How to disable launcher?

[The Gabriotti]

I want to use big picture on my big screen and controller only. This launcher listen for A button so, if I am leaving the game and try to close the launcher with my controller and controller companion, it will restart the game because I have to use A button to mimic mouse left-click.

[that's what she said]

why do you even using controller companion these days. Steam has built-in mapper already, it supports any gamepad and lets you configurate everything.
Also when you hold Guide button - you can move mouse with right stick and simulate left click with right trigger.

[The Gabriotti]

Because I use controller on other applications, not only on steam, and controller companion fits my usage.
But the point here is if there is a way to disable the launcher.

[bothered]

Originally posted by that's what she said:

why do you even using controller companion these days. Steam has built-in mapper already, it supports any gamepad and lets you configurate everything.

What is that? I haven't seen that (but I've never looked for it). I use Antimicro or Xpadder, is there a steam equivalent?

[v00d00m4n]

Replace game launcher with my universal game launcher [UGL] which will launch game silently and will pass all parameters from steam to game:

https://1drv.ms/u/s!AgboulRQxJXDn3yHfEAQo6jNgfBQ

i have not configured ini for this game, but there are comments in in ini that will guide you.

basically you just need to rename 32 or 64 bit (if not sure use 32 bit) launcher to name of game native launcher (rename it before and keep as backup), add a section with name that has same name as exe (did this for games that has several exes in one folder that i need to replace with several launchers which share same ini) like for example [launcher.exe], add settings to section according to example sections and comments, and run the game without UI that breaks gamepad support.


You can use it with any game (almost, some drms requires native game's launcher, some has launchers built into their exe, but most works) or emulator to skip their UI and get directly into game, i wrote it specifically for this puprose to use PSX2 and some games with big picture and gamepad.

[Jack Goldfinch]

Another way to achieve this:

1. Open the game installation folder. You'll see two executables, "TheObserver.exe" (Aspyr launcher) and "TheObserverSub.exe" (Game).
2. Rename "TheObserver.exe" (Aspyr launcher) to something like "_TheObserver.exe".
3. Rename "TheObserverSub.exe" to "TheObserver.exe" (or copy it and rename the copy).

Starting Observer via Steam will now skip the launcher.

I havent't experienced any problems because of this (yet?), though I'm guessing it might cause some in case of an update. Anyway, after an update the above steps will very likely have to be performed again.

[The Gabriotti]

Originally posted by Jack Goldfinch:

Another way to achieve this:

1. Open the game installation folder. You'll see two executables, "TheObserver.exe" (Aspyr launcher) and "TheObserverSub.exe" (Game).
2. Rename "TheObserver.exe" (Aspyr launcher) to something like "_TheObserver.exe".
3. Rename "TheObserverSub.exe" to "TheObserver.exe" (or copy it and rename the copy).

Starting Observer via Steam will now skip the launcher.

I havent't experienced any problems because of this (yet?), though I'm guessing it might cause some in case of an update. Anyway, after an update the above steps will very likely have to be performed again.

Yeah, this is a good way to bypass the launcher.

But I was searching for something more definitive, like add a parameter or change a config.

Thanks for the answer!

[The Gabriotti]

Originally posted by bothered:

Originally posted by that's what she said:

why do you even using controller companion these days. Steam has built-in mapper already, it supports any gamepad and lets you configurate everything.

What is that? I haven't seen that (but I've never looked for it). I use Antimicro or Xpadder, is there a steam equivalent?

Steam have a built-in equivalent to all these apps. The constrain is that you have to leave steam opened in the background for it to work.

[The Gabriotti]

Originally posted by Voodooman:

Replace game launcher with my universal game launcher [UGL] which will launch game silently and will pass all parameters from steam to game:

https://1drv.ms/u/s!AgboulRQxJXDn3yHfEAQo6jNgfBQ

i have not configured ini for this game, but there are comments in in ini that will guide you.

basically you just need to rename 32 or 64 bit (if not sure use 32 bit) launcher to name of game native launcher (rename it before and keep as backup), add a section with name that has same name as exe (did this for games that has several exes in one folder that i need to replace with several launchers which share same ini) like for example [launcher.exe], add settings to section according to example sections and comments, and run the game without UI that breaks gamepad support.


You can use it with any game (almost, some drms requires native game's launcher, some has launchers built into their exe, but most works) or emulator to skip their UI and get directly into game, i wrote it specifically for this puprose to use PSX2 and some games with big picture and gamepad.

Thanks for the app. I will try.

[v00d00m4n]

Originally posted by Jack Goldfinch:

Another way to achieve this:

1. Open the game installation folder. You'll see two executables, "TheObserver.exe" (Aspyr launcher) and "TheObserverSub.exe" (Game).
2. Rename "TheObserver.exe" (Aspyr launcher) to something like "_TheObserver.exe".
3. Rename "TheObserverSub.exe" to "TheObserver.exe" (or copy it and rename the copy).

