Dead is Dead save game gone missing

[Alan Phipps]

Yes, it might be worth editing your thread title to something like 'Steam 3.1.1 DLC DiD continue saves recently started disappearing' to see if that triggers others seeing similar issues to comment.

Maybe you and VincentTH could compare system and problem notes to see what the commonalities are.

[niadh]

Hmmm interesting. 10 hours plus and the save game is still listed in the continue menu.
Now I am wondering if it was the Steam client that was acting up as I got an update this morning.
I am now trying to find an update history for the client to see if it was updated last shortly before I started encountering problems.
Or perhaps the update has fixed, inadvertantly, a problem with the Steam client.

[niadh]

and steam support person Paul shows no indication of having read any of my previous posts. I'll start with my opening post.

"Can someone explain why my X3 Terran Conflict Dead is Dead save game is no longer registering.
I was playing the game up until about 7.37pm on 23/07/11 and after saving and exiting the game following completion of the Goner plot line I went back into the Continue game menu to check that it was indeed saved, and it was, before exiting the game completely.
This morning I try to start it to find it is no longer listed in the continue menu. The save file itself is still present on my hdd at 10.8Mb."

and here is pauls 2nd response ( the first being about where to look for save games.

"
Please describe the issue you are experiencing in more detail.

Also, provide a screenshot of any error(s) you are seeing.

Then, follow the instructions linked below to provide a diagnostic report for your system.

For a PC:

Title: Saving a Screenshot on a PC
Link: http://support.steampowered.com/kb_arti ... -WOLN-6452

Title: How to run and submit MSINFO32 Info reports
URL: http://support.steampowered.com/kb_arti ... -WTZN-9132

Note: Please make sure your operating system is updated fully before running the report.
http://update.microsoft.com/"

Now if he had been paying attention he would have noticed the 2 screenshots i had previously uploaded of the continue menu and one of the save game location.
MSINFO32 report provided not that I think it's relevant just like DXDiag.

PC is always kept up to date mainly because ESET bitches about it if it isn't.

It'll be interesting to see what stunning revelation he comes up with next probably in about 3-4 days.

/end sarcasm

[nponoBegHuk]

The same just happened to me, been playing for around 15 hours now. After returning from work, anxious to continue my DID journey, I discovered that my save was gone. I own the DLC too and I think my mistake was loading the game before seeing the typical "X3 a sunny place has finished downloading" message, however it could be anything, really, as I don't know how the cloud sync process actually works for this game.

While I understand that the devs are certainly busy developing the upcoming title, I think it would be a good move to finally solve the DID problems or at least give us some kind of a tool which could check the status of steam cloud data prior to blacklisting the DID save file. A message like "Steam cloud data need to be downloaded prior to running this game to keep your DID save playable, Wait/Run anyway?" or at least some kind of message within the game telling us that "Your DID game was blacklisted because its CRC didn't match the steam cloud registry".

Other option would be a change in the sync process, something like
-save the game normally, then get CRC + whatever checks you need to identify legitimate DID saves.
-write all the useful data obtained in the previous step to a "key" file, along with the timestamp and steam login (or, alternatively, game CD-key provided by/for steam install, to prevent DID save sharing between users to cheat achievements).
-encrypt the said file and submit it to steam, let the steam infrastructure handle the cloud sync process.


Upon loading DID game:
-the game client would check timestamps provided by both local and remote "key" files, and choose the most recent one.
-If the CRC matches the locally stored save file, the client would proceed to send to steam cloud another key file, with current timestamp and fake all-zero CRC or just pre-determined "no load" code to avoid the possibility to roll back by pressing alt-F4 or resetting your pc
-If the key file in the step above couldn't be sent, DON'T blacklist the save game, just display a message saying "No steam connection is present at the moment, try again later", and abort the loading process. This way, the cloud sync failures will be less threatening to your game.
-If after exiting game the sync fails, the local key file will have more recent time stamp anyway, and thus will be valid to load your game.

This way you only need to maintain steam connection during the game load, and if it fails, you don't lose your save, just have to retry or diagnose your connection.

Now I've just spent half an hour writing this, knowing that it probably won't be taken into account. But still, believe me, spending a dozen hours on a DID game only to find that it will be just "gone" the next day is much more frustrating.

[VincentTH]

The same just happened to me, been playing for around 15 hours now. After returning from work, anxious to continue my DID journey, I discovered that my save was gone. I own the DLC too and I think my mistake was loading the game before seeing the typical "X3 a sunny place has finished downloading" message, however it could be anything, really, as I don't know how the cloud sync process actually works for this game.

