Civilization 5 Steamworks questions/concerns for inclusion in the FAQ

[0range]

So if I pre-order Civ V via Steam, is there any way to put it on a hard disc copy?

 

[3 EMS]

Steam has to run when the game starts. Does it stop when the game is exited also?

Thanks for the answer CTH. I had already come to think that steam has to run for me to play CIV V. Probably from another PieceOfMind post.
What I'm concerned with now is will steam stop when I leave my CIV session? Will I have to manually shut it off? Will I be able to stop it?

I really want the game. I love CIV. I have almost pre ordered it several times. This steam stuff has stopped me.

 

[CTH]

3 EMS: I belive that steam just has to run when the game is installed and then it only needs to be run if you want to play online

 

[PieceOfMind]

3 EMS: I belive that steam just has to run when the game is installed and then it only needs to be run if you want to play online

Since Civ5 is using Steamworks, it is implied that Steam will need to be running (e.g. in the background) while you play civ5. This includes single player.

 

[Terxpahseyton]

So is it true that updates are going to be forced down your throat and that you can't switch back?
(If so, this is a huge and intolerable downside. I gladly go more into detail when this question is answered).

 

[CTH]

Oh yes you are right PieceOfMind, I was thinking of onlineacess that you only need to have when install, did forgett about steam offline

 

[civ_king]

So if I pre-order Civ V via Steam, is there any way to put it on a hard disc copy?

yes, they even have that built into Steam

Since Civ5 is using Steamworks, it is implied that Steam will need to be running (e.g. in the background) while you play civ5. This includes single player.

steam will be part of the game so yes

So is it true that updates are going to be forced down your throat and that you can't switch back?
(If so, this is a huge and intolerable downside. I gladly go more into detail when this question is answered).

you can tell it not to update

 

[White Elk]

Just a suggestion guys and gals...

To help 2kGreg help us, this thread should contain only questions we'd like for him to get answered for us.

He's asked that we refrain from discussions and answering other posters questions. An exception
might be in the case where you can provide a link to an official source which provides a clear answer.

 

[0range]

thank you very much civ king

 

[Gerk]

Rather than just complain about the prospects of broken mods/savegames, I'll ask this instead:

Will Civ5 be backwards version compatible when it's necessary? Like, if a mod requires version 1.6 and we're at 1.8, will it be able to recall what made 1.6 what it was and run the mod without issue?

I'm finding it tough to put into proper words, so I'll use the game StarCraft II as an example of what I mean. SC2 keeps a record of past patches and features a sort of "version emulation" so that we can do things like watch replays or make custom maps that are based on a version of the game no longer considered 'current' (taking into account things such as unit speed, damage, and in the case of replays I'd imagine, exploits.)

I feel this is a very critical issue, one of the few valid complaints I've seen expressed in this thread, and incidentally one that I do not believe has been addressed yet.

Thank you for your time.
(P.S: While there are a number of outspoken, ostensible fans of the series who are terribly pained by the integration of Steam into the game, know there are others out there, such as myself and my group of BTS multiplayer buddies, that view Steam as a positive thing and look forward to the huge potential that conveniences like the centralization of mods and Steam Cloud bring to the table.)

 

[PieceOfMind]

Just a suggestion guys and gals...

To help 2kGreg help us, this thread should contain only questions we'd like for him to get answered for us.

He's asked that we refrain from discussions and answering other posters questions. An exception
might be in the case where you can provide a link to an official source which provides a clear answer.

You're absolutely right. I forgot where I was.

 

[myturn]

Spoiler :

Rather than just complain about the prospects of broken mods/savegames, I'll ask this instead:

Will Civ5 be backwards version compatible when it's necessary? Like, if a mod requires version 1.6 and we're at 1.8, will it be able to recall what made 1.6 what it was and run the mod without issue?

I'm finding it tough to put into proper words, so I'll use the game StarCraft II as an example of what I mean. SC2 keeps a record of past patches and features a sort of "version emulation" so that we can do things like watch replays or make custom maps that are based on a version of the game no longer considered 'current' (taking into account things such as unit speed, damage, and in the case of replays I'd imagine, exploits.)

I feel this is a very critical issue, one of the few valid complaints I've seen expressed in this thread, and incidentally one that I do not believe has been addressed yet.

Thank you for your time.
(P.S: While there are a number of outspoken, ostensible fans of the series who are terribly pained by the integration of Steam into the game, know there are others out there, such as myself and my group of BTS multiplayer buddies, that view Steam as a positive thing and look forward to the huge potential that conveniences like the centralization of mods and Steam Cloud bring to the table.)

I think that your P.S. part is main reason for your post here. Why I mean that:
- you repeated question that has been asked several times already (not holding it against you, your is put well enough so I’ll second that)
- you put yourself in the “group of BTS multiplayer buddies” (to add to credibility?) and you are here at CFC one week or so…?

You’ll have to admit it really looks like you a) just wanted to praise Steam (offtopic), or b) you are mp player or even modder but created new account (that's a nono) because you don’t want to be recognized and/or maybe inconsistent with your previous statements. (forgive me if I’m wrong, but I’ve seen this happen too many times so maybe it’s just my regular conditioned paranoia)

Anyway, your question was legit so back on important topic 2KGreg:

“Will Civ5 be backwards version compatible when it's necessary? Like, if a mod requires version 1.6 and we're at 1.8, will it be able to recall what made 1.6 what it was and run the mod without issue?”

