GTA IV and the problem with PC gaming

[Insomniator]

I game mainly on a PC, always have liked it more then consoles. Like the keyboard/mouse, like tinkering with hardware, like RTS's and Dota... etc... But... there is a huge annoying problem that makes me surprised PC gaming is as popular as it is.

Why can't I download GTA IV, that I paid for, from Direct2Drive, extract and install and play it? Same exact thing for Far Cry 3 Blood Dragon... and any number of somewhat popular games that refuse to work or take a long time to figure out.

Yeah, I have Windows 8.1 which is new(ish).. but its not like these are ancient games. GTA constantly gives me corrupt data errors when I try to extract it... tried both with IE and Chrome with Windows Defender disabled on multiple computers. I got it installed and it immediately stops working upon start up... probably because of the extraction errors. FC3 didn't work for months, finally was able to download a clean install from uplay that verified correctly. I'll give that one a...semipass...

It seems to me that if you aren't using some huge platform like Steam or Blizzard that its a total crap shoot to get games to work. I used to be able to illegally download games and get them to work easier then it is to get legitimately purchased games to work now. I have a $1000+ gaming PC that I have to spend hours on to get games to work, or simply do not work. Its 2014... WTF. I'm not using Linux, SLI or some weird Matrox card from 2004.

I feel like this happens ALL the time with pc gaming.

/rant

 

[mizzou]

GTA IV had the infamy of having a rock bottom PC rating when the console versions were flying high. It is definitely a bottom of the iceberg kind of window on the problems with multiplatform programming.

And having issues now is absolutely NOTHIGN compared to the days when you had to create boot-disks to run the things.

 

[ImpulsE69]

Sorry you are having issues. Seems odd you have that many issues though. I've had zero issues with games working on Steam. On the odd and end game that have had some sort of an issue, a quick google finds a config fix or whatever it may be.

 

[Insomniator]

Sorry you are having issues. Seems odd you have that many issues though. I've had zero issues with games working on Steam. On the odd and end game that have had some sort of an issue, a quick google finds a config fix or whatever it may be.

I meant that steam and blizzard/battle.net games work fine. Its the lesser known platforms that are useless... and there are many of them.

 

[ImpulsE69]

I meant that steam and blizzard/battle.net games work fine. Its the lesser known platforms that are useless... and there are many of them.

Many of them are just trying to cash in on the market. I was a very late adopter to Steam for this reason and I've avoided all the others for this reason. I do use GOG, but they have a proven track record for making their games work.

I tried Impulse back when it was around and had similar issues you refer to.

 

[wilds]

GTA IV requires Rockstar Social's software AND Games for Windows Live. You can also get xliveless to play offline and not need GFWL. GTA IV is a very fragile game that will crash, not run, etc in many scenarios especially with mods.

I'd suggest buying it on Steam when its $5 or wait until January to see how GTA V fares...

I've spent countless hours tweaking GTA IV to make it run smoothly, but don't lose hope; it'll run eventually.