I just want to note here, that I have dialup and even with that, rather limited net access currently. For instance, I Just read the 'X-Universe News #48'.
At the bottom of which I was ...unhappy to see the Steam requirement for AP. So after looking, checking the last/current page of this thread, and seeing these comments:
David Howland wrote:Have we a release date yet for the 'get rid of Steam.exe'?
CBJ wrote:Hopefully this week.
I must say that I was Extremely happy to hear that, and as such was going to buy whatever retail box I could find for AP (even with my currently limited budget) Purely because of the release of such an .exe for the game.
However I read a few pages back just to find out more information about such a patch and seen this:
CBJ wrote:As explained in the FAQ, you need a Steam account to install the game. The NoSteam EXE simply provides a means to play the game without Steam once the game is installed and activated. If you are not prepared to set up a Steam account at all then you won't be able to play X3AP.
Now I have a Steam account, but as noted in other threads, I have issues with Steam. Just for reference, I've had Steam since day one of it's release, so it's not like I havnt tried it, or don't know how it works.
I say that because of this:
Steam FAQ wrote:
We are aware that at least some of the people who take the decision not to use Steam "on principle" are doing so on the basis of inaccurate information or misundertandings about the nature and limitations of Steam, and we would urge those people to read the rest of this FAQ carefully before making their decision.
Now I've also read Egosofts reason for using Steam, and I understand where you are coming from business-wise, but I was a sure sell for AP before I read the absolute Steam requirement. Now though I can't say that I will purchase AP, even with the 'NoSteam.exe'. One big reason is that I do not like having to download and install a large software suite that I will Never use onto my PC just to play one game, and yes, I can say I'll never use it because I do have other games on my Steam account, but it and those games are not currently installed on my PC, havn't been for a long time and wont be any time soon.
I know I'm just one lost buy* VS the newer 'larger audience' and that statistically I don't matter, but I just wanted to throw this up and have a say anyways.
(*I'll admit the 'NoSteam.exe' has me tempted to buy AP, but with no guarantee that it'll be updated and all AP patch updates released only through Steam, it seems unlikely.
However maybe Steam will wiseup to people like me and release a client that only validates game installs, patches games, isnt 200-300megs and doesn't have to be run constantly to play the games.
...Ya know, like Impulse.
)
ah but out of stock at that price, so yes £25 it is then!
Looking forward now to 