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STEAM | July 2014-3 – Let Off Some STEAM Bennett

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J

JaseC

gave away the keys to the kingdom.
Teppic said:
I hope you guys who's planning to idling over night has free electricity :p And a working fire alarm.
Click to expand...

The point behind using SAM /the app id trick to idle is that you don't need to download any data or actually run the game. There'd be no measurable difference between leaving your PC running for a week and running it for a week while using SAM/a launcher to idle.
 
Beelzebubs

Beelzebubs

Member
Love seeing all the work that goes into stuff like this, keep it up jshackles! Haven't read up too much on what you've been doing in the Steam thread the last 50 or so pages so didn't know you were doing a standalone exe. Thought you were trying to do it with the browser extension.

Really, great stuff man!
 
K

Knurek

Member
jshackles said:
Eventually I'll be replacing the SAM executable all together with my own application that just allows you to idle.
Click to expand...

Can you add a function that will reset playtime after idling?
Yes, it's stored serverside, but maybe there are some exploits that would work here? Sending negative time values, etc?
 
A

Arthea

Member
billmcdougal said:
I am not familiar with this Space Rangers HD game that was just randomly mentioned a few times.

Do I need to be sold on this?
Click to expand...

totally! although I haven't played HD remake yet, the game is real deal!
It's probably the best game of this kind, as in I'm not sure there is another game of this kind, although someone might say Star Control, I don't think it's the same thing at all!
 
Tizoc

Tizoc

Member
If I only redeem the Humongous Entertainment Complete Pack, that means I get all 28/27 games and the other keys become spares correct?
 
F

FloatOn

Member
Taking a half day at work today for my sisters graduation. This should allow me some extra game time this afternoon as well.

I can't decide if I want to keep plugging away at dead space 2 or man up and play dark souls 2 dlc.
 
D

Dr Dogg

Member
jshackles have you though about the AppID trick? You could cut SAM out altogether. Might be a hassle finding a game everyone owns and has installed though.

Teppic said:
I hope you guys who's planning to idling over night has free electricity :p And a working fire alarm.
Click to expand...

I don't think I've turned my main PC off in about 2 months and that was only to clean it. Those boot times and processes starting up waste valuable seconds of productivity!
 
jshackles

jshackles

Gentlemen, we can rebuild it. We have the capability to make the world's first enhanced store. Steam will be that store. Better than it was before.
Knurek said:
Can you add a function that will reset playtime after idling?
Yes, it's stored serverside, but maybe there are some exploits that would work here? Sending negative time values, etc?
Click to expand...

Unfortunately no. That would definitely be the holy grail of an application like this.

Dr Dogg said:
jshackles have you though about the AppID trick? You could cut SAM out altogether. Might be a hassle finding a game everyone owns and has installed though.
Click to expand...

That's precisely the issue. To start another game with the AppID trick, the code would need to be configured with the full path of the exe and would have to have permission to write to that game's directory. The code to terminate the process also has to be given the process name (which could be different, depending on the game). Right now SAM is the best bet. I understand not everyone wants to use it, considering it's original purpose, so I'm planning on writing another app to work in conjunction with this one that simply takes a single argument (an AppID) and simulates you being in-game for as long as that process is running.

Using node-steam it should be lightweight, portable, and not rely on the .NET framework like SAM does.
 
T

Turfster

Member
You guys like Sherlock Holmes, right? Have a 23 minute trailer.

Also, Games Planet started their summer sale. Their prices are weirdly split between the UK and mainland EU, tho.
(Also, if it has a download size listed, it's not a Steam key apparently)
Steam key dailies:
  • SR4 Uncut 75% off
  • Tropico 5 33-49% off
  • Skyrim 75% off
  • CoD Ghosts 50% off
  • GRID 2 Reloaded 66% off
  • Alan Wake 85% off
  • Rome Total War Collection 66% off
  • Europa Universalis IV Digital Extreme Edition 75% off
  • Titan Quest Gold 75% off
 
T

Teppic

Member
JaseC said:
The point behind using SAM /the app id trick to idle is that you don't need to download any data or actually run the game. There'd be no measurable difference between leaving your PC running for a week and running it for a week while using SAM/a launcher to idle.
Click to expand...
Oh, I see. I though you needed to start the games which would have increased the cost. I'm still interested in how much it costs to have a computer on overnight.

