[POLL] Would you use Steam for Rebirth?

[Slashman]

[TEKing66]

I have been very successful in taking Steam offline at will. Once I understood the quirks of it.

The only limitations are that the PC Steam will be running on must be activated and the games must be up to date and in the "Ready to Play" state. So, you need to start Steam one time on that PC in Online mode, the while you are logged in Tell Steam to go to Offline Mode. Steam will restart in Offline mode, and do so every time it is started (as long as it doesn't see an internet connection when it is starting up). I would really like to see it prompt the user to go online or stay in Offline mode on start up, at least once Offline mode has been achieved.

I have even deactivated my internet connection, put Steam in Offline mode and then reactivated my internet connection. After doing this I left Steam running for a week, and honestly this surprised me, it never tried to phone home or update once (that I am aware of, while sleeping at night it might have, not sure there). So, at least for me, Steam's Offline mode seems to work pretty well. I will say this, I meter my internet usage, and with Steam running offline for two weeks, I can account for every byte downloaded and/or uploaded. And none of the data could have been Steam phoning home without my knowledge.

Even though I don't care for Steam, and would rather have my games Steam Free. I will still give an honest opinion based on my own experience in using Steam, be it good or bad or for or against Steam.

[Pesanur]

Is long time that I not put steam in off-line mode, but at least before, their call home also in off-line mode, since their advice of client updates. I don't know if now this have been changed.

[A5PECT]

[strude]

[Slashman]

[TEKing66]

A tech a Bethesda told me in a phone conversation that the Xbox version of Skyrim uses Steam for it's updates just like the PC version uses. Go figure.

[eladan]

[Slashman]

[fox jumps]

My last post in this topic (probably, lol)

Many thanks to Quase who intoduced me to GOG. Since then I have picked up 6 titles all shipping defective free (no DRM and no need of internet access to play). I will be picking up many more.

Alas, Ego has chosen to go steam only and whilst I have held out on the chance they may reconsider, I don't think Ego care about losing loyal customers due to their new steam only stance. It's fair to say that I didn't care about Albion Prelude and will continue to not care about Rebirth as long as steam is a requirement.

Good luck with Rebirth Ego! I will be spending my money elsewhere.

I just picked up Freespace 2 this evening on GOG, DRM free for less than 3 dollars and plan on taking advantage of the modding communities that have updated many graphical features.

Maybe one day Ego will return to the good old days of providing space sims that are accessable to all, instead of shafting their own consumer base with bull third party solutions that are, at the end of the day, only put in place to maximise their profit. Good old fashioned greed.

Meanwhile, my cash goes to Good old Games.

[1stRaymond]

I would use Steam as long as I can buy a hard copy for my own use and for registration if required. If I cannot get a CD/DVD of the game I am buying - I will not use any service that ties me to the internet for game play. Our internet service is unreliable at best and I prefer to be able to play when I want - not when I have internet service and need to maintain that internet service to continue play.

If Ego wants to use Steam that is fine, as long as I can still purchase the games on separate media and not as a download. If Steam will not sell me a CD/DVD for a game - I don't buy and spend my money somewhere else.

[StarSword]

[strude]

[eladan]

[Slashman]