Steam Q&A and FAQ
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tranx
Civilized
I have a problem: I'm currently in mainland China and I just noticed that the only Civ5 DLCs available are the Cradle of Civ map pack and the Denmark and Explorer pack. Other DLCs are either totally missing or I get the "item is currently unavailable in your region." notification.
In the FAQ, it is stipulated that "Steam does not always have the rights to distribute all titles in all territories. You will be unable to complete this purchase as this game is not available for purchase in your territory."
Now my question is: if I get a friend living in the free world to buy the missing DLCs as a gift, will I have access to them?
In the FAQ, it is stipulated that "Steam does not always have the rights to distribute all titles in all territories. You will be unable to complete this purchase as this game is not available for purchase in your territory."
Now my question is: if I get a friend living in the free world to buy the missing DLCs as a gift, will I have access to them?
Maniacal
the green Napoleon
Hypothetically a free world friend should be able to gift you the DLCs and you should be be able to use them just fine. However, I'd recommended googlnig around to check for sure as I do not know what kind of restrictions may be placed on China (although I do know that people do get around restrictions and bad exchange rates in some countries by getting international friends to gift them games).
tranx
Civilized
Ah yes thanks. Apparently (I checked Steam forums) it is as you said possible. Others have done it. Now for people that are in the same situation there's another solution :
when you buy a DLC (or a game) just use :
http://store.steampower.com?/cc= countrycode
for example the country code for Steam Canadian's store is:
http://store.steampower.com?/cc=ca
You then just need to have a canadian billing address to get your games from the Canadian store anywhere in the world.
I have yet to try this method but apparently it works well. Just don't blame me if things go awry.
when you buy a DLC (or a game) just use :
http://store.steampower.com?/cc= countrycode
for example the country code for Steam Canadian's store is:
http://store.steampower.com?/cc=ca
You then just need to have a canadian billing address to get your games from the Canadian store anywhere in the world.
I have yet to try this method but apparently it works well. Just don't blame me if things go awry.
Maniacal
the green Napoleon
We don't have a Canadian Steam store, we use the US one. That link also leads to a page I'm IP blocked from viewing (apparently) even though I have a Canadian IP 
tranx
Civilized
Looks like it's not working anymore, even with "us" instead of "ca"...
I'll be checking on that later.
[EDIT: Don't know why it is so but it seems you should first connect to the Steam store http://store.steampowered.com then, and only then, add /?cc=ca ; /?cc=us or whatever your country code is to the url]
I'll be checking on that later.
[EDIT: Don't know why it is so but it seems you should first connect to the Steam store http://store.steampowered.com then, and only then, add /?cc=ca ; /?cc=us or whatever your country code is to the url]
Thaitanium
Chieftain
If I purchase Civilization V from steam. Will I be able to re-download it from my account again ? or burn the setup files into DVD (legit) ? I often format my computer and I want to make sure that I have my favorite game in control whenever I clean my computer. (even without internet connection)
By the way, steam will give you setup file or it will install it for you automatically ?
I can't get a civ 5 box in Thailand because the importing of game has been prosponded cuz of the face of King Ramkhamhaeng similar to ex-prime minister (Thaksin the bad exe). So I am making a decision whether get a civ5 through steam or save up for CoD MW3.
Thx in advance
By the way, steam will give you setup file or it will install it for you automatically ?
I can't get a civ 5 box in Thailand because the importing of game has been prosponded cuz of the face of King Ramkhamhaeng similar to ex-prime minister (Thaksin the bad exe). So I am making a decision whether get a civ5 through steam or save up for CoD MW3.
Thx in advance
Yes, the game is attached to your account, you can redownload it as often as you like. It's not bound to a computer or an operating system, so if you format it, put a new winodws on it, or if you exchange parts or buy a new computer, then this does not matter, you can always redownload it.
Backing up the files is allowed, and Steam has somewhere a built in utility. So if you're formatting, you're not forced to stress your internet connection, you can make before a backup to an external HDD, or so.
IIRC there shouldn't be a separate installation file, should go all via Steam.
And o_O about the prime minister. I remember that discussion before the release.
Backing up the files is allowed, and Steam has somewhere a built in utility. So if you're formatting, you're not forced to stress your internet connection, you can make before a backup to an external HDD, or so.
IIRC there shouldn't be a separate installation file, should go all via Steam.
And o_O about the prime minister. I remember that discussion before the release.
anandus
Errorist
A small tip:
Before you re-install your computer, move the Steam-folder (which includes all installed games) to a different partition or disk (or just install it there in the first place).
And after you've installed your computer again, move the Steam-folder back (or not you want it installed on a different disk), remove everything exept the steamapps folder and Steam.exe.
Then you just doubleclick Steam.exe and it reinstalls itself and voila, you have all your games installed! No need to reinstall, or even worse, re-download your games, it's all there ready to be played!
It might sound more complicated then it is. Basically after reinstalling Windows you doubleclick Steam.exe and you can play again
Micromegas
Warlord
- Joined
- Nov 29, 2004
- Messages
- 117
Well, thanks to anyone, who shared his/her steam-experience here. After reading some dozens of random pages I decide not to buy the game. Steam may be a good thing for multiplayer-shooters or whatever, but I think it is totally unsuited to my style of playing Civ. Furthermore I have a constitutional right of informational self-determination and I won't give that away to some shady business strategy for just a game. If firaxis/2k want to do business with me ever again, they'd better choose some other method of distribution/drm. Now back to Civ4. I'll donate the money I saved by not buying the game and the needed hardware upgrades to the pirat-party, who are beginning to become a serious political player in my country.
