Can't update through Steam

jerm138 · 01-10-10, 06:46 PM

I bought SH3 and SH4 through Steam. The version of SH4 you get is 1.3, and they don't offer the 1.4 patch. The regular 1.4 patch doesn't work because the game is installed in the Steam folder instead of the default folder, so the updater thinks you don't have the game and won't let you install it.

Frustrated, I contacted Steam support a few weeks ago to ask why I can't get the latest patch (which is over a year old!) for a game I purchased.

I just got this reply today:

Quote:

Hello,

A staff member has replied to your question:

Thank you for contacting Steam Support. Patches for third party games can only be distributed through Steam once the following two actions have occured: (1) The Publisher has provided us with the necessary files (2) The Publisher has given us permission to release the update The latest patches will be released as soon as possible, and will be downloaded automatically when available. If you have questions about the availability of a specific patch, please contact the support department for the game in question. Your patience is appreciated, please let us know if you have any other questions.

So, what I take from this is that:
1) UBI never supplied Steam with the 1.4 patch
2) UBI designed the official 1.4 patch to not work with the Steam-purchased game.

I ended up buying U-Boat missions because that is the only way for me to update past 1.3. (yeah... I know... giving into The Man...)

Does anyone at UBI know about this? It seems pretty lame to allow Steam to sell your game, but not give them year-old updates for the customers.

Task Force · 01-10-10, 08:12 PM

thats steam for ya, I wouldnt really advise getting a game that is avable without steam with steam.

jerm138 · 01-10-10, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Task Force

thats steam for ya, I wouldnt really advise getting a game that is avable without steam with steam.

It sounds to me like it's not Steam's fault.

Steam can't give us updates if UBI doesn't provide them.
If UBI signed a deal to have Steam sell their product, they should support that product the same as they support the one purchased in a retail store.

HMCS · 01-10-10, 10:07 PM

Steam is of the Devil. Cut your losses while you can.

ETR3(SS) · 01-10-10, 11:58 PM

Another reason I won't use Steam is I like a CD/DVD at my disposal at my convenience. I may install and uninstall a game over the course of time, but will keep any patches for that game on my hard drive. Thus negating the need for the internet should it be down.

KlassenT · 01-11-10, 05:37 AM

Strange, I never noticed this myself... In any case, the core files are all the same, and if I'd caught you sooner I'd have volunteered a bit of help; at any rate, though, if someone else is battling this issue, let me know and I can do a bit of testing to see if some registry tinkering can trick the patch into applying itself onto digital versions.

At the end of the day, though, I'd still recommend grabbing UBM above trying a half-arsed fix like I propose, because it did genuinely fix a lot of problems my father was having with a boxed retail copy on v1.4. (Since I got my Steam copy in their SH Bundle, I never bothered trying it without UBM installed for that very reason.)

Col. Caldwell · 01-11-10, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ETR3(SS)

Another reason I won't use Steam is I like a CD/DVD at my disposal at my convenience. I may install and uninstall a game over the course of time, but will keep any patches for that game on my hard drive. Thus negating the need for the internet should it be down.

True. I tend to look for games on CD/DVD before considering digital downloads. As for Steam, some games on CD/DVD force you to use Steam while playing, like COD: Modern Warfare 2.

DarkFish · 01-11-10, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Col. Caldwell

True. I tend to look for games on CD/DVD before considering digital downloads. As for Steam, some games on CD/DVD force you to use Steam while playing, like COD: Modern Warfare 2.

yeah but still, MW2 is ONLY available on steam so all updates get released through steam as well, and besides i can still uninstall and install it at will.

Col. Caldwell · 01-11-10, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarkFish

yeah but still, MW2 is ONLY available on steam so all updates get released through steam as well

I don't know about you but my MW2 came on a DVD and I purchased it in a electronics store, not on the Internet. The updates, however, would only be available on Steam.

01-11-10, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jerm138

It sounds to me like it's not Steam's fault.

Steam can't give us updates if UBI doesn't provide them.
If UBI signed a deal to have Steam sell their product, they should support that product the same as they support the one purchased in a retail store.

ubi has had the 1.4 update posted for public download like forever so steam being too lazy to use it is not ubi's fault

try this, first make a complete copy of your steam folder and save it somewhere.

if you are using windows xp open the programs files directory and create a folder named Ubisoft then from your steam folder move the "Silent Hunter 4 Wolves of the Pacific" folder into the ubisoft folder you created.

if you are using vista or windows 7 then wherever you install your games to, create a folder named "Ubisoft" then from your steam folder move the "Silent Hunter 4 Wolves of the Pacific" folder into the ubisoft folder you created.

right click on the sh4 exe file and click "send to desktop create a new shortcut"

run the game from its new shortcut to make sure the pathways all work correctly.

now your game is installed normally as if it werent a steam version so get your v1.4 ubisoft update from ubisofts website and it will work.

you can now reverse the steps and put it back in the steam folder if you wish but you should make a backup copy of the patched game to avoid going through all this again

