Buying XTC/AP Pack via Steam - Already own non-Steam X3:TC

[Morkonan]

Hi guys!

I already own X3:TC, purchased either through Gamersgate or Impulse (Can't remember which) long ago, and it's registered. I am thinking about buying the X3 "Terran War Pack" from Steam, which includes X3:TC and AP.

I might like to have two copies of X3:TC on my machine, one still running my old X3 campaign, and this new purchase running my new AP playthrough. (I have saved game bug that's ongoing with my old game and shows it as modded. I don't want to screw it up by trying to run it with a new, "clean", X3:TC!

My questions are:

1) If I purchase the pack, I assume it will install a fresh install of X3:TC and AP in the Steam directory and will leave my original X3:TC install alone, yes?

2) If I purchase the pack, will it require me to register again to activate the pack and will that do anything funky with my forum membership stuffs? (I don't want to cause an account problem by having registered two different serials for X3:TC and a new one for AP.) (I don't know if my old serial, since it's a non-steam version, might be able to be used to activate a Steam version or not.)

3) I'm tired of fighting the Steam war and I suppose I will welcome our new robot masters... But, more than that, since I don't want the new game Egosoft put out, I'm going to fulfill my pledge of "donating" anyway by buying a bundled pack, just to show support for a company that has a product I do enjoy. (Don't count on that happening again if Egosoft comes out with X4:DonkeyRevolutionPonyIsland! ) So, I am determined to buy a new copy of X3:TC if I decide to go through with buying AP.

Thanks in advance for your always awesome assistance, TS people!

[Alan Phipps]

1. Yes the Steam gamefiles are stored separately to the DVD ones. But the Steam and Non-Steam X3TC version will use the same save folder so back up your present saves and maybe use mrbadger's excellent savegame manager for the vanilla and different modded campaigns. AP's saves are stored in a different folder to TC's.

2. It will require Steam registration of TC and AP but will not cause any issues here. You can register here as many copies as you want. It is Steam that will not let you have 2 *active* Steam copies of the same game. Your old TC serial could be registered with Steam to get you a free copy of Steam TC, but then you would need to buy AP separately or use your War Pack anyway. It seems pointless using the old serial since you would have to download TC again from Steam either way.

3. Your choice but good on you anyway. Another reason not to register your old serial.

PS: This is not really a Tech Sp topic but hey, it's Saturday, so what the hell! You will find the Steam FAQs helpful I believe.

[Morkonan]

1. Yes the Steam gamefiles are stored separately to the DVD ones. But the Steam and Non-Steam X3TC version will use the same save folder so back up your present saves and maybe use mrbadger's excellent savegame manager for the vanilla and different modded campaigns. AP's saves are stored in a different folder to TC's.

Thanks for that headsup! I've got 5 sets of X3 game files, in chronological order, with around 1.5 gig of saved game data... Yes, I was paranoid. I had to act as a good steward of my Empire.

2. It will require Steam registration of TC and AP but will not cause any issues here. You can register here as many copies as you want. It is Steam that will not let you have 2 *active* Steam copies of the same game. Your old TC serial could be registered with Steam to get you a free copy of Steam TC, but then you would need to buy AP separately or use your War Pack anyway. It seems pointless using the old serial since you would have to download TC again from Steam either way.

Gotcha. I figured Steam wouldn't allow two registered copies of the same game. (At least, not without certain hijinks.)

3. Your choice but good on you anyway. Another reason not to register your old serial.

Well, at least not to register it with Steam.

PS: This is not really a Tech Sp topic but hey, it's Saturday, so what the hell! You will find the Steam FAQs helpful I believe.

Thanks! I'll take a look. And, thanks for the recommendation for the savegame manager. I knew of it, but had my own system. Looks like I'll definitely want to install it, though. Thanks for answering these questions!

[GlassDeviant]

I've got 5 sets of X3 game files, in chronological order, with around 1.5 gig of saved game data... Yes, I was paranoid. I had to act as a good steward of my Empire.

Paranoid, or Paranid?

[Alan Phipps]

Please don't dredge up 2 month dormant Tech Sp threads just to make a joke (no matter how good ). As I said earlier this topic wasn't even really Tech Sp (and has now been fully answered) so this can slide away now.