Unable to play Albion Prelude without Steam

[Oriolus]

I have just purchased the X3 Gold package from GamersGate and installed Terran Conflict with it's most recent updates, and the Albion Prelude expansion. TC works perfectly, but I am unable to start AP with the provided X3AP_n.exe file (which allows to play the game without Steam - I don't have a Steam account). My system is Windows 7 x64

When I try to launch the game, it crashes with an error message which says:
"File not found. (addon\types\Globals)". Reinstalling doesn't help: there is no such folder or file under \addon
Please help!

[CBJ]

At a guess either the EXE file is in the wrong place (it should be in the root game folder for X3TC), or you're trying to run it from a shortcut that doesn't have the correct working folder set up (this should be set up to be the same folder that the EXE is in).

[Oriolus]

Thank you for the quick response. The EXE file is in the main folder of the game (where the X3TC.EXE is, and I have also installed the extension to there) and I don't use a shortcut.

The "addon" folder contains the following subfolders:
- Bonus Pack Uninstaller
- Documents
- scripts
- t

So no "types" folder there...

[CBJ]

The file doesn't need to exist as such. Many of the files and folders are squirrelled away in the DAT files that sit in the root folder of addon. There should currently be three of those, numbered 01 to 03, along with corresponding CAT files. If those are not there then the game is not properly installed and needs to be updated and/or verified before you can use it. If those files are there then we're back to the working folder not being set up correctly. If you're not using a shortcut then the solution may be to create one.

[Oriolus]

I have reinstalled the X3AP_Bonus_Pack_5.1.0.0.exe and double checked the "addon" folder - but there are no DAT or CAT files there, only the four folders.

[CBJ]

Er, wait a sec. Have you actually bought and installed X3AP? The X3AP Bonus Pack is the Bonus Pack for X3AP, it's not the add-on itself.

Edit: I just re-read your original post and realised that you stated that you don't have a Steam account. Clearly there is a huge misunderstanding here as you cannot install X3AP without a Steam account. The NoSteam EXE allows you to play it without Steam after installation but it doesn't remove the need for a Steam account entirely. Clearly you've installed the Bonus Pack for X3AP thinking it was the game itself and tried to use just that and the NoSteam EXE. This won't work!

[Oriolus]

I have purchased the X3 Gold package (because of the AP expansion) with the following content:

X3 Gold Reunion
X3 Gold Terran Conflict
X3: Albion Prelude (Expansion Pack)

There is no download link on GamersGate for the AP so I have downloaded X3AP_Bonus_Pack_5.1.0.0.exe from this site. If it is not the expansion itself, where do I find the installer?

[CBJ]

You cannot download the game from our site. If you bought X3AP from Gamersgate then they should have provided you information on how to obtain it. At a guess they will have provided you with a Steam key.

[Oriolus]

I see... So there is no other solution to this than joining Steam (which I never wanted to) - otherwise this purchase was totally unnecessary?

[CBJ]

X3AP requires a Steam account for installation and activation. The Gamersgate page for X3AP does state that, though it seems the information is not repeated on the X3 Gold package page. This is clearly a frustrating situation, but it's something you would need to take up with them if you feel that you wouldn't otherwise have made the purchase.

[Oriolus]

Ok, I understand. Thank you so much for your kind help. As an old fan of the X series since the beginning, I really wanted to see this expansion before the X Rebirth comes out. Will that also require Steam to play?

[Alan Phipps]

Yes X-Rebirth will require Steam. Informative thread from Bernd here.

[Oriolus]

Thank you for the reply. I give up the resistance and install Steam then.