Does this poll mean that we can put this whole steam issue to bed?

LOL

89% are either happy with CoD using Steam or are prepared to use it, so I would say so.

Plus I'm sure a number of the remaining 11% are only saying that because they are trying to pressure 1C into removing Steam, and will get the game anyway.

I find it hilarious that the demographic surrounding this game are so anti-Steam.

I have a huge collection of games bought through Steam.

It is particularly funny to see the IL2 community up-in-arms over Steam's inclusion because recently there was a huge noise when Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit (2010) was released and there was an announcement saying that the game wouldn't be coming to Steam. You should have seen the uproar!
Anyway that game is now also available on Steam.

Anyway I concede everyone has the right to choose not to use certain software but with Steam, based on roughly 7 years of experience with it, I can't think of a reasonable reason not to.

So far, none of the reasons given as opposition for using it have had any merit whatsoever.

that pretty much seems to be the 'bottom line' now isn't it?

Its the usual situation where people who have a complaint talk a lot more than those who don't.

The vast majority of users seem quite happy with Steam, or at least OK with it, based on the poll.

Leans forward out of the shadows, casts a cynical, world-weary and somewhat crazed look at the questioner, thinking, assessing, then looks left and right to see who else is around and relaxes a little, what the hell...

"This is the last part of the puzzle and still isn't known. To do so will require by-passing the game's built-in server-browsing features, which will be set up to go through Steam.

In the past, with IL-2/Ubi's built-in multiplayer system, that wasn't a problem, or you could say, a blind eye was turned towards it and neither the developers or publishers seemed to mind. But to be honest I wouldn't expect that to be the case this time.

And from here we start to get into potentially murky territory, whereby there may in fact be a new Hyperlobby-type arrangement and online scene, that we'll never be able to talk about here.

Sorry for the melodrama, but having been left in the dark to speculate like this, and looking at all potential possibilities, I can't help but wonder whether certain profit-motivated decisions have really been fully thought through. A dedicated community can be cajoled into bringing you some really nice bones, but it can also turn around and ravage your half-arsed dreams and schemes if you're not careful.

Will have to wait and see.

I'd rather ask, will there be a need for a service like Hyperlobby anymore? And I'd like to automatically and without hesitation say, no, there'll be no need or want for a Hyperlobby type service anymore, it won't be necessary, and it won't be necessary for the developers to code that option in or leave that loop-hole open. But..."

Looks around again, gives a slight shrug of the shoulders and a parting, who-knows kind of look, before retreating back into the shadows, "...will have to wait and see."

Questioner just stands there, looking into the darkness, blinking, wtf was that all about? I just wanna fly online.

See here - may no longer apply, but at least back in October Oleg clearly did not plan to limit multiplayer to the Steam lobby.

Thanks for that, I remember reading that now that I see it again. Interesting in retrospect to see that he was referring to Steam.

If they have managed to leave that "...possibility to integrate to another systems by creative users and third party..." then the Steam naysayers have even less to worry about. Yeah, the crap will still be on your system somewhere, but you won't have to have anything much at all to do with it in order to play on-line or off.

In which case, here - http://store.steampowered.com/about/ here's the link again. Install the Steam client now before you even get the game and report back to us on how resource-hungry and intrusive it is. I dare ya:grin:

Edit- Sorry for the tone of my recent posts, if anyone knows what I mean, I think I've been spending too much time reading up on these forums lately. Should take a break.

I have ran several servers for several different games that make use of Steam.

The Steam server browser can see the server and report on it's current connected clients and will allow for you to connect to the server using the Steam system but none of this has ever precluded the ability to see the server and connect to it using a 3rd party application; Xfire for example.

I can find no previous examples where Steam integration has meant that there isn't another way to connect and have no reason to believe ClOD will be any different.

If there are any potential ClOD customers out there that are scared of using Steam and somehow feel it will stop them enjoying the game there are literally hundreds of thousands of Steam users that can testify that the system works.
I'd be willing to bet there are more than a few of us here that would be willing to help out if anybody has any difficulty.
The beauty of PC gaming is that there is always a solution to every problem.

Looks like few ppl just woke up, after 10 years of playing sturmovik exclusively, only to realize that the gaming world around them has changed...