Is "Steam version is not supported" still valid?

[nonakosa]

Hello all,
I am returning after being away for a short while to build a new computer and I have a question about the issues that plague the steam version of the game. I am interested in running TWoS, but I would like some clarification before I proceed. I should be clear that this is not a TWoS specific question as I see in a lot of different threads that steam is not supported, but I am curious at this point as to why?

I suspect that it all comes down to the TDW generic patcher, but I would like to have this confirmed. The theory in my head is that the steam exe didn't work with the patcher, and so it was "not supported". Then, we got the steam sh5.exe to work with the patcher:
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=214687
which most definitely does work - at least for me. So, now the steam version technically will work, but is still not officially supported because why would the authors of all of these mods bother with paying for a steam version just to test and confirm that it will be supported.

I hope that theory makes sense...I can completely understand why people don't like steam and would not have thoroughly tested it for compatibility. I understand all of the philosophical objections to steam and I am certainly not complaining about the lack of support. I am just curious if the reason it is not supported is just because of the TDW patcher, or is there something else that does not work that I am not aware of? If it has been all about the patcher, then I wouldn't expect modders to start supporting steam all of the sudden, but it would be nice to know if that is the case.

Thanks,
SMH

[kevinsue]

Originally Posted by nonakosa

Hello all,
I am returning after being away for a short while to build a new computer and I have a question about the issues that plague the steam version of the game. I am interested in running TWoS, but I would like some clarification before I proceed. I should be clear that this is not a TWoS specific question as I see in a lot of different threads that steam is not supported, but I am curious at this point as to why?

I suspect that it all comes down to the TDW generic patcher, but I would like to have this confirmed. The theory in my head is that the steam exe didn't work with the patcher, and so it was "not supported". Then, we got the steam sh5.exe to work with the patcher:
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=214687
which most definitely does work - at least for me. So, now the steam version technically will work, but is still not officially supported because why would the authors of all of these mods bother with paying for a steam version just to test and confirm that it will be supported.

I hope that theory makes sense...I can completely understand why people don't like steam and would not have thoroughly tested it for compatibility. I understand all of the philosophical objections to steam and I am certainly not complaining about the lack of support. I am just curious if the reason it is not supported is just because of the TDW patcher, or is there something else that does not work that I am not aware of? If it has been all about the patcher, then I wouldn't expect modders to start supporting steam all of the sudden, but it would be nice to know if that is the case.

Thanks,
SMH

Not quite sure what you're asking but if you have actually patched the .exe as per the above thread link, then "TWoS" should work as advertised. You may be able to be the compatibility tester and let the other steam users know the results.

[THEBERBSTER]

Hi SMH

I would say it does not matter as long as the GFP is working.

We know that the GFP does not work with Steam.

We do know there is a work around as per your link.

I would like to know as you have this work around working where you find this.

Quote > Next get your paws on "InstallShield_Cabinet_File_Viewer"

There is no instructions where to find it and it seems to cause problems for some trying to install this fix.

As this is an essential part of the installation and as a tutorial writer myself I would not leave the job as it where half done but make sure everything needed is there to complete it.

Peter

[nonakosa]

Hello to both of you, and thanks for the replies.

kevinsue I apologize if my question was not clear enough..I am only wondering if the problems with the patcher are the only reason why steam has not been supported or if there was something else that I needed to be on the look out for. Considering that I do have the patches working, I will go ahead and install TWoS and let all of the other steam users know how it goes - I don't anticipate any problems.

Peter, I have suspicions that this InstallShield_Cabinet_File_Viewer is either pirated or something that one would typically have to buy and that is why some people are having trouble with it. I have no real reason to think this other than the fact that there was no link to the software and we were told to "get our paws on it"...those are things that typically raise red flags in my mind. I could of course be wrong, I admittedly did not thoroughly research the software...I just got my paws on it. I don't remember exactly where I got it from, and I have already deleted the files - I only kept it long enough to extract the sh5.exe.

I believe there is an alternative to this step as the whole point was just to extract the non-steam sh5.exe. I have seen a thread titled something along the lines of "a message from the dark wraith to steam users"...I will dig up the link when I am home from work. In this thread he talks about how to acquire this non-steam exe from (I think) the ubisoft updater - sorry but I do not remember all of the details. The instructions in his post would also result in a patchable sh5.exe, so it seems to me that would accomplish the same goal as the InstallShield_Cabinet_File_Viewer step from the post that I used...perhaps a bit more time consuming but they should both provide the same results.

Assuming that all of my ramblings are true, then the steam sh5.exe would no longer be an issue. Perhaps these 2 posts about how to make it work with the TDW patcher could be combined into an easier to follow guide that didn't send the reader to find software that has such a virusy feel. I am not a modder or a tutorial writer, but I do have steam working with the patcher...any testing that could/should be done I am more than happy to do it if it might make things easier for other steam users in the future.

SMH

[THEBERBSTER]

Hi SMH

I have TDW's message in my tutorials download link section that you are referring to.

Peter

[nonakosa]

Cool, after my bookmarks your tutorials would have been the first place I looked. I have not even re-patched this install yet so it is still just the vanilla steam version. This weekend I will proceed with the install and compare that post from TDW with the tutorial that I used...maybe we can cobble together a "steam is still not officially supported, but if you do this it will work just fine" tutorial.

SMH

[kevinsue]

Originally Posted by THEBERBSTER

Hi SMH

I would say it does not matter as long as the GFP is working.

We know that the GFP does not work with Steam.

We do know there is a work around as per your link.

I would like to know as you have this work around working where you find this.

Quote > Next get your paws on "InstallShield_Cabinet_File_Viewer"

There is no instructions where to find it and it seems to cause problems for some trying to install this fix.

As this is an essential part of the installation and as a tutorial writer myself I would not leave the job as it where half done but make sure everything needed is there to complete it.

Peter

For those people looking for a valid link to "InstallShield_Cabinet_File_Viewer"

Password: Dreamer

http://www15.zippyshare.com/d/43291614/57131/icfv.rar