SOE Game Distribution [Archive] - PlanetSide Universe

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MonsterBone

2012-05-01, 10:38 PM

SOE makes great games. They also use great technology. However, where they seem to fall down is game distribution.

I mean its even hard to find a way to get a copy of PS1 from their page. The SOE distribution platform is just not great. What is so wrong with Steam? Higby mentioned Steam once and all the COD fans love Steam. I know its a free game but still.

SKYeXile

2012-05-01, 10:42 PM

all new games or games DX9 compliment are on steam:

http://store.steampowered.com/search/?snr=1_7_7_151_12&term=sony+online+entertainment

Planetside wasn't DX9 compliant at the time they put the other soe games on steam, it missed the boat, you think it would have been added...but i guess its best if potential customers for PS2 dont see PS1 anyway...

NCLynx

2012-05-01, 10:43 PM

I wouldn't doubt we're going to see it on Steam. That's just my guess though.

RawketLawnchair

2012-05-01, 10:45 PM

I wouldn't doubt we're going to see it on Steam. That's just my guess though.

I second that. Steam has a huge community, and its a great way of distributing games digitally.

SKYeXile

2012-05-01, 10:46 PM

it certainly a good way for them to advertise the game, just look at dungeon defenders, it was a unique (but 3rd rate) game advertised pretty much only on steam sold for $12 and sold well over half a million copies. think of the amount of players they could get in if planetisde 2 just advertised on steam.

but for the distribution...download it through station launcher?...

NCLynx

2012-05-01, 10:51 PM

I second that. Steam has a huge community, and its a great way of distributing games digitally.

That, and SoE already has games on there.

Zulthus

2012-05-01, 11:15 PM

I wish they would put boxed copies on the shelves. Whenever it comes to big name games (Battlefield, TES, stuff of the like) I would always go and buy a boxed copy compared to a DD. Especially if it's a CE.

Brusi

2012-05-01, 11:41 PM

I can imagine what the first week on the PS2 servers after an official steam release will be like ...

Oh, my, fucking, god...

http://i.imgur.com/dH0Dg.gif

kaffis

2012-05-01, 11:45 PM

I'll just float this out there, since it's somewhat on topic.

It astounds me how many free to play games shoot themselves in the foot with terrible distribution/installers.

Step one to converting F2P to some paid revenue is to make sure your users can actually install the game and patch it.

Yet 4 games I've tried to download and install in the past month have simply not worked, and trying to find support just results in crickets.

Not small profile games, either -- I'm talking City of Heroes (gives me a 403: Forbidden error when I run the - I presume, web-based - installer, citing a server error); DCUO (similarly gives me a vague and generic error message that suggests it's a problem with the server; I got around that one since it's on Steam, too); and two others...

So, yeah. Keep that in mind, guys.

QuantumMechanic

2012-05-02, 12:37 AM

Free to play MMOs on steam get TONS of attention. I played Stronghold Kingdoms for about 6 months, it had a steady player base enough for 2 servers (slowly growing).

Then they get on steam and two weeks later they are up to 5 servers.

xSquirtle

2012-05-02, 03:16 AM

Saieno

2012-05-02, 10:43 AM

I never understood why SOE never puts "DOWNLOAD YOUR GAME HERE!" in clear bolded letters in an easy to access area. Instead they have to search through mountains of pages of useless crap each time, same goes for their account subscription manager.

having that being said, they need stream's "DOWNLOAD NOW" ability.

I really don't know what some of you are talking about. Go to EverQuest 2.com (http://www.everquest2.com/) and whats the first thing you see? PLAY NOW which instantly starts downloading. Its the same story for (in no particular order) EverQuest Live (http://www.everquest.com/), FreeRealms (http://www.freerealms.com/), DC Universe Online (http://www.dcuniverseonline.com/), Clone Wars Adventures (https://www.clonewarsadventures.com/index.action), Magic the Gathering Tactics (http://www.magicthegatheringtactics.com/), Legends of Norrath (http://legendsofnorrath.station.sony.com/), and PoxNora (http://poxnora.station.sony.com/index.do).

