UWorks (Steamworks C++/BP)

[vlad.serbanescu11]

Next Monday as in Monday the 27th or yesterday... ?

Yesterday, supposedly. I didn't get any reply though. It's the 2nd time I was promised some solid news (not predefined, generic replies) and got nothing so I was shocked (#sarcasm), but learning to handle it better and better each time.

I just sent another e-mail with the risk of annoying someone who is in no way responsible for this, but in all seriousness, I'm very disappointed to see such a huge gap between the reviewing times of plugins and everything else. Up to a point, it's understandable because you can't distribute malicious 3D models or music. But eventually it starts to feel like a very bad joke with no foreseeable end.

- Send files.
- Done.
<new engine version>
- Send new files.
- Done.
<silence>
- Everything seems to be in order.
- Any news?
- You're still in the review process. We'll notify you when it's done. (a.k.a. "Don't call us, we'll call you")
- Any other news?
<silence>

Apparently, even if everything goes right, you still wait for weeks to be provided with a release date and then you wait some more for your product to actually hit the MP (source: Discord, public and private conversations alike).

What I wrote above is the actual resume of the conversation, if it can be called that and it spans over 8 weeks. I make no attempts to spark sympathy for myself or any form of negativity towards anyone at Epic, but things are what they are and maybe someone in a higher place sees this and takes action. Otherwise, my own power in this matter is limited to sending e-mails and I'm already making use of that as well as I can and so far I am unable to change anything.

P.S. I've mostly lost hope on relying on Epic in the proportion that I expected so I decided a few days ago to take matters into my own hands. So far I've been brainstorming and set some things in motion to do my own marketing using Business Catalyst and selling via Gumroad (I'm aiming to sell a professional solution in a professional manner so I bought subscriptions, watched/read tutorials etc). Since I haven't posted too much in this thread lately, I'd like to use this opportunity to apologize for not being able to deliver on my promises in the time intervals that I announced (i.e. OnlineSubsystemUWorks and an improved example project should've been done by now).

[BlackFangTech]

Valid points! I expected Epic's confirmation to be a very important element for a large number of potential buyers. Last update I received (2 days ago) was that I should hear from them next Monday with more information. I wish I had better or more detailed news to share.

If somebody buys the gum-road version will you give them access to the marketplace version? (Some sellers do this and some don't)

In my experience you won't get anywhere with the marketplace unless you keep spamming them. Ask for an update at least every two days. Start new email chains in addition to using reply. Mix it up. PM them on their forum accounts.

[vlad.serbanescu11]

If somebody buys the gum-road version will you give them access to the marketplace version? (Some sellers do this and some don't)

In my experience you won't get anywhere with the marketplace unless you keep spamming them. Ask for an update at least every two days. Start new email chains in addition to using reply. Mix it up. PM them on their forum accounts.

If they ask for it and show proof of purchase, yes, I will provide access because I think it's normal to do so.

Also, thanks for the MP advice! Will keep that in mind until release! But I do believe it's worth reminding them that they take 30% and provide minimum control over your own products, while websites such as Gumroad take only about 4% and provide complete control. The main difference just happens to lie in covering products with the "Epic Games" brand that may or may not be worth the 30% cut (don't know yet).

[iCode]

I am going to apologize in advance here, because i know this is going to be a noob question... I was under the impression that UE4 had a steam plugin built into the engine? Where you could find and join servers, etc. However, reading this thread that does not seem to be the case. Would you, or anyone here, mind explaining to me the limitations of the steam plugin and what is can and cant do, vs what UWorks brings to the table?

[Kris]

UE4 comes with OnlineSubsystemSteam, but it has a limited implementation of what Steamworks provides as well as other issues that make it difficult to work with.

UWorks is basically a no nonsense wrapper for Steamworks (currently).

[vlad.serbanescu11]

Status update: this product has been rejected by the Marketplace team for the following reason:

We've been made aware by our legal team that your plugin cannot be accepted onto the Marketplace due to your TPS usage. The Steamworks SDK License clarifies that:

Only files inside redistributable_bin may be redistributed;
The redistribution is permitted "along with the Licensee Software in object code form." ___ Unless you have a separate license for steamclient.dll and those headers not in redistributable_bin, you cannot redistribute them (or the other dlls in the Steam client).

I've removed all Gumroad files which follow the structure pointed out for the time being. Will re-upload either with added code to auto-obtain the files or with clear instructions on how to get these files, as well as an updated license.

It's worth mentioning the files in question consisted of libraries required for servers (Steam GameServers) and/or headers (yes, classic C++ .h files). All of these are obtainable via this page: https://partner.steamgames.com/home and basically any Steam user can easily obtain them. The engine comes along with them, but at the moment is one version behind and until 4.16 it used to be 8 versions behind.

