Steam Q&A and FAQ

[Anthropoid]

Why not speak to Steam's legal team instead of a guy trying to provide help to people sincerely needing it?

Because I figure one of my fellow gamers might be able to explain it without being wiley and adversarial?

What makes you think I don't sincerely need help? Understanding how Steam works is the hinge point to whether or not I even buy the game. I need help understanding how it works.

 

[Senethro]

Because I figure one of my fellow gamers might be able to explain it without being wiley and adversarial?

What makes you think I don't sincerely need help? Understanding how Steam works is the hinge point to whether or not I even buy the game. I need help understanding how it works.

I only suggest it because you answered one of your own questions in your post. Your question was looking rhetorical rather than inquisitory, given your history. The other question was clearly out of the paygrade of a volunteer on the forum. Given that a google search shows that you have been posting regarding Steam for a number of years on various forums, I apologise if I react with undue surprise to your enquiries.

One of PrinceScamps best suggestions has been to use Steam to download one of their free games or demos. As Steam uninstalls completely with little difficulty, there is no entry cost to doing so. If you state preferred genres of games I will have a look in the catalogue for something that may interest you, otherwise there is a 100 turn demo of Civ5 available.

Edit: Or look at this list here.
http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=851573

 

[Maniacal]

Well what segment of users does it not work for? How does it not work? Is it a particular problem on certain platforms, OS or other hardware?

No idea, I haven't exactly made a spreadsheet cataloging their issues with Steam, and neither is it my job nor more important to me than many other things I need to do.

Or is it in fact that the default settings in Steam attempt to maintain a regular internet connection, and so what one has to do to actually make it "one-time" is change the default settings in Steam?

Ask Valve.

If it is not possible to effectively turn Steam OFF forever, and NEVER have to use it again, how exactly is it legitimate to be referring to it as "one-time internet connection" in the fine-print on Amazon? If I turn it off, is it then going to want to turn back on in a week? Two weeks? Ten game activations later?

You already know the answer, as it has been answered/explained multiple times by multiple people.

Given the Steam EULA, if I buy the thing, and it impedes me by not facilitating a one-time internet connection, do I have any recourse? My guess based on my memory of the Steam EULA is I'm just out of luck?

I don't see how it is impeding you by not facilitating a one-time internet connection, that would be a problem with your computer (probably not plugged in).

It seems to me that this is misleading. I have no interest in particiting in Steam if they feel the need to mislead me in order to get me on their site, not to mention paying for a game that I could lose if they decide to terminate my subscription.

Ask Valve for clarification.

Because I figure one of my fellow gamers might be able to explain it without being wiley and adversarial?

What makes you think I don't sincerely need help? Understanding how Steam works is the hinge point to whether or not I even buy the game. I need help understanding how it works.

And it has been explained to you over and over again (at least twenty (20) times) and yet you keep asking the same question over and over again for some reason. Since that apparently didn't work, I don't think we can help you any further.

 

[The_J]

...because it doesn't stop:
Moderator Action: Every post from now on, which doesn't include a specific question or answer about an urgent or at least semi-urgent problem will get deleted.

 

[nokmirt]

I redownloaded the game through steam. I changed my xml file, and it got screwed up. Anyway, now I have a new copy but when I go to steam and press play, I only get an option to play CIV 5 with direct x 9, before I was able to choose 10 or 11. It won't highlight the choice like before. It did give me the option to create a DX 11 shortcut. What happened and how can I fix this problem? Thanks for any help.

I never changed any of my computer settings, as far as I know. What should my compatibility setting be at for DX 11? Not sure what the original setting was. I have windows 7 64 bit.

 

[Maniacal]

I redownloaded the game through steam. I changed my xml file, and it got screwed up. Anyway, now I have a new copy but when I go to steam and press play, I only get an option to play CIV 5 with direct x 9, before I was able to choose 10 or 11. It won't highlight the choice like before. It did give me the option to create a DX 11 shortcut. What happened and how can I fix this problem? Thanks for any help.

I never changed any of my computer settings, as far as I know. What should my compatibility setting be at for DX 11? Not sure what the original setting was. I have windows 7 64 bit.

No idea, sorry. Have you tried searching (and if no results, asking) about it in the Tech Support forum?

 

[lschnarch]

I don't know if it already has been mentioned, but 2K Greg once again confirmed that there isn't any way to avoid updates unless putting Steam to "offline mode":

Currently, the only way to stay on an old version is to go in to offline mode. There's no way to roll back to an older version. I will pass along to the devs that there is definitely interest in the community to be able to do that.

 

[Maniacal]

Yeah, its been mentioned a few times in multiple threads.

 

[Zyxpsilon]

Might as well stick this here (too) since the latest v1167 patch didn't correct the Steam-Achievements tracking log file.
This hasn't updated since mid-December and i haven't really played any "full-games" knowing whatever data should be counted to unlock a few more isn't.

So... Firaxis, Steam or 2K's fault?
And, when?! Cuz, LeoPaRd must wait for local code debugging too because of it.

 

[Maniacal]

Firaxis' fault, Steam achievements have been working for me for me in other games nor have I heard anyone complaining about it, so Valve's servers are working fine. No idea whom LeoPaRd is.

 

[Zyxpsilon]

It's just my own attempt at some "Local Tracking of Personal Records" MOD which intends to provide an alternative to Steam-Online-Achievements.
Since i must design a DB system (Possibly LAN) along with its corresponding tracker functions, the debugging phase can be linked to the actual log process.

 

[PEACE!]

hey dudes..a quickie.. based on what does steam makes itself available in surten countries?

 

[Senethro]

hey dudes..a quickie.. based on what does steam makes itself available in surten countries?

Question not easily understood. What country you in? What are you wanting to use Steam for?

 

[PEACE!]

well im from Moldova..(NOT a country from africa) europe..we moldovian players are sick of pirating games and we want legal ones! and we want those games available to us liket o everyone else..trust me if a game lauches in the rest of the world.. it takes over 4-5 years for it to reach us..
so we want steam available ...how can it be?

 

[Senethro]

So what actually happens if someone from Moldova tries to buy a game on Steam with a credit card?

 

[Maniacal]

hey dudes..a quickie.. based on what does steam makes itself available in surten countries?

You'll have to write Valve about that, sorry and goodluck!

 

[PEACE!]

So what actually happens if someone from Moldova tries to buy a game on Steam with a credit card?

thats the point.. we CANT..because there are surten games that are not available,for example civilization V,everytime you want to buy it the folowing appears "Oops, sorry!
An error was encountered while processing your request:

This item is currently unavailable in your region "

Edit: and im very surpised,they made it available with webmoney in countries like : Kazakhstan, Belarus Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, Thailand, Switzerland, Singapore. And its times like this im sad that nobody knows where this country is

 

[PEACE!]

You'll have to write Valve about that, sorry and goodluck!

*takes deap breath* well,hopefully the petition in my signature will tell em' that
*cought* you can sign by the way

 

[Patrick71421]

Is there any way to browse mods on steam?

If not how do you browse mods in the game because I can't find a browse mods button or a mods button.

Thanks.

Edit: I have a mac if this changes anything.

 

[Maniacal]

Is there any way to browse mods on steam?

If not how do you browse mods in the game because I can't find a browse mods button or a mods button.

Thanks.

I believe there is a menu option in Civ5 for it (I don't have Civ5 so I don't know exactly where it is, sorry), the mods are not hosted on Steam and have nothing to do with it.