Don't know if this has been talked about but do any of you guys get annoyed when a game puts the save files in a location like C:documents/my games, instead of in the actual install location of the game.

For example AC installed some files in C:\Users\Spitfireisland\AppData\Roaming\Ubisoft\Assassin's Creed, its sort of annoying to me when games do this. I like to keep my computer clean and organized so when an installer installs files other then the install location its annoying.

I really like how the "Battle for Wesnoth" actually asks you where you want the save file location. Wish more game installs where like that.

Anyway not a huge deal, just wondering what others thought.


Any thoughts?

Do most people not care?

Here's a good rant for you:

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2012/01/23/stop-it-put-save-games-in-one-place/

I don't care that much. There's never really much need for me to futz around in menus and folders unless I'm cleaning up the hard drive (digitally mind you). It's easy enough finding what I want by start button or by shortcut, but if having a bunch of shortcuts bug you just toss those into a folder on your desktop.

Post edit: Hold on, I think I got confused.

lol, happens At Kodeen, yea I guess I wasn't the only one.

Took me awhile to find AC saves. Not use to save being outside of the Install location.

I do care, but I really don't like when anything saves in its own directory. If the operating system is built to be multi-user (even if I'm the only user), stuff should save their files in the users' own directory by default (though not in such a hidden place as AppData), Microsoft did try to set up a single place for gamesaves, the folder is called "Saved Games", doesn't that sound like a logical enough place? Like "My Documents" (or just "Documents") is a logical place to store just that - documents (also, see "(My) Pictures", "(My) Music", and "(My) Videos" for their respective kind of files).

If the user wants his stuff elsewhere (like I want some stuff on a different drive), they can use a symlink or use the OS's functionality for redirecting the location of said folders.

On the same note, I don't like when applications install themselves in the user's directory rather than centrally (Google Chrome does this so as to not require admin rights to install, unless you locate and use the msi installer meant for companies).

Since you posted quite a few "questions"... :p

A game putting user files in its installation directory is SO MUCH wrong. Please, don't bring back the pre-Vista days.

There is a perfect folder called Saved Games in Vista+, but developers seem to ignore that one, only a few games support it.

AppData is exactly where a game's saved files should be located, if they are not using the Saved Games folder, and not My Documents or some similar place.

You can blame the lazy developers for not caring about this, all they need to do is write like 4 lines of code.

if ((int)System.Environment.OSVersion.Version.Major > 5)
put saves in Saved Games
else
create a Saved Games folder in user's directory and put saves there.

Yep, this. Saves should be centralized, but they should also be put where they belong - however I see it as lesser of two evils when the game puts saves in it's folder as opposed to some burried folder god knows where. So, save games are an ideal state, game folders are close second as long as the game supports user accounts.

AppData, however, is by default a hidden folder, it should be easy to get to your files for backup or whatnot. And I have seen Saved Games on XP (though as a non-special folder, and, like My Pictures/Music/Videos, located inside My Documents), probably created by some Microsoft game or GFWL.

I think it is hidden because some people might try to remove it or something. :)

But still, yea, it should be easier for the user to locate his saves.

I feel these days, Saved Games should be in "My Documents", personal preference files should be in AppData and the install should be separate. In a multi-user system you may want to share an installed program (hence being in Program Files) but your own preferences and saved games - that is what this is designed for.

It WOULD be nice if they would standardise and not have "My Docs\Game Name", "My Docs\My Games\Game Name" and "My Docs\My Games\Game Name" but it is still a small step forward.

What's wrong with "C:\YourUsername\Saved Games"?

It is already a standard, but devs don't care about it.

As a dev, I use AppData for things I don't want the user to see. Things that may confuse my application, or things that simply don't make any sense to the user.

What you're requesting is access to their internal formats and data. While this is understandable from the perspective of a gamer wanting to start tinkering with the app, from a developer perspective this is inviting malformed files and more support calls. If I put something in AppData it's because I don't want you to have it. That's my internal file created for my purposes. As far as you're concerned it is not a public api, it is not supported, and it is not available.

Whether save games should be available is a different question.

The best location for saved games on Windows is the "Saved Games" folder under the current user.
If all games put saves in "Saved Games" then I would be able to easily back up my saved games.

I do not like when saved games are placed in "My Documents" or and sub directory such as "My Documents\Games\GAME_NAME".

I don't mind when saved games are stored in the games installation directory.

I also do not like when the default install directory contains the Publisher. For example:

C:\Program Files\Electronic Arts\GAME_NAME\

I like to go through my Program Files folder and see what is there and often I don't know the company but I know the program and I have to check what it is.

Sorry - I forgot about that location as well. I was listing all the locations I had seen recent games use. For ME I prefer that one actually, but having to support some users I like it being in "My Documents" purely as that is the folder they are most likely to remember to back up. I guess the latter just comes down to user training.

Hi wpegg I like your post, it gave me some insight into why developers do what they do. I think I can understand where your coming from. The customers you deal with, will always be the majority over someone like me and as such your decisions make sense. I don't know if I agree with you on some points that would apply to someone like me though.

What do you mean exactly by "things that may confuse my application". Is this a programming decision?

The way I see it if a gamer starts messing around with files and then all of a sudden the game does not work any more they shouldn't be asking the developer for support. Either reinstall or put the settings back to the original (life's not perfect though is it?). AC is a good example of having some configuration settings that can be tweaked that are located in appdata/roaming. They shouldn't be there in my opinion, a lot of other games don't put that file there so why should AC. I know BG keeps their config files in the install location which I like.

I think the purchaser of the software should at least have the decision though on where to install saved game data.