Complete guide to activate retail UT3 on Steam without downloading 9GB.

**Sam Stride** · 01-30-2009, 07:23 AM

<for a feel good clean install perform first 3 steps>

- Make a copy of the UT3 folder.

- Right click on the backed up folder -> properties and make sure its NOT read only (make sure you apply changes to all sub folders too when prompted) .
The idea of making folders not read only is so that you can transfer file contents from one folder to another. If you make the folder not read only and if you check again and its read only, dont worry too much as long as you can copy the contents fully from 1 folder to another without any error message during the copy process

- Uninstall UT3.

- In Steam click on "My Games" menu and then click on the button "Activate a product on Steam".

- Follow instructions on screen and enter your UT3 retail key and Steam will correctly identify it and add it to your download list.

- Start the download and pause it after about 10 seconds.

- Then go into your steam home directory "\Steam\steamapps\common"

- You should see a folder called unreal tournament 3 (make sure this folder too is NOT read only) and within the folder you should see folders similar to that of the UT3 folder you copied in step 1.

- Optional Step: to be safe exit Steam.

- Now copy the contents of UT3 folder of step 1 into this "Steam\steamapps\common\unreal tournament 3"
OR
- If you did not perform the first 3 steps, copy the contents of UT3 into "Steam\steamapps\common\unreal tournament 3"

- Start Steam again if you had shut it down.

- Once that's done, in steam right click on the UT3 download you paused and select properties. In the last tab you should see a button called "verify integrity of game cache".

- Once cache has been verified steam will download additional files like DX9, Open AL, Physx, C++ redist and some additional game files. You should see these folders being created as download proceeds.

- The total size of download will be approx 450MB for v1.3 toSteam.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Patch and Titan Pack Updates:

Steam will auto update to version 2.0 and install titan pack

OR

People can install retail patch and pack onto the Steam UT3 version 1.3. The installers will ask for UT3 directory location and once you show it the location it will patch it correctly. However you will need to verify cache integrity again and this time around Steam will download approx 350MB.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

If all goes well... all your settings, configs, etc should be transferred correctly.

PS: if you want to be a bit more studly try this pro move mentioned below instead of the copy and paste action.

Originally Posted by musilowski

Ah yes, junctioning worked for me. See this post by Sir_Brizz at BUF for info. Also, the junctioned folder needs "Read only" to be unchecked.

[Source: various threads on this forums]

MAJOR NOTE: You don't have to activate the game on steam. You can still play on retail version (atleast for now). If you dont uninstall the game and proceed to activate the game on steam, you should have 2 copies of the game, the retail version and the steam version and you should be able to play them both.

Flak sticky please???

**Cobi^^** · 01-30-2009, 07:56 AM

I just installed Steam, so I am absolutely not familiar with that software. I read that linked how-to, but I cant say I like this one. It is not precise enough for my taste.
Anyway, glad it worked for you.

**musilowski** · 01-30-2009, 07:56 AM

I heard there is a way of keeping the UT3 folder as is and it still works with Steam. Something about folder junctioning if I remember correctly. Any info on this?

**Sam Stride** · 01-30-2009, 08:13 AM

dude all the instructions are there on that thread... u basically copy ut3 installation into the folder specified in that thread... dude its not that hard... its just a copy paste

and ya make sure folder is not read only.

**Cobi^^** · 01-30-2009, 08:15 AM

What about all the settings in the my games folder? Any need to change anything here?

I hope this migration does not screw up the registry-entries.

**Masaai_Warrior** · 01-30-2009, 09:06 AM

I would also be interested to hear more about this.

**Cobi^^** · 01-30-2009, 09:29 AM

Yo Masaai!
Cr4zy just did it and he reported everything to be just fine.

**Cr4zy** · 01-30-2009, 10:07 AM

Right so this is how it went. Started the download. paused download.

Copied the files from inside Unreal Tournament 3 folder into the one in steamapps.
Then selected the over all UT3 folder and checked the read only box.

