BRILLIANT PLAN: I get all my AT&T data overage charges billed to Valve?

[Bunny Brewster]

Hey Valve! I live in a beautiful house in the country, up at the top of a hill in Northern California that is just out of reach of DSL or Cable internet service (for 10+ years now), so I'm currently on AT&T's maximum 10GB plan with $15 per 1GB overuse fees. Since your Steam client repeatedly ignores my request to "Pause All Downloads" - steams right ahead, it does, last month costing my last bit of service and at least $30 in overage fees.

I think since it's only fair that maybe you guys and AT&T could hash out an agreement, whereby YOU pay for my bandwidth required to allow me to continue playing the games I already paid for. After all, it's really just fair.

Say, you disallow me to play a game because it needs a 3GB patch (as you currently do), that's potentially $45 dollars out of my pocket to AT&T - towards a game I already bought. How about YOU pay it - or maybe go half/half with publisher/dev?

So what do you say, sirs?

:x

[Bunny Brewster]

引用自 FrazerJC：

As I previously mentioned, the Pause All Downloads feature is working as intended. It is meant to pause all CURRENT downloads and that is it. It is not a "Do Not Automatically Update My Games" button. That option is on a per-game basis, I said in my previous post.

I repeat: The "Pause All Downloads" button is working as intended and there is nothing to fix with it. You are just misunderstanding the use of the button.

Thanks but I am not misunderstanding anything.

The button says, I quote: "PAUSE ALL"

The button does not say: "PAUSE CURRENT DOWNLOADS"

or: "PAUSE ONLY THE CURRENTLY OCCURING DOWNLOADS AND START THE NEXT PENDING ONES"

No, it just states: "PAUSE ALL"

Which, to everyone coming upon this, has to assume it pauses all current and future pending - which is terribly consistent with every other app that has a button labeled "PAUSE ALL" on it.

So, if it were just that it could be considered misleading wording but no, it's a bug. The button doesn't register your click to stop downloading (or 20 frantic clicks accompanied by screaming) for a very, very, very, very, very, very, very long time, and sometimes when it finally does toggle on, it toggles back off by itself later when you aren't looking. This is a bug because buttons that do not do what they are told is very consistent with buggy behavior.

And no, I'm not actually demanding Valve pay for my overuse charges - I'm expressing how frustrated I am over having to pay money because of this bug.

[Spawn of Totoro]

引用自 Bunny Brewster：

So clearly wrong, on both counts. I signed up to Steam, I purchase all my games, I pay for AT&T 10GB/month tethered internet access (they do not offer unlimited LTE service). What I request can not be any clearer and well within my right to ask, that Steam client does not initiate large (10MB+) downloads without my awareness and permission. I will state this again. 1. I can't get DSL or cable so I'm stuck with AT&T LTE. 2. AT&T offers no unlimited data plan over LTE. 3. I can either run Steam or not run Steam. What choices do I have?

Notice both Apple's iTunes/AppStore and Sony's PSN never initiate updates or downloads without your explicit permission. Neither will Google's Android Market but Google Play Music needs some serious work in the bandwidth management department.

Music files and console games are a diffrent story all together. Music doesn't require updates to run properly and you can use the same software for the same music. Consoles are moving to be more like Steam too.

You didn't know how to configure Steam when it came to the updates. FrazerJC as told you how.

You could get DSL or Cable, but you would have to pay to lay the lines and get the permits for it. Very expensive.

You could keep your computer in off-line mode, take it to work or a friends house every week to connect and do updates. You could also change phone companies or use T-mobile as your ISP. $50 for the hotspot line $20 for unlimited high-speed data.

The problem isn't Steam. It is your unwillingness to learn the software, look for alternatives to your ISP or consider other options.

Steam has provided what it is supposed to and added a game license to your account (what you paid for). The rest is your responsibility.

引用自 Bunny Brewster：

And no, I'm not actually demanding Valve pay for my overuse charges - I'm expressing how frustrated I am over having to pay money because of this bug.

Re-read your first post. That is exactly what it sounds like you are demanding. Next time state the issue and don't say a bunch of useless junk with it.

I think FrazerJC already answerd your "bug" idea:

引用自 FrazerJC：

The Pause All Downloads feature is working as intended.

Just because something doesnt work the way you want it to or think it should, does not mean it is a bug.

[Bunny Brewster]

引用自 Spawn of Totoro：

Music files and console games are a diffrent story all together. Music doesn't require updates to run properly and you can use the same software for the same music. Consoles are moving to be more like Steam too.