DarkFish · 01-11-10, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Col. Caldwell

I don't know about you but my MW2 came on a DVD and I purchased it in a electronics store, not on the Internet. The updates, however, would only be available on Steam.

yeah, that's what I mean. I've got MW2 on DVD too, what I meant to say was that even though MW2 is on DVD, there's only a steam version available, without steam you can't play it.

jerm138 · 01-11-10, 06:57 PM

Quote:

ubi has had the 1.4 update posted for public download like forever so steam being too lazy to use it is not ubi's fault

The 1.4 update that is out there will not work with the Steam installation (without the major workaround you mentioned), therefore Steam can't distribute it. When UBI agreed to sell the product on Steam, they should have provided a new 1.4 installer to go with it.

Therefore, I still believe that UBI dropped the ball on this, not Steam.

I do appreciate your help in explaining how to get the update to work. That may help some other poor sap reading this thread. As I said, I bought U-Boat missions, so it's not an issue with me anymore. I was just trying to figure out where the communication breakdown happened between UBI's Devs, and Steam.

I'm definitely no Steam fanboy. And I would have bought it on CD had I gone out looking for it. I just happened to be browsing Steam about a month ago and saw SH3 on sale for $5. I had never played a subsim before, but having served on a real one, I was curious so I said "what the hell... it's just $5... let's give it a go."

ETR3(SS) · 01-11-10, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jerm138

I had never played a subsim before, but having served on a real one, I was curious so I said "what the hell... it's just $5... let's give it a go."

Admit it you're a diggit!

jerm138 · 01-11-10, 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ETR3(SS)

Admit it you're a diggit!

why else would I be here?

... and you?

01-12-10, 01:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jerm138

The 1.4 update that is out there will not work with the Steam installation (without the major workaround you mentioned), therefore Steam can't distribute it. When UBI agreed to sell the product on Steam, they should have provided a new 1.4 installer to go with it.

Therefore, I still believe that UBI dropped the ball on this, not Steam.

so you just created this thread to blame ubisoft for not doing steams job for them?

you can believe what you want but ubisoft did not create a special game for steam, steam took sh4 and created a new installer to put it in a custom steam folder so steam can keep full control over it and auto update it as they see fit and THEY (steam) chose not to update it to 1.4

ubi doesnt create "special" update patches just for steam, they just release the update patches for the game and its up to steam to create a custom installer to make them work with the steam version of the game because steam is the one who wants to put the game someplace special

because steam decided they didnt want to create a new download for the last patch is the reason one doesnt exist and blaming ubisoft might make you feel better because you gave your money to steam but steam didnt fullfill their obligation to update the game NOT ubisoft.

most likely steam did this on purpose to get you to buy 1.5 since you cant get 1.4 from steam because that is steams choice to deny it to you.

i have no axe to grind and im not pro ubisoft or anti steam but im just saying the truth here and lets blame the one who deserves the blame.

01-10-10, 08:12 PM	#2
Task Force Rear Admiral Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: SPACE!!!! Posts: 10,142 Downloads: 85 Uploads: 0	thats steam for ya, I wouldnt really advise getting a game that is avable without steam with steam. __________________ Task Force industries "Taking control of the world, one mind at a time"

01-10-10, 10:07 PM	#4
HMCS Sonar Guy Join Date: May 2005 Location: Squaresville, daddy-O. Posts: 394 Downloads: 186 Uploads: 0	Steam is of the Devil. Cut your losses while you can. __________________ "Turning enemy ships into marine habitat since 1986!" Mods Loaded:TMO 2.2, RSRDC, MaxOptics, Strategic Map Symbols, Stop The Shouting OR: RFB, RSRDC, Maxoptics, SCAF, Strategic Map Symbols and the sanity-saving "stop the shouting".

01-10-10, 11:58 PM	#5
ETR3(SS) Ocean Warrior Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Between test depth and periscope depth Posts: 3,021 Downloads: 175 Uploads: 16	Another reason I won't use Steam is I like a CD/DVD at my disposal at my convenience. I may install and uninstall a game over the course of time, but will keep any patches for that game on my hard drive. Thus negating the need for the internet should it be down. __________________ USS Kentucky SSBN 737 (G) Comms Div 2003-2006 Qualified 19 November 03 Yes I was really on a submarine.

01-11-10, 05:37 AM	#6
KlassenT Mate Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 54 Downloads: 21 Uploads: 0	Strange, I never noticed this myself... In any case, the core files are all the same, and if I'd caught you sooner I'd have volunteered a bit of help; at any rate, though, if someone else is battling this issue, let me know and I can do a bit of testing to see if some registry tinkering can trick the patch into applying itself onto digital versions. At the end of the day, though, I'd still recommend grabbing UBM above trying a half-arsed fix like I propose, because it did genuinely fix a lot of problems my father was having with a boxed retail copy on v1.4. (Since I got my Steam copy in their SH Bundle, I never bothered trying it without UBM installed for that very reason.)