Steam, GOG & Retail Disk Game releases

[corsair91]

Steam, GOG & Retail Disk Game releases

Steam/GOG/Retail Disk releases are essentially functionally equivalent

The only way you would really know, is if you purchased all the versions
and compare each to each other with Hex Editors, Debuggers etc,
so good luck with that.

Game Fan Forums may/may not be able to provide some info
on the various release changes
Or try the Game Steam or GOG Game discussion Forums


Best can do here is outline some generic typical differences
(Note the generic)

Steam or GOG typically don't provide documentation
or release notes of what changes to the original Retail Disk
that these releases make, if any.
Some changes can be inferred.


Windows 10, 11 & previous Windows OS with latest Windows Updates installed
Retail Disk DRM schemes no longer work anymore
by Microsoft's deliberate OS design

Windows Vista/7/8 update prevents some old CD-ROM games run
http://www.hookedonpirates.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=7775
(also covers Windows 10 & 11 is a late 10)

SecureRom, Safedisk, Starforce Disk DRMs
all are NOT going to work anymore.
Blocked by Windows from loading, so DRM fails
and the game will NOT ever run.
You can thank Microsoft for this.

solution
Source NO CD/No DVD replacement game executable
and use this to play the game
(recommend retaining a copy of the original game executable
as official Retail Game Patch Fix Packs Installers may check for this)
Consider purchasing the GOG release if available
(Steam release has Steam DRM)


search on
https://www.pcgamingwiki.com/

for the game
will typically list the Disk DRM scheme used
as well as have links for any official Retail Disk Game Service pack
Any known 3rd party fixes for the Retail Disk game should also be listed


Typically you would have:

Original CD Disk Game Release
(various Geographical regions releases as Disk DRM version
may be different for each)


For example, a game say

US release may use SecureRom DRM
while Russian may use the Russian company Starforce DRM tech
(Local Game publisher's choice as to what DRM is used)


Original DVD release
May have a different installer to the CD version
(reflects the different Game files arrangement)


Budget CD or DVD re-issue

original Release with possibly latest official Game Service service pack
included possibly in a folder or directly included in the Game files,
so the game reports the official latest service pack build version


For Steam or GOG
Do the Game developers still exist?

otherwise Steam or GOG may have to
do some work directly on the Game.

GOG or Steam will probably start with the game including
the latest Official Game Service pack files build

Any 16-bit installers will no longer work with
64-bit Windows OS which lacks any 16-bit support.
A 32-bit installer instead has to be provided
(64-bit games have a 64-bit installer)

Windows Does not emulate old DirectX before
DirectX8 at all well, so a DirectX wrapper may have to be included

For Old games written to use Glide API
will need a Glide Wrapper to emulate a 3DFX Card Glide API


Expect the Game excutable in DVD retail, Steam or GOG releases
to have a higher version no than the original CD Disk release to reflect
the new files distribution


Steam Release
Steam will remove the Disk DRM as a Digital download Game Release
would expect Steam to typically include a Custom Game installer
Steam will include Steam DRM
(check for Steam Client running)
Steam will have a different folder install location to the retail Disk Game

Steam Game executable will be a different size to the retail Game
This may be an issue with Game trainers accessing specific memory locations or 3rd Party Game launchers

(use retail Game NoCD executables may be a workaround)


GOG release
GOG will remove the Disk DRM as a Digital download
Game Release with no DRM

GOG will typically include a Custom Game installer

Incorporate only 3rd party content required to get the game working
(i.e. graphical wrappers, unofficial service packs etc)

GOG try to be as close as possible to the original retail Disk game release
only now working with Windows OS

GOG Game executable will possibly be a different size to the retail Game
as DRM is removed


Mods should state the Game release version developed on
and if they don't, probably Retail Disk
(date of mod release may give a clue)

[corsair91]

General recommendation for Installing Games for Win 7,8,10
http://www.hookedonpirates.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=791