Steam and updates/patches

[zoomzoomers6]

Hey all,

 

I've been doing some reading and did I get this correct? If I'm using Steam, which I am, I can't apply the patches that's available now? Also, with Steam updates/patches are controlled by Steam? I just wanted to get this straight. Thanks guys.

[evilnate]

You most likely read it correctly. All the games that I've bought are not immediately updated when the developer releases the updates. The only exception would be games developed by valve (CS, HL, L4D, etc).

[Nate--IRL--]

Note however at the moment the STEAM version is currently at the latest version 1.1.0.8.

 

Nate

[shagrat]

You most likely read it correctly. All the games that I've bought are not immediately updated when the developer releases the updates. The only exception would be games developed by valve (CS, HL, L4D, etc).

Wonderful! :doh: ...and yet another good reason to buy at the DCS Homepage, a shop or whatever but never let the Steam-Rootkit on my Gaming PC. :D

[zoomzoomers6]

Ahh... thanks for the heads up guys. Learning a little day by day.

[Love_Beam]

You can patch the steam version manually just like the retail/download from ED one. I did my self when 1.1.0.8. came out, then a day later steam installed it again haha

[Qazme]

You can patch the steam version manually just like the retail/download from ED one. I did my self when 1.1.0.8. came out, then a day later steam installed it again haha

 

When you do this it breaks multiplayer....you can not patch with the same process, at least it didn't work for me. The easiest way to take care of it, is use the CD KEY from Steam and download the full version from the DCS website. And install the non-steam version. Since it's already activated on your computer it will not require another activation, in fact don't be surprised if it doesn't even ask you to do it.

 

That's what I did, not to mention there is no reason to buy it through Steam since they don't have a 64bit version of the ingame chat system which kind of blows the whole idea. As far as Steam being a root kit, it doesn't have anything that runs besides the Steam executable....in fact games like these are the only ones that use any "protection" most pure steam games use a steam.dll in there root directories that simply lookup your account online to make sure you paid for the game. If you did it's activated. No starforce or anything.

[213]

steam sucks, period. they don't even have binary patching.

[Qazme]

steam sucks, period. they don't even have binary patching.

 

I prefer it for all my other games. Works pretty good for them. Not to mention I don't have to keep CD's protected etc. etc. I don't understand the hostility towards Steam, lol.

[fragged]

I'm a tiny bit off topic here. I would like to know if the patching system that ED uses is able to change just the changed bits of the files or does it have to replace the whole file? I mean, the patch sizes so far have been quite huge and got me thinking if there are really 2 GB worth of changes?

 

EVE Online uses a patching system that only changes parts of the files that have changed. This also allows them to run a "repair tool" that downloads a file index from their server, check your local data against the index and repairs what is needed. A bit like a torrent file can download corrupted bits off a download. This saves you from downloading the whole game again if one file breaks. The repair tool will also patch any old versions of your client if ran on outdated client.

 

TLDR: If you only change 2 MB off a 2 GB file, users shouldn't have to download the whole file again. I'm not sure if this is already done or not, I just noted that the patches have been oddly large.

Edited June 23, 2011 by fragged

[shagrat]

TLDR: If you only change 2 MB off a 2 GB file, users shouldn't have to download the whole file again. I'm not sure if this is already done or not, I just noted that the patches have been oddly large.

 

Guess this depends on what exactly changes in a file.

 

Just think about it: Most Textures, maps etc. are usually the biggest content. They come as DDS (DirectX precompressed Archives to store as much textures in RAM as possible. Now you put a bigger texture into the archive at somewhere in the first quarter. A Harddisk is a blocklevel device so all following blocks will change, and I'm not sure if a binary check will cope with that?

So I fear when textures change there is always the whole DDS files or the like to be exchanged...:dunno:

[Iceman2011]

Most of those who say Steam sucks, probably don't even use it or haven't ever. That other comment there earlier was most likely because he had heard it somewhere and thought it's cool thing to say

[shagrat]

Most of those who say Steam sucks, probably don't even use it or haven't ever. That other comment there earlier was most likely because he had heard it somewhere and thought it's cool thing to say

Hmm, so and so. I don't want it, because I'm the one to "fix" things or help during installation etc. at some friends of mine (I'm the IT-Guy you know:music_whistling:).

I saw a lot of trouble with Steam. Yes, they are improving things. Yes, there are certainly advantages in Steam (community etc.), but there are also disadvantages and mixed emotions about it. See for example the automated patching. Good thing if you get an update without being notified, download it, install it. On the other hand when you had the problem that when you already got an update (no way to skip it) and your most beloved game where you are eager to advance is constantly crashing after the update, that is NOT good.

 

Also the experience of: New Update! 300MB and you have to download and install, you may like it or not. The problem arises if you just have this one hour time slot on your weekend to play where your wife and the rest of the family let you play... perhaps next weekend :(

 

One of my best friends now has an external hard disk where he boots a "secure" system, because he is not fond of the idea of a steam client checking file integrity and what else on his system and transfers a lot of data he can't 100% tell what it contains to a server somewhere he don't know where it is, nor who may access this data and to what purpose.

 

Yeah, they don't do anything bad with your data...like Sony, they never INTENTIONALLY compromised the Credit Card Accounts of their customers. Hadn't they collected the Credit Card data in the first place, guess what: No problemo!

 

So I'm aware that there are different views on what steam is: good or bad

 

There are lots of discussions on the web displaying all the pro and cons, but for myself I took the decision some long time ago: I don't like Ssteam on my PC and will not install a game that needs it.

 

Anybody else may do, we live in a free world, almost ;)

 

...and please don't start a brawl about pro and cons - everybody is entitled to his/her opinion and may do as he/she likes. :thumbup:

[mcfly_98]

You can switch off the automated updates for each game in steam.

That was what i did and used the ED Patch. No problems with multiplayer.

 

cu...

[Iceman2011]

...and please don't start a brawl about pro and cons - everybody is entitled to his/her opinion and may do as he/she likes.

 

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