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sad dolphin Dec 26, 2020 @ 3:17pm
Steam vs Rockstar Games purchase... ? [kinda urgent]
Hey, I had a plan to buy this game but today I realized it's on sale Rockstar Games store as well. The pricing is the same on both platforms - 6€ each, but I'm not sure whether it's more worth it to buy it on Rockstar or Steam ?

Is there any difference between both platforms when buying this game? Will Rockstar games recognize the game if I buy it on Steam, and eventually have it linked with the Rockstar Games? Besides, how does the whole system work ?

Thanks.
Last edited by sad dolphin; Apr 15, 2023 @ 5:32am
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Originally posted by Yujah:
Originally posted by Øystein Aarseth:
... Steam it is, yeah?

Well, for me it is. In the specific case of GTA4 we have a (possibly "for now" but I doubt it) game that when weaned off of GFWL regressed both in the sense of no longer providing for online play and needing to be online to even start it. I find that to be a major issue --- even if foregoing the fact that regressing from GFWL in any sense is a damn major feat in the first place.

When I buy a game on Steam I elect to use the Steam DRM, the Steam savegame cloud, the Steam achievement system, the Steam "social" environment (not really, me personally being highly antisocial, but in theory), the Steam acquirement and update infrastructure, possibly the Steam anticheat infrastructure, etc.; not a 1000 different systems from a 1000 individual game developers.

Now admittedly the online part of the game has been rumoured to have been basically ported over to Rockstar Social Club as well only to in the end not have been enabled, supposedly due to actual and/or anticipated potential maintenance cost, and said part would have needed to be replaced with something after dumping GFWL. With infrastructure already in-place Rockstar-sides for e.g. GTA5 and RDR2 I'm willing to give Rockstar the benefit of the doubt as to the addition of the RGL rather than mere removal of GFWL being for other than only roping me/you in to their private infrastructure --- but given that the online part was in the end NOT enabled I consider that damn courteous of myself.

Steam I belikeve takes 30% of sales which I find to be high, especially for games that do not in fact use any, many or all of the above mentioned Steam features, but that's an issue that e.g. EPIC is tackling, and which I will in any case not allow game developers to fight out by each roping me in to their own little walled gardens. Solve it, or don't solve it, but eff of with those gazillion different accounts, DRM schemes, launchers, ...

As such, and as said although playing GTA4 will require the RGL and a Social Club account anyway, I'm personally quite set on not wanting to do business with Rockstar directly; to not encourage this behaviour.

You do you though.
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Showing 1-15 of 19 comments
WillieSea Dec 26, 2020 @ 3:26pm 
If you buy it on Steam, then you can play the game from steam, but you still need a rockstar account to link to your Steam account.

I would imagine if you buy it on rockstar, that it will NOT be in your Steam library. And you will have to start the game from rockstar platform. Although I have no idea about that.
Last edited by WillieSea; Dec 26, 2020 @ 3:27pm
#1
sad dolphin Dec 26, 2020 @ 3:30pm 
Originally posted by WillieSea:
If you buy it on Steam, then you can play the game from steam, but you still need a rockstar account to link to your Steam account.

I would imagine if you buy it on rockstar, that it will NOT be in your Steam library. And you will have to start the game from rockstar platform. No idea about that, really.

Okay, but if I buy the game on Steam and eventually link it with Rockstar Games, is it going to become a part of my Library on RGL too ?

I'm talking about this: https://i.imgur.com/7Ihg71p.png
Last edited by sad dolphin; Dec 26, 2020 @ 3:32pm
#2
carl Dec 26, 2020 @ 6:10pm 
for me is like this
I have on steam

GTA V(i uninstalled it yesterday after i finished the game on steam) ,
RDR2
GTAIV

https://ibb.co/VtbJ4PZ
Last edited by carl; Dec 26, 2020 @ 6:12pm
#3
WillieSea Dec 26, 2020 @ 6:28pm 
Originally posted by Øystein Aarseth:
Okay, but if I buy the game on Steam and eventually link it with Rockstar Games, is it going to become a part of my Library on RGL too ?

I'm talking about this: https://i.imgur.com/7Ihg71p.png
If you're asking me, I could not tell you because I do not click on outside links on the steam forums. Since Steam has an image upload and display service, I use that. It gives a nice preview too.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2336738346

Also, you don't really have a choice NOT to link the steam purchased game to your rockstar account when you run the game the first time.
Last edited by WillieSea; Dec 26, 2020 @ 6:32pm
#4
carl Dec 26, 2020 @ 7:00pm 
Originally posted by WillieSea:
Originally posted by Øystein Aarseth:
Okay, but if I buy the game on Steam and eventually link it with Rockstar Games, is it going to become a part of my Library on RGL too ?

