ArmA 3 on Steamworks?

[zonker3210 1]

Re: user-generated content....I'm not so worried about addons as long as we can continue to install them manually as we always have. Will users have to download/install addons using the Steam platform or can they continue to download from sites like Armaholic and then install/update them as they please?

For the record, I *really* hate Steam. Don't want it. I'm really annoyed that BI has chosen to do this. Except for the last Czech Army DLC, I've bought every Arma game and DLC since the original Operation Flashpoint. I even pre-purchased Carrier Command when it was in beta. Not because I was excited about the game but in order to support BI. I purchased TOH as soon as it came out. And now BI tells me that I *have* to run Steam in order to play A3....and I'm really thinking it's just not worth it anymore. BI Studios has every right to require Steam. Likewise, I have every right to not purchase any more games from BI Studios. I think it's a shame that I'm even considering that. And I really am. Man, I frickin' hate Steam. For the record, I understand that I *may* be able to buy a boxed DVD version of Arma3...but I'll have to run Steam everytime I play Arma3 in MP. Why? I've used Steam before so I'm somewhat familiar with it. I just don't like it and don't want to use it. Might be a good decision for BI and if so, I truly wish them the best of luck. For me, I just don't plan on buying A3 now. That may change. I doubt it but who knows.

So long and thanks for all the AI.

[kualus 1]

I think all you guys should form a new group you could call it:

[sDF] Steam Defense Forces

Maybe even ol Gabe will sponsor you guys.

Ah yes, Mr Gabe "Too Busy Stuffing His Face With $400,000 of Food Every 12 Seconds to Adapt to Windows 8" Newell.

[Binkowski 26]

Since May of 2012, BIS has ruled "Steam" with ArmA 2 always being in the Top 10 in sales (right now today, they are #2 because of DayZ).

And this is the problem. Do you know what will happen when DayZ Standalone is released? That will spike to the "top sellers" list and top it for awhile, while the other BIS games drop. Those people aren't buying ArmA2 on steam to go play the actual game. They're buying it to play DayZ. Sure, some of them may convert over to the actual game. But the number of people is so small it might as well not even make a difference.

[gonk 0]

steam...is better than vapourware...

so does this mean it will run on Linux ??... I'd better update my ubuntu.. :)

[kualus 1]

And this is the problem. Do you know what will happen when DayZ Standalone is released? That will spike to the "top sellers" list and top it for awhile, while the other BIS games drop. Those people aren't buying ArmA2 on steam to go play the actual game. They're buying it to play DayZ. Sure, some of them may convert over to the actual game. But the number of people is so small it might as well not even make a difference.

Good point, I imagined that was the state of affairs. It's a bit sad.

[froggyluv 2136]

Lets face it rehtus777, we the Arma 2 people are now the red headed stepchild, yesterdays news, the old nagging wife thats been traded in for a newer, younger sexier zombie wife :p

Kidding, great post and I agree -like it or not, DAYZ is a huge leap for BI and the top seller status on Steam proves it. I guess the natural fear is that Arma as we know it will become diluted to please the newly acquired horde of fans with little care for the old guards needs and wishes. I see things a little differently and believe that the entire gaming industry will take forced notice of this unrivaled success (relative as a 3 year old indie title) on Steam and just maybe, realise that there is a substantial desire from gamers for more, to grow weary of COD 10 and BF5 with it's silly ballistics, respawns and non-lethal bullets. That maybe it's time to add substance in terms of difficulty and content and not just uber-cool super lens flare on everything and everyone.

Maybe not. But in general I find many newer games fun for an hour and then become old and repetitive and would be good if only they added a little more realism to the package rather than "Hardcore" mode which simply removes HUD etc...Perhaps we lose a little (tho I honestly don't believe it) of Arma's quirkiness in favor of accessibility, but I have a suspicion that one of these copycats will actually deliver something decent and that in itself will drive the future Arma foward thru proper competition.

