Subset Games Forum

So I'm one of "those guys" who didn't get a beta key (and probably won't get one ).....

But about the release of the full game, is it only going to be available online on Steam or will it be available elsewhere (hard copies in stores, etc)? Since that's going to be my only way of getting FTL......

Why can't you use Steam?

Some people hate DRM services so much that they refuse to use steam or desura on principle.

No idea if this guy is like that though.

Gorlom wrote:Some people hate DRM services so much that they refuse to use steam or desura on principle.

No idea if this guy is like that though.

I am one of those people with some games. It was pretty dicey if I was gonna get Diablo 3 for a while there and even though it's a really great game, I am still a bit frustrated and annoyed with it's DRM. Dunno if I'll get another game from Blizzard while they use that system. Same for almost anything released by EA at the moment. It's made me much more of a console gamer these days because I can just plug the disc in and I don't have to think about anything else.

Zero problems with Steam though. It's great. Maybe because I just generally never buy any big, new games through it. Mostly just use it for indie games and old favourites. I have bought and lost so many physical copies of games over the years that it's really great to now just have digital library.

It's not going to be retail in any stores but it will be on a few distribution services (assuming the discussions will go ok). But we will definitely be on Steam and we will sell the DRM-free versions on our website.

When you buy FTL on our website you'll get access to builds on all 3 platforms and we will get more % of the money. Therefore we encourage it. It's possible that we'll have a Steam key for anyone who buys it on the site, but I'm not 100% sure. It'll depend on Valve.

EDIT: I accidentally a word.

Justin wrote:It's not going to be retail in any stores but it will be on a few distribution services (assuming the discussions will go ok). But we will definitely be on Steam and we will sell the DRM-free versions on our website.

and we will get more % of the money.

Will definitely buy off the website if that is the case.

Eh? DRM on Desura? What are you talking about, Gorlom? Desura has no DRM.

Some of the games the distribute do have their own DRM (usually multiplayer keys, as with Multiwinia and Frozen Synapse), but Desura has no native DRM whatsoever.

You can download the installable directly off the website, GOG-style, if you don't wish to use the desktop client. The desktop client doesn't require an internet connection to view your games collection, and doesn't require a connection to launch any of the games. And yes, as such, DRM free means it can't prevent someone from launching the same game twice from two different locations, nor two different games from two different installs... just like GOG downloads. I hope that members will respect that convenience and choose not to pirate (I choose not to).

Further, if you navigate to the directory Desura installed the game into, you can launch it directly, without even using the client (which is a silly thing to do, since you could just download the installers directly if you're not interested in using the client to keep them up to date). It can distribute DLC & expansions, and do so across Windows, Mac, and 32 & 64 bit Linux (also without DRM).

Don't believe me? The desktop client itself is GPL free-software, and it's sources are available at Github for community members to collaborate on enhancing it... check it out yourself. The support staff (including the guy running the show, Scott) are as frank and honest as I've ever needed. Truth is, while their Linux supporters are a very passionate bunch (like myself) it's a lot of misconception that prevents people from trying it out. No, it's not perfect, but it's still pretty great!

It makes me really sad to see all this FUD about Desura spread around so quickly. I feel like it's really damaging their ability to keep it going, and it really is something different. I'm not really sure what they could do better other than continually adding newer and better games, and squashing bugs in the client software. Perhaps they could engage in additional marketing, but that takes money right off the bottom line that could be used to engage with game developers and doing packaging work for distribution, as well as from developer salaries.

I'm really keen to see FTL on Desura!

Necroing an old no longer relevant thread for an offtopic remark? You could have just PMed me you know...

I'm sorry about counting Desura as DRM. I had assumed that since you needed an account and the presence of a client to use the distribution platform was enough for it to be counted as DRM. I didn't think anti piracy measures had that much to do with it... hmmm I guess I should have said Intrusive anti piracy measures.
I believe I've seen too many other people call desura DRM.

I don't really care either way.

Gorlom wrote:I'm sorry about counting Desura as DRM. I had assumed that since you needed an account and the presence of a client to use the distribution platform was enough for it to be counted as DRM.

It is.
DRM stands for "Digital Rights Management". Any digital system put in place to manage rights counts as DRM. That includes log-in systems.

The key point here is that there is a distinction between DRM in a distribution system and DRM in the game code itself.
Desura is DRM, but many of the games you get through Desura are DRM free. The exact same thing is true of Steam and GOG.com.

Gorlom wrote:Necroing an old no longer relevant thread for an offtopic remark? You could have just PMed me you know...

Totally right, I'm sorry dude. The post started as a reply to you, and turned into a PSA for everyone... reading back again I can see that I (mistakenly) oozed with assholery. I thought the thread was recent (misread) also, so double fail.

I could have, in fact, PMed my "mea culpa", but this way I can apologize to the FTL community at large, since someone will read this in the future.

At any rate, thank for the measured reply and for not torching me! Gorlom, you were the better person for sure...