pieceofmind

Thanks sobek, and that's ok I just want to find out either way. Ticket is 24432. Cheers EDIT... Got a quick response that time, thanks for passing it on!

Still waiting for an answer on a ticket from the 14th of August. That's 7 weeks ago.

Here's a short guide I wrote in the Steam forum a while ago, summarising Chippy's solution. Note this is for the non-Steam version of DCS. Hopefully it still works the same way.

With still no love for BS2 Upgrade owners re Steam keys, I've decided to hold onto my money for now. A support ticket nearly 4 weeks old still unacknowledged doesn't fill me with joy either. Otherwise, this is quite a nice sale, especially the large discount on the Huey!

I've been waiting 3 weeks for support ticket 24432. I added a query to it a couple days ago though, which was before I found out from this forum that adding to the ticket increases the delay. It's not urgent or anything but I wasn't expecting to wait this long after the automated email told me it's usually not more than 48 hours. Thanks for your help.

In my opinion, it is because of the following that BS2 upgrade owners ought to be given some consideration regarding getting their copies on Steam: http://forums.eagle.ru/showpost.php?p=1318335&postcount=3 11 March 2011 I had assumed all hope was lost with Steam and ED working together again so I stopped bothering with Steam's versions of the products and switched to using ED's store, for both BS2 Upgrade and the P51 (the latter I'm truly grateful that ED has made possible to activate on Steam). Now that Steam is in the picture again though, it feels a bit unfair to be asked to pay another $40 for BS2 again to be able to use it there. Maybe it's OCD but it doesn't seem right to use the Steam version when I have access to all my purchased modules except BS2. I know there's no obligation on ED to go that route but in my case and I'm sure I'm not alone it would go some way to creating more good will towards ED and in reality that translates to a willingness to put money down earlier for the next modules. Happy customers are a resource.

I sure hope so. Of course nothing can be known for certain re DCS:Next but there have been enough hints to put an F-18C as the most likely. I think an F18 HOTAS would sell really well in that scenario so there's a pretty decent chance at least one of those companies will make one. Maybe we'll even get one from both companies as they'll feel it's a large enough market to compete in.

I don't think there's any need for exclusivity to Steam, so I don't see why anyone can object to it being available there as well as through your current channels. As I said at the start Steam has an enormous userbase and to not be able to pitch these titles to them is a missed opportunity. It may be evident but I would argue Steam is more a marketing tool than a DRM service. Rightly or wrongly a lot of gamers rarely or never venture outside its limits. If ED are still looking at this issue and are aware of greenlight then that's all I wanted to hear. I'm sure they're capable to do what's best for them. It looks like you avoid mentioning the benefits to the consumer as well. Since you're a frequent user of Steam you'd be aware others find convenience in automatic patching, game downloads always being available and unlimited (temporary server issues aside), integrated community features and so on. Games are a luxury and there's really no need IMO to take a doom and gloom attitude to how they're delivered. I just do no accept the argument that consumers would gradually erode their rights away to a point where playing games is actually to their detriment rather than something they do for enjoyment. There's no evidence of that happening and it's an argument based on fear of what is possible rather than what is likely. Godwin's law is irrelevant because we're talking about access to games here, something that any willing agent in the market can provide - not the abuse of basic human rights by a government. There is just no comparison.

Just to add some context, I'm posting here two flight combat games I've seen listed, along with some comments they've attracted. (and yes I know these two games are at opposite sides of the sim/aracade spectrum, but consider them anyway as flight games) Molten Sky Some of the comments left for it: Vector Thrust Some of the comments left for it:

