New Steam chat - how to switch it off?

[Skybird]

As all companies making computer things worse, they say the new chat of theirs that just has left beta is an "improvement". They could as well claim that pigs fly. I don't care, I don't mind. All I see is that now every time I boot the system I have this huge chat windows autmatically showing up on screen, and it must be manually shut down. Obtrusive to the max.


Tried Steam settings and community settings and siuch, but I cannot find any option anywhere how to switch it off or at least hiding it from booting on.


Anybody knowing how to do it?


They won themselves a formidable maelstrom with it, the reactions to it leave nothing to be desired.

[hauangua]

As all companies making computer things worse, they say the new chat of theirs that just has left beta is an "improvement". They could as well claim that pigs fly. I don't care, I don't mind. All I see is that now every time I boot the system I have this huge chat windows autmatically showing up on screen, and it must be manually shut down. Obtrusive to the max.


Tried Steam settings and community settings and siuch, but I cannot find any option anywhere how to switch it off or at least hiding it from booting on.


Anybody knowing how to do it?


They won themselves a formidable maelstrom with it, the reactions to it leave nothing to be desired.

Hi Skybird
Probe here Steam released solution..
https://steamcommunity.com/discussions/forum/1/1762481957308771337/?ctp=3#c1762481957311943542
Read post of @Genthar

steam icon → friend → setting button on upper right in friend list → turn on memorize open chat.
Then close the friend list, it will not be displayed automatically next time.

[Skybird]

Thanks, will try it when I am on the other machine.

[Red October1984]

I'm with Sky on this one. Jesus it's annoying now.

Sometimes I just launch a game immediately without thinking from Steam and halfway through a loading screen the steam chat pops up.

I thought it was just fine the way it was, but Valve now demands MORE information flow to our brains

[Sailor Steve]

My first (and last) experience with Steam is Microsoft Flight Simulator X. I like the game, but Steam is pretty much the only way to get a copy these days. After playing it for a few months I'm ready to give it up, just to get Steam off my computer.

[Skybird]

^That bad...?


I once ticked like you, Steve, but that is thze past. I found myself missing too much i would have liked to try bout in titles and games. And I came to this math:


I have since lonmg to compare entertainment pric es to the costs of a movie ticket and two hours of entertainment there. Now, if I imagine that scenario that I mess up my Steam account or somebody else does, and I lose all stuff associated with it, I would check whether the costs per hour of getting properly entertained by a game title, and the price I once paid for it (usually I pay much less than I would have for a DVD in a shop), are matching well or badly the relation between hours and costs for a movie ticket.



You get the idea and could imagine the outcome.


If you are worried about your privacy, as far as I know SAteam is not as penetrant as Microsoft, Google, Facebook and the likes. And you could set up a dual boot on your rig: one for gaming only, and one for anything else. That way, you can leave steam bypassed and "off" as long as you do not need it.


Or you simply disable it from autoloading with Windows booting. :D


I do not like Steam either, the whole philospphy of comapnies behaving as if they were an integral part of my life. But I learned that there are reasons why I could tolerate this one actor. Certain others I will never tolerate. Microsoft for example gives new reasons every week to hate. Almost every day.



BTW, I still see FSX DVD boxes with both patches or addons or what it was in the shops. It seems they still get produced. But it seems there are issues under Windows 10. Dual boot may be the answer.

[Sailor Steve]

^That bad...?
Actually I would keep using it but they made the decision easier for me. I recently had a reformat and when I went to reload FSX it was gone! I'm still in the process of talking to Steam about it but it seems the outcome is going to be that I can't restore it to my PC. To make matters worse my Activation Key is also somehow missing. They said I need to talk to the the manufacturer about that, but in this case they are the manufacturer. If I get everything back, great. If not, I won't fight them. I'll just say goodbye and good riddance.

And I came to this math:
I completely agree. The money spent is well worth it. I just want to own the game, not rent it with their kind permission.

If you are worried about your privacy, as far as I know SAteam is not as penetrant as Microsoft, Google, Facebook and the likes. And you could set up a dual boot on your rig: one for gaming only, and one for anything else. That way, you can leave steam bypassed and "off" as long as you do not need it.
It's not the privacy so much as the feeling I get knowing the game producer is monitoring exactly how much I play the game. On my personal Steam Profile page they even tell me the number of hours I've played it.

I've been thinking of a dual-boot, more because I prefer Windows 8.1 for all my work, but Win 10 works better for gaming. In fact I was trying exactly that when Win 10, rather than accept the partition I assigned to it, took over the primary partition and installed itself there anyway. Before I can put Win 8.1 in the second partition I have to get a new DVD drive, as mine chose this week to die on me.