I'm not referring to music files. iTunes/AppStore also manage applications, but regardless of whatever the media - the fact remains, I have used iTunes for years and have yet to see it ever initiate large file transfers without asking for my permission first.

There is no functional difference at all between console games and PC games in regards to updates/patches.

You didn't know how to configure Steam when it came to the updates. FrazerJC as told you how.

No. FrazerJC suggested I go into every 240 or so installed "Steam Apps" and click "Do Not Update" for each one. Wrong, not a solution. Fixing that stupid "Pause All" button to work the way it should is *THE* solution.

You could get DSL or Cable, but you would have to pay to lay the lines and get the permits for it. Very expensive.

No, I'm already shoving boatloads of money to AT&T. That and all the government stimulus money they've received should be more than enough to pay for extending DSL to me and all my neighbors. AT&T won't do it, regardless of how many times I've called them.

You could keep your computer in off-line mode, take it to work or a friends house every week to connect and do updates. You could also change phone companies or use T-mobile as your ISP. $50 for the hotspot line $20 for unlimited high-speed data.

I don't run Steam 24/7 like many people - only when I want to play a game - and running Steam in offline mode is not a solution either, as I lose some features. And I already do my Steam updates and downloads when I'm on a fast connection, which I can do daily. The ***PROBLEM*** is it doesn't matter! Updates can happen unexpectedly any time of the day, and for games - these can be huge.

T-Mobile does not offer unlimited high-speed data through tethering, hotspot nor USB modem. Did you read the fine print that says the unlimited data plan only applies to phone use?

The problem isn't Steam. It is your unwillingness to learn the software, look for alternatives to your ISP or consider other options.

There is no unwillingness to learn the software on my part. The problem *IS* Steam. Why should I "work around" Steam's bug by finding another ISP, unplug my PC when playing games, move to Singapore, or become a Buddhist monk? No, the solution is for Steam to allow me to determine WHEN those updates occur. That is the only solution there is.

Steam has provided what it is supposed to and added a game license to your account (what you paid for). The rest is your responsibility.

English please.

Re-read your first post. That is exactly what it sounds like you are demanding. Next time state the issue and don't say a bunch of useless junk with it.

Yes, and I suppose you're literally the "Spawn of Totoro"

I think FrazerJC already answerd your "bug" idea:

Nope. Suggesting impractical/impossible/insane workarounds because of a "Pause All" button that doesn't "Pause All" is not a solution.

引用自 FrazerJC：

The Pause All Downloads feature is working as intended.

Just because something doesnt work the way you want it to or think it should, does not mean it is a bug.

There is no "doesn't work the way you want" - the button barely works at all when you click it. It's clearly a button, and a button has to have some intended function, but it barely registers a click. Only after a while does it change to "Resume All" - but wait, it changed back. WTF!?

And here's yet another extremely infuriating bug in Steam client. While I type this message, if I suddenly see "1 item downloading" at the bottom, I have to copy this full message and repost or I lose it all the moment I go into Library/Downloads. This is also a big WTF!?

I thank Valve for adding throttling in yesterdays update. This is a big help, though it only goes down to 16KB/sec. Can we please have an option to set this to 0KB/sec?

[Marble]

At the end of the day, you agreed to the SSA which states:

"As with all Subscriptions, you are always responsible for any Internet service provider, telephone, and other connection fees that you may incur when using Steam, even when Valve offers a free Subscription."

It also says somewhere on the same page you are expected to maintain a connection to the Internet.

It sucks, the situation you're in, but it's as much a fault of your service providers (or lack of) for not covering your area.

[Bunny Brewster]

Valve should to cater to *ALL* particular customers needs within reason. This is well within reason. Further, it is implied with the "Pause All" button that I can safely trust that Steam client will not download 10GB of updates that it tells me it currently wants to do, which would cost me $150 (on top of the fees it has already incurred for me). It feels like being held at gunpoint.

[Marble]

You should pace your updates, maybe uninstall some games you don't play currently. If you don't trust the built-in download management, you can always use 3rd party bandwidth limiting tools.

As with many services, they can't cater to all customers, they can only try and cater to the majority of them.

[Felix]

Stop saying the Pause All Downloads button needs fixing. It does not need fixing. As Spawn of Totoro has said, just because a feature isn't working as you wish it was does not mean it is broken.

Pause All Downloads; to put on hold any downloads that are currently on going. The button does not say "Do not update any games ever unless I say otherwise".

