Steam or Retail Version?

[RandomEnglishMan]

Is the physical version of GTA 4 better for modding than the Steam digital version? Cause, for example, if a mod breaks the game. With the physical version you just uninstall, then reinstall. I've read from a few people that its a pain to delete data from Steam on any game (cause of the Cloud Data). Also, is Steam multiplayer as simple as following another Steam player? Or do you have to go through all that Windows Live crap (I don't have the game, so sorry if I'm wrong about some of this)?

 

Thanks.

[GalaxyGTA]

Buy the DVDs for display on your shelf of hard copy collections. Then buy the Steam to play.

[Frank.s]

Retail for modding, no argument.

[jpm1]

bought Steam myself and never had any kind of problem , even after lot of modding

 

edit : if you buy downloadable games , you can remove the DVD drive from your PC and lighten the PSU

Edited May 26, 2013 by jpm1

[GalaxyGTA]

 

Retail for modding, no argument.

There is no difference between the retail and the steam version. In fact, I'm sure the steam version is much faster and easier to install/uninstall. Why would retail be any better for modding? It's only better cause you get a nice case and disc (physical copy). There is nothing you can't do on the Steam version that you can on Retail. Unless you think it's easier to mod the retail version because it's installed in a different folder, which is absurd. As for downgrading to a previous version of GTA, both can do it. Although, I don't see the point in that because you can't play multiplayer then. Only outdated mods don't work on newest GTA version and ENB looks fine for the exception of red sky bug, which will be fixed with iCEnhancer 2.5

[Vintage88]

Retail for modding, no argument.

There is no difference between the retail and the steam version. In fact, I'm sure the steam version is much faster and easier to install/uninstall. Why would retail be any better for modding? It's only better cause you get a nice case and disc (physical copy). There is nothing you can't do on the Steam version that you can on Retail. Unless you think it's easier to mod the retail version because it's installed in a different folder, which is absurd. As for downgrading to a previous version of GTA, both can do it. Although, I don't see the point in that because you can't play multiplayer then. Only outdated mods don't work on newest GTA version and ENB looks fine for the exception of red sky bug, which will be fixed with iCEnhancer 2.5

With the way copyrights, DRM and all the jazz work, I highly doubt you'd be able to install the Steam version of GTA without Steam. Now that is a big enough deal to some people.

[GalaxyGTA]

Retail for modding, no argument.

There is no difference between the retail and the steam version. In fact, I'm sure the steam version is much faster and easier to install/uninstall. Why would retail be any better for modding? It's only better cause you get a nice case and disc (physical copy). There is nothing you can't do on the Steam version that you can on Retail. Unless you think it's easier to mod the retail version because it's installed in a different folder, which is absurd. As for downgrading to a previous version of GTA, both can do it. Although, I don't see the point in that because you can't play multiplayer then. Only outdated mods don't work on newest GTA version and ENB looks fine for the exception of red sky bug, which will be fixed with iCEnhancer 2.5

With the way copyrights, DRM and all the jazz work, I highly doubt you'd be able to install the Steam version of GTA without Steam. Now that is a big enough deal to some people.

What does that matter if steam is free? Some people actually like having all their video games on steam, like myself. I prefer everything organized and using this service to keep in contact with friends, post screenshots, join and invite friends easily, etc. With that being said, I own the original retail version and the steam version... both exactly the same. Furthermore, even when I use non-steam games I load them in steam... so I don't see what the problem is unless Valve goes out of business, closes steam, and rips everyone off. But I would imagine all Steam DRM would be removed if that day every came, which I doubt it will.

[Vintage88]

 

Retail for modding, no argument.

There is no difference between the retail and the steam version. In fact, I'm sure the steam version is much faster and easier to install/uninstall. Why would retail be any better for modding? It's only better cause you get a nice case and disc (physical copy). There is nothing you can't do on the Steam version that you can on Retail. Unless you think it's easier to mod the retail version because it's installed in a different folder, which is absurd. As for downgrading to a previous version of GTA, both can do it. Although, I don't see the point in that because you can't play multiplayer then. Only outdated mods don't work on newest GTA version and ENB looks fine for the exception of red sky bug, which will be fixed with iCEnhancer 2.5

With the way copyrights, DRM and all the jazz work, I highly doubt you'd be able to install the Steam version of GTA without Steam. Now that is a big enough deal to some people.

What does that matter if steam is free? Some people actually like having all their video games on steam, like myself. I prefer everything organized and using this service to keep in contact with friends, post screenshots, join and invite friends easily, etc. With that being said, I own the original retail version and the steam version... both exactly the same. Furthermore, even when I use non-steam games I load them in steam... so I don't see what the problem is unless Valve goes out of business, closes steam, and rips everyone off. But I would imagine all Steam DRM would be removed if that day every came, which I doubt it will.

I really don't think it's a smart decision to trust all our purchases with Valve, we should own what we own outright, no exceptions. I'm not sure how they would allow us to install games freely if they shut down their service, as in I'm not sure they even have the ability to do it for many of the titles, even if they so pleased.

 

I agree with you overall though and I buy most games from Steam. It's because I'm too lazy and a bit too trustworthy to care enough that I'm paying to "rent" a game indefinitely basically, . I and many others take the convenience of the service, because when push comes to shove potentially being screwed a few years down the road on outdated titles isn't worth the hassle of having hard copies for everything. I'm not hating on Valve or anything, I think they are a good company compared to the rest, just a more general view in that we should, ideally, own what we own.

Edited June 4, 2013 by Vintage88

[jpm1]

physical copies aren't eternal . with Steam you know your game will be working whatever happens . plus as you said physical copies need place and according to where you live this can be a problem

[GalaxyGTA]

Yeah some games are extremely hard to find physical copies, or cost a lot more...and now a lot of games are not even making physical copies. But I would like to have physical copies of everything, but unfortunately, PC has gone digital.