For other non-free to play games they have obvious buy now buttons such as Payday the Heist (http://www.payday-theheist.com/), Vanguard Saga of Heroes (http://vgplayers.station.sony.com/), and Planetside Live (http://planetside.station.sony.com/).

But even if you just head straight to SOE.com (http://www.soe.com/) they have every single game right there in a huge list for you with convenient play now buttons. They even have a Games tab at the very top of the website with Free Trials link, which leads to direct downloads and reinstall links (http://www.soe.com/getthegame/?locale=en_EN) for all of their game trials or if you're already subscribed. I don't really know what more you want.

Xyntech

2012-05-02, 10:50 AM

having that being said, they need stream's "DOWNLOAD NOW" ability.

Huh, there it is again.

RadarX

2012-05-02, 11:07 AM

I can understand frustration in not finding a way to play a game which hasn't been in retail stores since 2004. I do think to be fair however, you can't really compare this to an upcoming title release.

In order for folks to play it, it has to be readily available and we are fully prepared to ensure that happens.

Also, if you search for our other products you will find almost all of them on Steam. That is not stating PlanetSide 2 will be on Steam because we've made no such announcement. We are however very keen on that distribution channel.

Sabot

2012-05-02, 11:32 AM

I really don't care how they distribute it once it done, I'll find it one way or another... _as long as they steer clear of anything with and EA or Origin logo!_
I know it's unlikely EA will have anything to do with this game, but just incase... please for the love of all that is high tech and purple.... spit in the face of anyone from EA if they even come close to PS2!

Zekeen

2012-05-02, 11:33 AM

Also, if you search for our other products you will find almost all of them on Steam. That is not stating PlanetSide 2 will be on Steam because we've made no such announcement. We are however very keen on that distribution channel.

I've seen SEVERAL videos of Higby talking about it being on Steam. I know that's not a guarantee, but I swear he looks like he'd jump through a flaming ring to get it on Steam from the way he was talking about it.

MrBloodworth

2012-05-02, 12:30 PM

I mean its even hard to find a way to get a copy of PS1 from their page.

I believe this is intentional.

MrBloodworth

2012-05-02, 12:32 PM

RadarX

2012-05-02, 12:47 PM

Please make sure to use Steam authentication ( just give old SOE accounts a key ) and make sure to integrate with the wallet.

I can not stand games on steam, that require third party log ins. Looking at you GAMES FOR WINDOWS.

.

Unfortunately our current products do require login through Station after launching in Steam. The Wallet integration I can assure you isn't a problem. All hypothetically speaking of course in PS2's case.

Saieno

2012-05-02, 01:04 PM

Unfortunately our current products do require login through Station after launching in Steam. The Wallet integration I can assure you isn't a problem. All hypothetically speaking of course in PS2's case.

I was under the assumption that a new Station Launcher type application was in the works that has yet to be announced. Of course the games could still be obtained through Steam, just the proprietary SOE launcher would be run when the game is started through steam. I hope this is the case anyway, Station Launcher was a great idea just wasn't updated with the times. If we could get a new one with multi-protocol IM functionality, voice chat, integration with Steam/Raptr/XFire, and an app for iPhone/Android, that would be amazing.

RadarX

2012-05-02, 02:17 PM

I was under the assumption that a new Station Launcher type application was in the works that has yet to be announced. Of course the games could still be obtained through Steam, just the proprietary SOE launcher would be run when the game is started through steam. I hope this is the case anyway, Station Launcher was a great idea just wasn't updated with the times. If we could get a new one with multi-protocol IM functionality, voice chat, integration with Steam/Raptr/XFire, and an app for iPhone/Android, that would be amazing.

At this point and time I can only speak to existing products and their use of what we call Launchpad 4. The Steam Wallet portion is completely seamless to consumers, however the launchpad is run from the Steam client.

MrBloodworth

2012-05-02, 04:02 PM

Unfortunately our current products do require login through Station after launching in Steam. The Wallet integration I can assure you isn't a problem. All hypothetically speaking of course in PS2's case.

