Game Install Locations - something new to argue about!

On 6 feb, 20:07, "eddyster...@hotmail.com" <eddyster....RemoveThis@hotmail.com>
wrote:
> On 6 feb, 19:57, BP <re....RemoveThis@newsgroup.please> wrote:
>
> > Most software installers ask me where on my hard drive I want to
> > install something. They may suggest a default, like C:\Program
> > Files\Foo\Bar\, but they will usually let me change that if I prefer
> > something different.
>
> > Just installed Close Combat Cross of Iron. It asked what hard drive to
> > install on (there was only one) but then insisted on installing itself
> > to C:\Program Files\Close Combat, without giving me the option of
> > telling it to use C:\Games as I prefer to keep my games separated from
> > other program files.
>
> > This is mildly annoying, especially as almost every other installer
> > allows the choice to the user.
>
> Yup - same setup here (c:\games) - same result in CC-CoI - I've been
> told that's a legacy of how it was originally programmed. You made me
> curious so I'm now copying everything to c:\games and have a look at
> how to get it to run from there.
>
> to be continued ...

Well, it runs when moved to c:\games but I'm not betting everything
works as it should as there must be a good reason to have it install
the way it does.

A search / question at the forum might shed some light on this.

Greetz,

Eddy Sterckx
 >> Stay informed about: Game Install Locations - something new to argue about! 

"BP" <reply.DeleteThis@newsgroup.please> wrote in message
news:4h0kq3dpktgp3p69abtrrnn9hht51chn7k@4ax.com...
> Most software installers ask me where on my hard drive I want to
> install something. They may suggest a default, like C:\Program
> Files\Foo\Bar\, but they will usually let me change that if I prefer
> something different.
>
> Just installed Close Combat Cross of Iron. It asked what hard drive to
> install on (there was only one) but then insisted on installing itself
> to C:\Program Files\Close Combat, without giving me the option of
> telling it to use C:\Games as I prefer to keep my games separated from
> other program files.
>
> This is mildly annoying, especially as almost every other installer
> allows the choice to the user.
>
> BP
>
I do the exact same thing, install to my C:/Games folder. However there have
been a few instances as above, and I have a few games in my C:/Program Files
folder. Don't like it, but que sera sera.....
 >> Stay informed about: Game Install Locations - something new to argue about! 

> Just installed Close Combat Cross of Iron. It asked what hard drive to
> install on (there was only one) but then insisted on installing itself
> to C:\Program Files\Close Combat, without giving me the option of
> telling it to use C:\Games as I prefer to keep my games separated from
> other program files.

That was a limitation specific to CC:COI that we could not get
around. All our other installers allow you to change the installation
location.

Regards,

- Erik
 >> Stay informed about: Game Install Locations - something new to argue about! 

In article <5Wpqj.19058$4H1.13025@newsfe07.phx>, groggymonkey.DeleteThis@NOSPAM.com
says...

> > This is mildly annoying, especially as almost every other installer
> > allows the choice to the user.

> I do the exact same thing, install to my C:/Games folder. However there have
> been a few instances as above, and I have a few games in my C:/Program Files
> folder. Don't like it, but que sera sera.....

Choosing a custom location for your installs assumes that follow-on
installers (for patches, addons, etc.) are smart enough to locate the
directory you installed the game in ... or that you can clearly recall
where you put the thing.

I find that my life is made simpler if I just accept the default
installation directory, since follow-ons generally assume the same
default. I mean, one way to frakk up your whole experience as a
photographer is to decide you're putting PhotoShop in c:\MyPhotoStuff
\ImportantSoftware, and watching every one of two dozen plugins go
"Whaaaaaat? Where's C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop XXX\Plug-Ins
\" and blow up on install.

--
Giftzwerg
***
"Baghdad got hit by two bombers today, but neither of them committed
suicide. The al-Qaeda attack involved strapping remote-controlled bombs
to two girls with Down's Syndrome, and detonating the devices when they
walked through the market."
- Ed Morrissey
"Retards led by sadists; The Religion Of Peace(TM) in action.
- Giftzwerg
 >> Stay informed about: Game Install Locations - something new to argue about! 

Giftzwerg wrote:
> In article <5Wpqj.19058$4H1.13025@newsfe07.phx>, groggymonkey DeleteThis @NOSPAM.com
> says...
>
>>> This is mildly annoying, especially as almost every other installer
>>> allows the choice to the user.
>
>> I do the exact same thing, install to my C:/Games folder. However there have
>> been a few instances as above, and I have a few games in my C:/Program Files
>> folder. Don't like it, but que sera sera.....
>
> Choosing a custom location for your installs assumes that follow-on
> installers (for patches, addons, etc.) are smart enough to locate the
> directory you installed the game in ... or that you can clearly recall
> where you put the thing.
>
> I find that my life is made simpler if I just accept the default
> installation directory, since follow-ons generally assume the same
> default. I mean, one way to frakk up your whole experience as a
> photographer is to decide you're putting PhotoShop in c:\MyPhotoStuff
> \ImportantSoftware, and watching every one of two dozen plugins go
> "Whaaaaaat? Where's C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop XXX\Plug-Ins
> \" and blow up on install.
>

It's not good to let games install in Vista's Program Files. Vista has
protections for programs placed there, and it's a PITA to work with them
there. Vista likes to put parts of the program into Program Data. I've
saved games that disappear because the program may not work that way
seamlessly.

