Steam has System Shock 2

[00slash00]

when it comes to older games, i always pick gog over steam. i dont care about bonuses for buying from gog and steams drm doesnt bother me. what i care about is an old game working on a modern system. i know im getting that if i buy from gog, but thats not something i can always count on when i buy from steam

 

[piinyouri]

Cool cool.
I'll probably grab it sometime.

 

[BishopofAges]

I have bought from GOG, and I have a library on Steam. For me it comes down to who has it for cheaper at the time I am ready to buy/play it. GOG has DRM-free games, but on the other hand, I have traded away hats from TF2 to obtain games on steam.

Am I going to choose a bandwagon to sit upon? Nope! What I will do is travel with both wagons and get a bowl of chili from each... yum yum chili.

 

[bartholen_v1legacy]

I'll also jump on the bandwagon and say screw Steam, yay GOG.

But regardless of that, what's all the fuss about this game anyway?

I know it's legendary, but is there anyone who played it for the first time just recently? Does it still hold up? From the videos I watched (e.g. House of Horrors on GameSpot) it looks too quirky. And those space zombies are just gross.

I made a thread about this when the game had been on GOG for a month http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/9.403339-So-any-newbies-played-System-Shock-2-yet. You can find newcomers' opinions there. I for one think the game holds up fan-frickin-tastically, aside from a few half-assed upgrades.

 

[RevRaptor]

Cool I haven't played Sys shock 2 in a while. Think I'll pass on the steam one but the GoG version has my interest. wonder how it will compare to my fully modded version of the original.

 

[Signa]

Actually, not only is he right, but this is likely to be one of those titles, because they're not likely to bother to implement Steamworks on something so old. That was my point in the post I made earlier -- old games on Steam generally don't have DRM added. It will throw up a DRM error if you try to use the shortcut Steam sets up while not logged in, but if you go to the actual .exe file in the game's folder, it doesn't even need Steam running to work, and you can even set up your own shortcut from that file, if you want. I've got quite a few games like that. Rule of thumb, if it's non-Valve and pre-2004, there's no Steamworks on it, and really most non-Valve stuff pre-2007 or 2008 is likely to work just fine. A fair few indie titles don't use it, either.

I actually find it really weird how when I joined this site, I was one of Steam's greatest detractors in a nest of Valve worshippers, and I now find myself pretty frequently defending it against people who have the wrong impression of how it works. I /hate/ DRM, and I hate that Steam is little more than a pretty implementation of it, but to hear some people talk you'd think it was Starforce or something.

Deus Ex is an old game, and you can't run it from the .exe. I'm not sure which games do, but I certainly don't own any of them on Steam. I'll keep an eye out for games that can though; I hate having to activate the VPN to specifically let Steam connect so I can just play some damn single-player.

Then you did something wrong, because running Deus Ex from the EXE is exactly what I do when I play it.

Wait, VPN? How does a Virtual Private Network help you play games on steam? Do you mean firewall? Why are you running a firewall that blocks Steam?

EDIT:

You can't? I can on my version. It may be because the first thing I do on Unreal Engine 1 games is download a modernized replacement exe, though. I'm surprised anyone who still plays those games doesn't, it fixes all sorts of problems with modern operating systems, and makes it prettier, to boot.

Oh, right. That's why. I did that too. I forgot that's why I've been running from the .exe, because I made the shortcut there for when I was dumping mods into the folder.

So yeah, ThreeName, even if the game natively doesn't allow you to launch .exes, there's nothing stopping you from getting those DRM free files and adding them in yourself. Steam doesn't care if you crack your games, they only care that you bought them to get them in your library.

 

[5ilver]

I'll also jump on the bandwagon and say screw Steam, yay GOG.

But regardless of that, what's all the fuss about this game anyway?

I know it's legendary, but is there anyone who played it for the first time just recently? Does it still hold up? From the videos I watched (e.g. House of Horrors on GameSpot) it looks too quirky. And those space zombies are just gross.