[BlackFangTech]

Status update: this product has been rejected by the Marketplace team for the following reason:



I've removed all Gumroad files which follow the structure pointed out for the time being. Will re-upload either with added code to auto-obtain the files or with clear instructions on how to get these files, as well as an updated license.

It's worth mentioning the files in question consisted of libraries required for servers (Steam GameServers) and/or headers (yes, classic C++ .h files). All of these are obtainable via this page: https://partner.steamgames.com/home and basically any Steam user can easily obtain them. The engine comes along with them, but at the moment is one version behind and until 4.16 it used to be 8 versions behind.

So, no changes to functionality of the plugin, Gum-road users just need to copy and paste in those files manually?

[SaviorNT]

Status update: this product has been rejected by the Marketplace team for the following reason:



I've removed all Gumroad files which follow the structure pointed out for the time being. Will re-upload either with added code to auto-obtain the files or with clear instructions on how to get these files, as well as an updated license.

It's worth mentioning the files in question consisted of libraries required for servers (Steam GameServers) and/or headers (yes, classic C++ .h files). All of these are obtainable via this page: https://partner.steamgames.com/home and basically any Steam user can easily obtain them. The engine comes along with them, but at the moment is one version behind and until 4.16 it used to be 8 versions behind.

I'm sad to see this I would presume that as long as the information about the required files is listed in the product description / user's document, with instructions on incorporating them into the engine, it should be fine?

[vlad.serbanescu11]

So, no changes to functionality of the plugin, Gum-road users just need to copy and paste in those files manually?

I'm sad to see this I would presume that as long as the information about the required files is listed in the product description / user's document, with instructions on incorporating them into the engine, it should be fine?

No changed to the functionality and purpose of the plugin, no. The module's interface will need to change a bit as long as how it's built, but nothing other than that.

I was a bit sad too, but now I'm close to resubmitting and republishing on Gumroad. Current owners won't be affected and I'll offer whatever additional details they require about this in private.

[BlackFangTech]

No changed to the functionality and purpose of the plugin, no. The module's interface will need to change a bit as long as how it's built, but nothing other than that.

I was a bit sad too, but now I'm close to resubmitting and republishing on Gumroad. Current owners won't be affected and I'll offer whatever additional details they require about this in private.

So... The only files I am seeing right now on Gumroad are documentation. Am I doing something wrong?

[vlad.serbanescu11]

So... The only files I am seeing right now on Gumroad are documentation. Am I doing something wrong?

No. I noticed you bought it some time before I got the reply and I assumed you had downloaded it right then. I'll send you a link in private in a bit. My apologies for all this! It was really unexpected

[BlackFangTech]

No. I noticed you bought it some time before I got the reply and I assumed you had downloaded it right then. I'll send you a link in private in a bit. My apologies for all this! It was really unexpected

Thanks. I bought it just before you got the news but hadn't had a chance to download it yet.

[vlad.serbanescu11]

I've modified and resubmitted the plugin, as well as re-uploaded it on Gumroad and put it back up for sale. There are now absolutely zero legal concerns as it now relies 100% on the engine's built-in Steamworks module. This change comes with the following minor disadvantages for the current and future releases of this product:

• For binary/launcher versions of the engine, server-specific functionality requires 3 specific libraries to be copied manually to a particular folder in your engine. For the time being, please refer to this guide: https://allarsblog.com/2016/02/25/ba...amintegration/ at the section called "Note About Dedicated Server Support" which is located in the 2nd half of the page.

• For all engine builds: version control over the Steam SDK is now out of my hands. This is not expected to cause issues for the foreseeable future (1y+), but has the potential of becoming a minor inconvenient over time, as UWorks is now directly dependent on how often the engine team updates the Steam SDK. In any case, if the built-in engine version of the SDK ever turns into a problem, I will create a short guide on how to obtain and install the latest Steam SDK to the engine.

Thanks. I bought it just before you got the news but hadn't had a chance to download it yet.

Just quoting this to let readers know we've handled this in private and should anyone experience any other issues of any nature, contact me via any mean available (forum PM, Discord, Gumroad PM) and I'll do my best to solve it as soon as possible!

[BlackFangTech]

When will documentation be available for UWorks? The Documentation file on Gumroad is basically just a table of contents.

[vlad.serbanescu11]

When will documentation be available for UWorks? The Documentation file on Gumroad is basically just a table of contents.

Was working on a short "Getting Started" YT playlist before Epic's reply, as it may be more accessible than plain text and certainly easier to demo. Probably next week.

For details on specific functions or how to implement specific features, not shown in the example project, users are (and have always been) directed to Steam's official docs, at this link: https://partner.steamgames.com/doc/home