What did you say? This is probably the first time I have seen someone other than myself saying anything like this.
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Any chance CiV will be released outside of steam?
- Thread starter FeelGood
- Start date
FeelGood
Emphatic Diplomat
- Joined
- Mar 11, 2002
- Messages
- 351
My problem is weird really. When I used my laptop in my workplace, I could update steam once and play but still got some crash. However in my house, it just wouldn't work with both laptop and PC.
Once when I went into safe mode for PC, it worked (still with crash), then it never work again. The laptop is the exact laptop that I use in my workplace!
My Firewall is Kaspersky Internet Security 2011. I have Dlink modem (forget the actual model)
My PC should be ok since I have corei7 920, win7, directx10 and geforce275. My laptop barely meet the requirement - I have no problem if my laptop can't run the game since it is my work laptop.
I tried deleting the blob file but to no avail. Yeah, steam support did nothing except to ask me reading their instruction again!
So, how could it happen with the same PC/ laptop? I hope someone could enlighten me on this. I won't buy this game until I'm sure steam is functional in my PC. Or should I just let it be? I love Civ3 and Civ4.
ps: how to send a PM?
Once when I went into safe mode for PC, it worked (still with crash), then it never work again. The laptop is the exact laptop that I use in my workplace!
My Firewall is Kaspersky Internet Security 2011. I have Dlink modem (forget the actual model)
My PC should be ok since I have corei7 920, win7, directx10 and geforce275. My laptop barely meet the requirement - I have no problem if my laptop can't run the game since it is my work laptop.
I tried deleting the blob file but to no avail. Yeah, steam support did nothing except to ask me reading their instruction again!
So, how could it happen with the same PC/ laptop? I hope someone could enlighten me on this. I won't buy this game until I'm sure steam is functional in my PC. Or should I just let it be? I love Civ3 and Civ4.
ps: how to send a PM?
Senethro
Overlord
Ok, good to have the OS and specs. Whats the exact sequence of events when you double click the Steam icon and what game/demo are you trying to use Steam with?
In particular, I've found that AVG interferes with Steam and there is no setting that lets them coexist. I switched it out for Avast and Steam works fine.
Of course I have no way of knowing if that's the OP's particular issue, but the symptoms sound very similar.
Steam.
Maniacal
the green Napoleon
Yeah I love AVAST!, it works awesome and doesn't try and tell me the M&B Warband .exe is a virus (during the beta that was an issue so i stopped using AVG).
@FeelGood: If you have any further questions we have a Steam Q&A thread stickied.
Sorry I don't know whats wrong :/ Maybe post in the official Civ5 tech support forum on the 2K forums?
@FeelGood: If you have any further questions we have a Steam Q&A thread stickied.
Sorry I don't know whats wrong :/ Maybe post in the official Civ5 tech support forum on the 2K forums?
Drakarska
Epic Dadness
Strange. I believe I have seen others post that certain criteia was a matter of preferance. Perhaps not in a polite manner or a concise way, but I belive the posts are there.
Hormagaunt
Warlord
- Joined
- Oct 3, 2010
- Messages
- 212
I have AVG and it has no problems with Steam. Of course, I don't give Steam a chance to generate problems; I keep it locked in a box.
Senethro
Overlord
This is interesting, some people have claimed that its not possible and that Steam moans if subjected to this. How do you do it then?
Maniacal
the green Napoleon
Possibly like this? http://www.ceolas.org/instruments/bodhran/santin/MakeBox.htm
Any likely problem with Steam will be a problem with itself, and will probably still occur if its separated from the rest of the hard drive or not.
Hormagaunt
Warlord
- Joined
- Oct 3, 2010
- Messages
- 212
I don't play very often; mostly just after I get another patch.
Sequence of play:
1) AVG's always running.
2) Start up Zone Alarm. I used to keep it running all the time, but Win7 and ZA currently don't always play well together, so for the moment I just start it up to box Steam. ZA's configured such that Steam and Civ5 are not allowed to call out. Note that you have to stop both; Civ5 will attempt to call out.
3) Kick off Civ5. When it comes up, Steam will complain that it can't get Internet access; Yes, I do want to play offline. Why can you never store that information; it will always, always ask.
4) Play the game.
5) Shut down the game.
6) Shut down Steam.
7) Shut down Zone Alarm.
Note that ZA will interfere with AVG hitting the web; you just need to tell ZA that yes, AVG can go out to play.
I don't get the updates as they happen. I get them after people stop screaming about the latest round of mistakes, and after everybody else has tested the hotfixes (and screamed about them as well).
Once things have settled down after a patch, I start up Steam, configure it to update, get said update, configure it to not update, then shut it down. After that, I follow the above steps to play the game. I don't know how to check achievements, but I'm pretty sure that mine will show no achievements, no time played, no nothing. That's my objective, anyway.
PS: That's why I was so annoyed when Steam was saying that it had an update. It gets no access that I don't allow. It had no way to know that an update was out there.
In particular, I've found that AVG interferes with Steam and there is no setting that lets them coexist. I switched it out for Avast and Steam works fine.
Of course I have no way of knowing if that's the OP's particular issue, but the symptoms sound very similar.
uh? I use AVG and have never had any sort of issue between it and steam. I don't do anything special with either program.