I'm talking about this: https://i.imgur.com/7Ihg71p.png
If you're asking me, I could not tell you because I do not click on outside links on the steam forums. Since Steam has an image upload and display service, I use that. It gives a nice preview too.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2336738346

Also, you don't really have a choice NOT to link the steam purchased game to your rockstar account when you run the game the first time.
Afraid of the big bad Virus ?
#5
sad dolphin Dec 26, 2020 @ 8:07pm 
Originally posted by btimofte100:
Originally posted by WillieSea:
If you're asking me, I could not tell you because I do not click on outside links on the steam forums. Since Steam has an image upload and display service, I use that. It gives a nice preview too.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2336738346

Also, you don't really have a choice NOT to link the steam purchased game to your rockstar account when you run the game the first time.
Afraid of the big bad Virus ?

Well, looks like Covid has raised the panic not only about the real pandemic in the world today, but also the potential computer viruses.. It's funny how the panic is most effective in America only lol
#6
sad dolphin Dec 26, 2020 @ 8:12pm 
Originally posted by btimofte100:
for me is like this
I have on steam

GTA V(i uninstalled it yesterday after i finished the game on steam) ,
RDR2
GTAIV

https://ibb.co/VtbJ4PZ

Alright, so looking from your case, it seems like the games you bought on Steam appear to be available on your RGL Library as well, is that correct ?

In that case, great, getting it on steam would be a better option
#7
WillieSea Dec 27, 2020 @ 6:53am 
Originally posted by Øystein Aarseth:
Originally posted by btimofte100:
Afraid of the big bad Virus ?

Well, looks like Covid has raised the panic not only about the real pandemic in the world today, but also the potential computer viruses.. It's funny how the panic is most effective in America only lol
That sort of lazy attitude is why people get the real virus, as well as computer viruses.

I have worked in the computer industry as a programmer since 1986 when I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems. I am now a project lead, guiding all the development projects in one of the applications for a world wide credit card company.

So I think I know a few precautions to avoid such stupid risks that you both so casually ignore.
#8
carl Dec 27, 2020 @ 7:04am 
Originally posted by WillieSea:
Originally posted by Øystein Aarseth:

Well, looks like Covid has raised the panic not only about the real pandemic in the world today, but also the potential computer viruses.. It's funny how the panic is most effective in America only lol
That sort of lazy attitude is why people get the real virus, as well as computer viruses.

I have worked in the computer industry as a programmer since 1986 when I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems. I am now a project lead, guiding all the development projects in one of the applications for a world wide credit card company.

So I think I know a few precautions to avoid such stupid risks that you both so casually ignore.
bohooo . omg the big bad ghey virus going to infect my pc ... I never had a virus since 10 years and i use all kind of shady websites
#9
WillieSea Dec 27, 2020 @ 8:28am 
Originally posted by btimofte100:
Originally posted by WillieSea:
That sort of lazy attitude is why people get the real virus, as well as computer viruses.

I have worked in the computer industry as a programmer since 1986 when I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems. I am now a project lead, guiding all the development projects in one of the applications for a world wide credit card company.

So I think I know a few precautions to avoid such stupid risks that you both so casually ignore.
bohooo . omg the big bad ghey virus going to infect my pc ... I never had a virus since 10 years and i use all kind of shady websites
Children have no concept of consequences.
#10
sad dolphin Dec 27, 2020 @ 10:54am 
Originally posted by WillieSea:
Originally posted by Øystein Aarseth:

Well, looks like Covid has raised the panic not only about the real pandemic in the world today, but also the potential computer viruses.. It's funny how the panic is most effective in America only lol
That sort of lazy attitude is why people get the real virus, as well as computer viruses.

I have worked in the computer industry as a programmer since 1986 when I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems. I am now a project lead, guiding all the development projects in one of the applications for a world wide credit card company.

So I think I know a few precautions to avoid such stupid risks that you both so casually ignore.

Well, that's interesting.

The whole experience in IT you've gained over the years as well as all the accreditations of yours shouldn't be neglected or devalued either way, but come on... It's just one photo from a world's most popular photo sharing harmless platform.
#11
WillieSea Dec 27, 2020 @ 11:07am 
Originally posted by Øystein Aarseth:
Well, that's interesting.

The whole experience in IT you've gained over the years as well as all the accreditations of yours shouldn't be neglected or devalued either way, but come on... It's just one photo from a world's most popular photo sharing harmless platform.
We have yearly training on how 'not' to click on links, how easily it is to 'spoof' websites with redirections, or even type in text but it directs to a similar infected website. And I certainly do not 'trust' anyone on steam. And certainly not when Steam allows 'safe' viewing of game screenshots.

