Author Topic: Why can't the game be in ONE installer file?  (Read 3184 times)

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Offline Dark RevenantX

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Why can't the game be in ONE installer file?
I know this may sound stupid at first, but we don't need FreeSpace 2 to be spread across three CDs.  It is much easier (and smaller) to pack the game into a single .rar'ed up installer file that can be downloaded much more quickly due to a smaller size (the installer file compresses it and for some reason the 'rar'ing makes it even more tiny)  Of course, the SCP launcher, Fred2 and FS2 executables, and the mv_core.vp have to be included so that the game can run without a nag saying "insert cd".  Also, the movies would have to be downloaded seperately because they would take up as much space as the game download itself.

Also, it would be a good idea to pack the entire SCP into a convenient installer file that can be unpacked into your copy of FS2 without hassle.  If all of the SCP vp files plus the launcher and executables are put into the installer file, it compresses into a quite small 227 mb, saving the user a lot of download time.

This would be tremendously helpful to many people, especially those who are on dial-up connections and newcomers.  All I have to ask is why this hasn't been done yet?

P.S. I have built and compressed the two files.  If someone is willing to host them, that would be awesome.  I haven't the money to host them myself.

 

Offline Cobra

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Re: Why can't the game be in ONE installer file?
I know this may sound stupid at first, but we don't need FreeSpace 2 to be spread across three CDs. It is much easier (and smaller) to pack the game into a single .rar'ed up installer file that can be downloaded much more quickly due to a smaller size (the installer file compresses it and for some reason the 'rar'ing makes it even more tiny) Of course, the SCP launcher, Fred2 and FS2 executables, and the mv_core.vp have to be included so that the game can run without a nag saying "insert cd". Also, the movies would have to be downloaded seperately because they would take up as much space as the game download itself.

This would be tremendously helpful to many people, especially those who are on dial-up connections and newcomers. All I have to ask is why this hasn't been done yet?

uh, yeah, about that. do you know the sheer size of that? it would be around 1.5 gigabytes for the FS2 download, and that would take 4 or 5 days to download if you leave the computer on. so, uh, no.
To consider the Earth as the only populated world in infinite space is as absurd as to assert that in an entire field of millet, only one grain will grow. - Metrodorus of Chios
I wept. Mysterious forces beyond my ken had reached into my beautiful mission and energized its pilots with inhuman bomb-firing abilities. I could only imagine the GTVA warriors giving a mighty KIAAIIIIIII shout as they worked their triggers, their biceps bulging with sinew after years of Ivan Drago-esque steroid therapy and weight training. - General Battuta

 

Offline Dark RevenantX

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Re: Why can't the game be in ONE installer file?
689 mb is the installer file.

 

Offline Defcon

  • 23
Re: Why can't the game be in ONE installer file?
I know this may sound stupid at first, but we don't need FreeSpace 2 to be spread across three CDs. It is much easier (and smaller) to pack the game into a single .rar'ed up installer file that can be downloaded much more quickly due to a smaller size (the installer file compresses it and for some reason the 'rar'ing makes it even more tiny) Of course, the SCP launcher, Fred2 and FS2 executables, and the mv_core.vp have to be included so that the game can run without a nag saying "insert cd". Also, the movies would have to be downloaded seperately because they would take up as much space as the game download itself.

This would be tremendously helpful to many people, especially those who are on dial-up connections and newcomers. All I have to ask is why this hasn't been done yet?

uh, yeah, about that. do you know the sheer size of that? it would be around 1.5 gigabytes for the FS2 download, and that would take 4 or 5 days to download if you leave the computer on. so, uh, no.

1.5 gig doesn't take 4 or 5 days unless you have a slow internet connection. @ 100 kb /sec u can get it within a few hours.

