Will it use GFWL or Steamworks?

[bluefoot]

Given that it's almost certain to use one of the two, let us hope that THQ's agreement with M$ is either not exclusive, has elapsed or or has been rescinded.

[Aquila]

It would be using Xbox Live and whatever the PS3 online system is called. PSO?

GFWL would be a logical service for the PC version to use as a cross-platform game, but I do not believe there is any information on on the matchmaking capabilities yet.

Speculation aside, I'm sure you're bringing this up because of GFWL's bad reputation for matchmaking with DoWII... I don't think you have anything to worry about. Shooters and action games have a much easier learning curve than RTS games in general, and the GFWL matchmaking is much more appropriate to FPS-type games. Assuming the player base is large enough it should be fine.

[fuggles]

It will be GFWL, because relic seems to enjoy using it, even if the users themselves do not.

[Gorb]

I find GfWL useable, fuggles.

:D

[Croaxleigh]

In the "Forewarned is Four Armed" category:

Anyone deciding that this is the perfect time to do some Steam or Games for Windows - LIVE! bashing is wrong. Ergo, it is not advisable.

[Quak0r]

Seeing as how many Coop games are using Steamworks/cloud lately and are using it well I would argue Steam integration would be a good thing.

[kraken]

EDIT: My bad, wrong thread...

Not a fan of matchmaking, though it CAN work with 4 player co-op. Please have lan though!!

[sporty]

Preferably neither ;)

Since all we can do is guess at this point, maybe we should start with the possible causes for the use of either system?
GfWL/Xbox Live - Space Marine used to be a console-exclusive, the Xbox360 release requires this functionality. Depending on the effort required to adapt it for the PC, this might be a very economic option.
Steam - PC games published/soon-to-be-published by THQ need to be constantly validated through this DRM platform, indicating a longer running contract between Valve Corporation and THQ. If this presumed business agreement persists through 2011, it'll be a certain dependency.

I'd try to stay impartial regarding possible solutions for MP functionality, there simply aren't enough current, comparable PC games around to judge the quality in advance. Nevertheless, this will eventually be a decisive factor for many players.

[fuggles]

To avoid the wrath of Croax, I don't really care as long as they pick ONE to use. None of this steam + GFWL nonsense please, let's keep my game ruining to a single point of failure.

I still think it will be GFWL as I suspect relic have some sort of deal.

[Shuma]

If they only use one i hope it's Steam, if they use both... Well i don't really care.

[Ramrod]

I hope they use Battle.net 2.0!

[gr33nf4c3]

I think it's safe to assume it will be GfWL when they have to do XBL Integration anyway. Whatever, I can't seem to care anymore since I've got that GfWL Account for DoW2.

[Chompster]

meh i dont really mind which i like both just as much though GWFL can be annoying at times

[Codex]

GFWL isn't THAT bad...

That is, it used to be FAR worse.

[Demonhorde]

please god use steamworks... gfwl is horrid!

[Croaxleigh]

They could always scrap both and go back to GameSpy...

[Codex]

Touché.

[Vijil]

Based on recent experience, GfWL will be enough to make me think twice about buying it.

I suspect however that they will use it regardless.

[Promythyus]

At least with DoW1/GameSpy we had a direct connect option, and as far as I know, GameSpy didn't tell me I can't play my game for using my serial too many times :S

As it stands with DoW2/GFWL, I can't host a private game without having UPnP running on my router, which is an un-necessary security hole. (Much less secure than simply opening port 6112, and potentially more annoying to enable than port forwarding).

In a perfect world, they would use Relic Online. The only online system I've never had problems with (except scheduled maintenance, fair enough, and ports not being open, also fair enough).

[Ramrod]

GameSpy didn't tell me I can't play my game for using my serial too many times

Neither does Steam. Neither does GFWL. You're talking about Securom, a DRM system. This is about which system will manage the online multiplayer, a service that Securom doesn't offer.

[Quak0r]

Actually GFWL does. There is an activation limit of IIRC 15 on GFWL. At least there was when Promythyus ran into that problem, sadly. It may have changed by now though I'm not sure.

[Promythyus]

Yep, GFWL has a 15 activation limit, and it hasn't been changed, and from what I was told, Relic have no intention of changing it. From my perspective, GfWL offers *nothing* that Relic can't implement by themselves.

[Pocktio]

I love me live services. GFWl, xboxlive. I hope they use them, then I can get moar gamerscore.