While I understand that the devs are certainly busy developing the upcoming title, I think it would be a good move to finally solve the DID problems or at least give us some kind of a tool which could check the status of steam cloud data prior to blacklisting the DID save file. A message like "Steam cloud data need to be downloaded prior to running this game to keep your DID save playable, Wait/Run anyway?" or at least some kind of message within the game telling us that "Your DID game was blacklisted because its CRC didn't match the steam cloud registry".

Other option would be a change in the sync process, something like
-save the game normally, then get CRC + whatever checks you need to identify legitimate DID saves.
-write all the useful data obtained in the previous step to a "key" file, along with the timestamp and steam login (or, alternatively, game CD-key provided by/for steam install, to prevent DID save sharing between users to cheat achievements).
-encrypt the said file and submit it to steam, let the steam infrastructure handle the cloud sync process.


Upon loading DID game:
-the game client would check timestamps provided by both local and remote "key" files, and choose the most recent one.
-If the CRC matches the locally stored save file, the client would proceed to send to steam cloud another key file, with current timestamp and fake all-zero CRC or just pre-determined "no load" code to avoid the possibility to roll back by pressing alt-F4 or resetting your pc
-If the key file in the step above couldn't be sent, DON'T blacklist the save game, just display a message saying "No steam connection is present at the moment, try again later", and abort the loading process. This way, the cloud sync failures will be less threatening to your game.
-If after exiting game the sync fails, the local key file will have more recent time stamp anyway, and thus will be valid to load your game.

This way you only need to maintain steam connection during the game load, and if it fails, you don't lose your save, just have to retry or diagnose your connection.

Now I've just spent half an hour writing this, knowing that it probably won't be taken into account. But still, believe me, spending a dozen hours on a DID game only to find that it will be just "gone" the next day is much more frustrating.

I second your frustration. Happened to me 4 times the past 2-3 weeks.
DiD is a great idea for those seeking the challenge, but the implementation of the idea has left a lot to be desired.

[niadh]

OK latest attempt went something like this.
Started the game having checked that the DLC was present and not downloading. Started a DiD and saved immediately.
Went back in 10 hurs later and played game for about 3 minutes saving it just aftr getting the message about Harmony of Perpetuity (DLC sector).
Went back in this morning saw a message about DLC downloaded and immediately ran a verification check (OK).
DiD save was missing.

I am thinking of putting up a general request for a couple of things.
1. Is anyone else out there having problems with DiD saves and do the have the Summer Camp DLC.
2. Could people who play via Steam and have the DLC and don't already have a DiD running start one and save just after getting the Harmony of Perpetuity message. Then check the continue menu at intervals to see if it's still there. If it disappears when did it vanish.

[VincentTH]

I can report that my DiD save started Sunday still working. This is on a non-DLC account.

I will start a new DiD game on the other accounts that have the DLC enabled.

[niadh]

i have now progressed my save from this morning to 1 minute 10.
This is just after i got the message about A Sunny Place and before loadin i got the dlc downloaded message.

[VincentTH]

This is the announced Steam update that happened on Aug 1st. Is there a way you can check your update log?

Code: Select all

Aug 1, 2011Steam client update released
Client Update - ValveA Steam client update is now available. To apply the update, click the File menu inside of Steam and then select "Check for Steam Client Updates...". The specific changes include:


Fixed "Game not available" error when starting "Sniper Elite"

Fixed retail disc install not using all available files causing additional downloads in some cases.

The second one looks relevant to the problem we are seeing, No?

[VincentTH]

and I wonder the problem we are seeing is related to this Steam Update, released on Jul 15th:

Download Better, Stronger, FasterSteam Blog - ValveOver the years, Steam has delivered a lot of bits to a lot of people. Delivering content is really at the core of Steam, and we have been working on improving that core. As of today, you can download some of the content on Steam using all-new server and client code to get the job done.

The new content system is designed to do two things: deliver better download rates in more places around the world, and also to simply streamline the publishing process on Steam, ultimately making it possible to ship more games than we would have been able to with the old system.

The maximum aggregate bandwidth of the system will be greater than the current system; this will help us satisfy spikes in demand when there’s a big release. We will also be able to send content from more places, to better serve people all around the globe. All the content on the new system is sent via HTTP; this is more firewall-friendly than the current system, and will automatically take advantage of web-caching proxies installed at ISPs.

Another way that the new content system improves the bandwidth picture is by requiring each user to download less data. With the Steam content system that’s been in place for a few years now, if an individual file on disk were modified by a game update, your client had to download the whole file. That can be painful when the file in question is really large. The new system supports delivering only the differences between the old and new files, meaning game updates will be much smaller overall.

