Is the Hearts of Iron series only available on Steam?

Or can I buy it from somewhere else, I've been interested in this game for awhile now, but I do not really want to make a Steam account(I suspect that you have to be a member in order to buy games from them?), so I'm wondering if it's available somewhere else?

 

Steam isn't that bad... it's actually pretty convenient.

At any rate, I'd recommend starting with Darkest Hour. It's the best of the series, IMO.

 

I don't recall having to pay for steam. If you are the only one in your family to play the games it is very convient as you can play the game quickly and easily on any computer by logging into steam (some download may be required). I think they even have a family option now if you do have multiple people that play the same game. Some of their sales are pretty good as well and not havig to worry about finding the media when you upgrade a PC is a point in their favor as well, especially from someone as disorganized as I am.

 

CD's
http://www.amazon.com/Hearts-Iron-3-PC/dp/B00273Y7V6

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-listing/B000P0JP6K/ref=dp_olp_0?ie=UTF8&condition=all

Online
Overall I'd recommend Hearts of Iron 2 rather than 3. It's less clunky. However as McCabe mentioned Darkest Hour is the best version I've played and is available only on Steam. Which is an excellent game purchase system.


You can also find Hearts of Iron 1 or 2 on gog.com. It's currently on sale for $3. These games do not require Steam or any DRM (Digital Rights Management). Simply log onto the website buy it and download. If you need to redownload you can return to GoG.com but otherwise never need to contact them again. http://www.gog.com/promo/summer_grand_paradox_pack_080615

 

Steam rocks.
Used to be arse, but now is the logical way to hold games. Stable and good.


However... I bought the last HOI for less than a quid on some Humble Bundle, and it doesn't launch that well on modern pooters. Some tweaking was required.

 

These are the technical specs for the laptop I use for gaming, should it be adequate for any of the HoI games?
It is a Toshiba L875D:
AMD A6-4400M APU with Radeon™ HD graphics 2.70 GHz Processor
6.00 GB(5.45 GB usable) RAM
Windows Edition: 8.1
64-bit operating system, x64-based Processor

 

• HoI3 requirements you should be fine
• Operating System:Microsoft® Windows® 2000/XP/Vista
• Processor:Intel Pentium IV 2.4 GHz or AMD 3500+
• Memory:2 GB of RAM
• Hard Disk Space:2 GB
• Video Card:NVIDIA GeForce 8800 or ATI Radeon X1900 videocard
• Sound:Direct X-compatible sound card
• DirectX®:Direct X 9.0

 

Thanks for the responses/suggestions overall.

 

I use Steam...I'd rather have hard copies....I haven't had any problems at all.....you can always uninstall and re download for free if there is a problem

 

I have to mention... according to my attempt a few days ago to install Darkest Hour on my laptop, it doesn't appear to work for Windows 8.1

 

Well in a bit under 2 months you can upgrade to Windows 10 and that might fix it.

 

You can get all the HOI games to work eventually, but I'm increasingly impatient with such mucking about for old cheap games. I'd still play HOI2 if the resolution fix could be stabilised.
Personally, I suspect paradox are so distracted by the massive (and perhaps surprising) success of Crusader Kings II that they've left other games to wither on the vine.

And speaking of CK2. If you're after ridiculously complex massive strategy in a mind-melting time-sucking HoI stylee, it's possibly the current best option.
No tanks, sadly, but really rather excellent despite not being WW2.

 

I'm now thinking of waiting for HoI IV, hope it ends up being good, I've heard that Paradox has delayed the games release, most likely to sort out any major bugs the game might have.

 

More likely to create more DLC sprites.

 

I was a long time Steam hater but eventually created an account and started to use it. There hasn't been any reason to look back after that. Steam is and will be perfect for gaming. You don't pay obviously anything for creating an account, you just use it to play. Steam has amazing discounts time after time and buying is as easy as it gets.

Enough about Steam marketing Don't touch HoI3 even if you got it free. Latest Paradox game releases after HoI3 have been outstanding and HoI IV sure seems to be great game. I'm looking forward to it very much. I've beaten HoI2 to death, played HoI3 quite much but HoI IV will be amazing.

 

What are those DLC sprites, and are they even worth it?

 

DLC - Downloadable content - is the new way for gaming companies to make money. They create some extra content, maps, missions, graphics, etc., then charge you $5, $10, $15, whatever to download.

Sprite packs are just additional graphics for the game.

Are they worth it...That is entirely up to you. Your best bet would be to play the game for a while and wait until the game company comes out with a DLC bundle, which will include most or all of the released DLC, and that will be offered at a substantially reduced cost, as compared to buying each DLC separately.

 

For HoI2 you were given the choice of graphics. You could represent divisions on the map with the traditional wargame lined/crossed boxes or with small animations of soldiers/tanks/planes.
For HoI3 in order to make more money you were only able to use lined/crossed boxes. The DLC would unlock the ability to use the soldier/tank/plane animations. In terms of price you purchased a 50 dollar game and then they wanted you to pay $1-$10 more per set of sprites. Even splitting the sprites into Japanese infantry and Japanese vehicles so you'd have to make more purchases.



Hearts of Iron III DLC: German II Spritepack
Hearts of Iron III Semper Fi:
Dies Irae Götterdämmerung,
Hearts of Iron III: Axis Minors Vehicle Pack,
Hearts of Iron III: British Vehicle Spritepack,
Hearts of Iron III: Dies Irae Stars & Stripes Spritepack
Hearts of Iron III: For the Motherland,
Hearts of Iron III: German Infantry Pack DLC,
Hearts of Iron III: Italian Vehicle Pack,
Hearts of Iron III: Japanese Infantry Pack DLC,
Hearts of Iron III: Japanese Vehicle Spritepack,
Hearts of Iron III: Mega German Spritepack,
Hearts of Iron III: Semper Fi
Hearts of Iron III: Sounds of Conflict
Hearts of Iron III: Soviet Infantry Pack DLC,
Hearts of Iron III: Soviet Music Pack DLC
Hearts of Iron III: Soviet Pack DLC,
Hearts of Iron III: Their Finest Hour,
Hearts of Iron III: US Infantry Sprite Pack,
Hearts of Iron III: US Pack DLC

 

You didn't have to pay for these as you can play the game perfectly without them. Paradox's policy is that they publish extra content as small DLC's. Usually those are just small graphical addons and really don't have any effect on the game play itself. Expansions are totally different as they add more game play options and features into the game.

 

Well then I'm going to pass on buying those sprite packs.