Steam vs. Website

[BIRVM]

Is the steam version exacly like the website version, even the files or is it different?

[Speedbird]

The game is the same, if you buy it on the website you also get a Steam key.

[impetus_maximus]

[edit] ok i see you don't own the game yet. like Battleboy43 said, you can (AND SHOULD) buy the game from factorio.com
you will get a steam key for the game and you support the game devs more since valve won't skim 30% of the price.

same game. if you want to try the website version download the PACKAGE version so it won't conflict with the steam installed version.

saves, mods etc will be saved within the file structure of the package instead of the install versions steam/factorio.com

one reason i like running the package version is no need to have steam and multiple instances of 'steamwebhelper" running. another reason is updates are not forced on us like the steam versions (Valves doing )

[Corvax]

Originally posted by impetus maximus:

another reason is updates are not forced on us like the steam versions (Valves doing )

It is possible to set it so that it does not auto-update.

[impetus_maximus]

a LARGE number of people were playing stable 0.14 when 0.15 stable was forced on them by valve.

[Speedbird]

Originally posted by impetus maximus:

a LARGE number of people were playing stable 0.14 when 0.15 stable was forced on them by valve.

There's an option to change the version down to 0.12 (IIRC)

[Denadan]

Originally posted by Battleboy43:

Originally posted by impetus maximus:

a LARGE number of people were playing stable 0.14 when 0.15 stable was forced on them by valve.

There's an option to change the version down to 0.12 (IIRC)

yep, but still people forced to 0,15 version, that have big compatible issues with 0.14.
so pro and contra is same - updates. in steam you version is always updated, even when update can broke current game session. in website version game you must update game by himself, even it is vital bugfix/optimisation change. choose what you need more.

[Corvax]

The default option is auto-update, Steam is not forcing updates. NVM, it does..

[ShutEye_DK]

Originally posted by Corvax:

The default option is auto-update, Steam is not forcing updates. NVM, it does..

Yep. Factorio is one of the few games that actually allows picking a select version.
Steam is forcing updates at launch for most games.

[fractalgem]

Originally posted by ShutEye_DK:

Originally posted by Corvax:

The default option is auto-update, Steam is not forcing updates. NVM, it does..

Yep. Factorio is one of the few games that actually allows picking a select version.
Steam is forcing updates at launch for most games.

*Ark flashbacks*


@OP: the only differences I know of are a slight difference in folder organization, and that the steam version, well, implements the steam API.

The steam version has some stuff under %appdata% such as mods and saves, while the core game files are somewhere under steam, while the self-contained version you get from their website has everything contained within one folder.

However, it's the exact same game

[impetus_maximus]

the install version from factorio.com also uses %appdata% which is why it shouldn't be installed on top of the steam version.

[BIRVM]

do you need to log in with a factorio account in the steam version?

[Name Lips]

Originally posted by BIRVM:

do you need to log in with a factorio account in the steam version?

Only to download mods.

[Name Lips]

It should be noted that the website, its official forum, and mod portal are really the central core of the Factorio community. Selling it on Steam is almost an afterthought (though I'm sure a very profitable one). This is why, for instance, the game uses its built-in mod portal for downloading mods instead of the Steam Workshop. Many factorio players don't use Steam at all.

[BIRVM]

Ok I bought the game in steam and everything is going fine

[impetus_maximus]

Originally posted by Name Lips:

Originally posted by BIRVM:

do you need to log in with a factorio account in the steam version?

Only to download mods.

also needed to play on authentication required servers.