STEAM TOOLS INTEGRATION (Updated 6 February 2024)

[kamnet]

As this appears to be one of the most-asked questions currently, since OpenTTD announced its arrival on Steam, we are creating a pinned post to update users on the status of adding Steam tools and workshop features to OpenTTD.

UPDATE ON 6 FEBRUARY 2023, After a few years of careful consideration and work, the upcoming OpenTTD 14.0 release (expected 1 April 2024) will provide integration of select social tools for Steam, GOG and Discord. Due to some limitations, only one service can be active at any given time. For more technical details, please read the PR at https://github.com/OpenTTD/OpenTTD/pull/11628

AS OF LAUCH DATE 1 APRIL 2021, OpenTTD does not yet offer any integration with Steam tools or workshop, and currently has no firm plans to do so.

OpenTTD is an Open Source game, available free of charge (and without DRM etc), build and run by volunteers (contributors). Nobody is paying contributors anything to do the things they love. All contributors develop for OpenTTD in their free time, and OpenTTD fully depends on those contributors to make the game grow.

The primary motivation for adding OpenTTD to Steam was to make the game more widely available through popular platforms. Distribution via Steam has been one of the more sought-after requests from our players. The main obstacle to this had been the tools and processes that OpenTTD had previously set up, and lack of time and capability by contributors to make the necessary changes. In the last few years, changes to the tools and processes needed to be implemented, and adding Steam to our supported platforms became a realistic goal.

With that said, this also means our journey to integrate better with Steam has just begun, and there already has been talk about how to integrate more. But, this is not an easy task, and will take some time. The one thing we do not want to happen is for a Steam version to be developed which is too fragmented to become sustainable, or for us to end up with a version we cannot continue to support if a contributor leaves.

As such, we release OpenTTD on steam currently without integration, and will slowly work on a better tomorrow. For those who wish to help us with this endeavor, feel free to contribute patches and work with the development team to implement features you would like to see in a future release of the game.

[PunCrathod]

Borschik の投稿を引用：

PunCrathod の投稿を引用：

Not everyone uses the steam version of the game. Having steam workshop would split the modding community in two. Also combining forced auto-updates and modding is a disaster. Instead of wasting development time implementing an awful competing mod-portal that the developers have no control over, I would recommend just implementing the missing features into the current in-game one.

Look at Rimworld it has non-steam version too. It has huge modbase on forums and huge modbase at workshop and most mods overlap both. Creators can choose if they want to use one or both platforms, users can choose too. I doubt OpenTTD devs would be able implement all of those features themselves. Why not add an already existing option for the people that want to use it?

Rimworld is a great example. I have the non-steam version and it annoys the cat out of me that I have to use third party download tools and manually edit files to get some of the mods because they are only at the steam workshop. And every now and then I find a mod that people complain is broken because another mod forced an update that made them incompatible and now their saves are broken. All of this could have been avoided if they just didn't use steam workshop.

[kamnet]

superusercode の投稿を引用：

Above all I hope Steam Cloud support is included, since it can be added without writing any code to explicitly support it (https://partner.steamgames.com/doc/features/cloud called "Auto-Cloud"). Beyond that opting into cloud streaming/GFN support would be great, but that depends on cloud saves being enabled.

The main reason that isn't implemented right now is two-parts. First, the devs do not want to create versions of OpenTTD which offers features exclusive to Steam players that non-Steam players cannot get, which will then create a fractured codebase that could potentially in the future no longer be able to be updated if a contributor who knows that part of the code leaves the development team. Second, OpenTTD is looking at developing its own cloud save feature, which could be its own cloud service, or integrate other cloud services and the user can configure this for themselves.

[Yrol Akiyama]

Needed Improvements of the in-game content download service:

Section "check online content, window: content downloading"
1. being able to "uninstall" extensions
2. a "select all" button.
3. an added dropdown list for the various types ( base graphics, AI, newgrf and so on)
so we can filter _within_ that subset of GRFs, not just within everything
4. an exclusion filter, so we can filter out certain stuff, as an example, when i set the type
in the dropdownlist to "newgrf" and the filter to something like "NOT:townnames",
all newgrfs which provide townnames are hidden.