XP of course, is fine.
 >> Stay informed about: Game Install Locations - something new to argue about! 

On 8 feb, 01:26, "Paul Ney" <Paul_....DeleteThis@t-online.de> wrote:
> <eddyster....DeleteThis@hotmail.com> wrote on 06.02.2008 20:16 GMT the messagenews:b35e525a-59a8-4224-b702-8b038e20ec2f@e23g2000prf.googlegroups.com
>
> >> Yup - same setup here (c:\games) - same result in CC-CoI - I've been
> >> told that's a legacy of how it was originally programmed. You made me
> >> curious so I'm now copying everything to c:\games and have a look at
> >> how to get it to run from there.
>
> >> to be continued ...
>
> > Well, it runs when moved to c:\games but I'm not betting everything
> > works as it should as there must be a good reason to have it install
> > the way it does.
>
> May I assume you meant de-installing and re-installng the game and also
> manually moving saves and other files?

No, I meant copy the installed version over from c:\program files ...
to c:\games\ ... and run it from c:\games. I realize now that a real
test would have needed removal of the files in c:\program files but I
was triple-tasking at the time

Greetz,

Eddy Sterckx
 >> Stay informed about: Game Install Locations - something new to argue about! 

<eddysterckx.TakeThisOut@hotmail.com> wrote on 06.02.2008 20:16 GMT the message
news:b35e525a-59a8-4224-b702-8b038e20ec2f@e23g2000prf.googlegroups.com

>> Yup - same setup here (c:\games) - same result in CC-CoI - I've been
>> told that's a legacy of how it was originally programmed. You made me
>> curious so I'm now copying everything to c:\games and have a look at
>> how to get it to run from there.
>>
>> to be continued ...
>
> Well, it runs when moved to c:\games but I'm not betting everything
> works as it should as there must be a good reason to have it install
> the way it does.

May I assume you meant de-installing and re-installng the game and also
manually moving saves and other files?

Greetings, PY
 >> Stay informed about: Game Install Locations - something new to argue about! 

"BP" <reply.DeleteThis@newsgroup.please> wrote on 06.02.2007 18:57 GMT the message
news:4h0kq3dpktgp3p69abtrrnn9hht51chn7k@4ax.com

> Most software installers ask me where on my hard drive I want to
> install something. They may suggest a default, like C:\Program
> Files\Foo\Bar\, but they will usually let me change that if I prefer
> something different.
>
> Just installed Close Combat Cross of Iron. It asked what hard drive to
> install on (there was only one) but then insisted on installing itself
> to C:\Program Files\Close Combat, without giving me the option of
> telling it to use C:\Games as I prefer to keep my games separated from
> other program files.
>
> This is mildly annoying, especially as almost every other installer
> allows the choice to the user.
>
> BP
>

This example also questions the game reviews -- some game developers &
publishers could be prompted to use a proper interactive installer. But it
seems that most review authors are getting paid only for short(er)
overviews. Some gamers also quickly buy a game, without screening reviews or
forum messages. A good installer would also negociate the size of the
installation, e.g. "install all, but no videos". There were also cases of
mad installers just pushing and enforcing -- without any warning -- the
installation of some basic software components.

It is not just a matter of Corporate Identity to install a game in
C:\Games\gameco\, whereby "gameco" would design the publisher or developer,
as this might enable a better management of program folders as well as an
overview.

Regards, PY
 >> Stay informed about: Game Install Locations - something new to argue about! 

Giftzwerg wrote:
> In article <5Wpqj.19058$4H1.13025@newsfe07.phx>, groggymonkey.DeleteThis@NOSPAM.com
> says...
>
>>> This is mildly annoying, especially as almost every other installer
>>> allows the choice to the user.
>
>> I do the exact same thing, install to my C:/Games folder. However there have
>> been a few instances as above, and I have a few games in my C:/Program Files
>> folder. Don't like it, but que sera sera.....
>
> Choosing a custom location for your installs assumes that follow-on
> installers (for patches, addons, etc.) are smart enough to locate the
> directory you installed the game in ... or that you can clearly recall
> where you put the thing.
>
> I find that my life is made simpler if I just accept the default
> installation directory, since follow-ons generally assume the same
> default. I mean, one way to frakk up your whole experience as a
> photographer is to decide you're putting PhotoShop in c:\MyPhotoStuff
> \ImportantSoftware, and watching every one of two dozen plugins go
> "Whaaaaaat? Where's C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop XXX\Plug-Ins
> \" and blow up on install.

Meh; I assume nothing on behalf of a game installer or, worse, patching
application, but I trust myself to know that I've installed all games,
religiously, to F:\GAMES\[game name]

I get itchy if my C:\Program Files gets too damned long or recurses too
much.

--
smr
 >> Stay informed about: Game Install Locations - something new to argue about!