Isn't this thred about a Rebellion preview? What's with the Steam bitchfest?

Is Steam perfect? No.but I consider myself the type to keep my machine clean and Steam doesn't give me major headaches.

I recently built a new machine, downloaded Steam, all my games were there just had to right click to reinstall.

No looking for disks, codes, updating game to latest ver. etc.

There is a off line mode..as just recently Skyrim had a issue with a patch, being in off lone mode I was able to avoid the auto update and played Skyrim until the patch was patched.

: O amazing thing about vasari planet eaters!

Online needs a fix. Yup, very few people and so pro at playing. With Steam maybe will come a new horde of newbies which will enrich the experience!! ^^ I myself never play multiplayer for basicaly 2 reasons: a very small community and the length of the games.

See ya!

Keyword is Steamworks.  That means Steam is 100% mandatory, and must be running to play the game.

To be entirely honest, I'm too tired at this point to even have the argument again.  If you like Steam, that's great, it doesn't bother me.  The problem is that I do not and with Steamworks integration I will be forced to use a platform that I have rejected.

Steamworks is DRM, and fairly onerous DRM at that (only a few steps behind Spore).  Valve has managed to make users accept that by offering useful services and maintaining a good PR.  That doesn't change the fact that I am unwilling to accept that kind of DRM.  If Valve wants to do business like that, I won't be their customer.  If a game goes Steamworks, I will not purchase it.  End.  Of.  Story.

You are wrong, look at Crusader Kings 2 (recent release by Paradox) - its Steamworks game, but it doesnt need Steam to be running to play that game.

Ask StarDock

But IMO at least you will likely have to have Steam running for multiplayer, due to multiplayer using Steamworks network.

Yeah, they need to do so soon. If steam is not required than we're all complaining for no reason and the misconception is damaging Stardock. If it is required then come out and say it so people can cancel their preorders if they wish and so they can handle the riot that will break out on their game forums before the beta is released.

In all seriousness, I believe IC/SD don't give a crap about what we think of Steam.

If I were in their shoes, I'd think like this: "Okay so there is a group of weirdos who loathe Steam... but there is probably a dozen times more people who just LOVE Steam, who sit on steam all day and will very likely get Rebellion just because it showed up on Steam. So - kthxbye". 

I know I have Steam running 24/7.  Aside from me having many games on Steam, I have a hefty friends list on there as well.

Well I don't see anything mentioning that this was a Steamworks game especially after how long it took to even get the pre-order avaliable for Steam.

it would be nice to get some sort of confirmation...

There's an update section at the bottom of the article that mentions it using Steamworks for multiplayer.  That being said, it would be nice for someone from Stardock or Ironclad to say one way or the other.

The 2012 list of Steam games says that Crusader Kings 2 doesn't use Steamworks.

That list is incomplete.

You can ask in Paradox forum - its been discussed for looooooong time.

The Steam client will be required for Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion for initial install, updates and Internet multiplayer, regardless of purchase location. You can choose to play in offline mode via the Steam client after initial install, though ICO features and achievements will no longer be available.

Although the game will require Steam to play online, that does not necessarily mean that you will be unable to play the singleplayer without Steam, or be unable to buy from a non-Valve retailer.

Personally, having played numerous Steamworks titles, I am really happy with Ironclad's decision. The fact of the matter is that Steamworks and the closely associated Steam Friends system combined are one of the best multiplayer platforms in the world, and usually greatly enhance the experience of the end-user by offering what is for most people a common envrionment with simple mechanics.

Should be noted that this means steam will be required and also required to be running for as long as you intend to have sins running. Also of note is that you must have internet to first enable offline mode for steam.

What else could they use? Its an all in one package that brings alot to table for free(i assume)

If you want to get upset at anyone....look at GameStop. They a great chance to offer something OTHER than Steamworks.

Till you get a company to make a product that does what Steamwork does, you see more and more title using it. And requiring Steam to online at least once.

Not true, you only need to have your ligin saved in client.

When I start my notebook without internet connection and start Steam, it simply ask me if I want to try login again, or if I want to use Offline mode.

i think we can consider the steam debate boiled over (man thats a bad pun). Yarlen has confirmed it, so thats it and quit your bitching

Back to the preview itself, i'm still a bit annoyed they haven't confirmed the last 2 titans, but the titan factory should hold me over for a while.

I'm suprised noone has mentioned it yet but multiple starbases in a single gravity well, defeniatly sounds like a TEC Loyalist stratagy? how would people have them? grouped by each other to maximise the firepower, give them some chance against a titan or at each phase lane?

As long as races and Rebel/Loyalist effects such as multiple Starbases in a gravity well and the ability to ditch planets aren't hardcoded to a specific faction (which would kill off all major race-adding and race-altering mods for Rebellion), modders are going to have a field day with all the new code added.  I know 7DS is going to love it if certain races get additional starbases in gravity wells, plus I'm pretty sure the Sacrifice of Angels team will love it if Rebel Federation (Maquis, from what I understand of the show) will be able to ally with pirates while Loyalist Federation are able to spread culture and fortify their worlds with a ton of starbases.  Unfortunately the Advent and Vasari weren't touched on as much so I can't say what current mod teams will find useful, although I have no doubt that if faction effects are able to be modded, someone will use them.  I really hope though that there's code somewhere to allow modders to mod the amount of Titans allowed.

Thank you for the answer, although its not what I wanted to hear. Well, I guess if any game will make me dive into STEAM, it'll be this one. Damn you guys. I love you though. When will we find out about collector's edition?