Section NewGRF Settings:
2,3,4 from the above list, additionally:

Proper keyboard support:
Currently, when i select something in the Active list, then move the arrowkeys, it jumps to
the inactive list and i can move up/down with the up/down arrowkeys.
Solution: left right arrow key goes to inactive/active list, up/down arrowkey goes up/down
the list and SPACE either adds an extension ( if the inactive lsit is in focus ) OR removes it
( if the active list is in focus ). Better said, it moves the extension that is under the cursor to the OTHER window/list.

There were no changs to that whole system since years and it is very weird that
it is still SO cumbersome. Yes, it is only an small part of the game, but
with people being dependent on / addicted to Steam Workshop and the increased
exposure of oTTD, things must be fixed now.

[kamnet]

Yrol Denjeah の投稿を引用：

Needed Improvements of the in-game content download service:

Section "check online content, window: content downloading"
1. being able to "uninstall" extensions
2. a "select all" button.
3. an added dropdown list for the various types ( base graphics, AI, newgrf and so on)
so we can filter _within_ that subset of GRFs, not just within everything
4. an exclusion filter, so we can filter out certain stuff, as an example, when i set the type
in the dropdownlist to "newgrf" and the filter to something like "NOT:townnames",
all newgrfs which provide townnames are hidden.

Section NewGRF Settings:
2,3,4 from the above list, additionally:

Proper keyboard support:
Currently, when i select something in the Active list, then move the arrowkeys, it jumps to
the inactive list and i can move up/down with the up/down arrowkeys.
Solution: left right arrow key goes to inactive/active list, up/down arrowkey goes up/down
the list and SPACE either adds an extension ( if the inactive lsit is in focus ) OR removes it
( if the active list is in focus ). Better said, it moves the extension that is under the cursor to the OTHER window/list.

There were no changs to that whole system since years and it is very weird that
it is still SO cumbersome. Yes, it is only an small part of the game, but
with people being dependent on / addicted to Steam Workshop and the increased
exposure of oTTD, things must be fixed now.

Would you mind going to the GitHub repository and filing a ticket on this? These are things that the devs should see and address more directly. :)

[☢ARMac☢]

kamnet の投稿を引用：

superusercode の投稿を引用：

Above all I hope Steam Cloud support is included, since it can be added without writing any code to explicitly support it (https://partner.steamgames.com/doc/features/cloud called "Auto-Cloud"). Beyond that opting into cloud streaming/GFN support would be great, but that depends on cloud saves being enabled.

The main reason that isn't implemented right now is two-parts. First, the devs do not want to create versions of OpenTTD which offers features exclusive to Steam players that non-Steam players cannot get, which will then create a fractured codebase that could potentially in the future no longer be able to be updated if a contributor who knows that part of the code leaves the development team. Second, OpenTTD is looking at developing its own cloud save feature, which could be its own cloud service, or integrate other cloud services and the user can configure this for themselves.

It's kind of obvious that you didn't click the link.

Steam auto-cloud doesn't require any modification on the code side. It simply uploads the saves that OttD creates (just point it to the right folder).

Excerpt:
Steam Auto-Cloud is an alternative to the Steam Cloud API that allows apps to use Steam Cloud without writing code or modifying the game in any way. It only requires that you specify the file groups which you want persisted to the Cloud. Steam will automatically sync the groups of files when the application launches and exits. Avoid machine specific configurations such as video quality.

[ZidentZ]

well.. i just wonder we can see the mods rating.. i cannot just download any mod and play, its good or not and there are bunch of sequel version which make me confused

[Jon.Topps]

kamnet の投稿を引用：

If you mean achievements within the game itself? That isn't something that is going to be added to the core game, but there are GameScripts available from within the in-game content downloading service that provide such functionality.

If you mean Steam-based achievements? There are currently no firm plans to implement any Steam items due to complexities between OpenTTD's open source GPLv2 license and Steam's non-open, proprietary license.

I'd like a little more information here, if you'd be willing. I'm just confused about this concept. I can understand that Steam is forcing something to be done a certain way, following their license, but from my understanding it just take a certain command to be given to Steam in order to unlock the achievement. Could the OpenTTD simply have a call for this when certain things happen in game? It's not as though there's a conflict where one license doesn't allow it, right? I know I'm probably just confused here, but I'm interested.