MMBosstones86 said:
what?

notsureifserious.jpg

it's the same as if you leave your computer on over night. If idling games is causing your computer to overheat, you might need to clean it out.
Click to expand...
Accidents can happen. Probably less likely when you're not using much of it's power and clean it out regularly. I just don't like to take chances. Heard a few stories when families have died in a fire because their kid left their laptop on overnight.
 
W

wilflare

Member
jshackles, that new app/exe is what I'll use. maybe I should really get back to idling.

would be great if you can get SAM out of the picture though - so we don't get into trouble w Steam (if Valve decides to mess people up) or Playfire

---
and is anyone having issues w Enhanced Steam? am I the only one where it's getting errors... guess I should really change back to Chrome Beta/Stable
 
E

EmergentFocus

Member
billmcdougal said:
I am not familiar with this Space Rangers HD game that was just randomly mentioned a few times.

Do I need to be sold on this?
Click to expand...

Arthea said:
totally! although I haven't played HD remake yet, the game is real deal!
It's probably the best game of this kind, as in I'm not sure there is another game of this kind, although someone might say Star Control, I don't think it's the same thing at all!
Click to expand...

I agree with Arthea, and it is unique in that it crosses a number of seemingly disparate genres, ranging from RTS to text adventure to 2D arcade shooter. The main portion of the game plays out as a sort of turn-based Elite set against the background of a "living" galaxy at war, seasoned with the kind of twisted humour that only a Russian dev can produce. The best comment about the game I saw recently (stolen from another forum):

[...] And what other computer games do you take time out from hunting genocidal robots in a turn-based RPG-like environment to apply Boolean logic and perhaps higher-level algebra to one-off quests. I'll never forget that dang quest where I had to play strip poker with the 70-year old secretary to secure the Top Secret documents for one of my benefactors!
Click to expand...

From the current price I would say it is definitely worth a punt if you think you might be remotely interested.
 
M

MMBosstones86

Member
Teppic said:
Oh, I see. I though you needed to start the games which would have increased the cost. I'm still interested in how much it costs to have a computer on overnight.
Click to expand...

I don't know the exactly numbers, but it's pretty negligible. I have my laptop and my desktop running over night and haven't noticed a change in my bill.

I mean, we're talking like $10 a year.
 
J

JaseC

gave away the keys to the kingdom.
Two Tribes just announced its new game: Rive, a 2D action-platformer. Releases next year but will be playable at Gamescom.
 
D

Double

Member
JaseC said:
The point behind using SAM /the app id trick to idle is that you don't need to download any data or actually run the game. There'd be no measurable difference between leaving your PC running for a week and running it for a week while using SAM/a launcher to idle.
Click to expand...
So... you don't need to have the game installed?!
 
D

Dr Dogg

Member
You know you're becoming a tight arse when you're deliberating over saving a £1 by using a trader or not. That and none of the ones I use are online.

jshackles said:
That's precisely the issue. To start another game with the AppID trick, the code would need to be configured with the full path of the exe and would have to have permission to write to that game's directory. The code to terminate the process also has to be given the process name (which could be different, depending on the game). Right now SAM is the best bet. I understand not everyone wants to use it, considering it's original purpose, so I'm planning on writing another app to work in conjunction with this one that simply takes a single argument (an AppID) and simulates you being in-game for as long as that process is running.

Using node-steam it should be lightweight, portable, and not rely on the .NET framework like SAM does.
Click to expand...

Ah nice. I don't know if you saw my post a while back but having this rolled into Enhanced Steam could offer some great flexibly directly from the page. You could have a push to idle button but I get the feeling Valve might not be too keen on that or you could use the amount of sorting features available like titles with most amount of drops remaining first or go by title with highest market value first.
 
corrosivefrost

corrosivefrost

Member
Sajjaja said:
FUCK CENTIPEDES...
Click to expand...

Indeed, sir... indeed.

Shadownet said:
Its really weird that Alfred in Batman Arkham Orange look more Asian than he is British..
Click to expand...

racist1.gif


Fuzzification said:
wba8y.gif
Click to expand...

kip_yes.gif
 
K

KillerDark

Member
Up for grabs if anyone wants it

ModBot said:
Instructions for participants:
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ModBot Basics:

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Bioshock -- MB-E55F1384B60CF677 - Taken by Easy_D
Click to expand...
 
jshackles

jshackles

Gentlemen, we can rebuild it. We have the capability to make the world's first enhanced store. Steam will be that store. Better than it was before.
Dr Dogg said:
Ah nice. I don't know if you saw my post a while back but having this rolled into Enhanced Steam could offer some great flexibly directly from the page. You could have a push to idle button but I get the feeling Valve might not be too keen on that or you could use the amount of sorting features available like titles with most amount of drops remaining first or go by title with highest market value first.
Click to expand...

