Multi-version Factorio ?

[Mr. Tact]

Hi guys and gals. Not sure this is the right place to ask, but if not I assume someone will move my post.

I am currently a couple of hundred hours into a 0.15 version play-thru of Sea Block. I am enjoying myself thoroughly. I'd rather not update the game/save to 0.16, mainly because with this much time into the game I just want to finish it as I started it. No problems there. Except, I'd love to start a new vanilla game in 0.16. Is there a convenient/easy way to have multiple versions of Factorio installed and working? If it makes any difference my copy is on Steam. Perhaps, I could buy another copy directly from the devs and do a separate install somehow?

[Ranakastrasz]

Download the zip version of the installer, unzip it to wherever. Use the exe in the bin folder inside that unzipped version. That is a different version of the game, not technically installed.

[Mr. Tact]

At the risk of sounding like a dolt... so, place the zip version in an alternate directory and simply launch the executable in the bin folder and it will load the version in the alternate directory -- completely ignorant of the previously existing version, correct? Practically sounds too good to be true. Never guessed it would be that easy.

[Loewchen]

(...) so, place the zip version in an alternate directory and simply launch the executable in the bin folder and it will load the version in the alternate directory -- completely ignorant of the previously existing version (...)

Yes, the .zip installation only uses files inside its folder and all files it generates, like saves, settings or mods are created in its folder.

[Aeternus]

Handy. That works well as a portable version then, you could load it from an USB stick and play on any system.

[Jap2.0]

(...) so, place the zip version in an alternate directory and simply launch the executable in the bin folder and it will load the version in the alternate directory -- completely ignorant of the previously existing version (...)

Yes, the .zip installation only uses files inside its folder and all files it generates, like saves, settings or mods are created in its folder.

Wait, even the stuff that the Steam version generates in %appdata%/Factorio (logs etc.)?

[fiery_salmon]

(...) so, place the zip version in an alternate directory and simply launch the executable in the bin folder and it will load the version in the alternate directory -- completely ignorant of the previously existing version (...)

Yes, the .zip installation only uses files inside its folder and all files it generates, like saves, settings or mods are created in its folder.

Wait, even the stuff that the Steam version generates in %appdata%/Factorio (logs etc.)?

Maybe Steam version is worse also in this aspect and only non-Steam Factorio keeps to its folder?