Yeah, so... Steam and Standalone.

[Slant]

Okay, after having deleted three longwinded rants... the situation is quite unsatisfactory and needs to be resolved. Preferably without me throwing 100 bucks out the window just to be forced into the standalone version to play with my friends.

Edited May 27, 2018 by Slant

[Flagrum]

Ok.

[Wingnutt270]

I would like to fly my M2000 that I paid full price for...

[Slant]

Ok.

 

That's too much emotion for cool people. Just sayin'.

 

You're gonna love the next three months. Is nobody else curious why they even release on Steam? If it's that troublesome, why do it? New players? Sensible, exept all you're doing is plant them into this silly two stores nonsense.

[BIGNEWY]

The situation is not ideal, and ED are aware.

[Wingnutt270]

I first found DCS on steam so that's where I got the game and first few modules, I wasn't even aware of a standalone version, or that it would be different.

 

I paid full price for the mirage 2000, and I have 100% proof of legit purchase.. but if I want to fly it now I have to buy it again.

 

Same platform, SAME PC.. have to buy it again.

 

Seems reasonable.

[falken76]

Yes The policy sucks, they should be able to take your steam receipt as proof. I'd switch to Stand Alone but I already bought NTTR and Normandy+WW2 Assetts. I'm not throwing away $90. I want to keep those and I want to ad Persian Gulf. Do they even remotely have an ETA for PG release on steam?

[Slant]

The situation is not ideal, and ED are aware.

 

I understand the limitations. But this wouldn't even be an issue if the release dates (yes, even for early access) were the same.

 

The beginning of new content is the most exciting time to play with friends. I feel robbed of that particular type of fun activity, where you discover new things together. You know, that's what makes a multiplayer game multiplayer for me.

 

If ED could improve the release situation, nobody would even be talking about Steam vs. Standalone and they'd have all the time in the world to solve the licensing issue.

[twistking]

The situation is not ideal, and ED are aware.

I am really confused now. Since ED started to improve their steam presence somewhere last year, i was very content with the stable branch on steam. If i remember correctly steam was only behind stable for days, or a week max.

Also modules appeared even before they officially left early access.

 

The problem that i see have nothing to do with steam, but with the way ED handles beta patches and promotes EA launches to beta, as if they were official releases. May i quote myself?!

[...]

i feel that there is something wrong with the concept of a beta branch, when most servers actually run beta instead of stable.

 

i always find it surprising when veteran players recommend newcomers to install the beta, as if it was the obvious version to pick.

 

sometimes, i even feel as if ED wants the beta to be seen as the default version, because of how they handle module launches, early access and general communication concerning releases.

also since the release of 2.5 the stable branch is lacking important updates, which results in heaving a stable version that is lacking (night lighting most importantly) and a beta version, which is "unstable".

i really wish ED would focus on the stable version to be the definite dcs version with the open beta being, what the name implies: a development branch for those who don't mind problems and want to aid in bugfixing etc.

 

I feel there is a now a big problem in the community, where the beta is seen as the default branch and "early access" launch is seen as proper release.

This is not normal! I am super excited for the Hornet, but i would always wait and get to experience a completed module in all it's glory, without the bugs and the frustration.

(hats off though, to the members of the community who deliberately "playtest" beta branch to find and report bugs etc.)

 

I feel that this early access hyping also leads to some of the frustration and therefore aggression that we sometimes see in the community.

Edited May 28, 2018 by twistking

[falken76]

I understand the limitations. But this wouldn't even be an issue if the release dates (yes, even for early access) were the same.

 

The beginning of new content is the most exciting time to play with friends. I feel robbed of that particular type of fun activity, where you discover new things together. You know, that's what makes a multiplayer game multiplayer for me.

 

If ED could improve the release situation, nobody would even be talking about Steam vs. Standalone and they'd have all the time in the world to solve the licensing issue.

 

 

Yes this right here. By the time steam gets the PG map it won't be new to other players. I would really like to experience the new stuff with everyone else. What do they need to fix on the Persian Gulf map before they release it? Is it all messed up or something?

[QuiGon]

Yes this right here. By the time steam gets the PG map it won't be new to other players. I would really like to experience the new stuff with everyone else. What do they need to fix on the Persian Gulf map before they release it? Is it all messed up or something?

There are some issues that need some attention. You can check them in the bug report section of the Persian Gulf subforum.

[Rudel_chw]

Do they even remotely have an ETA for PG release on steam?

 

June 1st

[jomardi]

Incredible dishonesty from ED to STEAM users.