Pros & Cons - Steam vs GOG which will you pick and why?

[wanderon]

Title says it all - I am interested in hearing which platform you will choose and why (just in case I am missing something) I have several games on GOG but only Pillars BB on Steam - have not really experienced any issues with either so far.

 

IIRC tho doesn't GOG offer the option of loading the game directly to your computer (thus if your internet is down the game is still available) or am I confusing them with Beamdog? 

[Terodemmah]

You can play the game on Steam in offline mode if there's problems with your ISP. I choose the Steam version because I use that platform a lot and it's handy for getting quick feedback and such with the forums there. GOG has their "Steam-like" platform in beta called Galaxy so they will probably offer the same form of platform like Steam before too long. 

If I were you I'd choose the one I'd be most likely to use in the future (ie if you only one game on Steam it seems kind of a waste of time to load up the platform each time to play it and you might as well choose the GOG key and attach that to GOG Galaxy when that releases). 

 

Just my two cents. 

Edited March 25, 2015 by Terodemmah

[View619]

I like the Steam platform for organizing my titles due to ease of accessing developer updates, community mods, etc. Also, offline mode is always an option in the event that you cannot connect to the Internet.

[Katarack21]

I barely ever use Steam, so here's a noob question: Once I set it to Offline mode, I no longer have to connect online to play it, right? Llike it doesn't connect, then go offline, then play?

[Terodemmah]

Exactly. I think it has to go online at least once a month to verify your account and such though. Not too sure but I played for longer periods on Steam without any connection to the web so it's possible.

 

Check this> https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=3160-agcb-2555

Edited March 25, 2015 by Terodemmah

[Sky_walker]

I barely ever use Steam, so here's a noob question: Once I set it to Offline mode, I no longer have to connect online to play it, right? Llike it doesn't connect, then go offline, then play?

Yes, you will be able to play. In theory you could find game in your steam directory and create a direct shortcut to the exe file to start the game without running Steam.

[AndreaColombo]

GoG hands down. No DRM, baby!

[Katarack21]

Coolness, that reassures my poor but that falling behind on a bill won't screw me out of this game, too. :D

[Terodemmah]

 

I barely ever use Steam, so here's a noob question: Once I set it to Offline mode, I no longer have to connect online to play it, right? Llike it doesn't connect, then go offline, then play?

Yes, you will be able to play. In theory you could find game in your steam directory and create a direct shortcut to the exe file to start the game without running Steam.

 

I'm pretty sure this isn't the case. There's a reason it's called DRM. 

[View619]

Just realized there's a thread like this in general (4 pages). Maybe you want to close and move the discussion there?

[wanderon]

Just realized there's a thread like this in general (4 pages). Maybe you want to close and move the discussion there?

 

No way man that general forum is too common for a BB elite I haven't been there is ages 

[Sky_walker]

I'm pretty sure this isn't the case. There's a reason it's called DRM. 

 

 

Well, I don't know details about PoE, but I can do that with a few of my other games on a Steam - for example Europa Universalis IV.

 

But even if you can do that - Steam is still a DRM cause you cannot install a game without online approval from Steam. Even if you'll create a back-up of all the files (using backup functionality) or you have an installation disc (which I painfully found out in a week when my net went down and I wanted to play New Vegas I have on a DVD) you still cannot install the game.

Edited March 25, 2015 by Sky_walker

[Luckmann]

GOG.

 

It's mine forever. No ifs, buts or whys. It's mine and I'll do what I want with it and no-one can realistically say anything about it. It will always install when I want. It will never require internet connection. If there are patches, I can save the patches, too, and will never have to depend on an internet connection or a megacorp. It's mine.

 

My preciousssssss.

 

 

 

I barely ever use Steam, so here's a noob question: Once I set it to Offline mode, I no longer have to connect online to play it, right? Llike it doesn't connect, then go offline, then play?

Yes, you will be able to play. In theory you could find game in your steam directory and create a direct shortcut to the exe file to start the game without running Steam.

 

I'm pretty sure this isn't the case. There's a reason it's called DRM.

 

Apparently, there are games in Steam that actually does work without Steam once you've installed it, and doesn't have to launch Steam to launch.

 

Supposedly, this also applies to Pillars of Eternity, but I don't trust it and it actually changes nothing for me, because you still have to rely on Steam for reinstalls and patches and so on and so forth.

Edited March 25, 2015 by Luckmann

[Sky_walker]

Title says it all - I am interested in hearing which platform you will choose and why (just in case I am missing something) I have several games on GOG but only Pillars BB on Steam - have not really experienced any issues with either so far.

 

IIRC tho doesn't GOG offer the option of loading the game directly to your computer (thus if your internet is down the game is still available) or am I confusing them with Beamdog? 

 

Yes, you got it right - you can download from GOG and install game offline. Steam, as I explained above, does not allow it.

 

This also means that if GOG goes down - you still own your games. If Steam goes down - you loose everything, as you don't own any games on Steam, they're basically rented to you (that's they way they are bypassing European Union laws).

 

From other arguments on why should you pick GOG instead of Steam....

