Why doesn't Steam count played hours in offline-mode?

Aristokrat · 05-01-2012, 05:37 PM

Hello,

due to some technical limitations I often play in offline mode. I recognized that Steam does not count the hours I played in this time.

I wonder why? All my statistics are invalid because I often play offline. I can't imagine that isn't possible to let Steam count offline too by using the Windows clock or something like this.

Could someone please explain this to me?

Thank you!

Worstluck · 05-01-2012, 05:43 PM

You are not connected to the Steam servers that keep track of play time, achievements, etc. That data is kept server side as far as I am aware, not stored on your pc.

You are offline. It's simple

gigadrive08 · 05-01-2012, 06:13 PM

No reason they couldn't implement a way to track those things, though. Look at Last.fm and how when you're offline, all your music scrobbles are stored in a cache and uploaded once you get back online again. Surely Steam can do such a thing?

Zodiark1593 · 05-01-2012, 06:59 PM

Client side data can be altered to represent false values for w/e reason.

Matt · 05-01-2012, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zodiark1593

Client side data can be altered to represent false values for w/e reason.

I agree. Tracking data should be done server side where users can't alter it.

GusTheCrocodile · 05-01-2012, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zodiark1593

Client side data can be altered to represent false values for w/e reason.

Yes, and that would be a concern if play time actually mattered. In fact it's not even play time, it's game-running time, but if someone wants to adjust theirs upward for some bizarre reason (you couldn't adjust it downward with a log-and-upload system), who cares?

stevethepocket · 05-03-2012, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GusTheCrocodile

Yes, and that would be a concern if play time actually mattered. In fact it's not even play time, it's game-running time, but if someone wants to adjust theirs upward for some bizarre reason (you couldn't adjust it downward with a log-and-upload system), who cares?

Indeed. Especially now that they got rid of those silly "rankings" for people based on how much time they spend playing games per week. At least, they did on the community pages. It looks like the Steam API can still retrieve that data.

05-01-2012, 05:37 PM	#1
Aristokrat Join Date: Jul 2011 Reputation: 6 Posts: 64	Why doesn't Steam count played hours in offline-mode? Hello, due to some technical limitations I often play in offline mode. I recognized that Steam does not count the hours I played in this time. I wonder why? All my statistics are invalid because I often play offline. I can't imagine that isn't possible to let Steam count offline too by using the Windows clock or something like this. Could someone please explain this to me? Thank you!

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05-01-2012, 05:43 PM	#2
Worstluck Join Date: Sep 2011 Reputation: 114 Posts: 551	You are not connected to the Steam servers that keep track of play time, achievements, etc. That data is kept server side as far as I am aware, not stored on your pc. You are offline. It's simple

05-01-2012, 06:13 PM	#3
gigadrive08 Join Date: Apr 2012 Reputation: 59 Posts: 615	No reason they couldn't implement a way to track those things, though. Look at Last.fm and how when you're offline, all your music scrobbles are stored in a cache and uploaded once you get back online again. Surely Steam can do such a thing?

05-01-2012, 06:59 PM	#4
Zodiark1593 Join Date: Mar 2011 Reputation: 362 Posts: 913	Client side data can be altered to represent false values for w/e reason.