A Whole New World

[pieuponieu 70]

I just got a new PC and installed SimCity 4 on Steam.  I don't know if it's the system or the fact that I'm no longer running the game from a CD-ROM, but so far, the speed of the game is amazing.

 

I just rendered a downloaded region, typical size, and it was done in about 4 minutes.  This used to take a half hour, at least, and I could never render a region that was much larger than typical size.

 

Thoughts?  What are your experiences running the game from Steam vs. the CD-ROM?  Have you ever used offline mode, and has that caused problems?

[jmsepe 2,038]

I am running SC4 from steam. So far, all plugins that work for the CD-ROM also works for steam. The only thing I have to say about running it from steam is that you still need to open steam before you can open the game but aside from that running SC4 from steam is awesome and more convenient than the conventional CD.

[Compdude787 916]

I keep my SC4 CD in the disc drive all the time, (prevents scratches!) so it's quicker than opening up Steam and then loading up SC4. I just click the icon on the desktop and up it loads. More convenient than Steam, huh?

[pieuponieu 70]

Hm, I wonder if maybe Steam has made some changes in their installation processes.  When I installed SC4 from Steam on Monday, it gave me the option to put an SC4 icon on the desktop and/or in the start menu.  I added it to the start menu, and to run it, I only have to click on the SC4 icon.  I don't open Steam separately.

 

You can also find the SC4 executable in the Steam folder and pin it to the taskbar (in Win 7+), start menu, or desktop and run it that way since you already have it installed.  Maybe give that a try?

[MushyMushy 3,617]

Really, neither of them are more convenient. With Steam, it has do some stuff in the background before it can start the program up (my experience with Skyrim). With the CD-ROM, you have to have the disc in the disc drive (and take good care of it).

 

I simply prefer CD-ROM because I'd rather own a physical copy of the game, not a downloaded one.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Steam is under the impression that everything they sell requires DRM.  This is certainly not true of SC4Deluxe.  I got my digital download copy from GamersGate and it is the same one as that from Steam except that it has the regular structure on the C: drive that is recognized by all the after market add ons and software.  It is not stuck in some Steam dreamed structure.

 

Before I got the digital download, I was running from CD but this became irretrievably damaged because I do several installs a year due to changing software environments.  The digital download takes about five minutes to install and I don't have to be on-line to do it.  It is diskless and doesn't require patching.

 

The game does not run any faster, being the same program, on this machine than it ever did.  Any speed increase is probably the result of newer, faster resources in the platform.

[pieuponieu 70]

Again, I'm thinking Steam might have changed its installation procedures. My plugins folder is exactly where it ought to be: Users > Username > Documents > SimCity 4.

Who knows, after I have a GB of plugins installed, I may sing a different tune, but for now, I'm highly impressed.

[Compdude787 916]

Perhaps they finally figured out that this 11-year old program doesn't need DRM and removed it??

[APSMS 1,892]

Perhaps they finally figured out that this 11-year old program doesn't need DRM and removed it??

 

If only the world worked with common sense like this...I really doubt Steam would willingly remove DRM like that, but stranger things have happened.

[Compdude787 916]

Well, you never know....

[MushyMushy 3,617]

Well, we all know what their values are: Money > Logic.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Steam is a middle man.  We all know the song says "Don't mess with Mr. InBetween."

[Turjan 1,048]

Steam is under the impression that everything they sell requires DRM.

 

Certainly not true. Steam sells many DRM-free games. After installation, you can just uninstall Steam and copy the installed game wherever you want in those cases.

 

Then again, this is about SC4, and I'm pretty sure that requires the client (it's EA's decision how this is handled). Never tried offline mode, either, as the machine I usually play SC4 on is on an always-on broadband connection.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

I've never dealt with Steam.  They seem to be an odd sort of middle-man for any programs I want.

[Turjan 1,048]

Steam is by Valve, a video game company. It was originally made for allowing easy online gaming of their own titles. The store thing came then later, and they obviously filled a vacant niche. Plugins are in the normal place, the game installation is in a different one.

 

Anyway, talking about SC4 and video game companies running online stores: gog.com finally sells SC4. They have strictly been selling only DRM-free games for years now, so there's that. I would wait for a sale though.