Migrating back to Steam app 251810

[Josh]

Please be advised that I am planning to discontinue updates on the standalone version and migrate back to Steam app ID 251810 (Leadwerks Game Engine). There are a couple of reasons for this:

• It takes a lot of times to compile and upload two different builds of software, although the majority of people are using the Steam version.
• People using the standalone build don't get included in the Steam player count metrics, and it actually hurts the app's ranking on Steam.

I don't have any firm timeline on this, and I am still updating it for now, but you should make your way back over the 251810 when you can. I think most people already have this on their Steam account, but please message me if that is not the case.

[Josh]

Okay, so if you purchased Leadwerks 5 / Ultra through this site and you do not have Leadwerks on Steam please let me know. Updates on the standalone build are coming to an end soon. 

[Josh]

Migration of Ultra Engine users on Steam to the Leadwerks app ID is underway now:
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/444570/view/569269133817940396

The standalone will no longer receive updates.

[Epsylon]

And what about the case if someone like "me" ) have both versions ?? 
I my case the standalone works better than steam version (on Windows10).. But in Linux the steam version branch 4.x works better... NO freezing after project creation,and NO crashing after importing projects previusly created (even if ill transfering the projects from windows OS to linux OS its still do the same issue ((
And in a standalone version the license has been deactivated ((

[Josh]

The Steam app ID 251810 has the option to install the latest version, or previous versions. You can install 4.x on one machine and 5.0 on another, as long as you have Steam app ID 251810.

The standalone version was created with the idea to build something that was independent from Steam. I proposed a subscription model, which would have given us stable revenue without any third parties being involved, but that was rejected by users. The standalone version is not being continued for three reasons:

• 95% of users preferred to buy it through Steam.
• Having people off Steam actually hurts the app's ranking in the Steam store, because it subtracts from daily active users.
• It takes a lot of time to continually compile updates and upload two different versions. This is time that could be spent adding features, writing tutorials, or helping users solve their problems.

If you purchased the standalone on our website and don't already have the Leadwerks app ID on your Steam account, please contact me.

[CJO Games]

This change to no standalone application after previously making it available as a purchasable option seems to me to be entirely unfair. I would be grateful if you would restore access to being able to install the app through the launcher (as it was previously) because at this point I am unable to use the product I paid for in the way it was intended to be used. Notwithstanding the access available through the steam launcher this prevents me from being able to use the two products that I previously had access to (which were bought separately). Unless there is a way to enable access to the two separate applications - one standalone, one through Steam - this change appears to be detrimental to the end user.  

[Josh]

Do you mean running Leadwerks 4 and 5 at the same time?

[CJO Games]

Yes in effect - not that I do but I like the ability to be able to switch quickly between the versions without having to use steam's beta channel to do so. I also preferred the portability of the standalone app and that it could be used entirely offline if necessary. 

[Josh]

Steam can run offline.

It might be possible to add version 4.6 as a DLC. If it works, this would add a launch option that only appears if the DLC is installed, and would let you choose to launch either version 5.x or 4.6 when you run the program.

[CJO Games]

Hmm, but you are attempting to fix something that previously didn't require a fix - I would understand these arguments/suggestions if I had purchased the Ultra Engine app as a steam app but I didn't.

As I say,  what I would like to happen is access to the standalone app returned as soon as possible. If this is not something you are able or willing to do then I will be forced to request a refund for the standalone version as the product is essentially unavailable at this point...