And no, I don't think this is offtopic in this thread. I had some questions, they were answered.
Moderator Action: 2 posts deleted. This is a Q&A thread, not a rant and spam thread.
And no, I don't think this is offtopic in this thread. I had some questions, they were answered.
Moderator Action: 2 posts deleted. This is a Q&A thread, not a rant and spam thread.
i seem to have an isolated problem with steam and civ5. its small but im having no luck in 'fixing' it. i play in full screen mode because windowed get really buggy. so when i minimize to the desktop, do something/read an article/write an email, then try to get back into the game it maximizes to a black screen with no ability to play the game. no mouse cursor, sound, anything. i given it up to 30 minutes (ran to get some food) to run the game and no dice. as i bought the game thru steam i cant test it with discs.
other games i run thru steam dont have this issue. anybody know? sorry, but i didnt read all 9 pages of this, but i did read 3 of them and didnt see the issue addressed.
btw, i got it when it came with Babylon.
other games i run thru steam dont have this issue. anybody know? sorry, but i didnt read all 9 pages of this, but i did read 3 of them and didnt see the issue addressed.
btw, i got it when it came with Babylon.
Maniacal
the green Napoleon
That isn't a Steam issue, that is an issue with the coding of Civilization V itself. Neither is it an uncommon issue with videogames, many of them do not like being minimized. If you need to check someone on the internet when playing the game, use the Steam web browser instead (it is based off the same source that Google Chrome is) (shift+tab to bring up the overlay, click on browse the web near the bottom of the screen).
weird. i might try that. i'll read about their browser first though. im not gonna just use some extraneous steam function to check email, etc.
you'd think coders wouldn't mind providing gamers the convenience of doing other things while the game i running. my rig is pretty new and can easily handle demands of the game from a hardware point of view.
thanks for the tip. it also sucks that there isnt a 'fix' for it.
you'd think coders wouldn't mind providing gamers the convenience of doing other things while the game i running. my rig is pretty new and can easily handle demands of the game from a hardware point of view.
thanks for the tip. it also sucks that there isnt a 'fix' for it.
DEERHUNTER
Chieftain
I think it's downloads but can't get it to play.
The steam thing works ( I bought it for CIV 5) but I just want to play it, not go online.
Don and is CIV 4 better maybe for me?
The steam thing works ( I bought it for CIV 5) but I just want to play it, not go online.
Don and is CIV 4 better maybe for me?
Maniacal
the green Napoleon
it generally requires a connection to be able to set it to "offline mode". if you are worried about weather knockouts, internet host outtages/downtime, etc you need to have foresight to go ahead and set it to offline mode.
ive never messed with it myself. Maniacal's link goes to a how-to for it, but doing so after-the-fact isnt an option. also you need to have installed and played each game to set them to offline mode.
ive never messed with it myself. Maniacal's link goes to a how-to for it, but doing so after-the-fact isnt an option. also you need to have installed and played each game to set them to offline mode.
Maniacal
the green Napoleon
No, (assuming you set it up right) you do not need to set it into offline mode when connected online in order to go offline. Although if despite all fixes Steam's offline modes doesn't work then that would be a way of getting it too (although not a very good one, you restart your computer and you lose it).
how convenient of you to leave out my after-the-fact part. it addressed your "if you set it up right" part.
you cannot switch to offline mode without a connection to the internet or having done so prior to losing your connection. period (unless you've got hacker abilities--and i don't). If he hasn't set up offline mode already with every one of his games installed and tested them then he cant switch it to offline mode. if he has already done so (which he didnt say) and he cannot play offline then another issue is involved. If he has firewall blocks then each game isnt updating and still cant update without an internet connection.
you cannot switch to offline mode without a connection to the internet or having done so prior to losing your connection. period (unless you've got hacker abilities--and i don't). If he hasn't set up offline mode already with every one of his games installed and tested them then he cant switch it to offline mode. if he has already done so (which he didnt say) and he cannot play offline then another issue is involved. If he has firewall blocks then each game isnt updating and still cant update without an internet connection.
Okay... I give up.. everytime I've tried to play Civ 5 'offline' Steam just pukes and says something to the effect 'cannot find Steam servers' and just closes the software. When I reluctantly (very reluctantly) installed Steam (since the disclaimer on the box is in a size 2 font) that I had no idea would be required. Registered it online. Played while online many times. Took my laptop on a trip and lo and behold... Steam puked. Didn't matter if I told it to 'play offline' still puked. I'm ready to pull the plug and uninstall Steam, Civ 5, and any other software using this tortorous and extremely customer 'unfriendly' methodology for software deployment. I realize now that I've 'opened the box' caveat emptor rules apply and I don't get my money back, but I don't care at the moment... I just want my HD space back and you can keep your little advertisement laden, social media outlet pretending to be a software download manager. Unless someone has a way to play the software I PAID for without having to use the software I most definitely don't want? I know I could find and use a 'cracked' version probably but that ain't how I roll. I don't pirate music, movies, or games (or anything else for that matter), but if you make it so hard for me to use your software it isn't fun... why would I buy it? Just sayin...
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