Steam + Beta Patch?

[Akmatov]

Just noticed that ROP is available on Steam. Can one use a beta patch with a steam installation?

[Gray_Lensman]

deleted

[Hohenlohe]

With an active Steam access/account during gameplay you will usually not able to use any other patches as such ones Steam will offer.
So it is better to buy Ageod games either as boxed versions or via Gamersgate.

Hope it helps...

greetings

Hohenlohe, who has made his own experiences with Steam...

[Pocus]

That's the problem yes, Steam can only support official patches, I guess that would be an impossible task for them to do otherwise. I use Steam for mainstream/casual gaming, but it is true that for more confidential games (from Ageod, Matrix, Shrapnel etc.) it is not ideal.

[Jarkko]

I have understood it is quite possible to use beta patches on games purchased from Steam, but it is not necessary that easy.

First of all the auto-updater has to be turned off in Steam (the option is apparently under some tab or something).

Secondly, you have to locate where the game is installed, and then apply the beta patch there.

Thirdly, the game can not be launched from Steam, but you have to launch using the (correct) .exe file in the game install folder (if you launch the game with the "wrong" .exe, it opens up Steam; use the .exe which launches the game without Steam).




Notice that I don't have Steam installed myself, but that is the way it seems to work for Paradox games bought from Steam

[Generalisimo]

I have understood it is quite possible to use beta patches on games purchased from Steam, but it is not necessary that easy.

Exactly...

First of all the auto-updater has to be turned off in Steam (the option is apparently under some tab or something).

You can select that option on a per game basis... so, go to the prefferences of this game in particular and select never auto update (or something like that).

Secondly, you have to locate where the game is installed, and then apply the beta patch there.

Usually, it is inside this directory:
../Program files/Steam/SteamApps/common/"game folder"

Thirdly, the game can not be launched from Steam, but you have to launch using the (correct) .exe file in the game install folder (if you launch the game with the "wrong" .exe, it opens up Steam; use the .exe which launches the game without Steam).

Notice that I don't have Steam installed myself, but that is the way it seems to work for Paradox games bought from Steam

I haven't tried this particular solution Jarkko comments here, but I know people have manually updated their games without the use of the auto updater of Steam... so, that can be done in theory.
Another solution that I have heard of (haven't tried it myself, so do it at your own risk ) is copying your game directory to another location and applying the patch manually over that new directory.
Like you can guess, the key here is to not allow Steam to autoupdate your game... because it will remove the new files.