I'm playing at the moment with a few mods to improve textures, rebalance gameplay slightly and allow a 1680x1050 resolution. It's awesome!

 

[ThreeName]

Then you did something wrong, because running Deus Ex from the EXE is exactly what I do when I play it.

Wait, VPN? How does a Virtual Private Network help you play games on steam? Do you mean firewall? Why are you running a firewall that blocks Steam?

Oh, right. That's why. I did that too. I forgot that's why I've been running from the .exe, because I made the shortcut there for when I was dumping mods into the folder.

So yeah, ThreeName, even if the game natively doesn't allow you to launch .exes, there's nothing stopping you from getting those DRM free files and adding them in yourself. Steam doesn't care if you crack your games, they only care that you bought them to get them in your library.

Cool derls. So it's just a regular crack? They're fine if you own the game, so I'll have a look around for them.

I live on campus at uni, and all the ports are blocked bar 8080 or http or whatever. You can't run Steam through those ports, so I have to use a VPN to actually get the damn client to connect. The uni provides this really odd VPN you can log into that opens up a really random number of ports, but the client connects and like half the downloads are possible. Bloody shame about the other half though; I have to use my phone to update CS:GO

 

[Signa]

Then you did something wrong, because running Deus Ex from the EXE is exactly what I do when I play it.

Wait, VPN? How does a Virtual Private Network help you play games on steam? Do you mean firewall? Why are you running a firewall that blocks Steam?

Oh, right. That's why. I did that too. I forgot that's why I've been running from the .exe, because I made the shortcut there for when I was dumping mods into the folder.

So yeah, ThreeName, even if the game natively doesn't allow you to launch .exes, there's nothing stopping you from getting those DRM free files and adding them in yourself. Steam doesn't care if you crack your games, they only care that you bought them to get them in your library.

Cool derls. So it's just a regular crack? They're fine if you own the game, so I'll have a look around for them.

I live on campus at uni, and all the ports are blocked bar 8080 or http or whatever. You can't run Steam through those ports, so I have to use a VPN to actually get the damn client to connect. The uni provides this really odd VPN you can log into that opens up a really random number of ports, but the client connects and like half the downloads are possible. Bloody shame about the other half though; I have to use my phone to update CS:GO

Oh wow, that is really shitty.

But yeah, I've used no CD hacks on my games before because they also were pre-patched with fan patches, and Steam didn't bat an eye. Deus Ex isn't exactly a "regular crack" as you put it, but it effectively is one. If Valve was a DRM nazi, I'm sure that the mod would count as a hack in their eyes and I'd have been banned long ago.

 

[Skeleon]

You know it's available DRM-free on GOG.com, right? With extra shiny things?

http://www.gog.com/gamecard/system_shock_2

Done in the first post, yep. Just get it on GOG. You get the updates, you get the goodies, you get no DRM- and ad-platform-hassle. If you buy the game, get it on GOG and support their DRM-free digital distribution concept. I dunno whether it'll be the future or not, but if I had anything to say about it, it would. People always say we need to vote with our wallets, well, there you go: Vote for DRM-free by buying it there. I know I did.

EDIT: Also, the folks talking about Deus Ex needing a no-CD crack and having trouble with its DRM (sorry if I misunderstood, I just skimmed that part of the discussion): It, too, is available DRM-free. Now, I understand buying games from Steam or other DRM-platforms when it's not available anywhere else. Apparently, Mass Effect 3 for Origin was a classic example of that; mine always is Fallout New Vegas for Steam, but whatever. I hated buying it on Steam, but if that's the only option, sure, I may do it if I really want to play it. But if you have the option of buying it DRM-free - like in the case of Deus Ex, System Shock 2, Don't Starve and plenty other games, old and new - why in the world wouldn't you?!

 

[Signa]

- why in the world wouldn't you?!

Long story short, I have so many games that even my favorite games get lost to me if they aren't in Steam's neat little list. Add in the fact that the DRM has never limited me from doing anything I wanted, including running multiple copies of the game on multiple machines to grind multiplayer achievements. As a DRM scheme, it's almost useless.

