Over the past couple of days, there has been quite a few rumors that big-name game retailers were going to cut down sales of titles such as Dawn of War II.  The reason behind this was that executives didn’t like the fact that the game would install the Steam client, which includes their store.  Let me point out again that this is a rumor, but it does bring up a good point. 

Impulse Reactor is slated to be released this spring, and this will allow game developers to use the Impulse system, without the need of installing client software.

“However, the next version of Impulse Reactor, as Wardell revealed to Big Download in an exclusive phone interview Thursday, will also have a feature that will give developers a way to protect their game's IP without some of the issues that have plagued other DRM set-ups such as Steam or SecuROM (used in a number of Electronic Arts titles.)


As Wardell explained to us, developers who use the next version of Impulse Reactor can include a small DLL that will allow developers to use Stardock servers for registration and updates. For example people who install a game with Impulse Reactor for the first time might be asked for a CD Key and an email address. Once that's done the game is registered with Impulse Reactor servers.”

I don’t want to impose too much on Big Download, so head over there and check out the rest of the article. 

Read more at Big Download.


Comments (Page 2)
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on Jan 26, 2009

Eh doesn't bother me. I rarely buy games at retail anymore. If I do, it's from wal mart. All gamestop cares about is consoles, so let them have em.

 

I'm perfectly fine with buying all of my games from Steam, Impulse, and good ol Wal Mart if the game isn't available on Steam or Impulse.

 

And yes you CAN love both Steam and Impulse.

on Jan 26, 2009

And yes you CAN love both Steam and Impulse

Heretic! Witch! Burn at the stake!

Mmm.. steak..

on Jan 26, 2009

Serik55



Quoting Tamren,
reply 11
Will Dawn of War 2 be Steam dependant for patching and multiplayer and the like? In essense just like all of Valves games.

hehe it uses GFWL for matchmaking and patches. So the game is tied into Steam and GFWL...

Offering the game via Steam, needing Steam running, and yet wanting Games For Windows LIVE to handle multiplayer is a bit of a head-scratcher decision to me which Relic ought not have made. A recipe for complexity, I think (and errors...).

Yep - I`m looking forward to seeing the singleplayer campaign.

on Jan 27, 2009

So, all flavors of DoW II will then require both Steam AND GfWL to play online?  It's GTA IV for the PC again. 

on Jan 27, 2009

Yeah, GFWL is a huge piece of crap. Trying to get the latest DLC (console land, ahoy!) for Fallout 3 via GFWL is a real pain in the rear.

Just use Steam and/or Impulse and forget MS's attempt to force console-style B.S. on PC users.

on Jan 27, 2009

Yep, Im considering giving that impulse reactor a look.  I'm an aspiring indie game developer, ya know. 

on Jan 30, 2009

AFAIK the retail version of Dawn of War 2 will only require steam to activate and then will no longer be required to run.

on Jan 30, 2009

The last time I used GfWL in game, it still had the A and B buttons for a controller - someone was too lazy to change them to okay and cancel/go back.  It also refused to connect while Xfire was running, turning off Xfire let me log into my profile in game.  The only plus side of the situation was that Universe at War was a gift.

on Jan 30, 2009

To be fair, GFWL improved a ton since its implementation in Universe at War I don't know about connection issues, but in FO3 at least it doesn't look all that bad.

on Jan 30, 2009

Annatar11
To be fair, GFWL improved a ton since its implementation in Universe at War I don't know about connection issues, but in FO3 at least it doesn't look all that bad.

Well the first GFWL game we'll have on Impulse will probably be Juiced 2.  I've been playing it on Xbox 360 recently, but I am curious to see how it works on PC. 

I have yet to play a GFWL game, and there's really not that many out there.  Check out this list ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Games_for_Windows_titles ) of Games For Windows games.  The ones with green checkmarks have the LIVE portion also.  As you can see, unfortunately only a small percentage go the extra mile and implement the LIVE features.

on Feb 22, 2009

Wait...

Dawn of War 2 forces you to install the Steam Client... and use it... just to PLAY? That is fundamentally freaking wrong. This is like some kind of screwed up video game totalitarianism bullshit right here.

Guess I won't ever be playing DoW2, which is a shame, since I'm a fan of WH40K (the tabletop game) and have all of the previous DoW games.

Needing another program (such as Impulse, heh...) to access the patches and what not, is one thing - and I can accept going that far (because hey, atleast you can turn it the hell of when you don't need it!)... but being required to run a god damned program in order to access your game (aside from Windows, heh...) is just, wrong... that and it leaves less resources for running the damn game. Plus it's a program that's connected to the net, that has personal information on you, and knows what and when you are playing and for how long... invasion of privacy much?

This seems like some sort of strange attempt to phase out PC Gaming... I mean... If I wanted a computer that has run a mini-OS JUST FOR GAMES to function, that handles all the other aspects involved in relation to the game, and connects me to their store 24/7 I'd just buy a fucking Wii.

If this is the future of PC Gaming... privacy invasion, control, and strong-arm tactics on anti-piracy to the detriment of the honest consumer... then I'm out.

on Feb 22, 2009

It is as I posted in another thread, Steam's new business model is to become the ubiquitous digital distribution (DD) platform, Internet based game or not.

on Feb 24, 2009

In the future when Steam conquers all booting up your PC will mean having to first log in to your computer and then having to log in to Steam. Gee what fun.

on Feb 25, 2009

In the future when Steam conquers all booting up your PC will mean having to first log in to your computer and then having to log in to Steam. Gee what fun.


That's not the future. That's now. Some of the most popular online games in the world require that Steam be active.

on Feb 25, 2009

In the future when Steam conquers all booting up your PC will mean having to first log in to your computer and then having to log in to Steam. Gee what fun.

Nah. Google will either buy Steam or most probably create their own "Google Steam". No one can stop the "Evil Plans of Google TM". Before you notice it, you will be eating "Google Food", watching TV shows in "Google Channel", making your shopping in "GoogleStops",... And no one will complain because it's not named Microsoft. * And why have more than one option when you can have all in one?

*

PD I miss a preview feature in the Quick Reply thing.

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