Steel Storm: Burning Retribution is on Steam Linux

So you mean to tell us, the beta has already started?

No key here. Bummer...

I am not 100% sure, but I thought it did.

I am not 100% sure, but I thought it did.

The closed beta isn't live yet ;)

Game developers packaging their apps for the Linux Steam client have access to an internal version from what I understand (that's where talk of TF2 running so nicely under Linux is coming from :3 ), but that's the limit of its availability outside of Valve so far as I'm aware.

Also, weren't you always shipping Linux binaries in the Windows version of Steelstorm on Steam?

Hmm.. I wonder why I was asked if I want to make Linux version available for SS:BR customers.. Anyhow, yes, but no longer. Now every OS gets its set of binaries. Just like if you have no Mac OS X, you won't have binaries for that under Windows. So now since Steam is on Linux too, Linux binaries are only available on Steam Linux.

Hmm.. I wonder why I was asked if I want to make Linux version available for SS:BR customers...

I imagine it's so that it will be available when the beta does go live (it makes sense to organise these things beforehand) ^_^

Perhaps.. I just was under impression it's already going on o_O (as I don't keep up with much right now while working on Steel Storm 2)

So now since Steam is on Linux too, Linux binaries are only available on Steam Linux.

Does this translate to 'your steam only offers binaries for your platform' or 'SS:BR is only available via Steam'? The latter would be :(

I am not really sure which is it - you don't know how Steam works or you are trying to troll me :)

Let's say you have Steam account and you are on Windows. Once you purchase a game, e.g. SS:BR, that has Mac OSX and Linux port, you can install it on any of those OS. So let's say you have dual boot with Ubuntu. That means once you install Steam on Ubuntu, SS:BR will be automatically downloaded and you can also play it on Linux. Which translates into "on Windows, you play SS:BR for Windows, on Linux you play SS:BR for Linux; no more mixing up binaries for different OS".

Where have I ever said "SS:BR is Steam exclusive now" ? o_O

Nothing is automatically downloaded FYI motorsep but i'm sure you know that, you do have to actually tell it to install ;)

Yeah, I guess I meant to say it will be in the Library after you install Steam Linux :)

Where have I ever said "SS:BR is Steam exclusive now" ? :confused:

Right here: "So now since Steam is on Linux too, Linux binaries are only available on Steam Linux."

Those words are pretty ambiguous, and could easily be interpreted to mean that "Linux binaries are only available on Steam Linux". Pit was asking for clarification in case that's what you were saying, not trolling you.

Apparently public beta hasn't started :/ Oh well, if you get picked for the beta, and you own SS:BR on Steam, you'll get it on Linux. Or if you buy it on Windows, it will be unlocked on Linux too.

@cheeseness: Thanks, that was exactly my intent.
@motorsep: Indeed, no idea how steam works (I never had windows or a mac) and not trolling. And a clear ++ for 'not steam-only' ;^>

I bought it in the humble bundle but couldn't play it until recently. It's a really good game. At the start, I was a bit confused by the game mechanics but once you're into it becomes addictive.

As for the DRM-free games on Steam, where can I read more about it? Does that mean I can buy games on Steam and play them anywhere? Can I see if a game is DRM-free before I buy it?

Games purchased via steam can only be played using Steam.

As for the DRM-free games on Steam, where can I read more about it? Does that mean I can buy games on Steam and play them anywhere? Can I see if a game is DRM-free before I buy it?

Basically, the situation is that for game developers, making use of Steam's built in DRM is optional. Some (but not many) developers such as Kot-In-Action have distributed their games on Steam in a way that doesn't require the Steam client to be running. This isn't something that's shown on the Steam store, so unless you're looking at a specific game and are willing to search forums or contact the developer to find out whether they've done that, there's no convenient way of finding out - if there's a community maintained list somewhere, I'm not aware of it.

So far as Steam goes, your best bet (if having DRM free games is important to you) would be to try to by your games directly from developers who offer DRM free copies in addition to Steam keys (this is done by most developers using the "Humble Store app", such as Frozenbyte and the guys who made FTL).

Thanks for the information. I've read that Steam may require you to be logged in to their service, thus online, but some games can be enabled to play offline. So from what I read and your responses I understand that you need Steam installed to play the games but not all games require you to be connected to the Steam service. Besides, developers may add other DRM measures.

So far as Steam goes, your best bet (if having DRM free games is important to you) would be to try to by your games directly from developers who offer DRM free copies in addition to Steam keys (this is done by most developers using the "Humble Store app", such as Frozenbyte and the guys who made FTL).

I agree, I buy games from the Humble Store or directly to developers. I might start playing my purchased games thru Steam, that's fine since I wouldn't absolutely depend on it. I'm concerned about depending on the distributor and/or being online to play my games.

Thanks!

I'm concerned about depending on the distributor and/or being online to play my games.

Well, it's more that you need the Steam client to download/install the games to begin with, and that's tied to your Steam account. For the ones that don't make use of the Steam DRM, you don't need Steam running to play them, but if you uninstalled them, and then for some reason weren't able to access your Steam account, you wouldn't be able to access those games anymore either.

Most Steam games (including those that do make use of Steam's DRM can run in an "offline mode" that you can activate whilst Steam is online (so if your connection drops out unexpectedly, and you weren't already in offline mode, you'd need to wait until you could connect again before being able to enable offline mode).

Well, it's more that you need the Steam client to download/install the games to begin with, and that's tied to your Steam account. For the ones that don't make use of the Steam DRM, you don't need Steam running to play them, but if you uninstalled them, and then for some reason weren't able to access your Steam account, you wouldn't be able to access those games anymore either.

Right, that's a dependence too.