Install Fallout 3 DLC from Steam onto retail version of Fallout 3

[Bilskirnir3124]

Hello,

I have an old retail (Games for Windows Live) version of Fallout 3. I tried several ways to get it to activate on Steam before I broke down and payed the ten dollars to get the game on Steam for proof of ownership. The problem I'm having now is that Steam won't let me install Mothership Zeta without also installing the Steam copy of Fallout 3. I'd rather not spend the several hours it would take to download Fallout 3. My connection is good but it's not like it still wouldn't take an hour or so to download that. Is there anyway I can get Zeta to download without also downloading Fallout 3?

Thanks for the help.

[Kargor]

Steam DLCs only work on Steam games.

[Bilskirnir3124]

Right, right, but I already have the game. It's just from a different source. Shouldn't there be some way to tell Steam that the game is already installed so that it will download and install Zeta? I'd have to uninstall the old game, lose all of my saves, then reinstall the other four DLCs, install Zeta, reinstall all of my mods...

[Grimm]

Well this is clunky and might not necessarily work, but it *has* worked in the past for other games (eg Medieval Total War). A lot of games in steam have the same files and directory structure as non-steam games, except they're all located in the /common folder in SteamApps.

IF you can find out what name Steam designates to Fallout 3 in the /common folder (presumably "Fallout 3", but every now and then it'll throw a curveball at you), then copy and paste your non-steam files into a folder you have created in the /common folder, then tell Steam to 'download/install' the game. There's a good chance that it'll recognise the existing files and skip the download for them, only downloading files that don't match up with what it believes should be there

[Grimm]

Righto, did some quick research and it appears that the Steam version of F3 has both the original from 2008 and the 'GOTY' edition from 2009. so surprise surprise, the directory structure is

Steam\SteamApps\common\Fallout 3

OR

Steam\SteamApps\common\Fallout 3 goty

Depending on which license you bought

Alternatively, why not just link it as a 'non-steam game' shortcut? That's what I've got, and everything, DLC included, works fine. Or are you after achievements or something?

[Bilskirnir3124]

I'm not really after the Achievements or anything. Just the DLCs. Unfortunately I already uninstalled Fallout 3 which brings me to a new question. Can I install from disk using the product code I got with the Steam purchase? What I'm really trying to avoid is the download time.

[«Gғм» Kid Of The Century]

Escrito originalmente por Number3124:

I'm not really after the Achievements or anything. Just the DLCs. Unfortunately I already uninstalled Fallout 3 which brings me to a new question. Can I install from disk using the product code I got with the Steam purchase? What I'm really trying to avoid is the download time.

As you can see here, Fallout 3 keys are not supported therefore you can't activate the game on Steam and purchase any DLC for your account, unfortunately.
Either you repurchase the base game on Steam or bug Bethesda on their boards to let Steam accept F3 keys.

[Bilskirnir3124]

I eventually caved and downloaded the Steam version. At least my old DLC disks still worked with the Steam version. Now I have all five DLCs and can keep modding the hell out of it.