What is Steam Cloud?

[awesomealvin]

Hi, I have had steam for ages, but I never knew about "STEAM CLOUD" until yesterday...

So,
What is Steam Cloud?
How do I use it?
Do i have to download anything?

Please answer those questions to me, i am so nooby

[Tannekr]

Basically, for the games that support it, it allows you to upload game saves and settings to a Steam server. That way, if you change computers or reinstall, it'll synchronize with the server so you won't have to reset all your settings and you'll have your singleplayer saves.

I think most games have it on by default if they support, but if not, you can enable it in the game's options. You can also enable it in the game's properties in Steam.

[awesomealvin]

Originally Posted by Tannekr

Basically, for the games that support it, it allows you to upload game saves and settings to a Steam server. That way, if you change computers or reinstall, it'll synchronize with the server so you won't have to reset all your settings and you'll have your singleplayer saves.

I think most games have it on by default if they support, but if not, you can enable it in the game's options. You can also enable it in the game's properties in Steam.

So, i don't have to install anything or do anything? It's just automatic?

[Tannekr]

You just have to enable it in either the game or Steam.

Once enabled, it'll sync with the Steam servers on launch and quit. Remember, most games on Steam do not support it, but most Valve games do, and some of the more recent big releases do, like Civilization V.

[awesomealvin]

okay... So, if i enabled Cloud on a game, for example COD 7, then i finished the game, then randomly, my pc formats the next day. So i install steam, and the game. Do i need to enable Cloud again for me to get the save game back? Or do i have to enable the Cloud?

[Tannekr]

Steam Cloud should be already enabled in that case, because you enabled it before the format. Once you installed Steam and the game again, it would sync with the servers when you launched the game, and your saved game would return.

That is, if Call of Duty: Black Ops puts saves into the cloud.

[awesomealvin]

okay, thank you very much for all the info.

[Tannekr]

You're very much welcome!

The only other thing I can think of is once you reinstalled Steam and the game, I'd check just to make sure that Steam Cloud was enabled for the game.

If something doesn't work like you expect or if you have any more questions, just post again and someone should hopefully be able to help.

[awesomealvin]

Okay, thanks, i will make sure i'll enable it.
One more question, how do I enable it on STEAM?

[emiih]

Originally Posted by awesomealvin

Okay, thanks, i will make sure i'll enable it.
One more question, how do I enable it on STEAM?

Steam Cloud comes enabled by default. If you want to see if it is enabled you can go to Settings -> Downloads + Cloud: on the lower of the window the option have to be activated; or in a Steam Cloud supported game go to Properties -> Updates.

[awesomealvin]

Originally Posted by emiih

Steam Cloud comes enabled by default. If you want to see if it is enabled you can go to Settings -> Downloads + Cloud: on the lower of the window the option have to be activated; or in a Steam Cloud supported game go to Properties -> Updates.

Okay, i got it, thanks.

Do you have to do anything to have game progress sync? I am playing Metro 2033 on a windows vista laptop and a windows xp desktop, my progress does not ever sync. Cloud is enabled, but I do not see the little cloud icon that I have read about in these forums, any help?

[kakkerlak]

you see the cloud icon if you set your library in large grid view.
it is just an indication that the game has cloud.

next time you exit metro keep your eye on the steam icon in the system tray and point your moue on it when it changes.

The icon does not change when I exit metro.

[kakkerlak]

than noting gets synced.

edit:same thing for me when I exit metro noting gets synced.
in the game properties it say it stored some settings.

if you realy want to test it install metro on another pc and see if your settings get used.