http://blog.samikuhmonen.fi/Sami's Page - Games2021-12-04T07:48:03+00:00Random things of a random worldSami KuhmonenBlogEngine.Net Syndication Generatorhttp://blog.samikuhmonen.fi/opml.axdSami KuhmonenRandom things of a random worlden-GBSami's Page0.0000000.000000http://blog.samikuhmonen.fi/post/2016/08/02/annoying-game-barAnnoying Game Bar in Windows 102016-08-02T06:00:00+00:00Sami<p>Windows 10 has finally represented itself with a feature I don't like: the game bar notification. It's annoying.</p>
<p>I have a shortcut defined for Windows+G, so every time I press it I get the dialog asking if I want to use game bar and if this is a game. There is no option to say "no, it's not, stop bugging me!"</p>
<p>There is a way to disable it through the Xbox app. But that requires signing in. I don't use Xbox things on my work laptop, I don't want to sign in. Why can't I disable this otherwise?</p>
<p>I even uninstalled the Xbox app thinking that might work (PowerShell, Get-AppxPackage *xboxapp*| Remove-AppxPackage). No, the game bar thingy is completely separate, just its settings are handled by it. Crap.</p>
<p>Fortunately there is a way to disable it. You'll just have to dive into registry.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\GameDVR\<strong>AppCaptureEnabled</strong> DWORD, value 0</p>
</blockquote>
<p>After you add this value the question about game bar no longer jumps up and you can be at peace.</p>
<p>I really hope MS adds the "no, this is not a game, stop bugging me" option to this. Haven't checked in the latest builds, maybe it already is there. And also a setting to disable it altogether <em>without signing in</em>.</p>2016-08-02T06:00:00+00:00SamiWindows 10 has finally represented itself with a feature I don't like: the game bar notification. Ithttp://blog.samikuhmonen.fi/pingback.axdhttp://blog.samikuhmonen.fi/post.aspx?id=4e986427-9ae5-4281-bae4-d25c9743b4ad0http://blog.samikuhmonen.fi/trackback.axd?id=4e986427-9ae5-4281-bae4-d25c9743b4adhttp://blog.samikuhmonen.fi/post/2016/08/02/annoying-game-bar#commenthttp://blog.samikuhmonen.fi/syndication.axd?post=4e986427-9ae5-4281-bae4-d25c9743b4adhttp://blog.samikuhmonen.fi/post/2016/07/23/steam-support-is-run-by-baboonsSteam Support is Run By Baboons2016-07-23T09:30:00+00:00Sami<p>Have you ever had the pleasure of trying to get support from Steam? I can tell you it's being run by baboons. Actually that might be an insult to baboons. Let's say idiots. That might work better. Let me explain.</p>
<p>Steam has sometimes sales and other events where you can get some trading cards which you can use to craft badges, get some money etc. It's simple: you just go through the suggestion queues, check if there's anything interesting and you get cards. Except when you don't. They seem to have some issues with this especially when going through the queues on a mobile device.</p>
<p>Last time I got several cards when I did this on a desktop browser. On a mobile I sometimes didn't get cards even though the system told me I should. I contacted support, they once again just waddle around, ask for <strong>screenshots of the problem</strong> and say that servers may be overloaded and things might get fixed by waiting. They won't check logs, they won't check what's wrong with the system, nothing. They just wash their hands, wait for the sale to be over (the cards disappear then) and do nothing.</p>
<p>Now, this isn't the first time I contacted them about this issue. I had the exact same thing earlier but that time I got <em>zero cards</em>. Their answer? "Reinstall Steam on your PC" and other horse manure. I asked them how do they expect my machine to affect their databases and systems, especially since I used a mobile device to check the suggestion queues and my PC has nothing to do with this. They couldn't answer and they repeatedly just closed the issue.</p>
<p>They went on and on about this even though I explained everything very clearly and asked them why they won't do anything about it. I asked them to clearly either say "we don't care and won't help you" or "we will check our systems and get back to you" but they won't. They just send copypaste answers that have nothing to do with the issue and close the problem. That's the way to keep numbers down I guess.</p>
