Hi,
The problem is actually very simple: Steam does not provide any keys which works in subscription mode, as far as I know at least.
When we have our software on Steam, we can ask Valve to provide us some Steam keys: when you use that key, you then own the software in your library.
So for someone who paid the full price of the software, there is no problem to give a Steam key.
However, someone who is using the monthly payment can/resume pause the payment at any moment. And we cannot pause a Steam key...
If/when there would be the possibility to do so, we would of course provide Steam keys for monthly payments as well!
PS: regarding "owning" the software, most of our users are happy about it, even if it's so 1999
This is why the monthly payment is not a subscription model, but more a "rent-to-own" model.
Cheers,
Nico
Yeah, I think a lot of people would agree with you, but I wonder the percentage. Since we're paying $20/month (like a sub), for 16 months (unless we opt to pay in full at anytime), it "feels" like a sub model. Sure, we have no obligation to upgrade every year, but we'll be sure to miss out on a lot of awesome new features and stay current with support.
So in my way of thinking, I know that everytime a new Live Version comes out, I'll be on it, and have to upgrade (want to upgrade), however, let's think about it like Autodesk/Adobe subs now...
I am paying let's say $240 a year for Maya LT ($20/month), but that guarantees me all the updates and software until I stop my sub (which I wouldn't if I wanted to keep using my software), on top of Photoshop's, I think it's $50/month for CC (or $10 for just Photoshop), but again, guaranteed updates throughout the years as long as I keep subbed.
Sure, at 16 months or $320, I keep the current Substance Live (which would be the older version when it was paid off) as my own...but I would definitely rather have the updates/upgrades as they came out rather than owning my software, especially since at the one year mark I am at $240.
That is just my two sense, although I am inclined to think a lot of others would agree if they actually did the math. You are still technically getting your money every month, you just aren't making that extra upgrade charge with the sub model. Because we aren't required to finish off the current Live balance before upgrading. But who knows... I am just typing as I think about it.
Currently how it works is that we will only be able to apply 50%(?!) of what we've paid you guys for the current version to upgrade to the future version, correct?
I guess making sure that it's more spelled out in the Live FAQ (which BTW...is extremely hard to find on your front page) so everyone knows what they should be expecting for future (annual) upgrades, before they buy the software.
Thanks!