You have been given your solution to your problem multiple times now. Yes, it's a pain but that's the solution. Take it or leave it.

And just one more time (at least for this post) the "Pause All Downloads" button is working as intended. It is not broken.

[Kickin' Chicken]

引用自 Bunny Brewster：

Steam has provided what it is supposed to and added a game license to your account (what you paid for). The rest is your responsibility.

English please.

I don't want to get in the middle of this, but if you'll tell me what part of that you don't understand I'll be happy to try to explain it to you.

[Satoru]

The tools you need to manage your own bandwidth are available to you in Steam

1) You can set Steam to not start when weindows starts
2) You can set each game to not scan for updates, given yoru bandwidth limitations this can't be that much of a hardship because by defintion you won't have many games
3) You can set Steam to use less bandwidth
4) You can use Steam in offline mode

#4 is what you should be diong with a tethered plan anyway.

Tools are available, use them.

[mcueball]

You mentioned that you use a teathered iPhone. A quick search in the Apple store for "traffic meter" turned up at least 2 potential apps that would track your usage and warn you when you are approaching your limits. One even went so far as to disable access if you went over your usage limit.

[Bunny Brewster]

引用自 FrazerJC：

Stop saying the Pause All Downloads button needs fixing. It does not need fixing. As Spawn of Totoro has said, just because a feature isn't working as you wish it was does not mean it is broken.

Pause All Downloads; to put on hold any downloads that are currently on going. The button does not say "Do not update any games ever unless I say otherwise".

You have been given your solution to your problem multiple times now. Yes, it's a pain but that's the solution. Take it or leave it.

And just one more time (at least for this post) the "Pause All Downloads" button is working as intended. It is not broken.

I repeat.

It is broken.

Do not lie.

The "Pause All" button on the download page is supposed to change to "Resume All" when you click it. It takes a very, very long time to register a click, meanwhile Steam starts one update after another that I have wait to individually pause. Anyone can try it out themselves.

This is buggy behavior and needs to be fixed.

One click immediate pausing of all updates, one click to resume all updates.

:x

[Bunny Brewster]

引用自 Satoru：

The tools you need to manage your own bandwidth are available to you in Steam

1) You can set Steam to not start when weindows starts

As I stated before, I don't have Steam run on Windows startup. Never have. This is irrelevant.

2) You can set each game to not scan for updates, given yoru bandwidth limitations this can't be that much of a hardship because by defintion you won't have many games

As I stated before, I have approximately 150 games purchased thru Steam. About 240 total "apps" in my library. It's not only impossibly tedious set "do not update" on each one, it's equally tedious to double-check that I've set each one. The more game in your library, the more chance you get hit with spontaneous updates.

3) You can set Steam to use less bandwidth

Yes!!! As of yesterday that was added, thanks Valve! Not perfect but certainly better.

4) You can use Steam in offline mode

No, because I lose features when I go offline or some won't play at all. Not a solution.

#4 is what you should be diong with a tethered plan anyway.

Tools are available, use them.

Thanks but to paraphrase the late Roger Ebert, your solutions suck. They do not solve anything without being a pain in the ass. The reasonable solution possible is for Steam's Pause All/Resume All downloads button to work properly, to stop all or resume all downloads decisively in one click. The better solution is fine-grain control over which updates occur - just like on the iPhone. Or Android. Or Metro.

As I've stated, Apple's iTunes, Sony's PSN, Google's Android Market, Microsoft's Metro store, Stardock Central - EVERY single app distribution network, every single application, every operating system or Linux distribution I've ever used, do not initiate excessive file transfers without user permission first. That's should be obvious.

:x

[Marble]

I just tried starting 2 simultaneous game downloads to test the "pause all" button. It worked fine for me. It sounds like the issue is on your end.

[Bunny Brewster]

引用自 Canti：

I just tried starting 2 simultaneous game downloads to test the "pause all" button. It worked fine for me. It sounds like the issue is on your end.

I suppose it could have something to do with the number of games installed. I hit 'Pause All' and it takes 20+ seconds to register a change - another 20+ seconds to change back inexplicably.

I can record a YouTube of this behavior.

:x

[Satoru]

If you're not going to even acknowledge you have a problem and vairous solutions available ot you then you ahve no real standing to complain about it.

As I indicated thera era several 3rd party tools THAT WILL RUN ON YOUR COMPUTER that allow you to track and control bandwidth usage.

Enjoy going over your bandwidth limit since you seem to not actually want a solution to your 'problem'