Add option to "Allow downloads to continue while in-game"

elc1247 · 06-01-2011, 12:52 AM

I have been noticing that when I buy a game, and in the process of downloading it, if I try to start up ANY Steam application, it would pause ALL downloads. This is very annoying when you want to pass time to wait for downloads to finish, given that downloading games eats up bandwidth, even if I want to play a single player game that uses no internet whatsoever, Steam would still suspend the downloads when I start the game up.

so what I am asking for is an option in the preferences to over-ride that, where you can allow Steam to download while you are playing other games. it saves the trouble of waiting extra hours for your game since you cant download while in-game, and I know that many people would be very troubled with alt-tabbing out of games to continue downloads, since not everyone has a high end machine that can easily do that. It seems very simple to implement such an option, its just very surprising that Steam hasnt done it yet.

Edit: I noticed there being a similar idea brought up before, but thats for single player games only, as far as I am concerned, I want the suspension DISABLED for ALL games, since many multiplayer games have a single-player option.

Gone'Postal · 06-01-2011, 12:56 AM

I've said it in another thread,

3 buttons in the options
- Allow
- Disallow
- Ask me every time

The client (as it would appear) has a lower need then linking You-tube accounts.

Syn-Marvin · 06-01-2011, 12:59 AM

Well, while it isn't a feature, I know of a workaround.

I have found that if you launch the game - while it's launching you see your current download stopping. You Pause and Resume, it will continue to go full throttle in the background.

elc1247 · 06-01-2011, 01:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Syn-Marvin

Well, while it isn't a feature, I know of a workaround.

I have found that if you launch the game - while it's launching you see your current download stopping. You Pause and Resume, it will continue to go full throttle in the background.

I have already noted that, and have said that not everyone can quickly alt-tab out of a game to switch their downloads on again.

plus, its a pain to have to do that a bunch given that I buy a good amount of games, and many of them update regularly.

Auron Starbacon · 12-29-2011, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elc1247

I have already noted that, and have said that not everyone can quickly alt-tab out of a game to switch their downloads on again.

plus, its a pain to have to do that a bunch given that I buy a good amount of games, and many of them update regularly.

Not to mention some games don't even allow alt-tabbing at all.

ch13696 · 12-29-2011, 04:44 PM

This definitely needs to be implemented. Bumping in hopes that Valve notices this.

Syn-Marvin · 06-01-2011, 01:32 AM

Don't have to alt-tab, before the box saying Launching XXX even comes out but you know it's launched, Pause and Resume the download in your library bar - it works, and starts the bandwidth before the game launches.

Though I do see your other point.

wormmayhem · 06-01-2011, 09:25 AM

EVERYONE want it

lithosd · 06-01-2011, 04:27 PM

i guess everyone would like that, sometimes you just want to play a game to past the download time and then you realize the download has been suspended just because you were playing, that sucks.
i mean, if it's an online based game, fine, but it's a single player game why the hell not?

Maledict21 · 06-01-2011, 04:37 PM

I'd like this as well; I find that downloading with Steam in the background while playing single-player games simply doesn't have much of an impact on performance (for me at least).

I'd like to see it implemented as follows.

When launching a game, if downloads are active, a dialog asking whether to continue downloading with a "remember this action" checkbox.

And also a downloads window in the Steam overlay so we can control the downloads without leaving the game.

CecilRhodes · 11-13-2011, 09:36 AM

I support this idea, it'd be great to continue downloading while playing an offline game.

venomblade89 · 11-13-2011, 10:41 AM

The workaround works fine.

IceScream110 · 11-14-2011, 02:34 AM

I agree with CecilRhodes.

BigNutter · 11-14-2011, 01:31 PM

I go to echo this.. I've got a 222KiloByte per second download speed. That is about a gig an hour.

I'd personally like to add a download 1 game at a time setting, and set a download in order list. Some of the time I am downloading a game as that's what I want to play next.

I recently upgraded, and It's going to taken me a month with 12 hours a day for almost every day to download all my games.

lordvader99 · 11-15-2011, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IceScream110

I agree with CecilRhodes.

yup, it'd be better for Valve to have that as a direct option...w/o a workaround needed.

