Steam with Disc Version

[Les]

Originally Posted by Thee_oddball

Peer To Peer Multi-Player Authentication/Authorization verifies the unique ID of a user (their SteamID), determines if that user is allowed access to the game

https://partner.steamgames.com/documentation/api

Yes, that's quoted from the section pertaining to the peer to peer feature of Steamworks.

All we've been told though is "The game only uses SteamWorks for match-making..." The section pertaining to that Match-making feature is also listed on the page you linked to.

It seems highly likely one will require the other, and I have no doubt using any of these features will in fact require having a unique Steam ID.

But the question remains, in my mind at least, whether or not a boxed version of the game can be played offline, leaving the built-in multiplayer features effectively unavailable. Or put another way, the question remains whether setting up a Steam account will be required whether one decides to use the built-in multiplayer features or not. And I haven't seen an answer to that.

Which leads to the other question of, if an active Steam account isn't required until after you try to play using the built-in multiplayer browser, can you decide to never use the built-in (Steam integrated) multiplayer browser and use a third party application which lists game servers that don't require Steam ID's and which themselves aren't connected to the Steam service?

The Steam downloaded games I've played (offline only) in the past, haven't required me to sign up with the online services included in the game (Yuplay and Games For Windows Live) unless I want to use those services. They have installed themselves automatically along with the rest of the game, but they have remained unactivated and all their features have remained unused, beyond the pop-up that asks me to register with them and activate an account with them if I want to play online. The question remains whether or not the boxed versions of CloDo will work the same way. I haven't tried to play online with any of those other games by using separate third party server-browsers and by-passing the built-in ones, so I don't know anything about that.

[JAMF]

Originally Posted by Les

The Steam downloaded games I've played (offline only) in the past, haven't required me to sign up with the online services included in the game (Yuplay and Games For Windows Live) unless I want to use those services.

For Dirt, GfWL was needed, or else progress isn't saved.

[Les]

Originally Posted by JAMF

For Dirt, GfWL was needed, or else progress isn't saved.

GFWL was included in GTA4 as well. With that, there were only some things that weren't saved. You could still do basic game saves and get through the game without GFWL, but you couldn't save the sorts of things that would have to be kept on the GFWL cloud service. (eg. you couldn't save a collection of stolen cars in a virtual garage in-game, only the car you were using at the time when you did a regular game save).

Steam also uses a cloud-type service, but I can't see why it would be essential, even for saving your progress through a campaign. If they've integrated Steam achievements and ranking up etc. you'd obviously need a Steam ID to have that data saved on the Steam cloud, but I can't see why it would be compulsory. And again, those Steamworks features are distinct from the match-making feature, which is the only Steamworks feature that's been confirmed as being part of the boxed version.

[Fritz X]

Originally Posted by Les

Steam also uses a cloud-type service, but I can't see why it would be essential, even for saving your progress through a campaign.

I strongly have to disagree on this. Especially when it comes to a game like CoD with lots of setup options for controllers and graphical settings, I find Steam Cloud very helpful, since it also stores these setup files online, so if you ever switch your machine (or lose the content of your HD for whatever reason), your preferred settings are automatically applied again on the new computer.

You can of course deactivate this if you want to, but I wouldn't be able to think of a single reason to do so...

[Les]

Originally Posted by Fritz X

I strongly have to disagree on this. Especially when it comes to a game like CoD with lots of setup options for controllers and graphical settings, I find Steam Cloud very helpful, since it also stores these setup files online, so if you ever switch your machine (or lose the content of your HD for whatever reason), your preferred settings are automatically applied again on the new computer.

You can of course deactivate this if you want to, but I wouldn't be able to think of a single reason to do so...

I didn't know they did that.

Yes, I agree, under those circumstances it would be easier to not have to manually re-configure your settings or copy and paste config files (if you still have them).

Edit - Looks like not all games support Steam's cloud saving feature, here's hoping CloDo does.

[Fritz X]

^ Yup, not all games do. According to CoD's Steam Store page however, the game will

[JAMF]

Originally Posted by Les

GFWL was included in GTA4 as well. With that, there were only some things that weren't saved. You could still do basic game saves and get through the game without GFWL, but you couldn't save the sorts of things that would have to be kept on the GFWL cloud service. (eg. you couldn't save a collection of stolen cars in a virtual garage in-game, only the car you were using at the time when you did a regular game save).

IC. I was mainly pointing out that it depends what the game developers do with the options. GfWL in Dirt's case doesn't store any progress locally, so it doesn't compare and update online details, after connection has been re-established.

So it all depends on what the developers decide to do with a tool; limit/hamper offline enjoyment or improve online service and roaming freedom?

[timholt]

Les,
thank you very much for your lengthy and informative response(s).

The swamp is getting shallower but still murky for the likes of me. I find it hard to comprehend why this is still so unclear this close to release.

Methinks the whole enchilada involved with this release is sadly lacking in marketing skills.

However, that aside, as a IL2 buff and offline player (with a brief unsatisfactory on line experience) since the original game was released, my hat goes off to Oleg and crew for what will be another creme de la creme of flight simulation for many years to come I would envisage.

[Les]

Originally Posted by timholt

Les,
thank you very much for your lengthy and informative response(s).

The swamp is getting shallower but still murky for the likes of me. I find it hard to comprehend why this is still so unclear this close to release.

Methinks the whole enchilada involved with this release is sadly lacking in marketing skills.

However, that aside, as a IL2 buff and offline player (with a brief unsatisfactory on line experience) since the original game was released, my hat goes off to Oleg and crew for what will be another creme de la creme of flight simulation for many years to come I would envisage.

No worries mate, it is hard to understand how the individual pieces work, how they'll work when combined, and why we haven't been told exactly what the individual pieces are and how they'll be combined.

It can be summed up as a lack of communication, for whatever reason/s, but I think too there are some aspects of all this that won't be known by anyone until the thing's released and in the hands of the end users.

I'm sure you're right though and that Oleg will come up with the goods. However, it might a bumpy ride for some of us, as individuals and as a community.

[Blackdog_kt]

Originally Posted by Les

Lot's of stuff that made sense.

Pretty solid assessment in all your posts there.

I'm hoping it's like one of the options you described and the boxed editions won't have me installing anything extra if i don't try to access multiplayer.

I'm going to be late in getting the game anyway (a relative will bring me a collector's edition from the UK about two weeks or so after release) by which point i guess stuff like Hyperlobby will already support CoD, so if it works that way i may be able to completely sidestep steam.