I used to hate it too, but I use it a lot of the time now. Agreed, there are people who jump to its defense at every opportunity and often in a pretty childish manner (especially on Steam's own forum) but I would rather talk about it with a level head and talk of the reality. There are those such as yourself who object to the terms of using Steam and I respect that. However understanding that most people don't hold those same objections (of if they do then not to the same extent) and the sheer size of the Steam audience I think it's foolish to ignore them. Whatever problems ED have with getting these titles on Steam I'm sure they have little if anything to do with the few customers who avoid Steam entirely. I doubt it's in ED's interest to take a stand against Steam (for acting like a monopoly etc.). On the contrary ED would probably love the opportunity to have a renewed arrangement that would see some of their recent and upcoming titles on Steam. From your post it seems it is mainly the Steam DRM you object to, and DRM like that is pretty much the norm now across other stores or download services, with exceptions including GOG, Desura and some indie devs. Actually I found the DRM in the retail copy of Black Shark to be one of the worst I've seen but that's another matter. With all due respect most people can make up their own mind whether or not it's good for them. It's important to remember that games are, in the end, only a luxury and that a lot of people would happily take more convenience at the cost of reduced consumer rights. Other people will have priorities on that scale that different to your own and neither you nor they are more right than the other. Thanks for posting your opinion though. I hope I haven't sounded too defensive - I certainly don't expect to change your mind on anything but I do hope the post gives some ideas to consider. Remember I come to this discussion as someone who used to fervently oppose the idea of any game requiring Steam but also as someone who now uses Steam on a regular basis - I've seen both sides of the argument and I have a lot of familiarity with Steam as a service.

Could you please say why?

I did do some searches, particularly for "greenlight" with nothing showing up. I've followed this topic for a while now, inside and outside of this forum, but there seems to be very little information about why there is no longer a relationship with Valve/Steam. From what I've read, Valve is basically giving them the silent treatment (based on a post by, I believe, Wags a couple months back). If there are more recent or more concrete announcements I'd appreciate a quick link to them. In any case, if Valve isn't listening, that's the point of this greenlight. Even if the sim doesn't achieve enough votes on greenlight to the point where it will get new consideration, it will help bring more peoples' attention to the sim, and that can only be a good thing can't it? As I glance through some of the titles on greenlight now, I keep discovering titles that I've never heard of before yet seem quite polished in their stage of development. Nothing really bad can come of taking advantage of it, unless someone from the team starts responding unprofessionally to negative comments or something similarly unwise. Yes the casual games market is significant now, I still wouldn't underestimate the number of people out there who still like depth in their games. "PC gamers" commonly lament the "consolization" of games and the "dumbing down" or simplification of sequels to successful games. I would point to strategy gamers in particular as a segment of the market who appreciate the games which the more casual players would steer clear of because the games seem like work. Anyway, one thing I want to say is that I don't agree with the attitude of giving up and generalising about what the market wants. If it's true that ED would rather retreat than keep pushing to spread the sim then that's their choice but I really doubt they have anything like that in their vision/plan. I am mainly interested in seeing a discussion about whether greenlight adds any opportunities to the table or whether it's hopeless given the messages that have been coming (or not coming) from Valve. It might be that it's more or less useless to developers and publishers who have (or had) an existing relationship with Valve.

http://steamcommunity.com/greenlight/ I know people tend to either love or hate Steam, but it can't be denied Steam has an enormous audience and the fact DCS World isn't on it means a lot of potential customers are missing out. I suggest getting DCS World up on greenlight so the case can (hopefully) be made stronger for Valve to start discussions with ED re putting the sim on their store. To those who are unfamiliar with greenlight, it's basically Valve outsourcing some of its assessment of incoming proposals for games to put on their store out to its userbase. Valve must receive a large volume of proposals (including a lot of garbage) so it's hoped that people "upvoting" titles on greenlight will make the cream rise to the top and those most voted titles will receive further attention from Valve, while those games that fail to gain any traction might not ever get a second look.

Nice work!:notworthy:

With DCS World 1.2, it is supposed to be that the BS2 upgrade will now work. Previously (in 1.1) it didn't. I haven't tested it myself though. Also as mentioned above you will need to have BS1 installed if going that route.