Depends on the version. I've seen '08 work just fine, and '10 not let Steam do a damn thing.
May also depend on OS. I only tried this in XP.
You forgot the most important reason: releasing a game on steam kills the secondhand game market, which game makers have been slavering to do for many years. Because of the platform lockin, vendors can also release games in a less stable state, guaranteeing that not only must you run the platform to play the game, you must continue running the platform in order to receive sufficient patches to make the game playable. You will not be able to resell the things you supposedly own, and you will lose them totally if your circumstances change and you can no longer run the platform.
Being locked into a platform is a drawback, not a benefit. The platform may offer other benefits (and Steam does) and lots of people like those and so overlook the drawbacks.
Ah, maybe that's it. I'm using AVG 2011 and Windows 7. Everything works fine.
FeelGood
Emphatic Diplomat
- Joined
- Mar 11, 2002
- Messages
- 351
I don't know it anymore and I give up. I hope civ6 won't be in steam. May one day steam work for me magically. I don't want to change my hardware or software due to of course, budget constraint! One of the reasons to buy my new PC is to play new games especially civ5 and citiesxl - both flopped (for me) 
. Now awaiting for Dragon Age II and Heroes of Might & Magic 6. 
Btw just to respond to what steam did: it would start to update - sometimes worked up to several % then stopped, sometimes just stopped indefinitely though I left it till morning. When I disabled internet, sometimes the password was there, sometimes it's not
.... really weird stuff that I could never comprehend... 
. Now awaiting for Dragon Age II and Heroes of Might & Magic 6. Btw just to respond to what steam did: it would start to update - sometimes worked up to several % then stopped, sometimes just stopped indefinitely though I left it till morning. When I disabled internet, sometimes the password was there, sometimes it's not
.... really weird stuff that I could never comprehend... 
jtb1127
Deity
I explained it in the post. By creating a game that doesn't have everything it should they can directly charge us for more. This is the whole concept of DLC, and steam is nothing more than a way they can maximize their profits.
Take a look at this Dilbert strip that explains it.
Take a look at this Dilbert strip that explains it.
Spoiler :
jtb1127
Deity
Yeah, and in this case these "benefits" aren't even benefits, because the game shouldn't need so many patches after it's initial release. Ever.
Next time before firaxis releases a game they should be sure it's playable.
You can do DLC without Steam, and you can do Steam without DLC. There's no reason at all to cite one when arguing about the other.
There was a gazillion page thread on Steam, so no doubt this one isn't long for this world... but I just want to point out that "Steam" isn't saving anything -- digital distribution is.
I personally hate Steam. It's intrusive, it makes a lot of things -- downloading a patch and reading release notes BEFORE applying it, rolling back, making copies of configurations so you can mix and match version components, etc -- very difficult, and my single biggest complaint is its constant need to be online. Yes, yes -- I'm well aware you can toggle into "offline" mode -- but in a truly herculean instance of stupidity, Steam requires you to go ONLINE to get OFFLINE.
In the US, outside of a university setting with a dedicated network and admins that keep your connection spit-shined and up-and-running 24-7, 365 -- ISPs range from horrendous to just bad. Find yourself in a situation with high latency, bad signal, or worst of all -- no connection at all -- and you are completely screwed with Steam.
The only entity I hate worse than Steam is Comcast -- but mark my words, kiddies -- it's only a matter of time before network traffic becomes highly metered in the real world... I hate that coming day, but the one silver lining is that it will hopefully cause Steam to rethink their asinine model when they imagine the whole world is one big, happy WAN.
I love digital distribution -- but Civ5 is the only thing I bought through Steam and then, only because I had no other choice.... Give me Gamersgate or Impulse, who handle DRM with registry drops and couldn't care less if you turn them off, configure them NOT to run at start-up, and generally stay the hell out of your way unless you ASK for their assistance any day of the week.
I personally hate Steam. It's intrusive, it makes a lot of things -- downloading a patch and reading release notes BEFORE applying it, rolling back, making copies of configurations so you can mix and match version components, etc -- very difficult, and my single biggest complaint is its constant need to be online. Yes, yes -- I'm well aware you can toggle into "offline" mode -- but in a truly herculean instance of stupidity, Steam requires you to go ONLINE to get OFFLINE.
In the US, outside of a university setting with a dedicated network and admins that keep your connection spit-shined and up-and-running 24-7, 365 -- ISPs range from horrendous to just bad. Find yourself in a situation with high latency, bad signal, or worst of all -- no connection at all -- and you are completely screwed with Steam.
The only entity I hate worse than Steam is Comcast -- but mark my words, kiddies -- it's only a matter of time before network traffic becomes highly metered in the real world... I hate that coming day, but the one silver lining is that it will hopefully cause Steam to rethink their asinine model when they imagine the whole world is one big, happy WAN.
I love digital distribution -- but Civ5 is the only thing I bought through Steam and then, only because I had no other choice.... Give me Gamersgate or Impulse, who handle DRM with registry drops and couldn't care less if you turn them off, configure them NOT to run at start-up, and generally stay the hell out of your way unless you ASK for their assistance any day of the week.
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