Difference(s) between dowloadable versions?

[HalfLoaf]

Can anyone tell me if there's any difference between the Gamersgate version of AI War and the downloadable version available from the links on the main site please?

Same with the Impulse version and the Direct2Drive ones; are they the same as the main site .exe?

I don't have Steam and don't want any background downloaders etc.

If there are any differences, does anyone know what they are?

Thanks.

[Revenantus]

Welcome, Halfloaf!

All distributors of AI War provide exactly the same game - there's no need to worry that you'll be missing out on any features by acquiring the game from one location versus another. All the license keys are compatible across different distributors, too; a license key purchased directly from Arcen would work with a copy of the game downloaded from anywhere else, for example.

A couple of things to note are;

1. Some distributors, such as Steam and Impulse, perform automatic updates, so in these cases the in-game updater is disabled, as the platform itself handles keeping the game up to date - automatic updates on these platforms may lag a little bit behind the official releases.

2. The Steam version includes Steamworks integration, such as the use of the Steam overlay in-game and achievements. This in no way affects the gameplay itself.

[HalfLoaf]

Hi Revenantus, thanks for the welcome.

Well, if the Gamersgate download is the same as the one I already got, then I'll probably go for that if I ever get through the tutorial that is!

They say the file size is 79 MB, whereas the one I got is about 91 MB. The Impulse one is 189 MB apparently, so presumably they install some other non-game related... stuff?

Another thing: I heard someone say on another forum that when they paid by Paypal for a game on Steam, they were surcharged extra by Paypal themselves!

Maybe it was a currency conversion thing?

Gamersgate are quoting the price in GBP, so would that be all that I would be charged by Paypal i.e. like a transaction on eBay?

Sorry, to sound like a numpty, but I've never bought a downloadable game before.

[x4000]

Hey HalfLoaf,

In the case of GamersGate, they may be delivering an old version of the installer, or that installer may be right but their stated filesize is simply out of date.  Either way it's no problem to buy from them, they send you a license key and you can just plug that into the version of the game you already have installed -- no need to re-download, the demo and the full version are the same thing, with just a license key activating the full version.  There is also a Check For Updates button that allows you to get the latest version if the GamersGate (or any other) version is out of date.  But I think GamersGate is presently on 2.0, I am pretty sure that is just an outdated file size.

For Impulse, the larger file size is based on it downloading all of the prerequisites -- normally that only happens if you actually need the prerequisites.  The .NET Framework and DirectX and SlimDX are what make up the difference in file size with them.

I've never heard of Paypal having a surcharge for purchasing things from Steam.  It might have to do with non-US orders, I'm not sure.  But, Steam has ways of paying direct with credit cards, or other options, which I think would let you work around that.  But I'm not an expert, that's more a question for Steam support -- they do an awful lot of international business, though, so I can't imagine there are extra fees with every transaction, as that would really crimp them.

For GamersGate, or our site, or I believe Impulse, it will quote you in GBP if you're in the UK -- and yep, that's all you'd pay unless the e-commerce site calculates you owe VAT or something.  Easiest thing to do is just put it in your shopping cart and see what it quotes you.  If GamersGate calculates that you owe VAT on the transaction, then most likely any other ecommerce partner selling games also would.  That varies by country and possibly even by state/province/region in some cases, though.

Hope that helps!

[HalfLoaf]

Yes, it does indeed, thanks x4000.

I'd forgotten about the prerequisite files, so that could well explain the file size difference.

On Gamersgate, adding it to the basket and going to the checkout doesn't change the price, but there's no mention of VAT that I can find on the site.

Could someone in the UK who's bought AI War from Gamersgate confirm that the price includes VAT or not please? It's £10.46 at the moment.

Thanks