Which way to purchase

[sjfried]

Good morning everyone!

 

As a newbie to certain types of gaming, I am confused by the various purchase options.

 

I am ready to purchase DCS: A-10C Warthog. I notice some of you purchased and downloaded from DCS. Others are waiting for the Box release. Still others purchase through Steam. I have a very basic understanding of what Steam is. I am not trying to be facetious, nor do I wish to offend anyone, but why would I want to purchase through Steam? Wouldn't this just add an additional layer of complexity to the game? Are there features through Steam that enhance the games enjoyment? What would be the upsides or downsides to each of the 3 purchase options?

 

 

I know this is a lot to ask, but I want to make sure that when I do have Warthog, I am in the best position to get the most out of it. I am excited to get started, and would be very appreciative of any and all advice offered.

 

Have a great weekend everyone!

[MTFDarkEagle]

Either way you get it, you still get the same thing. Via steam, here, direct2drive, whatever. The endproduct is the same.

 

THe only downside to purchasing here is that you can't pay by paypal.

[Kuky]

I'll just say the game is exactly the same bought through DCS website or Steam. I really don't see any benefits buying through Steam... if you buy through Steam it will link your game serial to your Steam account and you can't change it to another account. Steam will automatically update the game when there are patches released...also in order to play the game you need to login to Steam first. If you buy through DCS website you don't need Steam account or have it running etc... for me I prefer buying through DCS website... I guess others can chip more on what I've missed.

[MTFDarkEagle]

@Kuky: if you don't have a creditcard, you can't buy it here, so you either have to go to direct2drive, steam or wait for the boxed version.

[Kuky]

@Kuky: if you don't have a creditcard, you can't buy it here, so you either have to go to direct2drive, steam or wait for the boxed version.

 

riiight... since I have one I don't know or worry about this

[MTFDarkEagle]

Alternatively, you can borrow the creditcard from someone you know (parents, friend, uncle, whatever), and pay him/her back in some other way. That's the way I did it.

[Jon855]

I have the steam version myself and comparing it the LOMAC which I have boxed. The general gist of the whole thing = "no difference" in itself and as a whole.

 

Personally I prefer Steam - Almost all of my game collection are from Steam. I like not having to worry about patching and stuff - alternatively if I lose the discs and such I don't have to worry about that with the Steam delivered games.

 

Though - Steam's Overlay won't work in the game because the game's 64bit and Steam's 32bit. Beyond that if you are not planning to chat with friends or whatnot using the overlay while flying, you will not miss out on anything. And if you are expecting - you've been notified.

 

At this point, I suppose it's a preference.

[Ozz13]

STEAM is the only way I'll buy a game. In fact, when I found out about this game after the PC Gamer review and found it wasn't sold via STEAM I was going to wait. Luckily I didn't have to wait long.

 

Why STEAM? It's a highly stable company. I think Forbes magazine recently listed them as the most profitable company in the world per employee. Beating, yes, even Google. They're not going anywhere and that digital copy will be available to download for as long as I'll be playing games. Not saying DCS is going anywhere soon, especially with quality products like this, but I wouldn't buy a game from any other digital vendor.

 

The game auto patches. Not a huge deal, but that depends on how often patches are released. I have a fairly extensive list of games on my HD and they're all up-to-date on patches and I haven't patched anything "manually" in a couple years.

 

The only drawback I see would not being able to sell the game down the road as it's linked to your STEAM account. But, seriously, a game this qualty..when would you want to sell it?

[Frostiken]

At the same time I dislike the idea of Steam's monopoly and the fact that it's still first and foremost a DRM platform. Not actually owning your own games is also one of those things that also bothers me. I won't *not* buy things on Steam but if the option is available I'll always get a boxed copy of a game before I'll buy it on Steam. I like to keep my Steam account mostly freed up for reasons such as security, stability, and ease-of-access.

 

Steam is incredibly convenient and Valve may have good intentions, but you know what they say about the roads to hell.

Edited May 14, 2011 by Frostiken

[Jon855]

Frostiken,

 

Indeed Steam is a "DRM'd" platform but it's far hellva better than Starforce and even in this case it doesn't matters because Starforce's still being used.

 

Only pro in not going with Steam is that you can sell your game down the road if you choose to whereas with Steam, you cannot as it's permanently part of your catalog.

 

As I've stated earlier - it's more of a preference at this point beyond anything.

[Frostiken]

Another pro with not going with Steam is actually being able to play your game when you don't have immediate access to Steam's network, as well as not having thousands of dollars of fake merchandise tied up behind one flimsy password :p

 

Like I said, I still use Steam, but I don't think the average consumer has put much thought into just how much we take Steam for granted. Using Steam isn't just 'do I use stuff tied to my account', it's putting complete, 100% faith in Valve, a company who in the end is all about making money first and foremost. You trust them to not use their vicious monopoly to exploit consumers, that Valve is going to keep letting you access their servers and your account, and that it will always be there. Valve isn't the shiny benevolent force you may want to believe - go ask anyone who has to pay in Euros about how much they price-gouge.

Edited May 14, 2011 by Frostiken

[Shez]

I dont like steam. Nothing that they have done. I'd just rather have direct control over the product I pay for with my hard earned money. So, I ordered straight from Eagle Dynamics.