bit-tech.net

sotu1 · 11th Nov 2012, 22:25

Hi guys,

Just had a brain wave and need you guys to vet the idea:

Dropbox can act as a drive on your harddrive when it's actually on the cloud. Can you set your steam save files to be located there so you can play on another PC? Maybe, have it so that the local file on the 2 pc's are auto-copied and auto retrieved whenever they are changed?

What's your thoughts?

lancer778544 · 11th Nov 2012, 22:45

I thought Steam Cloud enabled games took care of all that?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wikipedia

In September 2008, Valve added support for Steam Cloud, a service that can automatically store game saves and related custom files on Valve's servers; users can then access this data from any other machine running the Steam client.

Bogomip · 11th Nov 2012, 22:47

Doesn't steam save games over cloud anyway?!

Even if not you would need a pretty massive dropbox to do it as afaik there is no method of separating gamefiles and save games from their respective directories. You would almost certainly need to pay for it.

sotu1 · 11th Nov 2012, 23:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bogomip

Doesn't steam save games over cloud anyway?!

Even if not you would need a pretty massive dropbox to do it as afaik there is no method of separating gamefiles and save games from their respective directories. You would almost certainly need to pay for it.

How big are save files? I don't think all games have steam save files. Xcom for example has different save files for me different pcs

Salty Wagyu · 12th Nov 2012, 08:01

\Steam\userdata is where most of the saves are stored. Your method can be achieved by using a NTFS symlink to a dropbox folder, but rather than fiddle with that I have a task scheduler job which copies my userdata folder to a backup location daily.

I don't trust the Steam cloud much, they lose stuff sometimes >.<

GeorgeStorm · 12th Nov 2012, 08:16

The number of times steam cloud says it can't save stuff etc means I wouldn't trust it if I wanted my saves in multiple places.
Dropbox seems like a good idea

Parge · 12th Nov 2012, 08:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeorgeStorm

The number of times steam cloud says it can't save stuff etc means I wouldn't trust it if I wanted my saves in multiple places.
Dropbox seems like a good idea

Could use Google Drive?

GeorgeStorm · 12th Nov 2012, 09:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by Parge

Could use Google Drive?

Yeah that would work, it doesn't bother me since I only have the one pc.
Steam cloud annoys me since it asks me what to do when it fails to update the cloud when playing something like tf2, where I think it is meant to be able to store configs etc, which could be useful.
If I wanted to start backing stuff like that up, would you recommend drive over dropbox?

wuyanxu · 12th Nov 2012, 09:08

dropbox are for noobs.

use SVN, and commit the saves you are happy to the server. you can also branch your gameplay by creating SVN branches. before you go into a memorable mission, you tag that save point. also setup Trac to manage your gameplay progress, and perhaps even delegate tasks to your little brother.

rollo · 12th Nov 2012, 11:06

Steam cloud keeps all your saves ive used my account on 2 pcs and transfered the saves no problem at all.

bigc90210 · 12th Nov 2012, 11:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by wuyanxu

dropbox are for noobs.

use SVN, and commit the saves you are happy to the server. you can also branch your gameplay by creating SVN branches. before you go into a memorable mission, you tag that save point. also setup Trac to manage your gameplay progress, and perhaps even delegate tasks to your little brother.

^^^ +rep. that is immense. extreme overkill, but immense all the same

adzc1987 · 12th Nov 2012, 13:27

I noticed in Civ 5 the steam cloud option, its a little annoying tbh having to pick to save there everytime.

Mind you i dont really have a use for cloud savegames.

sotu1 · 12th Nov 2012, 18:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by rollo

Steam cloud keeps all your saves ive used my account on 2 pcs and transfered the saves no problem at all.

:/ unless I'm missing something my Xcom saves don't cross PCs.

ThirtyQuidKid · 12th Nov 2012, 20:00

Use simlinks to cloud save or look up gamestow or game save manager

scott_chegg · 13th Nov 2012, 09:06

I've done it with this Link Shell Extension.

