Stop deleting language files, after we change gamelanguage.

[daAresinger]

Honestly this is not very difficult. This should take less than a week to implement. (Not even, I barely know how to program "hello world" and even I could figure out how to implement this.)

It is simply not acceptable that we have to spend possibly hours redownloading content we should already have.

And it isn't even possible to use backed up files the way it usually works with games. It simply won't recognize the files.

This problem has been addressed countless times. Why does Valve not give a hoot?

Edit: before someone tells me that this topic already exists - yes it does. But it is very old and has been closed. So clearly more voices are required.

Edit2:
So my internet connection has been questioned, fair enough. We don't have the greatest internet because we us LTE, so we only get about 2-3Mb/s (250-400kB/s).
Additionally we have a data limit of 60 gigs a month.
With files of 3gig for Skyrim and similar games that is a lot.

Also, yes the gamedevs design the games but that doesn't mean that games with the Steam-integrated language option can't locally store multiple languages.*That* is not handeled by the publisher, but by Steam.

Literally all Steam has to do is add a directory called "languages" in which languagefiles are stored. Initially only your local/preferred language is downloaded. Then you get to choose other language packs which will be downloaded and stored in said directory.

When launching the game, Steam checks the language preferences and injects the necessary files from the "languages" directory, or downloads them if necessary.


This should be incredibly easy to implement and could probably be done within a day (or less), by experienced programmers.

It hurts literally noone, but helps many.

[Vault Hunter 101]

hours? Either you use 64Kb/s connection or something is wrong on your end

I changed language of games and Steam client several times and never had an issue with any redownloads (maybe except once some very small file (less than 100kb))

[Dr.Shadowds 🐉]

If you're talking about games it's not Valve/Steam problems they supply them what they requested, so take it up with the Publisher/Developers as they're the ones that separated it in the 1st place, not Valve/Steam.
Unless you're talking about Valve games only?

The reason why they separated, is to reduse the download size, and people tend to stick to the one language they prefer.

[daAresinger]

check my edit.

[Dr.Shadowds 🐉]

Originally posted by daAresinger:

check my edit.

Ok? So you're limited on data, and have very slow internet speeds.
- Why would you need to switch game languages?
- Why not just copy the game folder/files with the language you want, and paste it somewhere else to keep them, then change the language, and do the same to get all the languages you want.

Also read my post again, you're blaming Steam, for Pubs/Devs doing again. The files get replace when you change language, and yes this is the doing of Pubs/Devs, if they wanted to give you all the languages, instead of making your download smaller, then they wouldn't bother giving you the option in the 1st place for downloading. What you're asking is Steam to store the game files multiple times on your system, and if they allow Pubs/Devs this, again would fall to the Pubs/Devs doing if they choose to do it, or not.

[daAresinger]

- why not switch game languages? Maybe I want to play the game in different languages. Maybe I have friends/siblings/children who need to play the game in a diferent language.

- because copy pasting languagefiles isn't easy? Sticking with my example, Skyrim has 9 lang files *THAT I KNOW OF*. Also it is a hacky solution and inconvenient.

- I am not blaming steam for something that is up to the publishers/devs. Steam actively encourages the use of their language preferences. If the devs use that system (and I think they should, because it is good in theory) changing the language happens without ever executing any code, written by the gamedevs. The only way for the gamedevs to implement locally saved language files, is to recognize that the language was changed after the fact and THEN create a backup. After this, switching languages from the backup is the same hacky solution as copy pasting your own manual backup, with the only difference of it being done automatically. This would create a disconnect between the language prefs and the actual game and as such is a horrible solution.

- I am also not asking steam to store the gamefiles multiple times. there are multiple ways to achieve what I am asking. I will give three examples:
1. Moving the necessary files between the directories, essentially switching them out for the old ones and putting those into the storage directory. (easiest)
2. Only temporarily adding the files during launch (probably the least efficient/ellegant)
3. Using hard links where the actual files should be (probably the best solution)

If I can come up with these solutions on the spot, then experienced Valve programmers can come up with 20 viable solutions in a few hours.

[Dr.Shadowds 🐉]

Originally posted by daAresinger:

- why not switch game languages? Maybe I want to play the game in different languages. Maybe I have friends/siblings/children who need to play the game in a diferent language.

- because copy pasting languagefiles isn't easy? Sticking with my example, Skyrim has 9 lang files *THAT I KNOW OF*. Also it is a hacky solution and inconvenient.