Thats a win for PC gamers :)

[dsi24 12]

steam...is better than vapourware...

so does this mean it will run on Linux ??... I'd better update my ubuntu.. :)

Whoa. Wow, this could be even more awesome than expected.

[antoineflemming 14]

Do the community a favor. Do not release ARMA 3 exclusively on Steam, even if you have to delay it till 2014-15. Steam will destroy this game and the community.

If it takes BIS 2 years to fix ArmA3 and release it, then something worse than Steam exclusivity is the problem. I don't want it taking till 2015 to get ArmA3 out. If it takes that long then there won't be an ArmA3. It'll be cancelled if they are still working on it by 2015. If it takes that long, I'd rather them go ahead and add features that they know work to ArmA2 (like animations and weather and content).

[Maxzy 12]

And by the way - how does steam handles interrupted downloads (for example if connection is lost for some time)? Is it starting all over again or does it continue from where it has stopped?

[igneous01 19]

I am satisfied with the decision. It makes sense from the developer stand point, because distribution and building multiple versions of the same game when doing patch testing is very tedious and long process. I see no problem with their choice.

[arkblade 1]

the end is nigh.

a lot of modder and old "realism" fans would be away from the ARMA community ...

and many casual gamer and zombie fans remain.

(they like steamworks)

so ARMA4, Maybe it even faster, ARMA is died and reborn casual shooter.

(That's what we've seen many times...)

BI must need to work hard to not realize this.

This is the responsibility for the decision.

[antoineflemming 14]

Ah yes, Mr Gabe "Too Busy Stuffing His Face With $400,000 of Food Every 12 Seconds to Adapt to Windows 8" Newell.

Funny, you mention not adapting.....

[kilroy the nerd 14]

Hopefully, now that ArmA 3 is strictly on Steam, maybe we'll have the benefit of easier mod installation, since it's just one directory?

Even if not, ArmA 3 being exclusive to Steam is no game breaker. I highly doubt ArmA 3 is turning into Call of Duty simply because of a place where it's bought, as well.

[chortles 263]

Yeah having more option to purchase is soooo last century

That's one of the better parts about Steamworks for those who want a "unified" (read: Steam) digital download library... you can (apparently more and more often) find a cheaper price on Arma 3 somewhere else besides Steam's own storefront and then activate it on Steam. ;)

But ofcourse it is! And thats the fucking problem!! I don't have a good enough internet connection, so I won't be able to play the game!!! And you still wonder why I'm against it?

If you were going to buy a non-Steam Arma 3, would you have been playing offline only, campaign plus single-player missions (both BI and user-made?). Because if your Internet connection isn't good enough for Steam... I don't think your Internet connection is good enough for non-Steam Arma 3 multiplayer anyway. :p

My advice: buy the retail disc of Arma 3 -- it'll be a DVD with a Steam key -- and install from that, activate online.

And by the way - how does steam handles interrupted downloads (for example if connection is lost for some time)? Is it starting all over again or does it continue from where it has stopped?

I've had Steam continue-where-it-left off, and the "delta patch" talk in the BI article is essentially "won't have to start from scratch with downloading".

By the way, to every one of you complaining that this is proof that BI is "mainstreaming" and "casualizing"... you seem to have missed Arma Tactics, the Field Manual/hint system, the control and UI changes that Jay Crowe has discussed along with the underlying game design rationales, even Arma 3 creative director Ivan Buchta throwing the original Operation Flashpoint under the bus... heck, infantry seeming to be more like "FPS but hardcore mode by default"... :p

Believe me: Battlefield 3 being Origin-only is/was not the problem with that game... though the reason(s) for that (as glimpsed in the ME3 exclusivity to Origin and in the earlier pulling of Crysis 2 from the storefront) were the real problem. :p

[volkov956 0]

so those of us who run large lan networks for games aka I run with many copies of arma and arma 2 and ofp now I will have to have always online and individual steam accounts per machine... same reason others games that requires accounts I dont integrate in my closed lan network Example 6 copies of COD till they made it steam then 1 copy just for myself....currently own 8 copies of arma 2 + expansions sets

[dale 11]

Nice :) those who are moaning I dont know why, maybe its because they want Disks? I dont know it just seems like people are moaning because they can.