Works perfectly. Install link shell extension and dropbox client. Move the folder with your saves to your drop box folder then right click and hold on the moved folder and drag back to the original location. you'll have a new option in your context menu which will be "drop as". Select drop as and choose junction. This will create a ntfs junction the same way steam mover does.

I'm using this for steam and origin games and so far it's been great.

sotu1 · 13th Nov 2012, 11:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by scott_chegg

I've done it with this Link Shell Extension.

Works perfectly. Install link shell extension and dropbox client. Move the folder with your saves to your drop box folder then right click and hold on the moved folder and drag back to the original location. you'll have a new option in your context menu which will be "drop as". Select drop as and choose junction. This will create a ntfs junction the same way steam mover does.

I'm using this for steam and origin games and so far it's been great.

Sounds good! So does this auto update the save files on both PC's o do you have to manually update it?

scott_chegg · 13th Nov 2012, 12:48

You'd do that in the dropbox client. I created a folder on dropbox called Game Saves. I then set the dropbox client to sync that folder. I'm only using this on one PC at the moment so you'd have to configure the client on both PC's to do this.

hughwi · 13th Nov 2012, 13:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by wuyanxu

dropbox are for noobs.

use SVN, and commit the saves you are happy to the server. you can also branch your gameplay by creating SVN branches. before you go into a memorable mission, you tag that save point. also setup Trac to manage your gameplay progress, and perhaps even delegate tasks to your little brother.

nice, what happens if you dont have a little brother?

sotu1 · 13th Nov 2012, 22:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by hughwi

nice, what happens if you dont have a little brother?

+1. I LOL'd

adzc1987 · 15th Nov 2012, 13:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by sotu1

:/ unless I'm missing something my Xcom saves don't cross PCs.

I think it depends on the game if it syncs, im certain none of my valve games (portal, HL2 etc etc) goto the cloud.

11th Nov 2012, 22:25	#1
sotu1 Ex-Modder Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Bournemouth and London Posts: 2,515	Steam Saves via Dropbox or similar? Hi guys, Just had a brain wave and need you guys to vet the idea: Dropbox can act as a drive on your harddrive when it's actually on the cloud. Can you set your steam save files to be located there so you can play on another PC? Maybe, have it so that the local file on the 2 pc's are auto-copied and auto retrieved whenever they are changed? What's your thoughts? __________________ wc206 on Steam and bawnslippy1 on Origin.

11th Nov 2012, 22:47	#3
Bogomip ... Yo Momma Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Cambridge, Edinburgh Posts: 5,111	Doesn't steam save games over cloud anyway?! Even if not you would need a pretty massive dropbox to do it as afaik there is no method of separating gamefiles and save games from their respective directories. You would almost certainly need to pay for it. __________________ Remember the human and read up on Netiquette.

12th Nov 2012, 08:01	#5
Salty Wagyu moo Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Sussex, UK Posts: 435	\Steam\userdata is where most of the saves are stored. Your method can be achieved by using a NTFS symlink to a dropbox folder, but rather than fiddle with that I have a task scheduler job which copies my userdata folder to a backup location daily. I don't trust the Steam cloud much, they lose stuff sometimes >.< __________________ Main System & HTPC Specs

12th Nov 2012, 08:16	#6
GeorgeStorm Aggressive PC Builder Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 4,016	The number of times steam cloud says it can't save stuff etc means I wouldn't trust it if I wanted my saves in multiple places. Dropbox seems like a good idea __________________ "Anyone who just plays games for fun is a n3rd" - Jörge "I should be in prison for what I'm thinking right now" - Splooshiba My flickr - My blog it'sfilmnotmovie