 

[WOPR]

You know it's available DRM-free on GOG.com, right? With extra shiny things?

http://www.gog.com/gamecard/system_shock_2

Dangit I've been ninja'd again.
But yeah, better version of the same game has been out longer on another site. Still on my wishlist... Just been kinda FPS'ed out lately... Been on an RTS/4X binge.

 

[WOPR]

Long story short, I have so many games that even my favorite games get lost to me if they aren't in Steam's neat little list...

Add non-steam game? That's what I tend to do xD
Just a friendly suggestion
(however I purposefully don't add LoL... I don't need steam popups in the middle of a teamfight...)

EDIT: whoops... still don't know if this is considered a double post or not... sorry guys it's late! :c

 

[Ringo_Plumen]

I know it's legendary, but is there anyone who played it for the first time just recently? Does it still hold up? From the videos I watched (e.g. House of Horrors on GameSpot) it looks too quirky. And those space zombies are just gross.

I actually played it for the first time in my life a month or two ago after buying it on GOG, and while it does the same things amazingly well (my opinion of course) the Bioshock games do, which is the setting and atmosphere of the world you're playing and the design, the game-play and mechanical feel of the game was mediocre at best, and the final boss battle and the last part of the game in general is kind of awful.

I'd still recommend it to everyone, the ship that is the Von Braun deserves to be explored and experienced, just don't expect anything from the gameplay.

But that's just me you know.

 

[Easton Dark]

Realize that GoG has no advantages that matter to anyone who can google search and move files.

OT:

Since I'm not the biggest fan of Bioshock, I'll let this be for a little bit until a further price reduction.

 

[Chimpzy_v1legacy]

I wonder if the Steam version is compatible with all the visual enhancements and tweaks for SS2 the modding community has created over the years. Because the GoG version is.

 

[The White Hunter]

Spoiler: All you need is one of these

Thats far too small for all the delights that GOG can provide to you

HAHA true, but it is a start. Thankfully external hard drives aren't too expensive

Enclosures and hard disks are prewtty cheap, a 2TB barracuda is what like £70? £64 if you shop around... Don't think I'd run games off an external hard drive if i could help it though.

 

[The White Hunter]

Long story short, I have so many games that even my favorite games get lost to me if they aren't in Steam's neat little list...

Add non-steam game? That's what I tend to do xD
Just a friendly suggestion

Then every now and then a steam update can just remove all your shortcuts? Dunno if thats because I'm on the beta or not though, but it's frustrating either way.

 

[Auron]

But if you have the option of buying it DRM-free - like in the case of Deus Ex, System Shock 2, Don't Starve and plenty other games, old and new - why in the world wouldn't you?!

I like to support Steam, Steam was critical in a moment when everyone was talking about the death of computer gaming, Valve was always there since 2003 slowly building up, they gave us in the third world a chance at fair prices and severely wounded our over priced retail markets that charged three times as much. I'm very thankful to Valve.

I don't mind the "drm" that Steam enforces as it's always open for me and I already put everything sans Origin games on steam shortcuts so I don't have to litter the desktop with icons or unnecessarily open Win explorer. So if I'm going to buy a game to run it through Steam I might as well save 5 dollars and get it there supporting a platform that I like to support. It's not like Steam is enforcing activation limit drm on players or something like that either.

Again nothing against gog but I'm not baffled by the notion that someone chooses gog over steam or the contrary and I find weird that someone is, if it was something generally controversial like Origin I'd at least understand.

 

[runic knight]

hmm, lot of steam versus GoG here. And pretty glad no one is being malcious. Steam is DRM, though you can still play most games off it by using the Exe. itself. In return it offers a centralized game area and community connection across an entire expanse of genres. So... yes it is technically DRM, but it is a far cry from the policies that made DRM a bad word in the first place. How was it put before? It is DRM that people gladly accept.

Now if we want to get into that, there is always Origin and the like...


OT, might try out that GoG site to see what it is, if only for the extras in the game if I decide to get the game anyways.