Game Version and Updates System

[Eva]

So this little tangent will be about the game version and forced updates in order to play most games. I enjoy a large variety of games, and have seen many of them change over time. Among the games I play, some I enjoy less now then I did before for a variety of reasons, including version updates.

Steam usually, if not always, forces you to update a game once a new release comes out before you can play it. There is no way to play older versions and it is very difficult, if not impossible, to talk to the game developers about it in a one on one conversation.

In essence, I would like to see a list of game versions under the properties of games so I can switch between them as I'd like. A good example of why I want to see this is Minecraft. I still play Minecraft versions 1.6.4 and 1.7.10 even though they are old. The reason is simple; I like aspects from several different versions of the game, and switch between them depending on what I want to play that day. Old versions of games should not be dismissed because the developer made a new version, nor should the new version be ignored. Games like 7 Days to Die, Rise to Ruins, Starbound, etc should have older versions enabled as an option, while games like Black Desert Online, Tree of Life, Maplestory, etc (which are solely server based) should still keep the forced updates/no alternate game version.

One odd solution for players like me is possibly have each installed version of a game in a different folder, which you can choose from in the properties before loading the game. This way it won't delete your data when you change versions and allows players to swap between them as they wish. Additionally, add a way to delete versions that you don't want anymore so that you don't have to manually delete the ones you decide to stop playing.

[FMP]

引用自 IFIYGD：

引用自 GDL：

Its already developed. They release a new version.

Quote is missing by the way.

Ask a dev or publisher about copyright and IP ownership, and how you would feel if a store that you have your game on, for distribution, took it upon themselves to make every "recalled" version of your product available without your express written consent.

I don't have to ask anyone anything, I'm not trying to convince someone that a game needs to be developed to support Valves beta branches. You are.

The content delivery technical aspect is easy, legal aspect is harder but that is not the context of my reply.

So ya kinda barking up the wrong tree.

[Zekiran]

There's no "quote" needed.

The thing you want to be "shown" as "proof" is called 'common ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ sense' here. Steam doesn't and *cannot* alter or even KEEP the older versions - unless the company asserts they CAN.

Yes; Gog or whoever does this for a few old games. The only reason they haven't yet been slammed is because a) those companies may or may not even exist as such, and b) laziness on those companies part.

Steam is a considerably bigger, and more aggressively pursued distribution platform. They HAVE to abide by their contracts.

There's no "big one statement about this" anywhere because there doesn't need to be. Steam distributes what the developers WANT them to.

And if the devs DO want multiple versions available, *they make them available*.

So once more for the folks in back: the idea is great. I get it. I use modded Fallout 4 and I would love to be able to EASILY move between versions. But guess what: BETHESDA says no. If Steam was given the opportunity, from the game developers to do this, they WOULD.

How is this a difficult thing for you to grasp? It falls entirely on the game devs to do this. They rely on Steam to *push their current* product, not hold on to 19 other prior broken versions that already may have bugs patched or work done on them that makes older versions irrelevant.

Holding on to them is ... cute, quaint even. but ultimately it's never been on Steam to do this FOR a game company. They have *no* legal right to do so, and in fact may be absolutely a breech of those contracts at all.

Again: I think the idea is great.

It's just that Steam has *no* control over who does or does not have branched development on their system.

[FMP]

引用自 Zekiran：

There's no "quote" needed.
The thing you want to be "shown" as "proof" is called 'common ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ sense' here. Steam doesn't and *cannot* alter or even KEEP the older versions - unless the company asserts they CAN.

Don't get upset that you cannot backup your dismissive statement.

Again, just for you. I'm not asking for evidence of the above. I'm asking for evidence of the below. Storage and distribution was not your stance with the below statement.

引用自 Zekiran：

But each and every GAME must be developed to support that

So, once more..
The content delivery technical aspect is easy, legal aspect is harder but that is not the context of your statement.

I'm not saying your wrong with the above either, I'm asking you to provide evidence for it.

As far as I'm concered.

Dev releases a new build.
Create a new version on the Steam backend.
Publish content to it.
Users now have a choice.
Easy.

That requires no new development to the game, the beta branches is a pure content holding and delivery issue not a development one as you are trying to state.

[Crazy Tiger]

OP, functionality is there, called Beta branches.. Paradox, for example, does this for its games.

The thing is, however, that Game developers/publishers have to choose this for their games. Valve can only do that for their own games, not for games made and published by others. Valve only provides the means, they have no decision right on it however.

