Minimizing Steam's bullshit

Meikle641 · Post by **Meikle641** » Sat Dec 11, 2010 1:13 am

It seems that my only choice these days are to boycott games that require it, pirate cracked copies of them (rather not), or install Steam. Personally, I abhor the idea of it being on my computer, but if I did, what are ways to minimize it's presence? I've heard something about an (unreliable) offline mode from PL.

So, any help?

PhoneLobster · Post by **PhoneLobster** » Sat Dec 11, 2010 1:19 am

To make offline mode not screw you... you have to allow steam to go online and download junk all the time. At which point there is no reason to use offline mode.

If you do use offline mode with Steam and STAY offline as much as possible Steam will periodically demand an update then crash as it tries to simultaneously download more updates for anything and everything it is associated with at the same time.

Use it the way they want you to (bitch) or crack it entirely. Offline mode may as well not exist.

JonSetanta · Post by **JonSetanta** » Sat Dec 11, 2010 3:25 am

Stay off Steam. The only other option is yarrrrr

Akula · Post by **Akula** » Sat Dec 11, 2010 6:41 am

I honestly don't find steam to be bad. At least they offer you something for the invasion of your computer. But PL is right, the offline mode is a joke which only works (sometimes) when NOTHING, including steam itself, needs to update. And you still need to be online to open the program.

cthulhu · Post by **cthulhu** » Sat Dec 11, 2010 6:48 am

If you want offline mode to 'work' repeatedly try and enter offline mode until it works by accident, then block the steam client with your firewall.

Really though if you have decent bandwidth, just leave it open.

PhoneLobster · Post by **PhoneLobster** » Sat Dec 11, 2010 7:31 am

cthulhu wrote:then block the steam client with your firewall.

I am pretty sure this doesn't work. Steam goes through many patches and doesn't manage all software it thinks it owns in the same way.

BUT I'm pretty sure it (still) works like this...

Offline mode still requires the Steam Client to start up.

The Steam Client will happily enough (well, grudgingly, slowly, and unreliably) start up without being online.

And Offline will work running the Steam Client offline.

BUT. The Steam client has a built in expiry date. If it doesn't go online to get it's crack cocaine steam client patches that often as not break it rather than improve it it will throw a big sissy Tantrum and stop working.

At which point your offline mode game will stop working because the Steam Client won't load.

So I don't recommend firewalling Steam in off line mode as a reliable fix for this issue. Fortunately there are some fine Pastafarians on the Internet who have different work arounds available...

Red_Rob · Post by **Red_Rob** » Sat Dec 11, 2010 1:58 pm

I have a laptop. I installed Steam, downloaded all my games to it, and set it to offline mode. It's been about 6 months now and I haven't had any problems.

I have a PC. I installed Steam, bought some games (at massively reduced rates), downloaded them and play them occasionally. I haven't had any problems.

I think Steam is okay.

cthulhu · Post by **cthulhu** » Sat Dec 11, 2010 2:27 pm

PhoneLobster wrote:
cthulhu wrote:then block the steam client with your firewall.
I am pretty sure this doesn't work. Steam goes through many patches and doesn't manage all software it thinks it owns in the same way.

BUT I'm pretty sure it (still) works like this...

Offline mode still requires the Steam Client to start up.

The Steam Client will happily enough (well, grudgingly, slowly, and unreliably) start up without being online.

And Offline will work running the Steam Client offline.

BUT. The Steam client has a built in expiry date. If it doesn't go online to get it's crack cocaine steam client patches that often as not break it rather than improve it it will throw a big sissy Tantrum and stop working.

At which point your offline mode game will stop working because the Steam Client won't load.

So I don't recommend firewalling Steam in off line mode as a reliable fix for this issue. Fortunately there are some fine Pastafarians on the Internet who have different work arounds available...

Yes, you need to block both the steam client, and the steam client service, which is a new addition 'recently' (I think it was a year ago? whatever).

It's fine if you leave it like that forever though.

Juton · Post by **Juton** » Sat Dec 11, 2010 4:28 pm

With more recent computer games I find that I'm cracking legit copies just to improve the play experience. You should be able to get a crack for a game separate the actual game, if you go to a reliable site you shouldn't ever have any problems.

Meikle641 · Post by **Meikle641** » Sun Dec 12, 2010 5:40 am

That may be what I'll have to do, Juton. Hell, I'd even do the Spore treatment to these sorts of things, since I want to support the developers, but these methods of DRM only punish legit users.

PhoneLobster · Post by **PhoneLobster** » Sun Dec 12, 2010 7:16 am

Frankly if they only want to publish through Steam I DON'T want to support the developers, you should punish them the only way they will notice and not buy their stuff until they stop using such an onerous and bullshit "protection" methodology.

I wanted to support Creative Assembly, but I will NOT support them in screwing me. They don't get another cent from me until they leave Steam like the steaming dollop of shit that it is.