alpha preload

sasuke2490

<div class="IPBDescription">will we get the alpha pre-load b4 the countdown ends</div>will we get an alpha pre-load b4 the countdown ends so the steam servers don't overload like they do whne a big game doesnt get one.

jimnablazed

I sure hope we do...

sasuke2490

does anyone know yes or no though

Cereal_KillR

I mostly hope that the countdown will not be the reason for unnecessary whining.

I don't think I'll be here for H-hour, but considering all the drama for when the big announcement was later than expected by a few hours (despite the lack of countdown), I do hope that UWE will find a way to be ready on time, or better.

Also, there are only 10k or so testers, spread across the world, not all of which will be refresh-happy. I guess Steam can manage it even if the timer counts down towards the file availability.

Thrillseeker

I just hope we get server tools a day before or so, so we can be prepared. Releasing tools at same time as ns2 seems like a bad call. Because people would be waiting for servers instead of joining them instantly. I also hope for pre-load as it will be heavy traffic.

Tagertswe

<!--quoteo(post=1781810:date=Jul 22 2010, 06:35 PM:name=Thrillseeker)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Thrillseeker @ Jul 22 2010, 06:35 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1781810"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I just hope we get server tools a day before or so, so we can be prepared. Releasing tools at same time as ns2 seems like a bad call. Because people would be waiting for servers instead of joining them instantly. I also hope for pre-load as it will be heavy traffic.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

especially if trouble arises while putting up the servers and to understand how the config/commandlines works and so on :)

sasuke2490

<!--quoteo(post=1781812:date=Jul 22 2010, 04:38 PM:name=Tagertswe)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Tagertswe @ Jul 22 2010, 04:38 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1781812"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->especially if trouble arises while putting up the servers and to understand how the config/commandlines works and so on :)<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

ya it might be awhile after the alpha is released to get a server... but idk about it i hope we get a type of pre load

Slycaster

I don't believe Steam allows pre-loading unless the product is out of the 'beta' stage they have assigned to NS2. So chances are, no. Even though 10,000ish people will be downloading, Steam should still have fine bandwith. This isn't Alien Swarn where millions at one time were.

Price

yeah, same here, because its a alpha can you preload mods over steam? guess no.
And maybe its not the 27th july, maybe its the 28th or something.
How much people purchase the special edition?
That is an interesting question ^^
But i guess there more core gamers/fans, so servers will not be overloaded.

Gun_Knight

If the files are torrent, the more people downloading it at one time, the better with little effect on the host after the first 50-100 people start seeding

Slycaster

<!--quoteo(post=1781877:date=Jul 22 2010, 02:50 PM:name=Gun_Knight)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Gun_Knight @ Jul 22 2010, 02:50 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1781877"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->If the files are torrent, the more people downloading it at one time, the better with little effect on the host after the first 50-100 people start seeding<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

The files will only be distributed through Steam.

Fury

<!--quoteo(post=1781908:date=Jul 23 2010, 07:53 AM:name=Slycaster)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Slycaster @ Jul 23 2010, 07:53 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1781908"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->The files will only be distributed through Steam.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Here's hoping my Steam doesn't decide to constantly give me "The steam servers are too busy ..." errors again!

I'd be so bummed if I came home to play the game only to find I couldn't download it :(

Thrillseeker

Everyone will have the game but no one will have servers up running because the tools wont be given out before the release. Happy running around alone on a local server (at least for 10 or more minutes till a dedi show up on the list :P)

mwpeck

<!--quoteo(post=1781949:date=Jul 23 2010, 12:28 AM:name=Fury)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Fury @ Jul 23 2010, 12:28 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1781949"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Here's hoping my Steam doesn't decide to constantly give me "The steam servers are too busy ..." errors again!

I'd be so bummed if I came home to play the game only to find I couldn't download it :(<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
When that happens, simply change your download servers (in your Steam settings) to Thailand or somewhere else that will have lower traffic, worked fine for me with the free Portal and Alien Swarm releases. The overall download will be slower, but at least you will be downloading it.

Fury

<!--quoteo(post=1781959:date=Jul 23 2010, 11:27 AM:name=mwpeck)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mwpeck @ Jul 23 2010, 11:27 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1781959"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->When that happens, simply change your download servers (in your Steam settings) to Thailand or somewhere else that will have lower traffic, worked fine for me with the free Portal and Alien Swarm releases. The overall download will be slower, but at least you will be downloading it.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Oh I've tried everything under the sun to get steam working again when it messes up and gives me that error.
The only thing that's fixed it so far is a complete reinstall of steam or copying steam and the registry settings over from another computer.

