Steam Version Pros and Cons

[Paradox01]

I recently got the Steam version of CoC II (on discount! Yay procrastination!) and I have to say, congrats to Savin and Co. Huge accomplishment. Giant step forward for the IP. Great way to spread the word.

Having said that, I figured someone should start a thread where we can collate pros and cons of the game on Steam; aspects unique to the Steam version that don't necessarily apply to the other versions (ie non-Steam) of the game and might get buried in the regular "What content would you like added" or "Your gripes with CoC II" threads.

To start things off:

PROS:
1) Automatic updates.
2) Achievements.
3) The game opens in a separate window instead of taking over full screen, allowing players to easily bounce back and forth between the game, the Wiki and the Forum. Or the rest of the internet. Or your Spank Bank folder.
4) Hot-fixes (immediate patches that fix game-breaking bugs) are easier. [Assumption]
5) Cloud saving.

CONS:
1) It's already been implied (or outright stated, I'm not sure) that the Steam updates don't coincide with the Backer updates. I get it that I'm only paying once but if this is true, three tiers of game versions is too much. If I'm reporting a bug, I should just be able to state that I'm reporting on the Steam version and no other details need suffice.
1) The Steam menu needs a way to annotate which version we're playing for accurate bug reporting.


That's all I have so far. I hope this thread is a help to the Devs and Members both.

 

[WolframL]

If I'm reporting a bug, I should just be able to state that I'm reporting on the Steam version and no other details need suffice.

It's possible to turn off automatic updates, which means someone could buy the game and (if they don't manually allow the update) be several versions behind when they run into a bug. The same reasoning why we're asked to report the version holds here too: If you're on an older build and the bug has already been fixed or they're aware of it from an earlier report, it saves everyone time.

There's enough instances of people missing things in bolded text (cough Hornet Ring cough) and asking why they can't do X where X is from a recent backer build while they're playing on the browser version that only updates for the public releases that assuming the person doing the reporting is up to date on Steam updates is probably not the safest of bets.

1) It's already been implied (or outright stated, I'm not sure) that the Steam updates don't coincide with the Backer updates.

Stated quite directly in the announcement of the Steam version.

 

[Paradox01]

It's possible to turn off automatic updates, which means someone could buy the game and (if they don't manually allow the update) be several versions behind when they run into a bug. The same reasoning why we're asked to report the version holds here too: If you're on an older build and the bug has already been fixed or they're aware of it from an earlier report, it saves everyone time.

There's enough instances of people missing things in bolded text (cough Hornet Ring cough) and asking why they can't do X where X is from a recent backer build while they're playing on the browser version that only updates for the public releases that assuming the person doing the reporting is up to date on Steam updates is probably not the safest of bets.

Good point. That's why I pointed out to Leykoss (whoever that is) in this thread that the Steam version number needs to be much more visible. Before Steam, the default download file name WAS/IS the version number. It's much harder to find in Steam.

 

[Paradox01]

Stated quite directly in the announcement of the Steam version.

AH, okay, so the Steam version is NOT the Backer version. That...kinda...changes things? Especially with what Leykoss told me in my other thread I linked.

OP edited.

 

[TrustworthyTraitor]

AH, okay, so the Steam version is NOT the Backer version. That...kinda...changes things? Especially with what Leykoss told me in my other thread I linked.

OP edited.

You basically pay for achievments and to save yourself 2 minutes of life (cuz checkin for updates)

 

[sumgai]

If you're backer, you can get backer updates on Steam.

Sekrits....

 

[Tristan Black]

Mostly a secret code that gets applied in a special Steam menu to let you access the beta version.

 

[Salomon]

You basically pay for achievments and to save yourself 2 minutes of life (cuz checkin for updates)

think that this is an alternative for those who want to support the project, but who cannot donate every month!

 

[Tristan Black]

Plus Patreon... isn't that reliable. Deathblight RPG's creators got pressured off the site, putting the final nail in the game's coffin.

 

[TrustworthyTraitor]

think that this is an alternative for those who want to support the project, but who cannot donate every month!

The thing is steam supporters dont get any real benefit for that , while i understand that patreon supporters are top tier backers (kudos to them 4 that) since they dish out continous support for the project i think steam ones should be counted too as a lower tier ones (so atleast slightly faster access to newer version compared to non supporters could be nice) . Thoughts on that?

 

[The Observer]

No.

 

[cobra]

No.

You've been hanging around Savin too long. :/

 

[Tristan Black]

Personally, I thought it was just the right answer. Short, concise, and giving absolutely no room for interpretation or argument.