I don't recall doing that with PAYDAY™ The Heist. But that may be outside the sphere you are talking about.

Thatnks for the hypothetical speaking. I just want to convey, Use steam. Use the log in, use the friends list, use the coms, use the wallet.

I know that may not be your department, but should this go on steam, make sure those in power get my request! I will play regardless, but really, if your on steam, use steam ( Directed to anyone who puts games on steam ).

Reginald

2012-05-02, 04:23 PM

I pray there will still be methods to acquire the game other than steam. Direct download from SOE?

Sirisian

2012-05-02, 04:29 PM

I pray there will still be methods to acquire the game other than steam. Direct download from SOE?
Why? What's the difference?

As someone else mentioned I'd prefer a Steam only launch and have it use steam's authentication system so I can just click play and immediately jump into the game. However, with how little we've heard about needing multiple accounts it would be awkward for me and others to have tons of steam accounts.

Reginald

2012-05-02, 04:51 PM

I'm just not a fan of steam. Would rather just launch the game much like planetside today, Shortcut>launchpad>game, no 3rd party stuff.

Xyntech

2012-05-02, 05:06 PM

I'd prefer it have a well integrated but entirely optional steam version.

I'd use the steam version myself, but I wouldn't want it forced on anyone.

Reginald

2012-05-02, 05:41 PM

I'd prefer it have a well integrated but entirely optional steam version.

I'd use the steam version myself, but I wouldn't want it forced on anyone.

Exactly.

MrBloodworth

2012-05-03, 12:33 PM

I'm just not a fan of steam. Would rather just launch the game much like planetside today, Shortcut>launchpad>game, no 3rd party stuff.

You can do that with steam.

The point I am trying to make is, if it goes on steam. I do not want to have to log into steam, then log in to SOE. I also want to use the steam wallet, instead of having yet another place to enter my CC info. It's redundant, and steam provides all this functionality already, including account association, some just choose not to use it ( I'm looking at you EA and GFWL ).

I'm just not a fan of steam.

It's 2012. Get with it.

Station Launcher was a great idea just wasn't updated with the times.

Station launcher is another layer/app that I do not need running. Much like the buggy, trashy, and slow GFWL. Steam provides authentication to developers, they need to use it.

Everything I have said would only apply to steam. Any other delivery method is free to do whatever.

Hatchak

2012-06-07, 04:30 AM

i was reading about the AMA on reddit of the arena.net developers were doing today and i found this answer that seems interesting at how they respond about adding GuildWars 2 to Steam. A user asks:

Will Guild Wars 2 be on Steam? That's literally the only thing keeping me from buying it right now. Don't leave me hanging bros, I hate missing these weekends.

[–]ArenaNetTeam[S] 15 points 10 hours ago

No, it almost certainly won't be on Steam. Valve has some new business terms will keep almost all new MMOs off Steam...

he doesn't especify any other thing but since both PS2 and GW2 will work around the same payment method, i tought it would be interesting to highlight it.

page here: http://www.reddit.com/r/gaming/comments/uodjr/im_a_guild_wars_2_developer_ama_about_the_next/c4x5bsu

CuddlyChud

2012-06-07, 05:05 AM

Hatchak

2012-06-07, 12:55 PM

That's probably it then, we will have to wait and see but if steam doesnt change some of this stuff in order to be working for microtransactions games, i don't think we will see that many good f2p games there.

james

2012-06-07, 01:02 PM

I also read that firefall won't be on steam because steam takes a pretty big cut from every transaction made by steam users in the in game cash shop or something like that. It's not cost effective for f2p games that rely on micro transactions.

http://www.gamezone.com/news/firefall-not-a-good-fit-for-steam-says-red-5-ceo

It works great for larger f2p games that already has a community. Releasing a f2p game on launch on steam doesn't work as your trying to build a revenue stream. Steam has been used to try to help keep a game going vs really starting a game off in the f2p market.
I have heard rumors that steam takes something like 30 percent of all revue. Its not really a ton for the exposure you get though.