Can game run in background?

[Gubernaut]

Can I get this to run in the background when I alt tab?

[taniwhat]

It pauses, so no. Time passes, you can die but it won't add to hours played or AFAIK do anything useful that quitting won't.

That said, it is faster to alt-tab back so if I'm running through the settlement grind I tend to alt-tab away and check every hour or so.

[What is life?]

If you play multiplayer yes but not when solo.

[Psyringe]

We may be able to help you better if you tell us why you want to run the game in the background.

Time in this game is kind of weird. Some timers tick down even when you're offline (plant growth, mining facilities, frigate missions, etc.). Some timers keep ticking when you're in the game menu (e.g. the game's day/night timer, or the duration of a storm). Other timers only tick if you're outside the game menu (life support, hazard protection, etc.).

(On a side note, you can actually survive any storm by just entering the game menu. Because time then stops for the drain on your hazard protection, but keeps counting down for the duration of the storm. That's how weird time works in NMS.)

[Gubernaut]

I was wondering because I wanted to alt tab when doing things like pulse drive then when I switched back to game I'd be at the destination but it's not a big deal thanks anyway

[Mr. Bufferlow]

Be aware that for many of us, alt tab makes the game frame rates go to slideshow mode. Usually better to just save and close out since you will probably have to do that anyway when you return to crappy visuals.

[Krash Megiddo]

Originally posted by Mr. Bufferlow:

Be aware that for many of us, alt tab makes the game frame rates go to slideshow mode. Usually better to just save and close out since you will probably have to do that anyway when you return to crappy visuals.

Same here. Even going back and forth between the mode select screen will cause problems eventually. I have a laptop next to me I use for the interwebs while playing NMS.

[BigGrayGolem]

If you set the video settings to run in a bordered window, you can alt-tab. But I'm 80% sure the game pauses when it's not focused. I'll have to test it.

[mbay56]

Originally posted by Gubernaut:

I was wondering because I wanted to alt tab when doing things like pulse drive then when I switched back to game I'd be at the destination but it's not a big deal thanks anyway

That would be like driving at high speed and closing your eyes. There are things that happen when you are pulsing that you want to be aware of, like going off course, colliding with your freighter, pirates scanning you. That's just a few of the worst things to consider. However if you must you could try using the Windows key to minimize the game, I think it keep running when you do that.

[Double]

Changing to a windowed mode and alt-tabbing while in a refiner menu seems to allow the game to run unfocused. Did this recently while refining runaway mould

[taniwhat]

I'm on Linux, currently alt-tab works modulo the issues above and without graphics problems. It didn't always.

I suspect working or not depends on having particular graphics drivers and the NMS team + Steam not having screwed up anywhere.

Currently I'm happy but I'll agree, having the graphics drop to 2 FPS is a real downer.

[william_es]

Originally posted by mbay56:

Originally posted by Gubernaut:

I was wondering because I wanted to alt tab when doing things like pulse drive then when I switched back to game I'd be at the destination but it's not a big deal thanks anyway

That would be like driving at high speed and closing your eyes. There are things that happen when you are pulsing that you want to be aware of, like going off course, colliding with your freighter, pirates scanning you. That's just a few of the worst things to consider. However if you must you could try using the Windows key to minimize the game, I think it keep running when you do that.

You can also run into good things while pulsing, like rare special encounters, melody eggs, etc.

[mbay56]

Originally posted by william_es:

Originally posted by mbay56:

That would be like driving at high speed and closing your eyes. There are things that happen when you are pulsing that you want to be aware of, like going off course, colliding with your freighter, pirates scanning you. That's just a few of the worst things to consider. However if you must you could try using the Windows key to minimize the game, I think it keep running when you do that.

You can also run into good things while pulsing, like rare special encounters, melody eggs, etc.

Yep, and you want to be aware when they happen too.

[taniwhat]

Originally posted by mbay56:

Originally posted by Gubernaut:

I was wondering because I wanted to alt tab when doing things like pulse drive then when I switched back to game I'd be at the destination but it's not a big deal thanks anyway

That would be like driving at high speed and closing your eyes.

Driving a Tesla !.

(Conceded that was a cheap shot but it's really close as well).

[dave887]

It would be very nice to be able to play another game while sitting in a space station waiting on an exotic ship to show up.

[Vas]

Originally posted by Psyringe:

Time in this game is kind of weird. Some timers tick down even when you're offline (plant growth, mining facilities, frigate missions, etc.). Some timers keep ticking when you're in the game menu (e.g. the game's day/night timer, or the duration of a storm). Other timers only tick if you're outside the game menu (life support, hazard protection, etc.).

So this explains the dumb behavior I've withnessed in the game, and why it ruins my streams.

Every time I'm streaming, I alt tab and audio and everything freezes. So I can't alt tab to talk to the streamers or read what they say anymore.

Furthermore, this game doesn't have a good built in help system, so I have to alt tab to look up information which is extremely annoying, and worse when it freezes everything audio included during my streams, it makes my stream look bad. Kinda making me dislike the game even more.

I've searched the options menu all over trying to find a "run in background" option but I can't find any. I thought it was just one of those old time games that doesn't support alt tabbing but its been designed this way on purpose? Bleh.