Starting Observer via Steam will now skip the launcher.

I havent't experienced any problems because of this (yet?), though I'm guessing it might cause some in case of an update. Anyway, after an update the above steps will very likely have to be performed again.

Do this and next update that will 100% update core game exe but most likely will not touch older launcher will break the game that way because steam would start older core game exe instead of patched one and it would have troubles with patched assets.

Replacing launcher exe with "transparent" launcher i did the way safer and less problematic option.

[barefootwalk]

You could also just add the OberserSub.exe as a shortcut to your library, similarly to a non-Steam game.

[NegativeAffirmations]

Originally posted by Jack Goldfinch:

Another way to achieve this:

1. Open the game installation folder. You'll see two executables, "TheObserver.exe" (Aspyr launcher) and "TheObserverSub.exe" (Game).
2. Rename "TheObserver.exe" (Aspyr launcher) to something like "_TheObserver.exe".
3. Rename "TheObserverSub.exe" to "TheObserver.exe" (or copy it and rename the copy).

Starting Observer via Steam will now skip the launcher.

I havent't experienced any problems because of this (yet?), though I'm guessing it might cause some in case of an update. Anyway, after an update the above steps will very likely have to be performed again.

So this post has the right idea but the wrong execution (IMO).

What I did was:

1. First, rename TheObserver.exe to something innocuous (like: _TheObserver or: __bak__TheObserver.exe) - as was stated above
   
2. Next, create a symlink of TheObserverSub.exe and then rename the symlink: TheObserver.exe - DO NOT rename the original file

While the quoted method will work, as the OP states, future updates might corrupt the file, and the suggestion to just copy/paste the EXE will also be an issue if the EXE gets any future updates (not to mention, it's needlessly wasting space). By using a symlink (or a hard-link or probably even a shortcut) you make sure that the original file remains untouched and any future updates (unless there's an update to the launcher itself for some reason) won't create any issues and force you to repeat this process or possibly reinstall the entire game and then repeat this process.

I know this post is a little late to the game, but hopefully it will be of help to future players who may read this thread. Also thank you, Jack Goldfinch, for your post - your idea was sound it just needed little tweak.

[Ironix8148]

"I use Antimicro or Xpadder"

STEAM has MULTI platforms... "Antimicro or Xpadder" (gud4ewe) TELLS US NOTHING!!!
IF you're not SMART ENOUGH to post your Rig's specs ...SINCE 2016 specs; at least give a DXIG


Can't even post your "'gaming' RIG's" specs...WE can't HELP you!!!

Go ask Grandma to fetch EWE another soda on your "Smart"phone while you scream @your 'puter screen.

#SICK&TIRED0FSTEAM_BABIES

fallow protocal

[NegativeAffirmations]

Originally posted by D/K&Mike:

"I use Antimicro or Xpadder"

STEAM has MULTI platforms... "Antimicro or Xpadder" (gud4ewe) TELLS US NOTHING!!!
IF you're not SMART ENOUGH to post your Rig's specs ...SINCE 2016 specs; at least give a DXIG


Can't even post your "'gaming' RIG's" specs...WE can't HELP you!!!

Go ask Grandma to fetch EWE another soda on your "Smart"phone while you scream @your 'puter screen.

#SICK&TIRED0FSTEAM_BABIES

fallow protocal

Can any here, please, explain what this guy is nerd-raging about? Maybe I'm missing something, but how is someone's hardware (aside from, maybe, the gamepad they use) pertinent in any way to this thread? Moreover, why is this comment directed at a comment that was more of an aside between two users? And why is this poster so absurdly angered by this comment?

This reads like something Donald Trump would tweet if he was a greasy-faced, 20 year old virgin living in his mother's basement, fueled by an addiction to Monster energy drink, pizza rolls and Reddit memes.

The more I look at this comment, the more perplexed it makes me. Each time I re-read it - in some vain attempt to find answers - I just find myself faced with new questions:

Did this guy actually read what this thread is about?
Does he care?
Why is he so angry?
Was he ever taught proper grammar?
Is this grammatical deficiency the root his anger or just another symptom?
Has anyone else actually used that hashtag? If so, was their use of it as inadvertently ironic?
Does he realize that neither 'follow' nor 'protocol' are spelled with an 'a'?
Will he ever grasp the irony of his criticism of someone else's intelligence?

I feel like I've fallen down a rabbit hole of stupidity. . . .

[Jack Goldfinch]

I found a better way to do this just recently in a Fallout 4 discussion. No messing with filenames or even 3rd-party tools necessary:

1. Do a rightclick on "Observer" in your steam library, then "Properties".
   
2. Click "Set launch options...".
   
3. Put in

   "<path to observer>\TheObserverSub.exe" %command%

4. Click "OK" and close properties.

Click "Play" to start The Observer, skipping the launcher!

[The Broken Sun]

Ah nice, skipping the launcher also made my controller work in-game. Thanks everyone!