A thing that I really hate about game installs. (Full Version)

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Perturabo -> A thing that I really hate about game installs. (7/30/2011 5:51:34 PM)

So, I had to remove my .wine prefix in Wine (and equivalent of doing a system re-install in Windows) and I have to say that there's one thing that I really hate about about some of install systems.

Namely, they tend to put their stuff where it doesn't belong - in windows registry and weird places like that. When Windows is re-installed, they can't run because there's stuff missing.
For some reason the developers think that when Windows is reinstalled, the player should also waste his time re-installing tens of other programs.



ilovestrategy -> RE: A thing that I really hate about game installs. (7/30/2011 7:15:43 PM)

I wish I had an answer. When it comes to any sort of tech stuff, I'm really ignorant. 



Perturabo -> RE: A thing that I really hate about game installs. (7/30/2011 9:13:01 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: ilovestrategy

I wish I had an answer. When it comes to any sort of tech stuff, I'm really ignorant.

It's not a technical help thread, it's a rant[:'(].



Lützow -> RE: A thing that I really hate about game installs. (7/30/2011 9:26:36 PM)

Every program needs configuration entries in order to run. That's not an MS invention but applies to other OS as well. The problem about Windows is just, that these datas don't get stored in plain text files.



Perturabo -> RE: A thing that I really hate about game installs. (7/30/2011 10:14:55 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Lützow

Every program needs configuration entries in order to run. That's not an MS invention but applies to other OS as well. The problem about Windows is just, that these datas don't get stored in plain text files.

Actually, it depends on the developers. Putting anything needed to run the program outside of the installation folder is simply a very bad habit of some developers. Most of programs that I have installed worked and some didn't.

Programs that worked:
Tacops, SPWaW, WCNaW (or rather would work if it worked on wine), Duke Nukem Manhattan Project, Fallout (that install is 5 years old and survived several system reinstalls), Baldur's Gate 2 (a 4 years old install), Temple of Elemental Evil, Omega Syndrome (I had to re-enter the key-code).

Now, time for the hall of shame:
Falcon 4.0
iM1A2 Abrams
Battles in Italy
Airborne Assault: Red Devils over Arnhem
Operation Flashpoint



sterckxe -> RE: A thing that I really hate about game installs. (8/1/2011 7:57:35 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Lützow
Every program needs configuration entries in order to run. That's not an MS invention but applies to other OS as well. The problem about Windows is just, that these datas don't get stored in plain text files.


They used to be - back in the days before Win95 *every* program just put their parameters in an "ini" file which was a perfect solution, so naturally M$ had to mess with that on the pretext that people didn't back-up their program directories and so the registry was born. Hated it from the start but fighting at windmills and all that ...

Greetz,

Eddy Sterckx



Perturabo -> RE: A thing that I really hate about game installs. (8/1/2011 10:52:58 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: sterckxe

quote:

ORIGINAL: Lützow
Every program needs configuration entries in order to run. That's not an MS invention but applies to other OS as well. The problem about Windows is just, that these datas don't get stored in plain text files.


They used to be - back in the days before Win95 *every* program just put their parameters in an "ini" file which was a perfect solution, so naturally M$ had to mess with that on the pretext that people didn't back-up their program directories and so the registry was born. Hated it from the start but fighting at windmills and all that ...

Greetz,

Eddy Sterckx


It could be solved by having a double setting system - if ini isn't present -> try copying settings from the registry. If they aren't in registry isn't present but ini is present, copy settings from ini to the registry.

In case of both Battles in Italy and Operation Flashpoint it wrote that something is wrong with keycode and that I need to reinstall. It turned out that in case of Operation Flashpoint it saved the keycode right after entering it. For some weird reason, it started doing a very long self-verification procedure (why? other games somehow can install without "self-verifying" a disk), so meanwhile I decided to try if the game works now. It turned out that it works, so I closed the installation window.
Couldn't they, like store they key in the god-damned game directory?

And to be honest, I haven't ever seen anyone expressing their dislike to stuff like this. I guess stuff like rootkits, online activation, etc. has completely desensitized people to problems with reliability.



planner 3 -> RE: A thing that I really hate about game installs. (8/1/2011 5:08:43 PM)

Peturabo: In accordance with the Guru's of Computerism,[&o] (new religion), we are now all Masters of the computerized world and of all that resides in it.[:D] Therefore they can put whatever and wherever in your computer they desire too.[:@] Then we are capable of sorting out the mess. [&:](The last sentence constitutes sacreligious statements and therfore will be deleted along with the author). Bye cruel world.[:-]



sterckxe -> RE: A thing that I really hate about game installs. (8/3/2011 7:31:19 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Perturabo
Couldn't they, like store they key in the god-damned game directory?


Well, that's how all current Matrix games do it : the serial number is stored in a file in the game directory - I guess it was a learning process for everyone :)

Greetz,

Eddy Sterckx




carnifex -> RE: A thing that I really hate about game installs. (8/3/2011 2:49:39 PM)

My pet install peeve is games that insist on directory structures like this C:\PublisherName\GameCompanyName\Somethingelse\Game. Too effin hard to do C:\Program Files\Game ?!?






sterckxe -> RE: A thing that I really hate about game installs. (8/3/2011 3:39:06 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: carnifex
My pet install peeve is games that insist on directory structures like this C:\PublisherName\GameCompanyName\Somethingelse\Game. Too effin hard to do C:\Program Files\Game ?!?


There's a good reason *not* to install games in the c:\program files\ directory : the dreaded UAC in Vista and Win7

Matrix is actually one of the few companies who get this right so this might be a pet peeve for you, but it's a blessing for a lot of other people

Greetz,

Eddy Sterckx






greykemp@gmail.com -> RE: A thing that I really hate about game installs. (8/3/2011 5:50:07 PM)

Anything is better than STEAM and IMPULSE



Perturabo -> RE: A thing that I really hate about game installs. (8/3/2011 6:55:14 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: sterckxe

quote:

ORIGINAL: Perturabo
Couldn't they, like store they key in the god-damned game directory?


Well, that's how all current Matrix games do it : the serial number is stored in a file in the game directory - I guess it was a learning process for everyone :)

Greetz,

Eddy Sterckx



Good to hear it.



Lützow -> RE: A thing that I really hate about game installs. (8/4/2011 12:28:33 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Perturabo

It could be solved by having a double setting system - if ini isn't present -> try copying settings from the registry. If they aren't in registry isn't present but ini is present, copy settings from ini to the registry.


Of course, it could, but they don't want you to fiddle with the settings. The dreaded registry is part of MS security scheme. If you're done with Windows setup and have installed all your stuff, back up it on a discrete hard disk. Will save you tons of time for the future,



hrdcrgamer -> RE: A thing that I really hate about game installs. (8/5/2011 6:42:07 AM)

Don't worry ... the vast majority of the world is ignorant when it comes to the nitty-gritty aspects of tech.



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