06-01-2011, 12:52 AM	#1
elc1247 Join Date: Dec 2010 Reputation: 0 Posts: 77	Add option to "Allow downloads to continue while in-game" I have been noticing that when I buy a game, and in the process of downloading it, if I try to start up ANY Steam application, it would pause ALL downloads. This is very annoying when you want to pass time to wait for downloads to finish, given that downloading games eats up bandwidth, even if I want to play a single player game that uses no internet whatsoever, Steam would still suspend the downloads when I start the game up. so what I am asking for is an option in the preferences to over-ride that, where you can allow Steam to download while you are playing other games. it saves the trouble of waiting extra hours for your game since you cant download while in-game, and I know that many people would be very troubled with alt-tabbing out of games to continue downloads, since not everyone has a high end machine that can easily do that. It seems very simple to implement such an option, its just very surprising that Steam hasnt done it yet. Edit: I noticed there being a similar idea brought up before, but thats for single player games only, as far as I am concerned, I want the suspension DISABLED for ALL games, since many multiplayer games have a single-player option. Last edited by elc1247: 06-01-2011 at 01:29 AM.

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06-01-2011, 12:56 AM	#2
Gone'Postal Banned Join Date: Jan 2009 Reputation: 1264 Posts: 3,748	I've said it in another thread, 3 buttons in the options - Allow - Disallow - Ask me every time The client (as it would appear) has a lower need then linking You-tube accounts.

06-01-2011, 12:59 AM	#3
Syn-Marvin Join Date: Oct 2010 Reputation: 81 Posts: 226	Well, while it isn't a feature, I know of a workaround. I have found that if you launch the game - while it's launching you see your current download stopping. You Pause and Resume, it will continue to go full throttle in the background.

12-29-2011, 04:44 PM	#6
ch13696 Join Date: Feb 2010 Reputation: 0 Posts: 82	This definitely needs to be implemented. Bumping in hopes that Valve notices this.

06-01-2011, 01:32 AM	#7
Syn-Marvin Join Date: Oct 2010 Reputation: 81 Posts: 226	Don't have to alt-tab, before the box saying Launching XXX even comes out but you know it's launched, Pause and Resume the download in your library bar - it works, and starts the bandwidth before the game launches. Though I do see your other point.

06-01-2011, 09:25 AM	#8
wormmayhem Banned Join Date: Dec 2009 Reputation: 5 Posts: 148	EVERYONE want it

06-01-2011, 04:27 PM	#9
lithosd Join Date: Mar 2011 Reputation: 0 Posts: 5	i guess everyone would like that, sometimes you just want to play a game to past the download time and then you realize the download has been suspended just because you were playing, that sucks. i mean, if it's an online based game, fine, but it's a single player game why the hell not?

06-01-2011, 04:37 PM	#10
Maledict21 Join Date: Oct 2009 Reputation: 1663 Posts: 5,029	I'd like this as well; I find that downloading with Steam in the background while playing single-player games simply doesn't have much of an impact on performance (for me at least). I'd like to see it implemented as follows. When launching a game, if downloads are active, a dialog asking whether to continue downloading with a "remember this action" checkbox. And also a downloads window in the Steam overlay so we can control the downloads without leaving the game.

11-13-2011, 09:36 AM	#11
CecilRhodes Join Date: Sep 2010 Reputation: 0 Posts: 4	I support this idea, it'd be great to continue downloading while playing an offline game.

11-13-2011, 10:41 AM	#12
venomblade89 Join Date: May 2010 Reputation: 326 Posts: 1,072	The workaround works fine.

11-14-2011, 02:34 AM	#13
IceScream110 Join Date: Aug 2011 Reputation: 4 Posts: 117	I agree with CecilRhodes.

11-14-2011, 01:31 PM	#14
BigNutter Join Date: Jun 2009 Reputation: 13 Posts: 222	I go to echo this.. I've got a 222KiloByte per second download speed. That is about a gig an hour. I'd personally like to add a download 1 game at a time setting, and set a download in order list. Some of the time I am downloading a game as that's what I want to play next. I recently upgraded, and It's going to taken me a month with 12 hours a day for almost every day to download all my games.