Game worked fine loading out of Steam, took all of my current settings from config etc, didn't rewrite ANY of the files. So all my Custom maps, mutators, cache, config is all still intact.

Editor works fine, just need to set up a shortcut for it.

Then i removed the old UT3 install FOLDER, i didn't uninstall it didn't want to risk that messing stuff up.

**Apathy** · 01-30-2009, 10:08 AM

It's easy as hell. I even did it. I now have the retail copy and a steam copy.

**Sam Stride** · 01-30-2009, 05:34 PM

Added step by step instructions of the whole process.

**cdiddy** · 01-30-2009, 06:09 PM

im not sure it worked for me. i clicked ont the verify cache thingy and then it just kept downloading after that.
wait i think it did because i took the game disc out and it was still downloading so i think it worked.

**Sam Stride** · 01-30-2009, 06:22 PM

Originally Posted by cdiddy

im not sure it worked for me. i clicked ont the verify cache thingy and then it just kept downloading after that.
wait i think it did because i took the game disc out and it was still downloading so i think it worked.

u shud do verify cache only after you copied backed up ut3 folder contents into steam folders...

and remember it will verify cache and still download approx 450mb... if you keep an eye on that folder... you will see some new folders being created...

**Loboticastation** · 01-30-2009, 06:25 PM

God, i would go back to UT3 360 if this stuff was in it

**Infra`** · 01-30-2009, 06:41 PM

Originally Posted by Loboticastation

God, i would go back to UT3 360 if this stuff was in it

Play it on the pc with an xbox controller

**Apathy** · 01-30-2009, 06:48 PM

The 360 controller is very well supported in the PC version.. One of the fixes in the patch is even more support for the gamepad.
I could make another youtube video, but I'm getting sick of doing it lol

**Tailsnake** · 01-30-2009, 09:05 PM

So what are the advantages of activating it in steam?

**cdiddy** · 01-30-2009, 09:33 PM

achievements/autodownlaoding patches/new things epic might announce.
of course this will only happen when the expansion comes out.

**Tailsnake** · 01-30-2009, 09:36 PM

Originally Posted by cdiddy

achievements/autodownlaoding patches/new things epic might announce.
of course this will only happen when the expansion comes out.

So until the expansion there's no real reason to activate via steam?

**musilowski** · 01-30-2009, 09:40 PM

Ah yes, junctioning worked for me. See this post by Sir_Brizz at BUF for info. Also, the junctioned folder needs "Read only" to be unchecked.

**WoLvErInE** · 01-30-2009, 10:05 PM

Originally Posted by Apathy

It's easy as hell. I even did it. I now have the retail copy and a steam copy.

+1 this way when i'm mappin i don't have to run steam and be bothered by friends every few minuets

besides i have 2tb hd's, so hd space is not an issue.

**j0j081** · 01-30-2009, 10:05 PM

no need to uninstall the retail copy.

**Sam Stride** · 01-31-2009, 03:00 AM

Originally Posted by musilowski

Ah yes, junctioning worked for me. See this post by Sir_Brizz at BUF for info. Also, the junctioned folder needs "Read only" to be unchecked.

lol thats the same as symbolic links in unix

ln -s <source> <destination>

**musilowski** · 01-31-2009, 08:43 AM

Um, is it only me or doesn't the editor work with Steam?

Edit: nevermind, the loading time seems to have increased with Steam.

**Harmerty** · 01-31-2009, 09:08 AM

Originally Posted by musilowski

Edit: nevermind, the loading time seems to have increased with Steam.

Slow rig?

10 chars

**musilowski** · 01-31-2009, 09:44 AM

Not sure, without Steam it took a minute to open the editor, sometimes two. Now it took five minutes... Could be something else too...

**Fliperaci** · 01-31-2009, 09:47 AM

hmmm I have no need to install steam. Its just another program I dont need.
Hopefully these achievements come out for the retail version, too, though. Imo there are no further advantages...