I probably won't be tying this in directly with Enhanced Steam, but I am actually working on sorting the idling order by the "most valuable first" using the same database and methods that Enhanced Steam uses to sort the badges page.
 
Terra_Ex

Terra_Ex

Member
EmergentFocus said:
I agree with Arthea, and it is unique in that it crosses a number of seemingly disparate genres, ranging from RTS to text adventure to 2D arcade shooter. The main portion of the game plays out as a sort of turn-based Elite set against the background of a "living" galaxy at war, seasoned with the kind of twisted humour that only a Russian dev can produce. The best comment about the game I saw recently (stolen from another forum):



From the current price I would say it is definitely worth a punt if you think you might be remotely interested.
Click to expand...

Arthea said:
totally! although I haven't played HD remake yet, the game is real deal!
It's probably the best game of this kind, as in I'm not sure there is another game of this kind, although someone might say Star Control, I don't think it's the same thing at all!
Click to expand...

billmcdougal said:
I am not familiar with this Space Rangers HD game that was just randomly mentioned a few times.

Do I need to be sold on this?
Click to expand...
Just to pile on, yeah the game is definitely worth it, sorta reminds me of a cross between Mount and Blade and FTL with some optional RTS stuff thrown in. I've spent almost 50 hours on it so far and am nowhere close to finishing, easily worth it at the current price. It's one of those games that many people will ignore because the screenshots don't do it justice, but once you get into it, it's so good. It's sad that GAF has pretty much disregarded it.

Counting down the hours till Trails now.
 
A

Arthea

Member
oupi said:
Exactly. That is the beauty of it. You don't need to download and install the games.
Click to expand...

That's not the beauty of it, we already can do that, using Jasec's trick, but with this method, we don't need change games we idle, it's basically fully automatic idling, dream of any card hoarder (><)
 
O

oupi

Member
Arthea said:
That's not the beauty of it, we already can do that, using Jasec's trick, but with this method, we don't need change games we idle, it's basically fully automatic idling, dream of any card hoarder (><)
Click to expand...

I didn't mean jshackles's new script but I rather tried to explain the point of idling (SAM) to Double.
 
S

Stumpokapow

listen to the mad man
The amazing thing about the automatic idling rotation thing is that no one has done it yet. Like, the code I wrote yesterday is something I wrote in like 20 minutes because I read other people talk about it and thought "wow that would be kind of neat" and I'm not even a particularly good programmer.
 
H

Htown

STOP SHITTING ON MY MOTHER'S HEADSTONE
Arthea said:
That's not the beauty of it, we already can do that, using Jasec's trick, but with this method, we don't need change games we idle, it's basically fully automatic idling, dream of any card hoarder (><)
Click to expand...

What's JaseC's trick?
 
G

Gunstarheroes

Member
Stumpokapow said:
The amazing thing about the automatic idling rotation thing is that no one has done it yet. Like, the code I wrote yesterday is something I wrote in like 20 minutes because I read other people talk about it and thought "wow that would be kind of neat" and I'm not even a particularly good programmer.
Click to expand...

I can't believe no one had. I wish you had made it before today though. I woke up to my new set of Space Hulk and Rhythm Destruction cards, only to realize....I have no more games to idle. What purpose do i have now? Do i need to actually play these things now?
 
M

MMBosstones86

Member
SinineSiil said:
Nothing will happen.
Click to expand...

Use it unlock achievements tied to Playfire and report back.

Stumpokapow said:
The amazing thing about the automatic idling rotation thing is that no one has done it yet. Like, the code I wrote yesterday is something I wrote in like 20 minutes because I read other people talk about it and thought "wow that would be kind of neat" and I'm not even a particularly good programmer.
Click to expand...

That really is amazing. We've been bitching about the numerous games to idle since this started....and before yesterday-ish, had anyone thought about it?

You guys are really awesome.
 
D

Dr Dogg

Member
jshackles said:
I probably won't be tying this in directly with Enhanced Steam, but I am actually working on sorting the idling order by the "most valuable first" using the same database and methods that Enhanced Steam uses to sort the badges page.
Click to expand...

Hahaha yeah understood. Oh on a side note is your Patreon drive still going?
 
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