For me the servers busy error generally means my steam is stuffed, changing settings doesn't fix it :(

Talk about a pain in the ass!

spellman23

Well, after the first few finish downloading the files, someone should make a torrent. That way the Steam servers aren't getting killed.

I highly doubt they are going to have time for a pre-download period. Considering the frantic nature of the tweets, it feels like they're gonna be up to the wire.

sasuke2490

i just wanna download the alpha b4 the countdown ends so i dont get steam servers are to busy or they servers get slowed down a bit 10,000 is alot and all at once(not all u know what i mean)

TheLeader11

I bet you that the first server to appear on the list will fill up with players in less then a second.

Tacota

I don't think there are enough of us to bog down the servers that bad. But I'm no expert either. When they get bogged down its usually from a huge game that everyone knows about. NS2 is a great game, but relative to some other games, it just isn't that popular yet. And the severs get bogged down/overloaded by much larger games.

And this idea of a pre-load is silly to me, in this case. The whole point of the countdown is that they will have it ready by then. They are stressing to get everything ready in time, it's not they have it ready and are just waiting for the countdown to send it to us. I doubt they will have it ready in time for a pre-load anyways... Or atleast one that would be early enough to make a difference(Assuming the servers would get bogged down anyways).


Also, if your reason for offering a pre-load is for keeping the servers from overloading, and not so you can have it installed by the time the countdown ends, that won't do much for it. Do you really think that people would say, "Oh, I'll just wait til the countdown ends to start downloading."
The pre-load would just become the new 'countdown end', as far as people downloading it.

sasuke2490

<!--quoteo(post=1782290:date=Jul 23 2010, 11:30 PM:name=Tacota)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Tacota @ Jul 23 2010, 11:30 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1782290"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I don't think there are enough of us to bog down the servers that bad. But I'm no expert either. When they get bogged down its usually from a huge game that everyone knows about. NS2 is a great game, but relative to some other games, it just isn't that popular yet.

And this idea of a pre-load is silly to me, in this case. The whole point of the countdown is that they will have it ready by then. They are stressing to get everything ready in time, it's not they have it ready and are just waiting for the countdown to send it to us.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

i thought they wewre just leaving it and will clik the button to send it to steam after the countdown ends.

rennex

Best bet is to leave the download running and do something else for a few hours so that server ops have time to get things going.

Eyeless

I wish people would answer posts if the know something. And not just to tell us there hopes and guess at the answer.

WarLover

<!--quoteo(post=1782294:date=Jul 23 2010, 07:48 PM:name=Eyeless)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Eyeless @ Jul 23 2010, 07:48 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1782294"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I wish people would answer posts if the know something. And not just to tell us there hopes and guess at the answer.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Are you serious?
If that was the case then only Devs would ever reply to anything.

Squawk

I'm pretty sure they wont be doing a pre-load. There wasn't one for Alien Swarm, a game that was fully backed by Valve. It wont be the end of the world. That being said, if the amount of people downloading NS2 Alpha is near the amount for AS then we can expect some slow download times. I think at the worst of my download for AS I was at 27kps compared to my normal 600+ from the Valve servers.

JediYoshi

<!--quoteo(post=1782296:date=Jul 23 2010, 05:01 PM:name=WarLover)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (WarLover @ Jul 23 2010, 05:01 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1782296"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Are you serious?
If that was the case then only Devs would ever reply to anything.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

What a glorious forum this would be.

abYsss

There won't be a preload, you can only make something like this available if you have a set release date.
They don't have a fixed date (in hours), which means that they are still working on the alpha build, once it's done they put it up on steam and you can download/play it right away.

There is no point for a Preload anyway, once they are done they make it available, as easy as it is, Preloading would mean downloading and waiting for release.
Once they have a downloadable version they release it right away, there is no reason to delay it.

blackpiranha

<!--quoteo(post=1783501:date=Jul 26 2010, 02:26 AM:name=JediYoshi)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (JediYoshi @ Jul 26 2010, 02:26 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1783501"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->What a glorious forum this would be.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

This forum needs dev icons next to the threads so you can see if any developer answered - or something like that.

Eyeless

<!--quoteo(post=1782296:date=Jul 23 2010, 04:01 PM:name=WarLover)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (WarLover @ Jul 23 2010, 04:01 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1782296"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Are you serious?
If that was the case then only Devs would ever reply to anything.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Oh yeah and we would only get real answers and not bs guessing and hoping. I see your point....