But I learned that there are reasons why I could tolerate this one actor.
Same here. As I said, if they cooperate and restore it I'll continue to use them. It all hinges on that, at least for me.

Certain others I will never tolerate. Microsoft for example gives new reasons every week to hate. Almost every day.
Again I agree, but I'm too old and too stupid/stubborn/lazy to go through all that trouble.

BTW, I still see FSX DVD boxes with both patches or addons or what it was in the shops. It seems they still get produced. But it seems there are issues under Windows 10. Dual boot may be the answer.
It's true. With Steam I've had no Win 10 problems. On the other hand Prepar3d is a rewrite of the FSX engine and runs all the old aircraft models under a much-improved environment. The bad news there is that the latest version, v4, is 64-bit. It's even better, but won't run the older FSX planes. So I have to decide between v3, which keeps the old stuff at 32-bit, or v4, which is newer and better but loses the old stuff. I also have X-Plane 11, so my options aren't exactly limited.

But I've gone a bit far from a discussion about Steam's new interface. Sorry about that.

[Skybird]

Did you use the original FSX as released by MS, or the Steam-version of it (I do not know whether they sell both versions at Steam)? The latter had some code redone to make it "Steam" and thus is not compatabile with all modules available for FSX anyway. Maybe the installation is affected by that, too. The original FSX had a limited number of activations, when they were all used up, one had to activate via telephone.


Different to what people seem to think, not everything is compatible with P3D which was modded or sold for FSX. One of my reasons why I sympathized with the idea of getting P3D, but decided against it. The other beign thta new versions of P3D threw away old version compatabilities, and that I once again end up hanging on a license deal which Lockheed could cancel any moment. For the new version of P3D, 3 and 4, commercial modules also had to be rewritten, for exmaple my beloved stuff by PMDG. FSX and PMDG are synonyms for me, the one without the other is pointless for me.


However, flying probbaly is behind me. XP11 just does nto do the trick for me, andI am fully engaged in Assetto Corsa (Competizione soon) these days, and Raceroom, and use not just the most toy-like controllers for it anymore, but more elaborated hardware.



Sometimes I miss the memory however. I had superdetailed airport sceneries for the major hubs in Europe, and getting a flight done right and well from planning and fuel calculation over boarding, taxing, taking off, curising, and then descending, approach, taxing, docking and deboarding, always gave me a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction, even more so in night or heavy weather conditions, which also was visually ery impressive. Some of my best computer game meories ever. Oh, and doing a discovery of Iceland's territory, often in fog and snow, in small planes, that was something worth to be remembered as well.


Good luck with your Steam conversation.

[Skybird]

But I've gone a bit far from a discussion about Steam's new interface. Sorry about that.
Quatsch. Happens to me all the time. :D

[Dowly]

Actually I would keep using it but they made the decision easier for me. I recently had a reformat and when I went to reload FSX it was gone! I'm still in the process of talking to Steam about it but it seems the outcome is going to be that I can't restore it to my PC. To make matters worse my Activation Key is also somehow missing. They said I need to talk to the the manufacturer about that, but in this case they are the manufacturer. If I get everything back, great. If not, I won't fight them. I'll just say goodbye and good riddance.That's odd, your games should be linked to your Steam account after you've activated them. :doh:

[Red October1984]

I bought FSX Steam Edition when it was on sale and it's probably one of the very few Steam purchases I actually regret. It runs so poorly for me and they're charging so much for addons. I made the decision to switch to DCS/BMS after just a short amount of time flying on FSX.

I used to play FS9 almost religiously, but FSX:SE left a bad taste in my mouth for the MSFS series.

It's a shame FSX drove you away from Steam, Steve. Although the game not being registered to your account is an interesting issue. I can't say I don't respect the decision to abstain from using it.

[Sailor Steve]

Did you use the original FSX as released by MS, or the Steam-version of it (I do not know whether they sell both versions at Steam)? The latter had some code redone to make it "Steam" and thus is not compatabile with all modules available for FSX anyway. Maybe the installation is affected by that, too. The original FSX had a limited number of activations, when they were all used up, one had to activate via telephone.
It's the all-Steam version. Steam doesn't sell the original, and the few copies I've found elsewhere are pretty expensive.

The Steam version is not only changed for Steam, but they've done some upgrades to it as well. They were also working on their own version - a complete rewrite a la P3D, but they just cancelled work on it a month or two ago.

For the new version of P3D, 3 and 4, commercial modules also had to be rewritten, for exmaple my beloved stuff by PMDG. FSX and PMDG are synonyms for me, the one without the other is pointless for me.
According to some comments I've read on YouTube, P3D v3 is still compatible with FSX. P3D v4 is not, since it is an upgrade to 64-bit made to stay competitive with X-Plane 11.