 

Offline Defcon

  • 23
Re: Why can't the game be in ONE installer file?
689 mb is the installer file.

btw some people here don't have the luxary of having a fast connection. So crunched up freespace 2 would be more tedious to download than a 3 cd set. I don't understand what you mean by this installer file. I have FS1(with silent threat) and FS2 and i would gladely make a big zip of all of those files. If anyone is willing to download 4 gigs. It takes a DAY at most to get it. Also, as soon as I get my router to allow me to transfer such files via mirc then I would be happy to share with the community and new comers.

 

Offline Cobra

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Re: Why can't the game be in ONE installer file?
it's not the router, you need to enable file sharing in your windows firewall. presto. :)
To consider the Earth as the only populated world in infinite space is as absurd as to assert that in an entire field of millet, only one grain will grow. - Metrodorus of Chios
I wept. Mysterious forces beyond my ken had reached into my beautiful mission and energized its pilots with inhuman bomb-firing abilities. I could only imagine the GTVA warriors giving a mighty KIAAIIIIIII shout as they worked their triggers, their biceps bulging with sinew after years of Ivan Drago-esque steroid therapy and weight training. - General Battuta

 

Offline Dark RevenantX

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Re: Why can't the game be in ONE installer file?
What I mean is that I built an installer file that installs the ENTIRE FS2 game (not including movies because I can't get ahold of them myself) PLUS some SCP elements so that the game can be played without the error message "insert cd".

The installer file is only 689 mb, though.

 

Offline copiae

  • 23
Re: Why can't the game be in ONE installer file?
Hmm...

the movies are available for seperate download anyways, and i'm sure a whole stack of things in the retail fs2 installation are not used coz of SCP equivalents, so why not create a core download that contains the few retail fs2 things still needed, SCP .vp files and an SCP launcher/exe? I dunno if fs2 requires any registry entries, but if it does its easy enough to create them anyways...

 

Offline StratComm

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Re: Why can't the game be in ONE installer file?
Already done.  Karajorma already put one up on Home of the Underdogs.  I'm not sure what is in it, but it is at least a base installation of FS2 without movies, packaged up to be easy to use.  There is a place for the full 3-cd download as well, even if only for completeness.
who needs a signature? ;)
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Last edited by StratComm on 08-23-2027 at 08:34 PM

 

Offline bfobar

  • 28
Re: Why can't the game be in ONE installer file?
I think what this place needs most is a big red button on the main page that says SWEET LINKS FOR ALL YOUR FREESPACE GAME DOWNLOADING NEEDS since it seems like everything is already in 3 places, it just takes a while to look for it.  :D

 

Offline karajorma

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Re: Why can't the game be in ONE installer file?
Seems I'm way ahead of everyone today :D

1) The HotU build is basically FS2 - Cutscenes + Cracked EXE. It's everything you need to play FS2 Retail. It's also 700MB in size so roughly equivalent to a single ISO.

2) There is a links for FS2 thread. I put it up yesterday :) You can find it here. :)
Karajorma's Freespace FAQ. It's almost like asking me yourself.

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Offline BlackDove

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Re: Why can't the game be in ONE installer file?
DEE VEE DEE

DEE VEE DEE

DEE VEE DEE

!!!!!!!!

:nervous:

 

Offline Cobra

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Re: Why can't the game be in ONE installer file?
DVD ftw! (although i don't have a dvd drive :p)
To consider the Earth as the only populated world in infinite space is as absurd as to assert that in an entire field of millet, only one grain will grow. - Metrodorus of Chios
I wept. Mysterious forces beyond my ken had reached into my beautiful mission and energized its pilots with inhuman bomb-firing abilities. I could only imagine the GTVA warriors giving a mighty KIAAIIIIIII shout as they worked their triggers, their biceps bulging with sinew after years of Ivan Drago-esque steroid therapy and weight training. - General Battuta

  

Offline Defcon

  • 23
Re: Why can't the game be in ONE installer file?
it's not the router, you need to enable file sharing in your windows firewall. presto. :)

unfortunately my windows firewall has been taken over by norton 2006...if anyone can tell me how to  file transfer via mIRC without any problems i would be happy :P