Steam Issues

[Chadders87]

Just venting my frustration. 5 times in the past 7 days I have gone to play a games through Steam (online and offline) only to find out I can't do squat because the steam servers are down.

Apparently they are being DDoS'd but I would expect the market leading DRM platform to allow me to actually play ANY game in my library in offline mode regardless of whether I can establish a connection to the server.

Stupid DRM. I never used to mind Steam being overly controlling as it never affected me (and I liked the "all in one place" aspect) but this is getting ridiculous.

[Ttaskmaster]

I lost Steam connectivity once last night, for about a half hour, then it was fine.

I don't think any of my games cannot be played in Offline mode, though. They just save progress locally and then sync up next time I'm Online... except the MMOey type stuff, obviously. But wouldn't their operation depend on connection to the MMO server rather than Steam?

[azrael-]

I have experienced much of the same for the last couple of weeks. The funny bit is the error message about my Internet connection being down the Steam client pops up. All the while I'm happily surfing the web in Firefox. Didn't know the servers were being DDoS'ed though.

[Disturbedguy]

I have experienced much of the same for the last couple of weeks. The funny bit is the error message about my Internet connection being down the Steam client pops up. All the while I'm happily surfing the web in Firefox. Didn't know the servers were being DDoS'ed though.

Has been going on for a while, whoever it is hit steam in a big way over the weekend during a championship and took them offline for an hour or two, there was some speculation it's an ex-pro player doing it / getting someone to do it, but I cant seem to find the article I read the other day.

[jim]

The offline mode simply doesn't work. I think that it's intentional as well.

[outwar6010]

I haven't had a chance to play much in the last week or so but what happens if you disable your network adapter etc and then try steam.

[Stylin]

The offline mode simply doesn't work. I think that it's intentional as well.

I have used offline mode several times. Rarely due to the Steam servers being down, but I believe there are some situations where it will not work. Mostly if you have never run the game before it may not work in offline mode and if you try to start offline mode when you are not online (at least the first time you try offline mode) I have had it not start up offline mode. But if you make sure you try offline mode when everything is working fine and you have launched any games you may want to play while in offline mode. You should have no issues.

[jim]

I have used offline mode several times. Rarely due to the Steam servers being down, but I believe there are some situations where it will not work. Mostly if you have never run the game before it may not work in offline mode and if you try to start offline mode when you are not online (at least the first time you try offline mode) I have had it not start up offline mode. But if you make sure you try offline mode when everything is working fine and you have launched any games you may want to play while in offline mode. You should have no issues.

Precisely my issue. I mean, if there's one time when I'd like to launch Steam in offline mode, it's when I'm offline!

[directhex]

Offline Mode works fine, as long as you have a valid cached auth token.

Which is to say, Steam needs something saved on disk to say "user X is logged in fine".

If you don't have a valid auth token - for example you were signed out for some reason before losing connectivity - then offline mode doesn't work.

[GeorgeStorm]

So if you turn on your PC, and your internet is down or whatever offline mode won't work? Since you weren't logged in?

The last couple of times I've had issues with steam I've just gone into offline mode as far as I can remember, didn't try playing any games though, since I was in the mood for a multiplayer game.

[jim]

If you don't have a valid auth token - for example you were signed out for some reason before losing connectivity - then offline mode doesn't work.

That's a pretty likely scenario though, isn't it? My PC isn't on when I'm not using it.

That's what I mean about it being purposefully hobbled. If they let people use offline mode whenever they had no web connection, then sharing Steam accounts would be incredibly easy, so instead they have applied preconditions.

I don't mind, since it's a choice I make when using Steam. But it is irritating when the web isn't working and everyone acts as though Offline Mode is the magic bullet.

[Ttaskmaster]

If they let people use offline mode whenever they had no web connection, then sharing Steam accounts would be incredibly easy, so instead they have applied preconditions.

When I tried logging in the other day and didn't have connectivity, I was given the choice to enter my password or start Steam in Offline mode, though. I could do the latter and still run my games just fine.

[Jellyfish]

I was reading a while back on GOG, that some people had problems aswell in regards to having it in offline mode for too long. Some people couldn't use that after a 2 week period (it varied for some people) Some say its deliberate, others said Steam were trying to fix... me being cynical i think i know my answer

[mazty]

That's a pretty likely scenario though, isn't it? My PC isn't on when I'm not using it.

That's what I mean about it being purposefully hobbled. If they let people use offline mode whenever they had no web connection, then sharing Steam accounts would be incredibly easy, so instead they have applied preconditions.

I don't mind, since it's a choice I make when using Steam. But it is irritating when the web isn't working and everyone acts as though Offline Mode is the magic bullet.

Sadly it looks like Valve will never fix the offline mode to actually work for people who DC. Not sure if there is a way around it or keeping a key on the HDD/in a cloud as that'd be ideal.