(P.S. uh, I really don’t know why I posted this at all since I will not buy civ5… bah, transparency!)
(P.P.S. this does not mean that I will buy it , just that I have some addicted friends with loose bleeding wallet criteria who will and I will have a hit of it of course.)

Have fun.

 

[Gerk]

Spoiler :

I think that your P.S. part is main reason for your post here.

Negatory. I would've opened with it if it was a big deal to me. It just seems that all the critics of Steam here and everywhere are very outspoken, whereas the ones such as myself who enjoy the platform don't really "have" to say anything therefore don't. It seems to create the wrong perceptual image.

Why I mean that:
- you repeated question that has been asked several times already (not holding it against you, your is put well enough so I’ll second that)

Did it? Whoops. ^^*

- you put yourself in the “group of BTS multiplayer buddies” (to add to credibility?) and you are here at CFC one week or so…?

I am part of two web communities that play the game (or particularly, some flavor of FFH; we're currently dinking around in Wildmana) online. Jointly, we play live 3~6 player games every night.

And I know, it took me forever to sign up here, I already feel bad enough about it.

You’ll have to admit it really looks like you a) just wanted to praise Steam (offtopic), or b) you are mp player or even modder but created new account (that's a nono) because you don’t want to be recognized and/or maybe inconsistent with your previous statements. (forgive me if I’m wrong, but I’ve seen this happen too many times so maybe it’s just my regular conditioned paranoia)

Haha, you're kinda right on that, but see above.

So, I have another question. Apologies if it's redundant, but I don't remember seeing it, so:

Will we be able to share our games stored via Steam Cloud with friends/other people?

Talking about not only its literal use, showing friends/colleagues your games for whatever reason, but also in the interest that this could streamline the 'log in, take a turn, log off' sort of gameplay we currently associate exclusively with PBEM.

 

[2K Greg]

Do you mean sharing save game files with your friends? The use of Steamcloud would not prevent you from being able to do that.

Or do you mean using Steamcloud itself to share a save game file with a friend, like you're sending it via Steam? If that's what you mean, then I am almost positive that Steam does not have a feature like that.

That doesn't mean we won't have our own method of doing something similar though! I'll look in to that.

 

[Gerk]

The latter.

Just as we have our own online "niche" for our own files, referring to something like being able to share a certain part of the space with others, or have multiple people pool up and have a common space (again, with the prospect of something like a PBEM in mind.)

 

[myturn]

Spoiler :

@Gerk

Oh, then welcome to CFC!
And what are chances that I’m right in the middle of Wild Mana game…?
I wonder if you can explain this one for me, I’m not big expert on math. Actually, I have never done thorough examination of combat log and odds so I don’t know if this is standard thing or just Wild Mana feature. Maybe you know what happened here?

Yvain, those barbs were not from Greenpeace, you’ve been chopped down properly.

I guess that (Extra Combat: -80%) has good part in this little ‘setback’ but those five blows in a row…

My question for 2KGreg (actually just a random thought/suggestion at 2:30AM):

Since you are in contact with developers, could you ask them to put search engine in Civilopedia? Just a small, simple one? And tell them that I think it would be nice to see that in Civ5 after all these years.

And maybe, since Steam will be integrated in the game, people with good online access could even get links to some relevant threads on this site for example, right from the game. That would be primarily modders job of course but what I mean is if you already have some kind of Steam browser in game (which can/will show adds for games if I understood that correctly ), it would be good to put in use its potential. You know, some kind of online database like Wikipedia. (but Civilopedia)

Thanks

(p.s. just don't call it Steamopedia, please... :suicide

 

[cassembler]

2K Greg- many thanks for helping us out in our time of need. (Goes to Elizabeth and others too). I apologize that some of us are so passionate that we forget how to politely communicate

Some technical questions, in an "easy-to-add-to-the-list" format
(Note- feel free to scoot me over to a Steam resource, as these are not Civ5-specific)

- Steam basically installs and registers a service, correct?
- If correct, is this service running all the time, or only when an application 'calls' it? (Basically, if I'm running Excel or something, is it going to nip at resources?)
- Also, does the service require admin rights in Win7?
- Wiki notes that Steam uses "...its own protocol, as opposed to the more common web protocols, such as HTTP and FTP..." Are there details, specifically for firewall config?


Basically, I'm (ironically) not worried about bugs so much as privacy and security... I don't want holes opening up in an otherwise happy environment...

 

[2K Greg]

- Steam basically installs and registers a service, correct?
- If correct, is this service running all the time, or only when an application 'calls' it? (Basically, if I'm running Excel or something, is it going to nip at resources?)
- Also, does the service require admin rights in Win7?
- Wiki notes that Steam uses "...its own protocol, as opposed to the more common web protocols, such as HTTP and FTP..." Are there details, specifically for firewall config?

I'll see if I can get the answers to these. However, I do know the answer to the last one: A different "protocol" doesn't make using a firewall any differently. You might be thinking of the difference between "TCP" and "UDP" and are thinking that they are using their own form of packet, but that's not the case. The protocol is just the "language" that Steam uses to communicate with its servers, but it still uses TCP (and maybe UDP) to do it. So configuring a firewall to allow (or block) Steam network traffic will be the same as any other application.

Hope that clears it up a little!

 

[kiwitt]

RE: DLC via Steam.

If I buy a retail copy of Civ 5, can I obtain the DLC (e.g. Babylon) at a small cost, as opposed to having to buy the whole deluxe version. i.e. the DLC content will be significantly cheaper.

 

[ori]

current announcements are that the digital deluxe edition is steam only. It is possible but by no means certain that the contents of it will be offered later on separately.