Development Blog & Reveals

[antoineflemming 14]

I like Steam and have a lot of games on there, but I don't use it for ArmA2. I have a slight concern about how this will affect running a dedicated server. At the moment myself and the clan I'm in have a great deal of control over how we operate our ARmA2 servers, I wonder if this is going to change with the interaction of Steam?

It shouldn't. If arcade FPS games like Modern Warfare 3 can offer dedicated servers, then ArmA3 should be able to. Now, what I'm wondering is, does this mean BIS is going to try to go for matchmaking. That I certainly hope is not the case.

[nikiforos 450]

Excuse me, but is it a success to release the game in 2013? I thought the game will be released 2013 regardless of steam.

However I do understand that the situation that occured with Limnos delayed the whole project.

[maddogx 13]

I like Steam and have a lot of games on there, but I don't use it for ArmA2. I have a slight concern about how this will affect running a dedicated server. At the moment myself and the clan I'm in have a great deal of control over how we operate our ARmA2 servers, I wonder if this is going to change with the interaction of Steam?

There are actually tools for grabbing and setting up dedi server files for Steam only games (without needing to install Steam on the server, or anything stupid like that). It was a long while ago, but I distinctly remember setting up a Left 4 Dead dedi server with a simple command line tool that did all the downloading and basic setup automagically. Hopefully the same will be possible with Arma3. :)

[Derbysieger 11]

You can usually play games in Steam offline mode. I think you just need to have authenticated once.

As I said offline mode doesn't really work...

I can't say I welcome this. I certainly can understand the step towards steam but there are several problems I have with steam. My biggest gripe: Steam's offline mode simply doesn't work. I lose internet and don't have steam running, tough luck. I need to connect to steam in order to activate offline mode. This is bullshit, not BI's fault, but still utter bullshit.

[samb 15]

Steam?

[Maio 293]

I agree with all the point made in the blog. Although I am not a steam fan, I will gladly buy it and run it through steam.

[trent 14]

Excuse me, but is it a success to release the game in 2013? I thought the game will be released 2013 regardless of steam.

However I do understand that the situation that occured with Limnos delayed the whole project.

It was kinda well-known A3 has been in development hell.

Or did people sincerely think the news blackouts and slipped milestone dates meant things were going swimmingly? The Limnos debacle only accounts for so much, and probably less than most of you are thinking.

Hope this struggle to reach a deadline doesn't mean it's another buggy mess. That already killed Carrier Command for me.

[slatts 1978]

Steam? Meh, not that fussed either way, but hey..hello KH2002 :D

[HKFlash 9]

I must say I have absolutely no problems with ARMA 3 being a Steam exclusive. In fact I love the platform no problems with it at all, like I said in the survey. Now back to my hole... :popup:

[f27sharps 1]

This is shit, Oh my god. I liked BIS games because they don't need steam to play not like the other dev and other games, I prefer stay on ArmA 2 ACE/ACRE rather than play ArmA 3 with Steam, if it is needed I prefer wait 1 year to have an ArmA 3 in box version and without Steam.

So this thread is completely useless

http://forums.bistudio.com/showthread.php?119472-Steamworks-add-it-in-or-not

I think BIS was different from others games'dev, I was wrong...

[Alwarren 2767]

As I said offline mode doesn't really work...

Only if you haven't saved the authentication on your machine. I can start Steam in offline mode and play any game that is activated without having to connect.

[Varanon 892]

As I said offline mode doesn't really work...

You mean, you can only enter offline mode with an internet connection ?

[_Hawkeye_ 43]

It shouldn't. If arcade FPS games like Modern Warfare 3 can offer dedicated servers, then ArmA3 should be able to. Now, what I'm wondering is, does this mean BIS is going to try to go for matchmaking. That I certainly hope is not the case.

OH dear god i hope not matchmaking is the worst!

[zoog 18]

if it is needed I prefer wait 1 year to have an ArmA 3 in box version and without Steam.

You do understand it would cost BIS a shitload of money if they had to extend the development with an extra 6 or even 9 months? It's not about preference, it's about an economic decision you have to make as a business, as detailed in the blog update.

You mean, you can only enter offline mode with an internet connection ?