Why not? Ask yourself why not, I can't answer what you know the answer to your own question, of why not. Also that's fine if you want to play a game with diferent languages, but if the Pubs/Devs, make it that you have to redownload some files everytime, take it up with them, or make an effort by doing what I said you can do from my last post.

Ok, Skyrim got 9 diferent languages. So you want to play the game in 9 different languages? Got 9 people that each speak a different language, and which none of them share the same language?

Originally posted by daAresinger:

- I am not blaming steam for something that is up to the publishers/devs. Steam actively encourages the use of their language preferences. If the devs use that system (and I think they should, because it is good in theory) changing the language happens without ever executing any code, written by the gamedevs. The only way for the gamedevs to implement locally saved language files, is to recognize that the language was changed after the fact and THEN create a backup. After this, switching languages from the backup is the same hacky solution as copy pasting your own manual backup, with the only difference of it being done automatically. This would create a disconnect between the language prefs and the actual game and as such is a horrible solution.

- I am also not asking steam to store the gamefiles multiple times. there are multiple ways to achieve what I am asking. I will give three examples:
1. Moving the necessary files between the directories, essentially switching them out for the old ones and putting those into the storage directory. (easiest)
2. Only temporarily adding the files during launch (probably the least efficient/ellegant)
3. Using hard links where the actual files should be (probably the best solution)

If I can come up with these solutions on the spot, then experienced Valve programmers can come up with 20 viable solutions in a few hours.

Uhh, yea, sure you weren't.. Either you want to redownload the languages, and replace the files, or you want Steam to store the game files multiple times on your system to switch between the languages without redownloading them. I did give you a solution from before, you have to make the effort yourself.

Now clearly read slowly, as I pointed out before this is Pubs/Devs issues they choose to do this, by separating languages versions of the game, Steam gave the Pubs/Devs all the tools they wanted. If you have a problem with how the game is, take it up with the Pubs/Devs. If Pubs/Devs wanted to shove all the files, they wouldn't bother giving you the option to change languages on Steam as I said before, they would just make sure you download all the languages files for the game.

Now your list.
1. That's was literally what I just explain to you, that you have to do yourself.
2. Adding temporarily what?
3. Hard links to find the files... Doesn't sounds like Steam job, more like has something to do with the Pubs/Devs, which you have to take it up with them.

Originally posted by 999999999:

Talk to the game devs. They control this aspect for their games.

^This.

[daAresinger]

skyrim has 9 different languages

no it doesn't it has tens of languages.
I was saying that it has 9 different files PER LANGUAGE that I know of.

Now your list.
1. That's was literally what I just explain to you, that you have to do yourself.
2. Adding temporarily what?
3. Hard links to find the files... Doesn't sounds like Steam job, more like has something to do with the Pubs/Devs, which you have to take it up with them.

1. And I am asking for an automated version of this solution, for reasons I already stated, yet you clearly didn't understand.

2. read again. It's not that difficult to understand, if you still don't get it, check out how Minecraft Forge works, the same principle can be applied here. (although it drastically increases the initial load time)

3. It probably doesn't but it is a viable solution nonetheless.

Talk to the game devs. They control this aspect for their games.

They certainly don't control the downloading and replacing of files on your computer. That is all Steam. Otherwise there would be no point in having the languagesettings controlled by steam.
But you know what, Ill try to do some more research on this.

[Satoru]

Again since you’re not reading

Devs implement how language support works for their game

If you don’t like the way it’s implemented for a particular game ask the dev to change it

Steam doesn’t control how a dev implements language support. They simply provide the infrastructure to do so

[Dr.Shadowds 🐉]

Originally posted by daAresinger:

skyrim has 9 different languages

no it doesn't it has tens of languages.
I was saying that it has 9 different files PER LANGUAGE that I know of.

Ok? Copy, and store the 9 files in a folder for each language.

Originally posted by daAresinger:

Now your list.
1. That's was literally what I just explain to you, that you have to do yourself.
2. Adding temporarily what?
3. Hard links to find the files... Doesn't sounds like Steam job, more like has something to do with the Pubs/Devs, which you have to take it up with them.

1. And I am asking for an automated version of this solution, for reasons I already stated, yet you clearly didn't understand.