Trends show that today's kids (anyone under 30 basically) are easily fooled because they are way to trusting of being 'online', will click on any links without careful inspection, and easily share their information with strangers.

The experience I gained in IT, you cannot understand, and that is why it is confusing. The experience comes from years of wisdom gained in a worldwide monetary company that wards of thousands of hacking attempts PER DAY.

All I did was ask if the screen could be shared on Steam instead of an outside link. Really, that is not much to ask, and certainly easier than uploading it to a different site and then giving a blind link here. As I showed, Steam even gives a preview of the image, isn't that better?
#12
sad dolphin Dec 27, 2020 @ 11:30am 
Originally posted by WillieSea:
Originally posted by Øystein Aarseth:
Well, that's interesting.

The whole experience in IT you've gained over the years as well as all the accreditations of yours shouldn't be neglected or devalued either way, but come on... It's just one photo from a world's most popular photo sharing harmless platform.
We have yearly training on how 'not' to click on links, how easily it is to 'spoof' websites with redirections, or even type in text but it directs to a similar infected website. And I certainly do not 'trust' anyone on steam. And certainly not when Steam allows 'safe' viewing of game screenshots.

Trends show that today's kids (anyone under 30 basically) are easily fooled because they are way to trusting of being 'online', will click on any links without careful inspection, and easily share their information with strangers.

The experience I gained in IT, you cannot understand, and that is why it is confusing. The experience comes from years of wisdom gained in a worldwide monetary company that wards of thousands of hacking attempts PER DAY.

All I did was ask if the screen could be shared on Steam instead of an outside link. Really, that is not much to ask, and certainly easier than uploading it to a different site and then giving a blind link here. As I showed, Steam even gives a preview of the image, isn't that better?

It might be better for security reasons, as you claim so, but it's easier to just head directly to a reliable photosharing website and upload my image there and just share the link.

If I decided to upload the image through Steam (like you said), I would have to remove it later cause I don't wanna leave a random screenshot hang on my Steam account.

Perhaps I cannot understand the experience you gained in IT (as you mentioned), but I'd love to... I can at least appreciate opinions of older (experienced) technicians.
#13
Yujah Dec 28, 2020 @ 5:45am 
Originally posted by Øystein Aarseth:
Alright, so looking from your case, it seems like the games you bought on Steam appear to be available on your RGL Library as well, is that correct ?
To get back on topic here...

With the Steam account that GTA4 is on linked to the Social Club account that you login to in the Rockstar Game Launcher, yes, it becomes part of that "My Library" listing in the RGL that you showed, and available to be started from the RGL "on Steam" in the manner that btimofthe100 showed. Note; not in the sense of being able to also download the game from the RGL as some have been expecting: if you buy the game on Steam, you get the Steam version and need to download and update the game through Steam.

Basically, Steam-version=RGL-version+Steam-integration, conversely, RGL-version is the same as the Steam version minus said integration. Personally, I'd quickly favour the Steam version if already invested in Steam anyways; although it won't save you from the RGL as such, it will keep you from being monetarily invested in yet another developer-specific bit of infrastructure.
Last edited by Yujah; Dec 28, 2020 @ 5:47am
#14
sad dolphin Dec 28, 2020 @ 7:41am 
Originally posted by Yujah:
Originally posted by Øystein Aarseth:
Alright, so looking from your case, it seems like the games you bought on Steam appear to be available on your RGL Library as well, is that correct ?
To get back on topic here...

With the Steam account that GTA4 is on linked to the Social Club account that you login to in the Rockstar Game Launcher, yes, it becomes part of that "My Library" listing in the RGL that you showed, and available to be started from the RGL "on Steam" in the manner that btimofthe100 showed. Note; not in the sense of being able to also download the game from the RGL as some have been expecting: if you buy the game on Steam, you get the Steam version and need to download and update the game through Steam.

Basically, Steam-version=RGL-version+Steam-integration, conversely, RGL-version is the same as the Steam version minus said integration. Personally, I'd quickly favour the Steam version if already invested in Steam anyways; although it won't save you from the RGL as such, it will keep you from being monetarily invested in yet another developer-specific bit of infrastructure.

Okay, that sounds fair, I guess.

So, should I choose Steam for the purchase over the Rockstar Games ?
Because, honestly, I'd love to have GTA 4 in my 'Library' on RGL and keep it there.
Yesterday I spoke to a friend who bought the game on both platforms (paid the same price twice lmao) just to have the same game available on both platforms (independently).

... Steam it is, yeah?
Last edited by sad dolphin; Dec 28, 2020 @ 7:42am
#15
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Grand Theft Auto IV: The Complete Edition > General Discussions > Topic Details
Date Posted: Dec 26, 2020 @ 3:17pm
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