PilotEdge Forums

Should I buy X-plane through Steam or should I buy through x-plane.org or elsewhere?

I see x-plane.org includes global scenery with their product, I assume Steam does not. I am not sure I need global scenery as I will be focusing on he PE coverage area.

Thanks for any opinions.

Jon

xplane now supports digital download. I would do that.

Steam offers the global scenery. I do have the Steam version (with global secenery) and there aren't any negative effects that I could report.
The only problem I had was that Air Hauler wouldn't work that well with the Steam version. Any other freeware or payware addon I have works perfectly.

I bought mine straight from laminar. Idk what the problem with that would be.

www.x-plane.com

I see one downside to buying X-plane through Steam. Apparently you have to be on the internet to launch. If you had a internet outage, no flying. http://www.x-plane.com/store/desktop/pu ... -10-steam/

Pity you cant go "offline"

So looks like a purchase from elsewhere is in order.

Steam will only provide possible barriers and limitations, I recommend buy the stand alone version and not be tied to Steam and their whims.

Digital download and be done...

I agree, steam will get in the way most of the time.

The only time I buy something on steam is when it's impossible to get it otherwise (or it's a "too good to be true" deal {$18 for a year of iracing anyone }).

I have both versions...

Steam is nice because it does auto update and because aircraft and scenery often go on sale. Down side is that you always have to be online to prevent people from sharing a copy. Steam is usually a few days behind on updates.

Digital Download also requires an occasional online verification. There are often sales on x-plane.org as well.

I'd probably go with the digital version direct, but I can answer any specific question you have about either version...

I originally purchased X-Plane on Steam and returned it for a refund. I didn't like the fact that I had to have the Steam app loaded in order to purchase it fly. I also noticed several times that although I had shut down X-Plane it was still running in the background.

John

JonFly wrote:I see one downside to buying X-plane through Steam. Apparently you have to be on the internet to launch. If you had a internet outage, no flying.

You can use the Steam version without an active internet connection in these cases (Steam has an offline mode). But Steam wants to check the licenses of installed games every once in a while, so you need to be connected to the Internet if you didn't use the online mode in the last two weeks.

But that's basically the same for the digital download version sold directly through x-plane.com:

The Digital Download Version of X-Plane 10 Requires an Internet Connection to Run

In order for X-Plane 10 to work (outside of demo mode) with a digital download product key, the computer running X-Plane must have an internet connection to contact our servers. X-Plane does not require an internet connection to re-validate on every single application launch, but it does require authentication frequently. If your primary use of X-Plane is on a computer that does not have net access or where net access is unreliable or rare, you should use purchase a DVD or a USB Dongle.

That being said, I would also buy the digital download dirctly form Laminar if I had to purchase today. Steam was just the only option for a download version at the time I jumped to XP.