However, flying probbaly is behind me. XP11 just does nto do the trick for me, andI am fully engaged in Assetto Corsa (Competizione soon) these days, and Raceroom, and use not just the most toy-like controllers for it anymore, but more elaborated hardware.
What's doing it for me right now is Wings: Over Flanders Fields. I would love to race as well, but flying such primitive machines (safely from my living room, of course) really turns me on. This is especially true because I have mine set up to fly before the war begins, so I'm just cruising around 1914 England, France and Germany.

Sometimes I miss the memory however...
I've watched quite a few videos of people replicating airline flights with photo-realistic cockpits and airports. It's awesome to watch, but I prefer to bop around in the older planes. I like flying the downloads of the Boeing 40 and 247, the Ford 4-AT Trimotor, and I was walking my way through the American trainers - PT-19, AT-6, AT-11 and was soon to get into the T-28, T-33, T-34 and T-38. From there I was planning to graduate to the "real" planes. I played around with FSX's B-47. Flying it was no problem, but I never survived a single landing. Hence the training periods.

Good luck with your Steam conversation.
I received an email saying they had received mine, but no actual response yet.

That's odd, your games should be linked to your Steam account after you've activated them. :doh:
The purchase shows up in my account, but nothing about re-downloading or restoring the Activation Key.

I bought FSX Steam Edition when it was on sale and it's probably one of the very few Steam purchases I actually regret. It runs so poorly for me and they're charging so much for addons. I made the decision to switch to DCS/BMS after just a short amount of time flying on FSX.
I've watched some DCS videos and they are spectacular, but not really what I want to do.

I used to play FS9 almost religiously, but FSX:SE left a bad taste in my mouth for the MSFS series.
I still have my old FS9 copy (labeled 'FS 2004'), but unlike you I like the FSX: SE version. Well, except for the 'SE' part.

It's a shame FSX drove you away from Steam, Steve. Although the game not being registered to your account is an interesting issue. I can't say I don't respect the decision to abstain from using it.
I just dislike the feeling that I don't own my own game. I need their permission to play it, and they keep track of how often and how much I play. Still, if they restore it for me I'll keep it up. If not, I'll go for P3D v3.

[Dowly]

The purchase shows up in my account, but nothing about re-downloading or restoring the Activation Key.That's really, really odd. :doh: If it shows in your games library, you should be able to click the game and there should be a button to install it on the right window (or right-click-> install game).

[Sailor Steve]

Nope, nothing like that. Clicking the link takes me to a huge page of ads for add-ons. Right-clicking brings up the usual "Open link in new tab" etc.

[Dowly]

Nope, nothing like that. Clicking the link takes me to a huge page of ads for add-ons. Right-clicking brings up the usual "Open link in new tab" etc.If you have the Steam version of FSX, then you need to download and install steam (LINK (https://store.steampowered.com/about/)). After that's done, fire it up and log in and go to your games library within Steam, you should see it there.


Steam games always require you to run them through the Steam software.

[Skybird]

Also, backup the installed game (there is an option for that in the Steam game menu), make a hardcopy of the compressed file that is to be found in Steam/Backups. You can then install froim that file instread of needing to download it. Just saving the folder of the installed game will NOT allow you to reinstall from that. You need to use the backup option by Steam.

The data Steam collects, is limited, as far as I know,m and related to the games of steam indeed. That they know my playing hours, is not so much my concern. I mean the ammount of data Windows 10 phones home even if you have all mrelated options switched off, is a quite beigger worry. Almost 2000 data variabkles get frequently collected by Windows even if you shut all telemetry down as far as that can be done by the normal user. And these collect far more than just usage times, but allow to profile and identify people and connect this data to gained data form other sources. Sensitive, potentially abusable data.

If you are sensible about Steam, you should not use Windows at all, Steve. The whole bullcrap of Windows 10 has been reverse-engineered into Windows7 as well already long time ago. Go Linux. Chrome is safer than Windows, but knows no privacy. Apple is like Windows, just more locked in its own universe. For a weekly overview of the latest Windows patch mess, visit this siter occasionally: https://www.askwoody.com/ Busines sslowly realises that Windows costs them money: in license fees, and in workaround, repair and overtime working hours by their IT staff.

Steam has started already years ago to slowly start migrating away from Windows, and offering more and more games for Steam OS which in principle is Linux, as far as I understand. Of course that is also announcing their desire to have people buying their own Steam hardware.

When Windows is gone one day, consoles indeed may be what ius left for me to play on. At least a few good racing games are available for them - Assetto Corsa as an example. Niche products however from the cosim branch and others, may find it hard to surive then, but since they usually do not need additonal controller hardware that Linux finds hard to offer drivers for, authors maybe finally will see a greater motivation to start developing such things for Linux.