Most devs/pubs don't use the functionalityu, you've got to ask them why they don't want to.

[Brian9824]

Not sure why people are still saying it doesn't exist. Its there as its been mentioned with the beta branch. For instance I play 7 days to die which is on V18. Beta branch lets you pick from previous versions but its up to the dev to publish and make those available

Here is an example of how it looks with all the different versions available and you can choose which version you want to play.
https://i.imgur.com/f9wa8ni.png

It has nothing at all to do with Steam, you have to ask the dev's to use it and publish their builds and make them available to the beta branch so people can access them.

[Gwarsbane]

引用自 GDL：

引用自 Zekiran：

The functionality is and has always been there on steam.

But each and every GAME must be developed to support that

Source from Valve required for me to believe this. Please post it.

Steam is similar to the SCCM.
Add new version.
Add content.
Deploy.

User picks what version.
It's not complex, it's simple content delivery.

There is no source because its always been there, you're not going to see a Valve employee say "yes thats a great idea we'll put it in" and none of us are going to go back through literally 16 years of update notes to find this for you, you want it you go look. I did find this, though I doubt you will consider it a source that we're right. https://partner.steamgames.com/doc/store/application/branches

There are many games that offer beta branches, that means Steam can already have 2 or more versions of the game, a couple of games have already been mentioned.

But this is not up to Valve to make these beta versions and offer them up for download. That is 100% up to the games developer to provide that functionality. So if you want an older version go bug the developers of the games you want to do this, in their discussion area.

[Satoru]

Steam already has this system

Every Paradox game has like 3 DOZEN previous patches available to them via the beta branch

If a dev doesnt want to make a previous patch available to you, its because they don't want to

[Start_Running]

引用自 Satoru：

Steam already has this system

Every Paradox game has like 3 DOZEN previous patches available to them via the beta branch

If a dev doesnt want to make a previous patch available to you, its because they don't want to

Most likely because if you offer it to mainstream you are kinda obligated to support it. Which is a pain in the ass.

[FMP]

引用自 Gwarsbane：

There is no source because its always been there, you're not going to see a Valve employee say "yes thats a great idea we'll put it in" and none of us are going to go back through literally 16 years of update notes to find this for you, you want it you go look.

I did find this, though I doubt you will consider it a source that we're right. https://partner.steamgames.com/doc/store/application/branches

That's not how burden of proof works since I didn't make the statement but I'm well aware of what beta branches are, I use them for Subnautica and a number of other games.

I'm more interested in this "But each and every GAME must be developed to support that"

According to the document linked, which I thank you for, that statement Zekiran made is simply incorrect.

The 'game' doesn't need to be developed to support beta branches, anything published via Steam already does.

[Satoru]

引用自 Alina：

If you don't like the topic, you don't have to respond. I've pointed out the flaw in steam's "versions" since opting in and out of beta isn't really what I am talking about. I am seeing how that is being done with the one game, but you can't really switch between them from the looks of it.

False

Paradox games all have dozens of versions you can choose from freely

If a developer doesnt want to provide previous versions, its because they want you on the latest version.

You're free to go scream at the developers for that. Steam gives developers the tools to do what you want. If a developer doesnt want to use those free tools, thats not steams fault

Also since we're on Minecraft, you cant downgrade the version of Minecraft used if you play on the Windows store so yeah maybe dont use Minecraft as an example

As I will point out again, on a game like minecraft you can play other versions of the game without them impacting each other.

Thats no different, you all have to choose the same version to play. Which you can do through the beta branches.

. I can download as many modpacks as I want and play them without them impacting the other as it gets its own folder and dedicated space.

That really has nothing to do with 'version' and also many mods are incompatible with various versions of games anyway. Steam Workshops can create dependencies if they wish.

But as I began this reply, if you don't like the topic because it annoys you (as it clearly does) then you don't have to respond or subscribe to the discussion.

If you dont like people pointing out the existing systems that do literally what you need but you want to ignore them, you're free to make a blog and scream into the void instead.

[Zekiran]

引用自 GDL：

The 'game' doesn't need to be developed to support beta branches, anything published via Steam already does.

You have positively stated the exact opposite of the real world's method of programming, dude.

Like, you absolutely, do NOT have any idea what you're talking about.

Yes they DO have to develop side branches. They have to take the time out of their schedule of making new things for the main branch, to make sure that the older versions don't go belly up whenever a new driver gets released, or if new hardware becomes available.

Just because you believe something, doesn't make it true. You're so far off the mark here it's astonishing.