By the way who actually reinstalls something fifteen times. I know it's a limit and raaaaah drm rage but come on, that's an entirely reasonable limit.

[Promythyus]

Yes, I do suppose it's unreasonable that I would have hardware problems that mean I needed to reinstall windows on a regular basis, and what's even more unreasonable is that I would actually want to play the game I bought each time I reinstall windows. I'm going to stop there, but before you say something is reasonable, think about situations other than your own.

Edit: And when relic have developed and effectively managed their own service that is *infinitely better* before now, why do they really need to use a 3rd Party Solution?

[Quak0r]

Well, the main reason for using a third party solution would be no running cost in operating own servers like with Relic Online.

On 15 being a reasonable amount of activations....... i agree with the case described above being the exception rather then the rule. Yet i have to say that a solution without a limit is the better one like Steams DRM.

But as this is not a DRM thread i shall comment no further on this topic.

As for Space Marine using Steamworks as mentioned earlier in the Thread it seems to have a reasonably stable connectivity, an achievement system and if i'm not horribly mistaken a working matchmaking.

Oh and patches do not require certification so no extra waiting period here either.

[sporty]

So, Shacknews (http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/65107) apparently spotted a glimpse of the GfWL overlay during the recent Space Marine presentation. Relic representatives didn't comment on this when asked, but it does make GfWL a more probable possibility.
Still expecting Steam as an extra layer of DRM myself.

[Mirage Knight]

Apparently we have an answer of sorts. Credit goes to Mnementh for finding this :)

http://www.shacknews.com/laryn.x?story=65124

[Quak0r]

brb getting new pants

[sporty]

Those Shacknews editors are terrible. As with the previous short article, nothing they disclosed indicates that this is an "either or" decision.
They saw a glimpse of the GfWL interface, and immediately deducted that this means "no Steam". They get official word about Steam inclusion, and now it's "no GfWL".

Looks more like GfWL functionality is an impending feature, and Steamworks DRM a confirmed one. You can never have enough DRM-protection these days :/

[kraken]

Seeing as DOW2 is both Steam AND GFWL i see no reason why it wouldn't be both. Though i hope it's only steam... and has dedicated servers...

[Pocktio]

I hope it's both :)

[WNxBizzie]

I can honestly only find 2 problems with GFWL as it is now.

It slows down the game just a bit.
And it takes a long time to approve updates/patches.

Heck if the approval time for patches just improves a bit I'm fine with GFWL.

[Ruined]

The build Shacknews saw was an Xbox one running emulated on a PC hence the login pop-up. It is Steamworks for the PC version

[sporty]

Safe to assume that this applies to more than DRM functionality, which was pretty much a given anyway?
Well, only one prohibitive DRM-scheme is preferable to two of them, of course that's still nothing to get excited about.

[Supernaut]

Neither Steam or GFWL are prohibitive, but this isn't the thread to discuss DRM.

I can only see good things out of using Steamworks, it's a much better alternative to GFWL which will allow patches and extra content to roll out faster.

[Shuma]

Since when did Steam or GFWL become prohibitive? They do function like DRM but i don't see how they're prohibitive at all, both allow for offline play, and unlike the DRM of the dark ages this ones provide a lot of bonuses, well Steam does(God bless you Gabe).

Anyway, never had a problem with GFWL but i'm glad that Space Marine will use only Steam Works in the PC version.

So... Will there be a special edition with a real life size chainsword or a Space marine helmet? ;)

[Bowkers]

http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/65124

Good choice in my opinion.

[Demonhorde]

yey for steamworks!!! :)

[Nouw]

It's Steam! Oh goody!

[Montka]

Yeah : quite a good news :)

[Busby]

Maybe this means that, with the news Steam will be coming to the PS3 and Valve is looking into and would very much like cross PS3/PC Portal 2 Co-Op play, Space Marine will be capable of cross system play too if Valve manages to pull it off?

[LoneGamer]

That depends just as much on Microsoft and Sony allowing it. Microsoft in particular keeps their network shut tight, and it was a specific exception which allowed Square Enix to have FFXI be PS2-PC-X360 cross-platform. They're not doing it this time around for XIV, which is PC and PS3 only.

[Brod]

It seems THQ is using Steamworks for all their PC games these days which I'm very happy with :)

Now if only EA and Activision could start doing the same thing...