2. read again. It's not that difficult to understand, if you still don't get it, check out how Minecraft Forge works, the same principle can be applied here. (although it drastically increases the initial load time)

3. It probably doesn't but it is a viable solution nonetheless.

1. I did understand, that why I gave you a solution you have to manually do yourself, which I was clear about it. Or make an app that handle it for you, or ask in the modding community to help you out.

2. I don't know what Minecraft Forge even is, but I had to google what that even was, so you want a API that handle changes, which handle changes in game, which leads to not being a Steam problem, since they didn't make the game, and they're not going to mess with other people games, without their permission, and top of it is just time, and money, which why should Steam waste their time doing this, if it's not even their game, or their problem? This is a Pubs/Devs you need to bring it up with, not Steam.

3. Reason why it doesn't sound like Steam job, because it means they have to make changes to the game itself, which they're not obligated, and they're not going to change someone else games, just because you wanted them to do it.

Originally posted by daAresinger:

Talk to the game devs. They control this aspect for their games.

They certainly don't control the downloading and replacing of files on your computer. That is all Steam. Otherwise there would be no point in having the languagesettings controlled by steam.
But you know what, Ill try to do some more research on this.

Uhh.. Pubs/Devs do have control over their files for their game, they can change anything as they please at any given moment on Steam. If the Pubs/Devs make a change to their game, this may/will prompt Steam to start downloading the changes on your system as soon you open it, or try to launch the game.

Think of Steam as a mail man, and you wanted to send a update to everyone, does that give Steam to rip open your mail, and make changes to it to how they wanted, then give it out to everyone? If you understood this, then you clearly know why this falls to the Pubs/Devs, and not Steam problem. Steam give them the tools, it's up to how the Pubs/Devs choose to use those tools, or not at all, they're not force to use all the tools, that Steam offer them. Steam offer the choice to choose which language to download, because Pubs/Devs want people to choose a language, if they didn't want people to choose a language as I said before, this wouldn't been an option at all on Steam, and Steam wouldn't offer you the choice either, since there wouldn't be another language to download, if the Pubs/Devs didn't want to give that option.

[daAresinger]

Ok? Copy, and store the 9 files in a folder for each language.

You, sir are a genius, how did you come up with that BRILLIANT idea?

I did understand, that why I gave you a solution you have to manually do yourself, which I was clear about it. Or make an app that handle it for you, or ask in the modding community to help you out.

That sentence proves, that you didn't understand. You never gave me a solution, you simply parroted the solution I already said, I don't want. For reasons I mentioned previously.

I don't know what Minecraft Forge even is

Never mind, it just is something that shot through my head because it employs a similar principle. Don't worry about it.

Reason why it doesn't sound like Steam job, because it means they have to make changes to the game itself, which they're not obligated, and they're not going to change someone else games, just because you wanted them to do it.

This just further cements my belief that you have no clue of what I am talking about.
I never asked steam to modify anyones game, because it isn't necessary.

Uhh.. Pubs/Devs do have control over their files for their game, they can change anything as they please at any given moment on Steam. If the Pubs/Devs make a change to their game, this may/will prompt Steam to start downloading the changes on your system as soon you open it, or try to launch the game.

Yea, completely beside the point. I never said anything contrary and it has no impact on what I am talking about.

Think of Steam as a mail man,

yes a mailman that rips up all the letters from yesterday before delivering the ones for today.

This is what is suggested... https://partner.steamgames.com/doc/store/localization#6

that site talks about models and presentation, not implementation. Irrelevant.


Honestly, it's like you guys actively choose to ignore my points. I give up.

[daAresinger]

Oh one last thing:

Originally posted by Satoru:

Again since you’re not reading

Devs implement how language support works for their game

If you don’t like the way it’s implemented for a particular game ask the dev to change it

Steam doesn’t control how a dev implements language support. They simply provide the infrastructure to do so

I am not asking steam to change implementation, I am asking them to localy store data that I have to keep redownloading for now reason.

[Dr.Shadowds 🐉]

Oh, gee whiz, reading must be hard.

[Satoru]

Originally posted by daAresinger:

Oh one last thing:

Originally posted by Satoru:

Again since you’re not reading

Devs implement how language support works for their game

If you don’t like the way it’s implemented for a particular game ask the dev to change it

Steam doesn’t control how a dev implements language support. They simply provide the infrastructure to do so

I am not asking steam to change implementation, I am asking them to localy store data that I have to keep redownloading for now reason.

And again since you’re not reading

The developer creates the depots

Feel free to whine to them