<p>So for some reason the biggest PC gaming store doesn't care a bit about their customers. I know the trading cards aren't the biggest issues but if they can't be bothered to check why their systems don't work, say "we're sorry", I really don't see them caring about anything else. Maybe if there's a possibility of a law suit, then maybe.</p>
<p>Oh, and for other issues with Steam idiocy, see my <a href="http://blog.samikuhmonen.fi/post/2016/07/23/the-joy-that-is-using-steam-secure-and-convenient">other post</a>.</p>2016-07-23T09:30:00+00:00SamiHave you ever had the pleasure of trying to get support from Steam? I can tell you it's being run byhttp://blog.samikuhmonen.fi/pingback.axdhttp://blog.samikuhmonen.fi/post.aspx?id=61af9b92-6da2-44a1-98d7-deb0996811873http://blog.samikuhmonen.fi/trackback.axd?id=61af9b92-6da2-44a1-98d7-deb099681187http://blog.samikuhmonen.fi/post/2016/07/23/steam-support-is-run-by-baboons#commenthttp://blog.samikuhmonen.fi/syndication.axd?post=61af9b92-6da2-44a1-98d7-deb099681187http://blog.samikuhmonen.fi/post/2016/07/23/the-joy-that-is-using-steam-secure-and-convenientThe Joy That Is Using Steam - Secure and Convenient2016-07-23T00:00:00+00:00Sami<h2>Steam Multiaccount Use</h2>
<p>Steam is very worried about your security. You know, they have two-factor authentication and all. But what they don't tell you is that they really don't care about it that much if you're sharing a computer.</p>
<p>Many people have a shared gaming machine connected to the TV and sound system. People who have their separate save games, achievements etc. But how does Steam handle this? They don't. Not really.</p>
<p>If you have a shared machine you can only have one account logged in at a time. If you log in with <em>User1</em> to the PC and then to Steam, <strong><em>User2</em> will also see your Steam account and can do whatever with it!</strong></p>
<p>There is no separation between user accounts and Steam. Of course if you don't save your password they can't access it, but it gets quite complicated.</p>
<p>I contacted them about this since of course I assumed it's some problem with how I use it. Steam's response: yes, that's how it works. Just don't save passwords and log in every time you need another account.</p>
<p>So, this is the level of security and convenience they offer. All data is stored on a shared, readable by everyone section. No separation of accounts. No brains used.</p>
<p>And the funny thing is this: it's easier to do things so that nothing is shared than it is to share things. Still the <em>chose</em> to do it this way and allow breaching of security, making things harder for users etc.</p>
<h2>Steam Mobile</h2>
<p>The mobile "apps" Steam has done are ridiculous. I say "apps" in quotes because they're not really apps. They're a website shoved into a shell of an app. Everything is a webpage, everything works badly, doesn't scale to the screen, is slow, buggy and all you can expect.</p>
<p>I don't understand why they even bother having apps when all it does under the hood is open a browser. Granted, it gets notifications about two-factor auth or confirmations but that's nothing you couldn't do otherwise.</p>
<h2>DOTA 2</h2>
<p>Oh, and for some reason Steam decided to add this game DOTA 2 to my library. It also keeps on saying "GAME PURCHASED Today". No, I've never touched the game, never played it, never even seen it. Why is it pushed on me? Why does it say I "purchased" it? Because Steam knows best?</p>2016-07-23T00:00:00+00:00SamiSteam Multiaccount Use
Steam is very worried about your security. You know, they have two-factor authttp://blog.samikuhmonen.fi/pingback.axdhttp://blog.samikuhmonen.fi/post.aspx?id=7178b12b-7704-4b74-bdf2-9c97a9b785f80http://blog.samikuhmonen.fi/trackback.axd?id=7178b12b-7704-4b74-bdf2-9c97a9b785f8http://blog.samikuhmonen.fi/post/2016/07/23/the-joy-that-is-using-steam-secure-and-convenient#commenthttp://blog.samikuhmonen.fi/syndication.axd?post=7178b12b-7704-4b74-bdf2-9c97a9b785f8