But if the community grows - Its O.K. for me :P

I agree what Night said in another Thread:

Originally Posted by Nightmare85

Guys, just one thing:

No offense but I have the feeling this all is a very cheap trick.
I think Epic really wants to move all the players into this Steam platform.
(Some things could be easier for them.)
These achievements are just an attraction to impress some players.
(Only available through Steam? I'm not an expert but I hardly believe that the retail version can't support something like this...)

Steam is not necessary to play UT3 so just let is as it is.
If nearly all players move to Steam, the retail version won't be supported anymore.
Why installing additional tools if the current status is absolutely okay?
You guys complain about gamespy but Steam has its problems as well.
I had over 3 years Steam and I never would use it voluntarily.
If there is a game which is a Steam-only game, ok, I would buy it if I like it.
However, UT3 is not a Steam only game and I don't care about the Steam version!
The more additional software used the more problems can appear.

Maybe it's not as I said and Epic will still support the NON-Steam version.
If yes, then everything is ok.
But it could be right that this is their current plan

As said: Nothing against Epic and no offense.

Greets

**MasterB** · 01-31-2009, 10:09 AM

Has the retail version of UT3 running for a while. No problems.
Uninstalled it.
Reinstalled it from Steam. Game will now not load. Got the horrid "problem with EXE....."
Couldn't ever get it to run. Went mack to the retail version. Now runs fine again.
Nice, that probably cost me 2 plus hours of aggravation.

**Apathy** · 01-31-2009, 10:32 AM

I don't notice any time difference between the Steam version and retail copy.

**Dysan** · 01-31-2009, 11:27 AM

How can I go about retrieving my product key? I bought this game awhile back from direct-download site, but I can't quite remember where. :/

Edit: Ah, I had bought it from the Midway site, but they don't ask for you to register with them, nor did I save the key (I meant to, but I apparently overlooked that).

**Apathy** · 01-31-2009, 04:53 PM

I just spent like 10 minutes looking through the registry. UT2004, the key pretty much jumped out and bit you in your ass. UT3's key, I don't even know if it shows up in the registry.
I got something from Direct 2 Drive only one time and still regret it. I had to reformat because of a virus. 20 dollars down the drain. I'll either get a retail copy, go with Steam, or I just don't get it.

**Tomeis** · 01-31-2009, 05:38 PM

I just simply uninstalled the retail version and downloaded/installed it again from Steam. Everything worked great for me

**IINexusII** · 01-31-2009, 06:07 PM

does it come up saying 100% - Ready when its completely done? i would like mine to stay as shortcut - ready or my list is gonna look rubbish :P

**ArcAne** · 01-31-2009, 07:06 PM

yes it says 100% - Ready

**IINexusII** · 02-01-2009, 01:09 PM

thanks, ive converted mine to steam. all good

**Jjunior130** · 02-01-2009, 02:51 PM

i love this thread very useful

i did it and loved the results ty so much

**SmokeRingHalo** · 02-02-2009, 02:13 AM

Not sure what the benefit of having a Steam copy over Retail is other than achievements that aren't even available yet. I'm a procrastinator so I'll wait until there's a good enough reason to do so unless there's another reason that I don't know about.

**HideInLight** · 02-02-2009, 05:08 AM

When you finished downloading the steam version is it version 1.0 or 1.3?

**DrFish** · 02-02-2009, 06:05 AM

It's 1.3.

[10 chars done.]

**Masaai_Warrior** · 02-02-2009, 08:31 AM

Originally Posted by SmokeRingHalo

Not sure what the benefit of having a Steam copy over Retail is other than achievements that aren't even available yet. I'm a procrastinator so I'll wait until there's a good enough reason to do so unless there's another reason that I don't know about.

Well, surely the community aspect alone makes it worth moving the retail copy over?

Put it this way - you don't lose anything by moving it over, you only get additional stuff.

**Aemi** · 02-02-2009, 11:28 PM

Are we going to have to use Steam to recieve the update and continue playing or is it just for achievements? What is so special about getting achievements anyway?

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