Downloading and playing a game at the same time.

[76561193855727635]

My friend told me that doing this is a bad idea, can someone tell me why, specificially, this is not recommended?

[devious goon]

Because then your ping goes sky-high.

[Swegkart64]

Are they 2 seperate games?
Or are they the same game?

[Uncouth Ruffian]

i think you might anger the wrath of gaben

but seriously i think it might slow down a small price to pay

[76561193855727635]

Originally posted by Swegkart64:

Are they 2 seperate games?
Or are they the same game?

Seperate, downloading one game and playing another whilst waiting for it to download.

[76561193855727635]

Originally posted by PETER:

The game you're downloading may not download correctly, and the game you're playing might lag. It's that simple.

Alright, thanks.

[Naedmi]

Downloading the game shouldn't be that bad if you are playing a Single Player game while it downloads. Otherwise, you will see a lot of lag and maybe some broken files.

[supertrooper225]

The Dean is right. If you are going to play a game while downloading something make it an offline single player game. I haven't really had any trouble with that. I downloaded a game today while playing another single player game.

[Broken Skull]

It doesn't download the game if you play something else on steam.

[supertrooper225]

Originally posted by Knif:

It doesn't download the game if you play something else on steam.

I know it used to be that way....but I downloaded a game while playing another game today. So I think it is do-able.

[Naedmi]

Originally posted by Knif:

It doesn't download the game if you play something else on steam.

You have to right click the game then select properties and enable backround downloads.

[Sinister]

if you play a singleplayer game there is nothing to worry. if its a multiplayer game you will have to live with lags, which can ruin especially multiplayer shooters.

you can download and play on steam. you just need to tell steam not to stop downloads when launching games. or alt-tab once you've launched your game and un-pause the download.

[Ishan451]

Originally posted by supertrooper225:

Originally posted by Knif:

It doesn't download the game if you play something else on steam.

I know it used to be that way....but I downloaded a game while playing another game today. So I think it is do-able.

It is a setting thing now. You can change it individually or globally if you want that. If you don't play a lot of Multiplayer games you can globally allow background downloads and just turn them off for the occasional Multiplayer game.

Otherwise its the other way around.


@OP

I have never had any problems with playing some singleplayer game while downloading. Depending on your line and the limitations you set for Steam you might not want to do it while playing Online games, since it will cause you to lag, in most cases.

[76561193855727635]

yeah I planned on playing a single player game whilst the other game was downloading, thanks for the feedback everyone.

[chiefputsilao]

if you have unlimited internet, play at your usual hours then do all the game/software downloads/updates at bedtime.