Ive been playing Arma for years, and never once did I think "this games is so great because it came as a disk" what I thought instead was "this game is great because the developers made something great" and then a few days later "and the community is great".

Also im not the sort of person to shoot down a game before its even out, seems very pointless, and need I remind everyone that this game was in development long before DayZ even touched the surface.(it came out around Aug last year ffs)

Now all the money provided by the mob who have jumped to Arma 2, are now paying for an all out amazing Arma 3, the BIS devs have at the expense of popularity and marketing strategy decided to extend the release till close to summer because of the extra money they have been able to put into development.

if you think dayZ standalone is using all the money think again, because they are using all of Arma 3's stuff (plus a little extra), so overall we are getting something which is very moddable as always and extremely open with a well developed system.

if you compare this to COD or BF3 then go play those games, and remind yourself that COD and BF3 are nothing like Arma, they are closed and small.

[W0lle 1052]

Nice :) those who are moaning I dont know why, maybe its because they want Disks? I dont know it just seems like people are moaning because they can.

My ArmA2/OA/BAF/PMC/ACR is from BI Store, all digital no physical disc since ArmA1.

I don't care how convenient Steam is, I don't care how much copies are sold there nor how cool or whatever it is. I don't want be forced to use a 3rd party software just to run the game, period.

And in a poll made by Marek here the majority of people voted for "no Steam exclusive" ...

[bullet purveyor 85]

I have great respect for what all the modders and people running fansites have done for the arma community, but I must say that some of you start to sound like stubborn conservative arrogant dinosaurs that are afraid of change when it comes to the steam issue.

Many of the reasons claimed for why Steam is a bad thing is completely ludicrous. Paranoia and conspiracy theories, and talk of old bugs fixed many years ago.

Someone even made it a negative point that having arma III on steam would make it too easy(!) to launch the game, what the hell!?

As a member of a coop community I have witnessed many times the total clusterf**k that arma II can be with different game versions, (steam, sprocket, amazon etc.) patches and beta patches. Add on top of that a multitude of mods and mod updates and other common PC problems. A gaming night can quickly be transformed into an arma support night.

We just want to play the game without all the hassle.

That is something a steam exclusive release can provide. Everyone will show up on game night with the same game, patch and mods.

With all the positive sides to a Steam release I think they will outweigh the few negatives.

It's pretty arrogant, Wolle, to call me a simple minded dimwit for wanting this.

I'm sorry to hear that many of you don't want to continue your work over to arma III, but in time I hope you all will cool down, change your mind and see that this can be a good thing for the arma community. And a good thing for you as modders as many more players will get to enjoy the content you provide.

[rehtus777 10]

@froggyluv. Yes, we are the " red headed stepchildren" of the BIS forum. ;) I guess I look at ArmA's popularity with DayZ like this: Let the DayZ people play DayZ. If they want to come over to ArmA 3, then so be it. The ArmA series takes a different kind of "gamer" to play the simulator. ArmA is much slower, more realistic (1 bullet to the body = Dead or injured) - it is NOT an arcade game, but a simulator. Many of these DayZ people are probably more like your common COD or BF3 player. I think what attracts them to DayZ is the "DarK - Edgy" side of the "living dead." I don't think many of them will convert to ArmA 3. The editor is complicated, the game is slow (compared to COD / BF3 / etc) - so again, I don't see too many coming over to ArmA 3. BUT, a few will come ("build it and they will come") - I use to be a hardcore Battlefield player UNTIL I was converted one night by a fellow ArmA 2 player and I've been hooked ever since..... so, conversion can happen.

