So where are the actual data files on the computer? I cannot find them in the Steam directory folder in Program files?

If I don't know where they are I cannot mod them or install mods.

Also, I want to bring up the issue of steam again:

I understand needing to use steam to activate the game - but do I need Steam every time I play? Is there a way to make it so I just play the game from my computer/disc after installation?

J

The game should be in your Steam\steamapps\common folder.

And yes, you need to have Steam running to launch the game.

Thank you for the quick reply, FalloutFTW. I found the files.

What bothers me about Steam having to be used EVERY time is this: I have Arcanum and play Arcanum 10 years later..... if Steam goes bankrupt or otherwise fails as a business, my FO:NV becomes a doorstop instead of a favorite game....

Doesn't this bother anyone else that game-makers now hold what you pay for hostage? We never fully own the product .... which is utterly wrong if I pay for it.

You never owned a game.

You paid for a license to play the game.

I have the Steamversion of Fallout 3 and mods, etc work fine.

doublepost?

That's actually a relatively new phenomena. Not that I'm necessarily disagreeing with it. Whenever any 'good' game's publisher goes defunct, someone usually gives it legacy support. Of course, even if you did own the game, there is no guarantee that it would work with the next version of say, windows, or that bethesda, valve, obsidian, or anyone else will release patches to keep it working, even if they are all still solvent.

But anyway, back in "the day" you actually did buy ownership of games. Before the idea of filesharing ont he internet really got underway, the treatment was (and yes, I looked at the info in old game manuals and agreements to figure this out) that you OWNED the game. Being cartridges at the time, games were essentially physical product, and even computer medium like floppy disks and the earliest CD-ROM games were treated this way.

But yes, the industry standard for video games, or really any program now, is that you own a license to the software, to the rights for a limited number of people to use it on a limited number of machines, per specific parameters. No one has to like it, but I wouldn't act to surprised or put off by it either.

No, that's actually a relatively old thing. I just checked my old Neverwinter nights manual, it even states there, they own it, you just have the license to use it. Just because you own the disc the game come on does not mean you own the content on it. I pretty sure this applies to every media type (games, movies, CDs, even books). All you get is a license to use it, not the ownership of it.

The actual wording is "The Software is licensed and not sold to you and its use is subject to the EULA."

People assume physical = ownership, but in fact, all you own is a coaster.

If they were to go bankrupt ....

You won't be able to purchase new games etc through if this was to happen.
You can Still play all your games.

The activation is a 1 time process.

True, Steam needs to be running to play the game. However, it does NOT need to have a internet connection in order to play your games. (with the exception of downloading patches, friends, chat etc)
You can set it to offline mode after the initial activation occurs


I get it, i do. I used to dislike STEAM as well. After getting used to it, and doing business with them a while, I grew to like them and even prefer them as digital distributor.

Look at it as sort of a disc check so to speak, only you dont really need the disc.
I prefer to stay online though for many reasons, & because the ingame browser is a bit easier than ALT+Tabbing out of the game. just [censored]+TAB and you have everything you need


Im still waiting for UPS Grrrrrrrrrrr

Steam would provide some sort of system for players to permanently unlock their Steam games before they went down. If not... really... legality here or there, is there any 10 year old game you can't download today?

I hate Steam too, but only because I have to buy a separate *full* copy of a game in order for my teenage son and I to both have different friends lists and achievements. However at the same time I like that fact that I can play the game from my Steam account on my Laptop or Desktop while on the 360 I have to buy DLC twice in order to play it on our upstairs or living room 360

I would imagine that it would be fairly easy for Valve to modify the Steam client so that it will shut up about failing to connect to the internet, in the event of Steam's closure.