Help Grany UNderstand the Steam Game Development Environment

Okay, I know I am ignorant, but I am taking server classes this summer and a continuing ed class right now and I just really haven't had time to try and get the Steam thing done on my ten year old computer.


(Which reminds me that I haven't had time to get a new computer!)


So my questions about steam are:


Can you run RPG Maker VX Ace on Steam from a MAC?


I have Mac campers who want to make games but have PCs.


If you run your RPG Maker stuff from steam, you can work on it from any machine with the "steam engine" on it, right? Does it keep your entire game data folder in a cloud network for you?


Is it user friendly enough that my 6th-7th graders aren't going to have trouble? I know the brilliant ones around here don't have trouble =] but some kids aren't as tech-literate as others.


And um, can you hurry? lol - the sale ends soon!!!

From what I know, which is minimal. the simple answer is no. because the RPG Maker engine is run from a windows executable (.exe) wheras in a mac they use .dmg (or something similar to that). RPG Maker still needs to be installed on your computer, it just is installed through steam. 

You can save files in the cloud yes, but executing them, would be running it through an exe file on a mac, which can't, as far as I'm aware, be done.

As far as my limited knowledge is concerned. no. unless their is a way to run steam through a PC, and then have it be controlled by multiple/singular computers (which I don't think that would work cause of the Steam DRM) 

No. even the steam version needs windows to run


There is a cloud storage on steam, but it's not automatically used. However, after you store the project to the steam cloud, YOU (not someone else) can access it from any computer where you're logged in to steam.


If you set the project to the workshop, anyone can download it from your cloud.


There is no difference between the steam version and the regular version for handling the program - the only difference is the installation and the activation/DRM-method.

Excellent and clear, folks, thanks so much!


So purchasing RPG Maker through steam would necessitate downloading the RPG Maker game making software from steam onto your computer and activating it through Steam (and having a steam account which is free?) but once you have downloaded it, do you have to keep signing in to Steam every time you use RPG Maker? or can you work independently?


(And as I understand it, one of the huge advantages of steam is that it tracks authentication codes for you, so you can re-install when you move machines. Which seems nice.)

Steam is free, it has it's own installer - and after you installed Ace through steam, you can use it with steam in offline mode (if steam isn't in offline mode and you try to launch a program without internet access, there is a delay of about half a minute until you're asked if you want to try again or switch to offline mode.


Offline there is no cloud access, but RM works without problems.

Andar, this is so helpful, thank you!


So Steam and RPG Maker will both be running, even offline, but it poses no problems?


Sounds like I can recommend this to my PC owning campers then. =]


(I really hate to recommend what I have not done but you are being very clear and speaking my language on this, Thanks so much!)

No, Steam will not run offline. The offline mode is to run RPGM while Steam is not running. For example, when I occasionally have a poor wifi signal, Steam will not launch, but I can still elect to run RPGM in offline mode.

Also, I change the file save directory to Dropbox, not the Steam Cloud, so that in the event Steam is having issues, I don't have to worry about my progress being saved or not. That's my personal preference though, and I am not working with others, so it's not a big deal.

In reality You cannot run it on a mac.

but if you include the steam In-home stream feature.

I think it a bit possible but I don't know since it still not implement for the Mac or Linux so I cannot confirm it. but another problem is that you have to connect at the same network where your PC is connected. But if your PC is a windows desktop PC and your Mac is a Macbook well you can only use it to go around the house and your ok to lets your PC run while no one is using you can remotely to work it on a mac.

Steam engine? Are you talking about steam itself or their DRM/Distribution Source code.

Steam is a Video games and software distribution platform own by Valve with a huge community and feature for gamer and developers and distributors. It very nice for you to join in the community. And if you want to release a game there try to do it via Greenlight but there is a 100$ one-time fee that will only end up as a donation to the public hospitals around the world (Steam/valve get nothing from it).

Here is the steam support info regarding offline mode: https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=3160-AGCB-2555