Shadowgrounds Rises on Steam

[fb_joel]

Here's what many of you have been waiting for:

Shadowgrounds Rises on Steam!

Montreal, Canada. April 24, 2006. - Software publisher Meridian4 is pleased to announce an online distribution deal to distribute its upcoming action game Shadowgrounds via Steam, Valve's online platform for digital content distribution and management.

"Making Shadowgrounds available to Steam's eight million gamers is a great opportunity to get the game out to a wider market, " said Steven Milburn, Director of Marketing at Meridian4. "Shadowgrounds' high-octane, addictive gameplay will be a good match with Steam’s audience."

"Steam is the best online distribution channel, end of story. They are really pushing the online distribution model and I am glad Shadowgrounds is part of that," said Frozenbyte CEO, Lauri Hyvarinen.

Shadowgrounds will be available for online distribution through Steam in early May at an online price of $24.95. For more information about Shadowgrounds go to http://www.meridian4.com or visit http://www.steampowered.com.

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Of course the retail version will still be available in all territories. You should buy whichever version (online or retail) feels good for you. Both ways are very important to us.

I'll answer a question from the other thread:

Will users from all over the world be able to download from Steam? If it seems like a stupid question, I'm asking because with other games that Meridian4 have published online, only North-American customers have been able to buy (as that's the only region where they have the publishing rights).

Shadowgrounds is available to a worldwide audience via Steam. (I.e. all territories where Steam currently operates.)

Feel free to talk.

[escapedturkey]

Don't you always have to be online to play Steam based games or has that changed?

Thank you.

[DarkCube]

Don't you always have to be online to play Steam based games or has that changed?

If you download 100% of the game through steam you can play it offline.


One question though will you be able to play it with Steam if you have
normal (boxed version) of Shadow Grounds.

[escapedturkey]

It's not multiplayer, so I'm not sure why you want to play through Steam if you already have the boxed version.

[DarkCube]

I dont realy know. Perhaps to play without cd.

[Qraft]

would be nice to be able to play the game without the cd, since every time i putt it in my cd-rom spins so fast i think its gonna explode

[fb_joel]

NA and UK versions don't need the CD/DVD in the drive in order to play. And the upcoming patch will remove it from the other versions also.

Man, I feel like a Santa throwing presents to gamers.

[escapedturkey]

I was all ready to buy the game on the 25th (USA) and now this Steam thing.



It's worth the wait though.

[kolorabi]

Will users from all over the world be able to download from Steam? If it seems like a stupid question, I'm asking because with other games that Meridian4 have published online, only North-American customers have been able to buy (as that's the only region where they have the publishing rights).

Shadowgrounds is available to a worldwide audience via Steam. (I.e. all territories where Steam currently operates.)

Thanks for the response. I'll probably try to get the UK version (mail order, since I live in Scandinavia), but it's good to know I have the option of using Steam.

NA and UK versions don't need the CD/DVD in the drive in order to play. And the upcoming patch will remove it from the other versions also.

More good news

[Sampo]

This is something most interesting! Way to go, Frozenbytians.

What is the opinion of Frozenbyte to this? Are you guys excited, happy or such?

"And the upcoming patch will remove it from the other versions also." And this is just FABOLOUS news!

[fb_joel]

Well of course we're very excited. I can't wait to see it become available for real. It's also going to be a pretty eventful two weeks, with NA version just released, Steam release, UK release, and then the patch and the Level Editor (Beta first). It means a lot of work for us but I hope everything goes smooth.

[Qraft]

NA and UK versions don't need the CD/DVD in the drive in order to play. And the upcoming patch will remove it from the other versions also.

Exellent Joel

[Varsity]

Played the new demo, loved the new level, found the disco button, loved it even more. I'm pre-loading now!

One thing though: I think you need a better icon for in games list. The thing you've got now looks more than a little freaky. It's like some sort of evil jester!

[Geo]

The ad for Shadowgrounds is right on top of the Steam Web site for now.

http://www.steampowered.com/

[fb_joel]

Yeah. Also means that I'm in a hurry to update the website tomorrow (well it was overdue, now that the game is available in most countries in retail too).

[Z|insane]

Any ETA on when it will be released on Steam today?

[fb_joel]

No idea. I'm waiting for more information myself.

[Geo]

There is a section for Shadowgrounds at the Steam forums:
http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/f ... forumid=67

And they're asking the same thing. (when is it unlocked)

[Z|insane]

Yay! its released!

[Geo]

Cool, they seem to have extended the $5 discount through May 12.

[Geo]

Oh, a guy named "Jeff", apparently from Meredian 4, is posting over at the official Steam forums here and there. Gamespot gave the game a bad review, but heck with them. I'd chip in my positive thoughts but I STILL can't get my Steam forum account activated. I don't know what the deal is.

[fb_joel]

Yup, Jeff's a cool guy. I just submitted my registration, let's see how long it takes...

I'm not too worried about the GameSpot review - 6.9 isn't that bad after all. All the criticisms are valid, although the perspective on them was a bit harsh in my opinion too.

[Geo]

Different sites and mags used numbers differently (Computer Gaming World recently decided to stop doing # rankings in print because they felt the numbers were becoming meaningless due to sites like Gamerankings.com that boil everything down to an Average), like a 40/100 with PC Gamer is considered "OK". I wish tests were curved like that when I went to school.

Most of my action game buds (PC) are strictly FPS fans and no matter how hard I try, won't give this kind of thing a try. Their loss.

[Geo]

I've been babbling quite a bit on the Steam forums for this. Generally people are pretty enthusiastic about it. The lack of online multiplayer is really a sticking point for some people who liked the demo but aren't ready to commit to the full game.

The lack of saving doesn't seem that big an issue there (just judging by the post so far).

That's your Geo Analyzes The Steam Forums Report for the day.

[fb_joel]

Reviews/scores are always talked about. I'm quite sure publishers also want to have the scores, because a good score gives good marketing "ammo". We use all the good scores too. But yeah, a well-written text is more effective in my opinion.

And I'm happy about the Steam comments, most people seem to like it indeed. I hope there won't be too many technical problems though...