[Red October1984]

I've watched some DCS videos and they are spectacular, but not really what I want to do.

That's pretty fair in all honesty. The learning curve is ridiculous.

I still have my old FS9 copy (labeled 'FS 2004'), but unlike you I like the FSX: SE version. Well, except for the 'SE' part.

FSX has some cool features and the graphics are better, but I guess it's just that I'm biased. Grew up playing FS2002 and FS2004.

I just dislike the feeling that I don't own my own game. I need their permission to play it, and they keep track of how often and how much I play. Still, if they restore it for me I'll keep it up. If not, I'll go for P3D v3.

I almost got into P3D or XPlane. I might do it once I get some rudder pedals. I'm half considering building some switch panels as well. For the lolz, you know.

[Sailor Steve]

I almost got into P3D or XPlane. I might do it once I get some rudder pedals. I'm half considering building some switch panels as well. For the lolz, you know.
There are videos out there of guys who build entire cockpits. They are only interested in one type of aircraft and they want to experience it to the hilt.

P3D is very pretty, a great improvement on FSX. Well, except for the part where people are creating new scenery and super-detailed planes for both X-Plane 11 is a whole other world. The scenery is not as pretty, but that's because the real world isn't as pretty. And X-Plane offers the real world as a backdrop. It takes a little work, but it's worth it.

On the other hand X-Plane does have a couple of immersion-killing faults which they refuse to address. The worst is the constant tire-screeching. If your taxiing isn't perfect it sounds like you're touching down every second or two. They say that's normal, even though everyone complains about it. The other biggie is the tail-draggers. Maybe with rudder pedals they're easier to guide, but with the twist-stick I find myself doing a lot of doughnuts - just spinning 'round and 'round. It's pretty silly, really.

Right now I'm stuck on WOFF, though. Just flying a Caudron G.IV around in late 1914 tickles me no end.

[Skybird]

XP11 has inbuild VR support, but while in princi8ple it works fine, it has its inherent setbacks.


XP is nthe better VFR and small-plane simulator. FSX/P3D is the better button-pusher simulator.


Its a shame that AES doe snto work in P3D anymore. For version 4 of P3D, the PMDG 777 and 737 are aqvailable: two big arguments in favour of it.



But: I have followed FS since FS98, and bought additional aerosoft sceneries in rich numbers, many of them several times for various versions of FS. I do not feel like wanting to buy them all again, and then comes a new version of P3D claiming it is incompatible and...



And then there is the nightmare of installing and tuning all the stuff. When I reinstalled my system in past years, I counted one day alone for all that FS airport scenery and aircraft stuff and tuning the options.

[Sailor Steve]

Yeah. I've encountered the downsides as well. Stock X-Plane has no Salt Lake City at all. Gorgeous scenery, and all the rivers and roads, but not one building. MisterX has created a stunning version of Salt Lake Airport, complete with moving cars and commuter trains. It also adds some of the downtown buildings, but most of the Salt Lake Valley with its 14 cities and one million inhabitants is still missing.

Stock FSX, on the other hand, has some buildings. It also has SL Airport No. 2, which I like. Pacific Island Simulations has created a complete redo of the whole valley for FSX and P3D v3, and I bought it and love it. They also make a version for P3D v4, but if I get that version of Prepar3d I'll have to also buy the other version of SLC. I'll probably get P3d v3 and the 32-bit graphics, and to be honest I probably won't notice the difference.

[BarracudaUAK]

...

If you are worried about your privacy, as far as I know SAteam is not as penetrant as Microsoft, Google, Facebook and the likes. And you could set up a dual boot on your rig: one for gaming only, and one for anything else. That way, you can leave steam bypassed and "off" as long as you do not need it.


Or you simply disable it from autoloading with Windows booting. :D

...



While I am one that prefers to purchase the game disk/CD/DVD, go home and install the game, and never touch the disk again...

Just a few thoughts:


"Offline Mode" is your friend.

I show about "3 Minutes" played for Fallout: New Vegas.
But I played FO:NV for 1 YEAR in "offline mode", before logging back in to update to the patched version (sometime in 2011).

I've played that game alone, for weeks at a time. With potentially MORE hours total, than SH3 and SH4 combined. Both were purchased about the same time.
(My SH3 was the SH2/3 combo, without the Starforce.)
I only get online to update, and/or get a new game.

Steam's Primary advantage *to -ME-* is:
Newer (CD/DVD based) games often required the disk to be in the drive in order to run.
This has resulted in the loss of many of my older games. Some from as far back as 1997/1998.
As a result, I'm not wearing out my disk.
(With WINE giving added benifits that I can cover if you want to know.)


Barracuda