• No bloatware. It's just you and your game. No overlays, no huge application running in background, nothing transmitting data in and out of your PC. That's not so very much important with PoE, but I don't have have any high-end multiplayer game on Steam for exactly these reasons - performance and having absolutely full bandwidth reserved for the game.
• Better customer service. If you have a problem with Steam game you are on your own, noone from Valve gives a **** about you. GOG is completely different, they are genuinely being helpful to the best of their ability.
• Each time you run Steam client it does that update check and there's a new, useless and meaningless update to the steam every other day forcing you to wait till that crap completes. No problems of that sort with GOG.
• (Nearly) each time you run Steam it pops with stupid adverts. No problems of that sort with GOG.
• Steam pricing policy is pure BS. Regional ripoffs are their standard policy. Obviously though it doesn't apply to people who already paid for a game.
• GOG got lower profit margins than Steam, so more of your money goes directly to the developers. But it doesn't matter if you backed the game on KS.
• GOG in general tends to have more freebies with the games. But that does not apply to PoE as far as I'm aware.

[Styger]

I myself am on the fence. While a majority of my games exist on Steam, all of my IE games and D&D games are found on GoG, as well as the Witcher series. It'll also be where I probably install TW3 from, since it comes with more goodies and a better price than Steam can offer. It will also be MY copy of the game, which is kind of nice to know, and not just a licensed copy.

 

So either you have Steam:

- Convenience

- Achievements

- More active forum base

- Easily take and upload screenshots

 

or GoG:

- Your own copy, not licensed

- Doesn't require internet access or downloading patches and setting to offline mode

- You can download all of your goodies in separate packages

- Collection with similar titles

 

Of course, if you're like me, you can access your preferred copy of the game on your preferred platform, and unlock your second copy (hero edition) on the opposite for those benefits, if you don't have anyone in mind who would play it.

[Styger]

 

Title says it all - I am interested in hearing which platform you will choose and why (just in case I am missing something) I have several games on GOG but only Pillars BB on Steam - have not really experienced any issues with either so far.

 

IIRC tho doesn't GOG offer the option of loading the game directly to your computer (thus if your internet is down the game is still available) or am I confusing them with Beamdog? 

 

Yes, you got it right - you can download from GOG and install game offline. Steam, as I explained above, does not allow it.

 

This also means that if GOG goes down - you still own your games. If Steam goes down - you loose everything, as you don't own any games on Steam, they're basically rented to you (that's they way they are bypassing European Union laws).

 

From other arguments on why should you pick GOG instead of Steam....

• No bloatware. It's just you and your game. No overlays, no huge application running in background, nothing transmitting data in and out of your PC. That's not so very much important with PoE, but I don't have have any high-end multiplayer game on Steam for exactly these reasons - performance and having absolutely full bandwidth reserved for the game.
• Better customer service. If you have a problem with Steam game you are on your own, noone from Valve gives a **** about you. GOG is completely different, they are genuinely being helpful to the best of their ability.
• Each time you run Steam client it does that update check and there's a new, useless and meaningless update to the steam every other day forcing you to wait till that crap completes. No problems of that sort with GOG.
• (Nearly) each time you run Steam it pops with stupid adverts. No problems of that sort with GOG.
• Steam pricing policy is pure BS. Regional ripoffs are their standard policy. Obviously though it doesn't apply to people who already paid for a game.
• GOG got lower profit margins than Steam, so more of your money goes directly to the developers. But it doesn't matter if you backed the game on KS.
• GOG in general tends to have more freebies with the games. But that does not apply to PoE as far as I'm aware.

 

Good call on the customer support; they've been hands down far more responsive and helpful than anyone at Steam support. Yes they're backlogged to hell and back, but that's no real excuse for such a large company as Valve.

[Pipyui]

Anybody here familiar with Key distribution?

 

I too am stuck - Steam is simply more convenient for me, and that's the version I'd get just for that, but I'd prefer to give my patronage to GOG.  If I redeem a GOG/Steam key, does GOG/Steam then get my little slice of backer funding, or has that ship already sailed?

[Odd Hermit]

It's a tough call, I like GoG's options to DL stuff like soundtrack and art separately, but I went for steam to get pre-load and they auto-update patches and it's just overall more convenient for a new game.

 

The DRM thing is a non-issue for me. Steam is not inconveniencing me like most bad DRM.

 

I might buy a second copy on GoG at some point if it's ever really cheap on sale.

[Sky_walker]

Anybody here familiar with Key distribution?

 

I too am stuck - Steam is simply more convenient for me, and that's the version I'd get just for that, but I'd prefer to give my patronage to GOG.  If I redeem a GOG/Steam key, does GOG/Steam then get my little slice of backer funding, or has that ship already sailed?

Only devs know the details, but AFAIK neither of the platforms in question is charging Obsidian or Paradox anything for redeeming the keys.

[Zwiebelchen]

I will pickup steam for the simple fact that I can buy steam credit at the local grocery store. With GoG, I need to have a credit card which is not that common here in germany.

[PrimeJunta]

I don't like Steam looking over my shoulder when I play, so I avoid it whenever there are alternatives that don't. GoG is one of those alternatives, so yay, GoG all the way.

[Sky_walker]

With GoG, I need to have a credit card which is not that common here in germany.

Credit cards are not common in Germany? What?!

 

Anyway - you don't need a credit card. You can pay through paypal or through paysafecard (paysafecard can be charged in a similar way to steam or google play - with cards that are bought in a store. They're available in Germany. You can find store near you here)

[Luridis]

I'll have both, Steam for convenience, I've got the 10 years of service badge from Steam, after all.

 

That said, I've also got a physical copy of the game coming with a DRM free disk inside.

 

No compromises here.

[Karkarov]

I had more than one key so I picked both.  Of course the GoG version is what I will be playing, I gave the Steam ones to friends.

[wanderon]

It was still a toss-up for me but I don't have much experience with Steam (only the BB) and I already have several old IE games and NWN2 on GOG so Pillars will be in good company there - GOG it is!