That was the case, or at least some time ago. Don't know if they changed their offline system though. I hope so :)

[sorophx 25]

I understand that my opinion counts for nothing, but I'd rather wait another year and get ArmA 3 from BIStore.

Bohemia does what is best for them as a company, that's understandable. and yet I can't help but wonder if it will have an impact on the modding community.

man, today had been the worst day in a long time for me even without these news, and it has just gotten worse.

[antoineflemming 14]

This is shit, Oh my god. I liked BIS games because they don't need steam to play not like the other dev and other games, I prefer stay on ArmA 2 ACE/ACRE rather than play ArmA 3 with Steam, if it is needed I prefer wait 1 year to have an ArmA 3 in box version and without Steam.

So this thread is completely useless

http://forums.bistudio.com/showthread.php?119472-Steamworks-add-it-in-or-not

I think BIS was different from others games'dev, I was wrong...

And you know it will only take an extra year (3-4 year development) how? And how does being Steam exclusive make BIS like other developers? Is Steam exclusivity the ONLY difference you see between BIS/ArmA and other devs? If so, then what do you really like about the ArmA series besides the absence of Steam?

[maddogx 13]

You do understand it would cost BIS a shitload of money if they had to extend the development with an extra 6 or even 9 months? It's not about preference, it's about an economic decision you have to make as a business, as detailed in the blog update.

^^ This.

Dev time costs dev money.

[antoineflemming 14]

I understand that my opinion counts for nothing, but I'd rather wait another year and get ArmA 3 from BIStore.

Bohemia does what is best for them as a company, that's understandable. and yet I can't help but wonder if it will have an impact on the modding community.

man, today had been the worst day in a long time for me even without these news, and it has just gotten worse.

And why do you have this idea that being a Steam game automatically means no mods? It's not STEAM that made games like Modern Warfare 2 and 3 unmoddable. That's the DEVELOPER'S choice. Those developers didn't want mods because mods made their DLC less marketable.

[Maio 293]

^^ This.

Dev time costs dev money.

Hold on... so the developers don't live off our heartfelt praises and actually need money in order to survive?!

My e-life is a lie...

But seriously? To the ones complaining: Read the DEVBLOG

[Derbysieger 11]

You mean, you can only enter offline mode with an internet connection ?

funny how that works, right.

But they did improve it since I last tried. It now also works if you don't let steam remember the pw. Not perfect but at least it works once you authenticated.

[Hud Dorph 22]

Ok so here are my question reg steam.

I have a lot of steam games and my steam are installed on my 1tb conventional hd.

I for sure want arma3 on my ssd like all other versions og arma - but i dont want any other

games installed on my ssd.

With steam can i choose 1 steamgame to be installed on ssd and rest of steamgames to be installed on

conventional hd ????

[Sniperwolf572 758]

Dorph;2299017']Ok so here are my question reg steam.

I have a lot of steam games and my steam are installed on my 1tb conventional hd.

I for sure want arma3 on my ssd like all other versions og arma - but i dont want any other

games installed on my ssd.

With steam can i choose 1 steamgame to be installed on ssd and rest of steamgames to be installed on

conventional hd ????

Yes, I currently have ArmA2 on my SSD and the rest on the HDD.

[maddogx 13]

Dorph;2299017']Ok so here are my question reg steam.

I have a lot of steam games and my steam are installed on my 1tb conventional hd.

I for sure want arma3 on my ssd like all other versions og arma - but i dont want any other

games installed on my ssd.

With steam can i choose 1 steamgame to be installed on ssd and rest of steamgames to be installed on

conventional hd ????

Steam doesn't support this AFAIK (or maybe it does now), but it is possible using standard Windows junction points. I have done exactly this with Planetside 2, for example. :)

[Varanon 892]

Bohemia does what is best for them as a company, that's understandable. and yet I can't help but wonder if it will have an impact on the modding community.

In what respect ? If you look at the amount of mods available for e.g. Skyrim, it doesn't seem to have that much of an impact on the willingness of modders...

[Alwarren 2767]

That was the case, or at least some time ago. Don't know if they changed their offline system though. I hope so :)

http://gaming.stackexchange.com/questions/19234/is-there-any-way-to-start-steam-in-offline-mode-without-logging-in-first

Not pretty, but not too much of a problem either