Why a 700mB patch size for code related bug fixes?
scorpydude
Join Date: 2005-03-05 Member: 43603Members
Join Date: 2005-03-05 Member: 43603Members
Serious guys... whats going on with patch sizes...
700mB for the newest build patch when you've only got about 3/4 of a page of changes, most of those sound like they were code bugfixes and the 'asset' (maps/sounds etc) don't sound like much changed there.
I wouldn't care if you said that you updated 100 new sounds, all the maps, added some new maps, put new loading screens in etc. You know added media/pictures/textures/sounds to the game files.. but by the sounds of it, all you have changed is the game code, that i assume gets compiled into a few exe and dlls etc... why the hell would you have changed 700MB worth of data in this patch?
Is something going to be done to address these ABSURDLY huge patch sizes?
700mB for the newest build patch when you've only got about 3/4 of a page of changes, most of those sound like they were code bugfixes and the 'asset' (maps/sounds etc) don't sound like much changed there.
I wouldn't care if you said that you updated 100 new sounds, all the maps, added some new maps, put new loading screens in etc. You know added media/pictures/textures/sounds to the game files.. but by the sounds of it, all you have changed is the game code, that i assume gets compiled into a few exe and dlls etc... why the hell would you have changed 700MB worth of data in this patch?
Is something going to be done to address these ABSURDLY huge patch sizes?
Comments
was I the only one who was excited when I saw a big file, BIG FILE = BIG CHANGES
That's beside the point. It's like we're re-downloading the game each bloody week.
I'm trying to confirm if 700MB of stuff has changed, i highly doubt it has and if thats the case then why is the 'patch; 700mB? Are we having files refreshed that we don't need refreshed?
For those of us on smaller download quotas it is actually a pretty big problem, despite what mr ######nuckle 'thecowsaysstupidcrap' says.
This is probably why the patches are so big.
Other than that, each patch is introducing huge changes. As time goes on, they should get progressively smaller.
I guess the other problem here is that Americans don't have internet quotas like us Australians... from what I hear. Americans might be surprised to hear that the average maximum download GB/month in Australia is 3GB.
Don't get me wrong, i love the latest build and the build before that... not complaining at all that they are patching and fixing things so quickly etc. Just that we seam to be paying a heavy download quota price un-necessarily.
I don't think it's a problem that Americans don't have quotas. The problem is that poor Australians have quotas!
Seriously if I lived in Australia and there were no alternative internet service providers, I'd move. 3GB is how much I download in ~30 minutes.
They are replacing whole files, instead of patching up those files.
The reasons for this are usually:
You can patch straight up from 1.0 to 2.0 without doing the in-between patch from 1.0 to 1.5 and then patching from 1.5 to 2.0.
You do not need to program a patcher, that does parsing, inserting, rechecking files etc.
There is less room for error.
3GB is puny even by aussie standards.
--Scythe--
Perth resident here.
Uhh, well that's just stupidly wrong. Way to make us look like we live in huts in the OUTBACK MATE. Australians have access to 1TB plans if they want. iiNet ftw.
On average, you're looking at at least 100 GB per month for about $50 - $60 p/m depending on your ISP. Which retarded ISP are you with?
Now we all know I'm the officer in charge of taking the piss out of Australia here, but 3GB? What the bejesus? I mean if you want to pay $1 a month I guess you might get a 3Gb limit. Or you're downloading NS2 to your mobile. Err, I mean 'cell phone.'
As for the patch size, Faskalia nails it I think. There are some small downsides to a small dev-team, a 700mb download is a small price to pay for not fussing with patchers, incremental files, and all the headaches and lost hours that would mean for Max...
Was looking around the other day and the lowest plans for most companies are 10gb for $10, even found an unlimited for $30 (TPG)
I rather UWE just replace entire parts of a game than have more complex and time consuming incremental updates per individual files.
Sidenote: Back in Oz for me (2 or so years ago), I was paying $45 /mo for 20mbit (18mbit sync) with 60GB and that was with Netspace. I guess it's moreso down to "bad luck" that you aren't in an area where cheap plans are available.
I think I would go insane if I had such a low cap. I can download 3GB in about 8-9min, if the source has the bandwidth.
also you;d be stupid to move location just because you cant get a decent internet plan.
I'd say your priorities are simply wrong ;)
Ah touche, didn't think of that side of it. Although, it still doesn't represent an australian average in any way - i think the stats are around 9-13% of australia can't get cable/adsl
<!--quoteo(post=1812864:date=Dec 3 2010, 11:23 PM:name=Karrde)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Karrde @ Dec 3 2010, 11:23 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1812864"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I feel bad for you Australians, but ya kinda let it get that way. Not that the individual citizen has much power and the Government isn't being bought. As I recall you guys have a conservative government atm as opposed to labor? But yeah, the reality is that the early patches are more likely to be big due to the kind sof changes and needs to replace assets.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Nah we've had labor in for the last while, there's also a plan in place to improve our networks to fibre for 95% of aus but being our government it will still take another 7-8 years to see it.
So yeah, on average aus internet isn't that bad... Regardless, if you're downloading a game of this size in alpha/beta you should be expecting that you'll need to download a lot of, quite likely, large patches.
3GB sounds standard for "a cheap option for old people who don't use the internet". Sounds like you've chosen that rather than the "I want to download music/movies and play games" option and payment amount for your ISP.
oops, miscalculation ;) I mean, 7*10 seconds, so 1 minute and 10 seconds...
3GB sounds standard for "a cheap option for old people who don't use the internet". Sounds like you've chosen that rather than the "I want to download music/movies and play games" option and payment amount for your ISP.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Yikes. Heck, our cell phone data plans here in the States is more than that. lol
Aussies have it bad.
Incremental = Game breaks/headaches
It's been said before and i will say it again.
"Why participate in an Alpha/Closed Beta when you KNOW you have restrictions for bandwidth KNOWING there will be patches"
It took me all of 4 minutes to get the update, within 10 minutes i had my client and my server updated and running. OMG, I just realized i downloaded it twice....i better skip the next patch to save bandwidth.
Oh, the sacrifices we make to have fun. (wonders when the last time my monopoly board game was updated?)
700mB for the newest build patch when you've only got about 3/4 of a page of changes, most of those sound like they were code bugfixes and the 'asset' (maps/sounds etc) don't sound like much changed there.
I wouldn't care if you said that you updated 100 new sounds, all the maps, added some new maps, put new loading screens in etc. You know added media/pictures/textures/sounds to the game files.. but by the sounds of it, all you have changed is the game code, that i assume gets compiled into a few exe and dlls etc... why the hell would you have changed 700MB worth of data in this patch?
Is something going to be done to address these ABSURDLY huge patch sizes?<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I'm new so I can't tell if every previous patch was this large, but I suppose it contains new content for further updates or just updated content which can only be compiled into big files, so you have to download large files in which maybe only a couple thing have changed.
My gawd, I'd go through that quota in the first hour.
This can be done on steam-downloaded games, with minor effort.