[kamnet]

Jon.Topps の投稿を引用：

kamnet の投稿を引用：

If you mean achievements within the game itself? That isn't something that is going to be added to the core game, but there are GameScripts available from within the in-game content downloading service that provide such functionality.

If you mean Steam-based achievements? There are currently no firm plans to implement any Steam items due to complexities between OpenTTD's open source GPLv2 license and Steam's non-open, proprietary license.

I'd like a little more information here, if you'd be willing. I'm just confused about this concept. I can understand that Steam is forcing something to be done a certain way, following their license, but from my understanding it just take a certain command to be given to Steam in order to unlock the achievement. Could the OpenTTD simply have a call for this when certain things happen in game? It's not as though there's a conflict where one license doesn't allow it, right? I know I'm probably just confused here, but I'm interested.

The problem is in regards to how non-open license stuff can be integrated into open license stuff in order to preserve the open licensed product to remain as an open license. If they wanted to be arrogant about it, they could just whip up whatever code and be done, but it's always possible for somebody to bring up a legal complaint over that, and because of that Steam actually doesn't like it when you do that because then they could get dragged into litigation as well. So it's mostly an exercise in trying to figure out how to get them to work together. Once that is resolved, then the developers can take a look at integrating some of Steam's features.

[kamnet]

☢ARMac☢ の投稿を引用：

It's kind of obvious that you didn't click the link.

Please, kindly, read my reply again?

[Kompaktive]

Hey, will you plan to create a steam relay feature (invite friends to play) for players that unable to portforward? I had to use VPN but had to deal with Disconnection every 5 minutes which is annoying.

[Aris]

Jon.Topps の投稿を引用：

kamnet の投稿を引用：

If you mean achievements within the game itself? That isn't something that is going to be added to the core game, but there are GameScripts available from within the in-game content downloading service that provide such functionality.

If you mean Steam-based achievements? There are currently no firm plans to implement any Steam items due to complexities between OpenTTD's open source GPLv2 license and Steam's non-open, proprietary license.

I'd like a little more information here, if you'd be willing. I'm just confused about this concept. I can understand that Steam is forcing something to be done a certain way, following their license, but from my understanding it just take a certain command to be given to Steam in order to unlock the achievement. Could the OpenTTD simply have a call for this when certain things happen in game? It's not as though there's a conflict where one license doesn't allow it, right? I know I'm probably just confused here, but I'm interested.

OpenTTD is distributed under the GPL license, which is what's called a copyleft license, and it's quite restrictive about it. It's not possible to link against non-GPL libraries (with the exception of system libraries), and the Steamworks SDK of course isn't GPL. This doesn't mean it's impossible, though. It's possible to add an exception in the license that allows linking against the Steamworks SDK, but only the copyright holder can do it. So who's the copyright holder of OpenTTD? Well, here's the problem: everyone that commited code to the project. This means that the only way to add that exception to OpenTTD license is that everyone who commited code to the project must explicitly agree. A single person that doesn't agree or that can't be contacted blocks the modification.

There are workarounds, too. A posibility would be to write an external program, not under the GPL license, that unlocks achievements. This way this program is the one that is linked against Steamworks SDK, and not OpenTTD. OpenTTD would then run this program everytime an achievement needs to be unlocked, which is allowed by the GPL.

[Simko]

Is there Steam multiplayer?

Hello, is there Steam multiplayer and thus no need for a vpn or port forwarding in order to play with my friends.

[Brumi]

Nope, there is no Steam multiplayer yet. See more on this matter in the stickied post: https://steamcommunity.com/app/1536610/discussions/0/3076496088111250508/

[omnius]

I like the game, no need for Steam Integration or those silly worthless Steam Achievements. See no need for cloud saves, it saves just fine to my computer.

[kamnet]

omnius の投稿を引用：

I like the game, no need for Steam Integration or those silly worthless Steam Achievements. See no need for cloud saves, it saves just fine to my computer.

I'm not actually a "Steam" person, but I can see the merits of adding these things. It's just a question of how they can be added without violating either the GNU Public License or Steam's own proprietary license. We have some people working on it.