Pinball FX3 offline?

[brian.j.hille]

I installed Steam and a pinball program called Pinball FX3. I only have that program, am the only user, and only on that 1 computer.

In my attempt to resolve a sync problem, I decided to uninstall FX3 and Steam (per this article: https://help.steampowered.com/en/faqs/view/3C73-90F9-F600-0266). I uninstalled everything, deleted any remaining folders, and deleted the registry entries. Re-installation of Steam and FX3 seemed to go okay.

When online (steam can be offline or online) by not having the “-offline” option specified everything works fine. If I try to go offline, I get the attached sync error. I have contacted both Steam Support and FX3 support and they are unable to assist.

Steps to reproduce:
1. Turn computer on
2. Open Steam
3. Right-click on FX3 in favorites and select Properties
4. In the section for Launch options add "-offline"
5. Close the dialog box
6. Highlight FX3 in favorites and click "Play"
7. Error appears: Unable to Sync - Steam was recently unable to sync your Pinball FX3 saves with the Steam Cloud.

Once you go through that, it will work fine every time after that until you reboot again.

Here is my latest from the cloud_log.txt:
[2022-08-11 21:15:37] [AppID 760] Starting sync (Get App Quota Usage,)
[2022-08-11 21:15:37] [AppID 760] GetAppQuotaUsage Failed: 'No Connection' (3)
[2022-08-11 21:15:37] [AppID 442120] Starting sync (AC Launch,Sync Disabled,)
[2022-08-11 21:15:37] [AppID 442120] AutoCloud checking local state for user 1415483752
[2022-08-11 21:15:37] [AppID 442120] Failed sync for 'AC Launch,Sync Disabled,' [login=false][offlineMode=true]
[2022-08-11 21:15:37] [AppID 442120] Running AutoCloud on launch. Looking for existing files to watch:
[2022-08-11 21:15:37] [AppID 442120] AutoCloud done. Watching 0 files
[2022-08-11 21:15:37] [AppID 442120] YldWriteCacheDirectoryToFile - saved to 'C:\Emulators\Steam/userdata/1415483752/442120/remotecache.vdf'
[2022-08-11 21:17:22] [AppID 442120] Starting sync (AC Exit,Sync Disabled,)
[2022-08-11 21:17:22] [AppID 442120] Running AutoCloud on exit. Looking for new and updated files
[2022-08-11 21:17:22] [AppID 442120] AutoCloud complete
[2022-08-11 21:17:22] [AppID 442120] Failed sync for 'AC Exit,Sync Disabled,' [login=false][offlineMode=true]
[2022-08-11 21:17:22] [AppID 442120] YldWriteCacheDirectoryToFile - saved to 'C:\Emulators\Steam/userdata/1415483752/442120/remotecache.vdf'

As you can see, the AppID is clearly FX3. How do I fix this so I can use Pinball FX3 offline?

[Matt Beeching]

Have you disabled Steam Cloud? (Pinball FX3 > Properties > General).

The "-offline" launch option disables game features: Online Leaderboards / Matchup / Tournaments.

Still think you'll have to go online once to unlock all your purchased tables, that will then be saved to your Pinball FX3 / LocalData folder.

[AndyMcDandyCDN]

I have gotten that cloud sync error for other games. Can't remember if there was a retry button that appears where cloud sync status is for the game or if I right click on the game and did retry through there.

[brian.j.hille]

Originally posted by Matt Beeching:

Have you disabled Steam Cloud? (Pinball FX3 > Properties > General).

The "-offline" launch option disables game features: Online Leaderboards / Matchup / Tournaments.

Still think you'll have to go online once to unlock all your purchased tables, that will then be saved to your Pinball FX3 / LocalData folder.

Yes, I have the cloud disabled for the application. If I don't use the -offline option, when I disconnect from the network FX3 no longer launches.

Totally get I'll have to go online to get tables as I buy them...but they aren't making FX3 anymore, so once I get the ones I like, I'm done and the machine will not see a network again. :)

[brian.j.hille]

Originally posted by AndyDandyCDN:

I have gotten that cloud sync error for other games. Can't remember if there was a retry button that appears where cloud sync status is for the game or if I right click on the game and did retry through there.

I can sync if I go online...that works fine. As soon as I put the "-offline" in there it stops working. I can click past it and it plays fine, but that isn't going to work in a cabinet.

[dylandouglass]

I have the same problem on my pincab with the cloud sync popup. Did anyone find a solution?

[brian.j.hille]

Only solution is you have to be online. Steam and FX3 support both told me "I can't help you".