These changes have given us an opportunity to write new tools for game developers and content publishers that simplify the process of both publishing and updating a game on Steam. Simplifying the publishing process means it takes the partner and us less time to ship each product, so we can ship more stuff to more users.

In addition, the new content system will allow us to build several new features that we’ve often heard requested. Upcoming client releases will include things like download scheduling, bandwidth throttling, and prioritizing which games get downloaded first. You’ll also be able to download an update to a game while you’re playing that game; Steam will apply the update after you exit the game.

Over time, more and more of the content on Steam will be delivered using this new system. Soon, Dota 2 will be delivered using it. In the meantime, if you’d like to try out this new content system you can do so right now; if you download a 1280x720 (HD) trailer from the store, it will happen via the new content system. Give it a try!

[VincentTH]

I just posted this to the Steam forum:

There are a few of us who have problems with losing DiD save games. We believe that the problem started with the DLC, as accounts that do not have the DLC do not seem to have problems losing DiD save games.

Is there a way to disable the DLC?

The Egosoft thread is here:

DiD save game gone

Steam and Ego support seem think it is our setup (ask for DxDiag etc...), but it is NOT a crash. It was a successful save, computer powered down, then a few hours later, starting X3TC, the DiD save game is not listed. Also, 3 different people (out of a dwindling population of DiD players) have the exact same problem.

I believe someone from Ego posted a way to trick the DLC from starting, but we want it gone altogether, as if it was never installed in the first place. The reason for that is because we believe the cause we lost the save game is that Steam somehow thinks that our game installation is not vanilla, and thus invalidate the save game. The smoking gun is the constant redownload of the DLC every time X3TC is started.

[niadh]

This is the announced Steam update that happened on Aug 1st. Is there a way you can check your update log?

The second one looks relevant to the problem we are seeing, No?

Good idea. Where are the update logs located? I have looked in my /Steam/logs folder but nothing containing update information.

Just checked my latest game and the DiD is gone again. 4 hours after i last checked.

PS Vincent do you have an address on that steam forum request??

[VincentTH]

here is the URL I posted. No answer so far.


http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/s ... ?t=2034842

Regarding Steam Update Log, I am afraid there aren't any. You just have to force a Client Update to make sure you have the latest one.

The Steam Update log I copied above are from the Steam News

http://store.steampowered.com/news/

or

http://store.steampowered.com/news/?feed=steam_client

[VincentTH]

UPDATE:

As I said, I have 2 PCs at home, both running WIn7-64. I have 2 accounts one with the DLC and one without.
(1) I started a DiD game Sunday (after losing my save earlier with the account with DLC) with the account that does not have the DLC. It still runs today (keep fingers crossed)
(2) I started a game this morning, then dock at the Altreus HQ, and quit & Save.

Now, 7 hours later, my save from the non-DLC is still there, but my save from the DLC account is gone.


Need further proof of DLC causing this?

Solution: We must lobby Steam to either fix the problem with the DLC loading, or failing that release the procedure to allow a user to disable a DLC.

[NUKLEAR-SLUG]

Under the 'Updates' tab of the Properties for the X3TC Steam install there is an option to set it to 'Do not automatically update this game'

Since the chances of another patch are practically nil at this point you might want to try that and see if it resolves your issue.

[VincentTH]

Under the 'Updates' tab of the Properties for the X3TC Steam install there is an option to set it to 'Do not automatically update this game'

Since the chances of another patch are practically nil at this point you might want to try that and see if it resolves your issue.

Thanks, why didn't I think of that WIll give it a try.

So here is the procedure:

First verify the local cache
DO the procedure above
Start a New DiD game, dock and quit after receving the DLC mission message.
Check back tomorrow

[EDIT] Tried that, it does not work. After I start the game, it reverts back to Automatic Update. I had to manually change it back to Do Not update after every save and quit.

[niadh]

thanks for the suggestion but i already considered that.
The DLC is treated differently to game updates and has not prevented the problem being encountered.

I am not sure though if the problem arises because of re-downloading the DLC or because it is already there.

The other more direct question is why the repeated downloads.
I have DLCs for other games (Civ5, DoW2 etc) and none of them repeatedly download the additional DLC.

VincentTH. I was right. My poll thread to a wider audience got canned.

[niadh]

A response from Steam

"Hello Niall,

We are investigating this issue further. As soon as we have more information, we will update your ticket. "

It would be really nice if someone from Egosoft could now pitch in and offer any advice/support/indication that it is being investigated. Hint Hint.

[VincentTH]

Yeap, did not work. My save game started and saved yesterday was gone today, despite disabling update.

[Xenon_Slayer]

When starting a game, is it ever marked as modified? Try playing a normal game for a day or so and see if that occurs.