 

[Shizenhakai]

The only thing that would make some sense would be a small set of custom avatars. Or rather ingame pictures cropped and pallette-swapped as avatars
=P
Though I'm doubtful they would do that. ^^

 

[TrustworthyTraitor]

The only thing that would make some sense would be a small set of custom avatars. Or rather ingame pictures cropped and pallette-swapped as avatars
=P
Though I'm doubtful they would do that. ^^

Personally i would love to see something to collect (emotes,cards,backgrounds) *sigh* also if they are so adamant on the monthly backup = backer couldn't they just add a season pass to steam (there is no way in hell i'll set up paypal just for patreon) ?

 

[sumgai]

You can go Subscribestar. Doesn't need paypal then.

 

[WolframL]

The only thing that would make some sense would be a small set of custom avatars. Or rather ingame pictures cropped and pallette-swapped as avatars

I imagine this would be way more trouble than it's worth, since that would mean at least ten avatars (five starter races plus masculine/feminine to cover the most basic set of options) and if you want to add a selection of ones to pick from per race/gender combo that starts to really add up. And since the game lets you do whatever avatar you want, there's not really any benefit to spending the time on it versus letting players do their own, especially since that approach will generally result in something much closer to how the Champion looks in your head than a generic avatar. Once you start looking at things like all the hair, eye color variations and skin tone/fur color variations it ends up being a whole lot of Not Worth It, especially since it's likely to lead to people complaining that there isn't a default avatar close enough to their Champion, make one be in the game nao!

Personally i would love to see something to collect (emotes,cards,backgrounds) *sigh* also if they are so adamant on the monthly backup = backer couldn't they just add a season pass to steam

A season pass is a one-time purchase rather than a recurring payment, so the logistical hurdles of figuring out how to apply that to a constantly updated game would be a headache. Since it's a one-time deal, any duration on the pass in excess of two months would result in something that costs considerably more than the game itself, since it costs $5 per month to get access to the backer builds.

 

[Paradox01]

Here's another bonus of the Steam version. For some reason, it's WAAAAY easier and faster to download patches on Steam than it is normally. Same computer, same internet connection, VASTLY quicker download.

Also, I just wanted to give a quick shout-out to the dev team. This game just continually gets better and better. Hats off to all involved.

 

[Balaknightfang]

Here's another bonus of the Steam version. For some reason, it's WAAAAY easier and faster to download patches on Steam than it is normally. Same computer, same internet connection, VASTLY quicker download.

Yeah, so
this is because steam automatically only downloads the changes, instead of needing to redownload the whole thing by virtue of their infrastructure. It's super fucking nice, and honestly the laziness it and the auto-update function allow are why I almost exclusively use the steam version these days.

 

[Salomon]

Yeah, so
this is because steam automatically only downloads the changes, instead of needing to redownload the whole thing by virtue of their infrastructure. It's super fucking nice, and honestly the laziness it and the auto-update function allow are why I almost exclusively use the steam version these days.

 

[Rebelyon]

Buy on steam and be a patreon as well! No more cons, just pros

 

[Salomon]

Buy on steam and be a patreon as well! No more cons, just pros

the only Con of that is that I don't know if my liver is worth that much on the black market!

 

[Lukistr]

the only Con of that is that I don't know if my liver is worth that much on the black market!

Well sir I have good news for you liver is the only organ in the human body that regenerates over time. If your liver is not worth that much today it could be tomorrow.

 

[Salomon]

Well sir I have good news for you liver is the only organ in the human body that regenerates over time. If your liver is not worth that much today it could be tomorrow.

but then I would have to stop drinking!

 

[TrustworthyTraitor]

but then I would have to stop drinking!

You could also "borrow" a liver ( and a bunch of other things) from someone else ...

 

[Salomon]

You could also "borrow" a liver ( and a bunch of other things) from someone else ...

I was thinking of using this for when buying a ps5

 

[Tristan Black]

Eh. It's the holidays. If I'm losing major organs between now and 2021, it'll be a donation to someone who needs it.

Plus I just gave away a whole bunch of platelets, and the local black market's... well, there's exactly two hospitals in a hundred miles or so. Any direction. Often further. Sell a major organ, you're likely to get traced.

 

[Prince Thunder Spark]

Only issue I have is it isn't available on mac, but that is more my fault for getting a mac in the first place and trying to play games on it.

 

[Paradox01]

Only issue I have is it isn't available on mac, but that is more my fault for getting a mac in the first place and trying to play games on it.

Finally, a self-aware Mac User! Rarer than hen's teeth! Is this what it felt like to play Pokémon Go?

 

[Salomon]

in my humble opinion, anyone who uses apple products is automatically already accepting the fact that there are going to be a lot of emotional and financial frustrations! (actually, I think this is specified in the terms of the contract, but no one ever reads that! )