) which is about the same price as steam.

[MrBunsy]

You need steam running to play steam games

Not if it's anything like Darwinia and aparently Uplink are.

The conclusion (if there was one) from this thread was that Defcon will be like the others.

[zerohourrct]

Actually Uplink DOES require steam to be running (or at least, last time I checked, the one steam distributes does), Darwinia is independant because its fresh coding. To awnswer your questions:
1:Steam is like an IM client, you log in and then you get a small panel with games that you have bought and a store where you can get demos and buy more games.
2:Depends, most steam games you do (for authentication/prevent hacks) but for Darwinia you didnt because it was standalone. We'll know on the release of Defcon.
3:Steam does NOT autoload by default, but you can tell it to if you want
4:Steam is like any other program; it makes use of registry file(s) and mabye a driver file or two.
5:You do realize that the Steam process will be using about 1/10000000000000th of your processor and memory power?
6:Well if you need the driver to use Steam, then it isnt unnecessary. duh.
7:Steam is a very nice product developed by Valve (makers of the Half-Life series) as an anti-hack/authentication software, has been in circulation for years, and is very streamlined, visit SteamPowered.com

[MrBunsy]

Actually Uplink DOES require steam to be running (or at least, last time I checked, the one steam distributes does), Darwinia is independant because its fresh coding.

I was taking a guess about Uplink.. nearly right.


Or, in other words, as copy protection goes, it's a hell of a lot better than StarForce.

[Deestan]

You can download Steam for free and try out the free demos, to get a feel for it. If you don't like it, it will uninstall cleanly and you will have paid nothing.

I'm usually a rabid opposer of Copy Preventions systems, but I love Steam. <3

Contrary to most CP systems, Steam installs itself like a normal program, running with normal system privileges, and never ever does anything unauthorized or shady. And it doesn't require me to insert a CD-ROM for No Purpose Whatsoever.

It's also tremendously handy that I can download and play the games I own on any computer I access. On my work computer (if it's raining and I don't want to go home just yet), or even my brother's computer if I'm out visiting and want to show him how nifty The Ship, RO, DEFCON, etc. is.

Since someone mentioned StarForce, I felt I just had to throw in my angry opinion:
StarForce is a *CENSORED* Copy Prevention sceme. It demands to run as a system driver with access to absolutely every part of your computer, overriding the normal workflow of CD-ROMS, DVD-drives and other things. All of the time. Even if you never start up the game it's supposed to protect. And it's about as easy to uninstall as a computer virus.

[shamandgg]

Thank you all for your replies, guys. Appreciate it

[MrBunsy]

Since someone mentioned StarForce, I felt I just had to throw in my angry opinion:
StarForce is a *CENSORED* Copy Prevention sceme. It demands to run as a system driver with access to absolutely every part of your computer, overriding the normal workflow of CD-ROMS, DVD-drives and other things. All of the time. Even if you never start up the game it's supposed to protect. And it's about as easy to uninstall as a computer virus.

Nicely said.

I used to be anti-steam. Then I made the mistake of buying a starforce protected game (worms 4) and that rather shifted my view a bit. I'm still not wonderfully happy about steam in priniciple, but it's a sound programme at the very least. and if Defcon can be run independantly from steam (which I'm really hoping) then I'll almost love steam.

[Darksun]

5:You do realize that the Steam process will be using about 1/10000000000000th of your processor and memory power?

Uhh, a lot more than that actually. Steam, doing nothing, is using 2% of my availiable memory.

[MrBunsy]

It's only using 0.86% of my memory

[zerohourrct]

5:You do realize that the Steam process will be using about 1/10000000000000th of your processor and memory power?

Uhh, a lot more than that actually. Steam, doing nothing, is using 2% of my availiable memory.

Well, i was trying to point out that it shouldnt make that much of a difference in the low percentiles. And 2%? how much memory does your computer have? I reccomend upgrading to 1 gigabyte of DDR-SD RAM if you haven't already.

[tChr]

Semi-related question: Will steam also be required in order to play the version you can order or download from the site?

[W31RD0]

no, not as far as I know. The version you will be able to download off IV's site, will be stand-alone, meaning it won't require any other software, except for an OS and some drivers.

[xyzyxx]

IV are not a STEAM company. They always make a standalone version available.

[xander]

IV are not a STEAM company. They always make a standalone version available.

It should be noted, however, that with the stand alone version, it will probably not be possible to add it to your Steam apps list. You can get the Steam version, and play using Steam, or you can get the stand alone version, and play without Steam. Multiplayer games should not care which version you have.

xander