12th Nov 2012, 09:08	#9
wuyanxu still wants Homeworld 3 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Luton Posts: 9,784	dropbox are for noobs. use SVN, and commit the saves you are happy to the server. you can also branch your gameplay by creating SVN branches. before you go into a memorable mission, you tag that save point. also setup Trac to manage your gameplay progress, and perhaps even delegate tasks to your little brother. __________________ i7 2700k \ 16GB \ gtx580 \ D2X \ z68x-UD5 \ m4 128GB +2TB \ Ax850 \ FT02-RW \ G15+G5+G51 \ U2711 27" 5D mkII \ 24-105 L \ 17-40 L \ 85/1.8 \ 35/2 \ 70-300 Di \ 270ExII \ 430ExII \ 3LT Adrian \ Hadley Pro -- Photostreamr

bit-tech.net

Site Links

Our Other Sites

12th Nov 2012, 11:06	#10
rollo I Mod, Therefore I Own Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 3,543	Steam cloud keeps all your saves ive used my account on 2 pcs and transfered the saves no problem at all.

12th Nov 2012, 13:27	#12
adzc1987 Supermodder Join Date: May 2011 Location: West Lothian, Scotland Posts: 423	I noticed in Civ 5 the steam cloud option, its a little annoying tbh having to pick to save there everytime. Mind you i dont really have a use for cloud savegames. __________________ Like Spaceships? Like the idea of a one shard MMO? Get a free 21day E\/E Online trial here.

12th Nov 2012, 20:00	#14
ThirtyQuidKid Supermodder Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Essex Posts: 319	Use simlinks to cloud save or look up gamestow or game save manager __________________ Steam - 30quidkid A glossy screen serves only one useful purpose: to let you watch for assassins sneaking up behind you. Main - ASUS P8Z68-V, i5 2500K O/C to 4.6GHz, Corsair H80, 8GB DDR3, PNY GTX 580, SyncMaster 2032MW, Samsung 830 - 256Gb, WD Caviar BLUE 1TB, Hitachi 1GB, MS Windows 7 64-bit SP1, MS SideWinder X4 Keyboard, G400 Mouse

13th Nov 2012, 09:06	#15
scott_chegg It's a tool. Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Manchester Posts: 904	I've done it with this Link Shell Extension. Works perfectly. Install link shell extension and dropbox client. Move the folder with your saves to your drop box folder then right click and hold on the moved folder and drag back to the original location. you'll have a new option in your context menu which will be "drop as". Select drop as and choose junction. This will create a ntfs junction the same way steam mover does. I'm using this for steam and origin games and so far it's been great. __________________ My System: i5 2500K @ 4.7Ghz \| MSI P67A-GD65 (B3) \| 16GB Crucial Ballistix Sport 1600MHz \| Corsair H-50 Push-Pull with Silent Eagle 2000's \| Silverstone Raven RV03 \| EVGA 670 FTW \| Dell SP2309W \| Antec 750W TruePower Blue \| Win 7 x64 \| Crucial 64GB C300 for OS \| Samsung 830 256GB for Active Games & a 1TB Samsung for Steam. Perphiperals: Roccat Kone+ Max V2 \| CMStorm Quickfire Pro with Cherry Reds \| Cyborg F.L.Y 5 stick for flying and a Logitech DF GT for driving.

13th Nov 2012, 12:48	#17
scott_chegg It's a tool. Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Manchester Posts: 904	You'd do that in the dropbox client. I created a folder on dropbox called Game Saves. I then set the dropbox client to sync that folder. I'm only using this on one PC at the moment so you'd have to configure the client on both PC's to do this. __________________ My System: i5 2500K @ 4.7Ghz \| MSI P67A-GD65 (B3) \| 16GB Crucial Ballistix Sport 1600MHz \| Corsair H-50 Push-Pull with Silent Eagle 2000's \| Silverstone Raven RV03 \| EVGA 670 FTW \| Dell SP2309W \| Antec 750W TruePower Blue \| Win 7 x64 \| Crucial 64GB C300 for OS \| Samsung 830 256GB for Active Games & a 1TB Samsung for Steam. Perphiperals: Roccat Kone+ Max V2 \| CMStorm Quickfire Pro with Cherry Reds \| Cyborg F.L.Y 5 stick for flying and a Logitech DF GT for driving.