All I'm worried about is that BIS might NOT stay pure to what got them here (i.e. - The Community of Modder's and dedicated fans). If BIS goes the way of BF3, I will start to look elsewhere for another game to sink all my time and effort into. Reminder: Battlefield use to let the Community "Mod" the game. But with the advent of BF3 / frostbite 2 engine and the console conversion of the game, DICE sold out their "dedicated fans" and the game was ruined. Sure, the Frostbite 2 engine is incredible, but BF3 'game play' stinks (5 bullets into the enemy from my MG36 and he only has 50% damage. STUPID). Anyway, I hope BIS never sells out their Principles and stays true to what got them here.

Cheers :cheers::cheers:

[dsi24 12]

so those of us who run large lan networks for games aka I run with many copies of arma and arma 2 and ofp now I will have to have always online and individual steam accounts per machine... same reason others games that requires accounts I dont integrate in my closed lan network Example 6 copies of COD till they made it steam then 1 copy just for myself....currently own 8 copies of arma 2 + expansions sets

That is entirely up to BIS, they can decide to throw in a non-steam exe or not.

[kualus 1]

I have great respect for what all the modders and people running fansites have done for the arma community, but I must say that some of you start to sound like stubborn conservative arrogant dinosaurs that are afraid of change when it comes to the steam issue.

Many of the reasons claimed for why Steam is a bad thing is completely ludicrous. Paranoia and conspiracy theories, and talk of old bugs fixed many years ago.

Someone even made it a negative point that having arma III on steam would make it too easy(!) to launch the game, what the hell!?

As a member of a coop community I have witnessed many times the total clusterf**k that arma II can be with different game versions, (steam, sprocket, amazon etc.) patches and beta patches. Add on top of that a multitude of mods and mod updates and other common PC problems. A gaming night can quickly be transformed into an arma support night.

We just want to play the game without all the hassle.

That is something a steam exclusive release can provide. Everyone will show up on game night with the same game, patch and mods.

With all the positive sides to a Steam release I think they will outweigh the few negatives.

It's pretty arrogant, Wolle, to call me a simple minded dimwit for wanting this.

I'm sorry to hear that many of you don't want to continue your work over to arma III, but in time I hope you all will cool down, change your mind and see that this can be a good thing for the arma community. And a good thing for you as modders as many more players will get to enjoy the content you provide.

Would you stop painting those who don't want Steam as Luddites?

[LeeManatee 4]

so what about mods?!... how the heck we are supposed to manage mods when arma 3 hits steam? i run 12 mods when i play ( ace, acre etc) and it's just one of oresets i use

anyone thought of it before deciding to go with steam?

[rehtus777 10]

so what about mods?!... how the heck we are supposed to manage mods when arma 3 hits steam? i run 12 mods when i play ( ace, acre etc) and it's just one of oresets i use

anyone thought of it before deciding to go with steam?

Yes, this concerns me. As I said before in another post, the Editor and the Modding must NOT be messed with in ArmA 3. If Steam interferes with Modding, then it will ruin the simulator - it's that simple.

I keep thinking that BIS is using Steam for 2 reasons: 1) Revenue (Steam brings 70 million potential members); 2) They are using Steam for the "less technical" players. ArmA has a HUGE learning curve. Steam might be 'dumbing it down' for Dayz and less technical people.

Edited February 22, 2013 by rehtus777

[Luftwaffles 1]

I'm not too excited about this either and the possible changes it could bring (please keep Steam Workshop out of A3), but let's not forget that Arma 2 and Operation Arrowhead used Securom upon release.

[Zyromkiru 10]

so what about mods?!... how the heck we are supposed to manage mods when arma 3 hits steam? i run 12 mods when i play ( ace, acre etc) and it's just one of oresets i use

anyone thought of it before deciding to go with steam?

There is nothing to worry about. Steam is the best source for getting games and they have been making mods easier to use than ever before. They will probably have this game put into the workshop section which would allow you to use a mod with a single click and it would automatically update for you too :)

They will make it happen no worries.

Also you can mod outside of steam still.. When I want better mods for skyrim I just go to nexus and use their stuff and everything still works just fine with 0 issues.