Hello.
FINAL EDIT: (se below for initial post and other edits)
I must give credit to 2K for a fast response when I contacted them about this problem. And here is the reply:
-- from 2K --
Thank you for contacting 2K support. I understand how it would be convenient to simply start Civilization Beyond Earth from the taskbar. Unfortunately, the type of shortcut created with the game cannot be pinned to the task bar and the process you described in your comment indeed only leads to the results that you have observed. To our knowledge, there is no way to make the game accessible by a simple click on the task bar.
You should be able to start the game by using the Desktop shortcut you created, though, whether you are offline or online.
I apologize for the inconvenience.
Should you have any further questions or comments, please don't hesitate to contact us.
Best regards,
Georg S.
2K Support
-- end message from 2K --
[some ranting, skip if you don't want to read it]
Unfortunately the game doesn't function when started from the taskbar. And here I was thinking Civ IV was full of frustrating bugs? This is worse than all of them. Accidentally declaring war, or clicking the wrong button because the interface changes layout is annoying. But THIS! Now I need that shortcut to stay on my Desktop, filling it up with junk instead of being nicely placed in the taskbar.
...and I must apologize for thinking Steam was the one to blame here (I never, ever, considered that the game ITSELF couldn't be started from a taskbar-icon. And I did everything correct, in my understanding of it...not even once thinking the developers could be so [insert a probably censored swear-word here] about it that they decided to NOT allow it to function when started from the taskbar...
-- End of FINAL EDIT --
EDIT 2:
So, I went online (steam) again, and right-clicked the game. Chose to "create shortcut" to my desktop.
Then I went offline (steam), and using the Civ BE shortcut on the Desktop worked.
I can now play offline.
However, I cannot seem to move/copy the shortcut to my taskbar.
Please, How do you move a Desktop shortcut to the Taskbar in Win 8.1?
[OK, it seems the stupidity is on my part on this point. I actually had to have the game open, and THEN right-click the icon in the taskbar(!) and chose "pin to task-bar"]
LATEST:
But after I've gotten the game pinned to the taskbar, I'm back to getting the same message as before (see point F below).
I'm thinking this is a Steam-issue now... Let Valve go broke! Do you hear me Financial Market?
All I want is a functioning Taskbar-icon to start my game, is that really too much to ask?
-- semi-solved --
Since I recently purchased this game (yesterday, in fact), I don't have much experience with setting this up. I'm sure I have done something wrong, but I've got NO CLUE as to what that may be...
Here is the story:
A
I log in to Steam and sets it in ONLINE mode
B
I install Civ BE from the DVD
C
I link the CivilizationBE_DX11.exe file to my taskbar (where all my games are located).
D
I click the taskbar-icon (and the game starts, seems fine).
E
I close the game, sets Steam in OFFLINE mode, and exits.
F
I click the taskbar-icon, but the game gives the message "Completing installation...0%"
G
WHAT THE [insert your most furious swear-word here, please] IS WRONG WITH THIS GAME? (or is it just me being a totally stupid person, overlooking something simple).
EDIT:
H
I start Steam up again, set it to ONLINE mode again.
I
I click the taskbar-icon. Now the game doesn't start (?), instead I get the "Completing installation 1%" message and then a "The Steam servers are too busy....(error code 41).
...more info coming...once I've tried a few more things...
Anyone?
Yours Sincerely
Kjotleik of Norway!
FINAL EDIT: (se below for initial post and other edits)
I must give credit to 2K for a fast response when I contacted them about this problem. And here is the reply:
-- from 2K --
Thank you for contacting 2K support. I understand how it would be convenient to simply start Civilization Beyond Earth from the taskbar. Unfortunately, the type of shortcut created with the game cannot be pinned to the task bar and the process you described in your comment indeed only leads to the results that you have observed. To our knowledge, there is no way to make the game accessible by a simple click on the task bar.
You should be able to start the game by using the Desktop shortcut you created, though, whether you are offline or online.
I apologize for the inconvenience.
Should you have any further questions or comments, please don't hesitate to contact us.
Best regards,
Georg S.
2K Support
-- end message from 2K --
[some ranting, skip if you don't want to read it]
Unfortunately the game doesn't function when started from the taskbar. And here I was thinking Civ IV was full of frustrating bugs? This is worse than all of them. Accidentally declaring war, or clicking the wrong button because the interface changes layout is annoying. But THIS! Now I need that shortcut to stay on my Desktop, filling it up with junk instead of being nicely placed in the taskbar.
...and I must apologize for thinking Steam was the one to blame here (I never, ever, considered that the game ITSELF couldn't be started from a taskbar-icon. And I did everything correct, in my understanding of it...not even once thinking the developers could be so [insert a probably censored swear-word here] about it that they decided to NOT allow it to function when started from the taskbar...
-- End of FINAL EDIT --
EDIT 2:
So, I went online (steam) again, and right-clicked the game. Chose to "create shortcut" to my desktop.
Then I went offline (steam), and using the Civ BE shortcut on the Desktop worked.
I can now play offline.
However, I cannot seem to move/copy the shortcut to my taskbar.
Please, How do you move a Desktop shortcut to the Taskbar in Win 8.1?
[OK, it seems the stupidity is on my part on this point. I actually had to have the game open, and THEN right-click the icon in the taskbar(!) and chose "pin to task-bar"]
LATEST:
But after I've gotten the game pinned to the taskbar, I'm back to getting the same message as before (see point F below).
I'm thinking this is a Steam-issue now... Let Valve go broke! Do you hear me Financial Market?
All I want is a functioning Taskbar-icon to start my game, is that really too much to ask?
-- semi-solved --
Since I recently purchased this game (yesterday, in fact), I don't have much experience with setting this up. I'm sure I have done something wrong, but I've got NO CLUE as to what that may be...
Here is the story:
A
I log in to Steam and sets it in ONLINE mode
B
I install Civ BE from the DVD
C
I link the CivilizationBE_DX11.exe file to my taskbar (where all my games are located).
D
I click the taskbar-icon (and the game starts, seems fine).
E
I close the game, sets Steam in OFFLINE mode, and exits.
F
I click the taskbar-icon, but the game gives the message "Completing installation...0%"
G
WHAT THE [insert your most furious swear-word here, please] IS WRONG WITH THIS GAME? (or is it just me being a totally stupid person, overlooking something simple).
EDIT:
H
I start Steam up again, set it to ONLINE mode again.
I
I click the taskbar-icon. Now the game doesn't start (?), instead I get the "Completing installation 1%" message and then a "The Steam servers are too busy....(error code 41).
...more info coming...once I've tried a few more things...
Anyone?
Yours Sincerely
Kjotleik of Norway!
