[Mobius]

If users don't read anything, what's the point in even writing tutorials and instructions?

Seriously, I don't see how this should make installing mods any harder than it currently is. Dropping a folder in FreeSpace 2 it's the easiest thing to do if mod.ini will do the rest without any problems. And TBH, if users know there's a way to reduce the filesize of whatever they want to download, that'll probably attract their interest.

[General Battuta]

most users don't read tutorials or instructions

of those that do, most of them are confused

the instructions we have for installing FSO are too confusing

desura will help fix this

mod.inis should never have to be touched by the end user

[Fury]

Don't forget the role of common sense on this.

But you already forgot it when you posted this topic. Unless we're talking about hundreds of megabytes, like 500MB or more, dependencies are evil. The only reason why BP2 depends on BP1, is that there are about 500MB of assets shared with BP2. If it had been 50 MB, then if you ask me, BP2 wouldn't have used BP1 as dependency. The support trouble from managing dependencies simply isn't worth it.

I'm sorry for all those people who have to live with internet connections that have limited monthly bandwidth or are otherwise slow, but screw them. A repository like this would be such a support nightmare I'd rather not have any dependencies at all than use this repository. But luckily for all of us, there lies a common ground dictated by common sense which has served us well up to now. Now all we need is that bloody installer to manage the few dependencies that mods use. But let me tell you, even is dependency management is someday realized through an useful installer, this repository shall remain a fairy tale as far as I am concerned.

[Mobius]

most users don't read tutorials or instructions

of those that do, most of them are confused

the instructions we have for installing FSO are too confusing

desura will help fix this

mod.inis should never have to be touched by the end user

Mod.inis are touched because AFAIK people tend to give MVP folders the names they prefer, thus increasing the odds. Packs with fixed names will hopefully be different.

Anyway, is Desura any compatible with my controversial idea?

[Fury]

Mod.inis are touched because AFAIK people tend to give MVP folders the names they prefer, thus increasing the odds. Packs with fixed names will hopefully be different.

Wall, meet head.
Head, meet wall.

[General Battuta]

ahahahahahahahahahahaha

[The E]

Mod.inis are touched because AFAIK people tend to give MVP folders the names they prefer, thus increasing the odds. Packs with fixed names will hopefully be different.

No, it's because users are idiots who tend to not read, ignore, or misinterpret install instructions, or who believe they know better than the mod designers.

[Mobius]

Well, I'll make that statement clear to all newbies who will be asking for help.

j/k

[Shivan Hunter]

facepalm.jpg

Thing is, if we needlessly increase the number of dependencies being used, we'll be getting a metric frakton more support requests. If they have to be handled at all by the end user, DEPENDENCIES ARE BAD. We've actually been having a discussion on IRC about why even the MVPs should not be a dependency for mods- the only dependency should be the core system which is unchanging and can thus be relied upon.

It's way too complex for too little gain. Desura might fix it, but simplicity is much more valuable than a couple of megabytes, especially with how difficult it is to support FS even now.

in short, facepalm.jpg

[Fury]

We've actually been having a discussion on IRC about why even the MVPs should not be a dependency for mods- the only dependency should be the core system which is unchanging and can thus be relied upon.

doublefacepalm.png

[Qent]

people tend to give MVP folders the names they prefer

If you're reading this, please never ever do that!

Given how few mods I've encountered that share resources, I am now convinced that this proposal will increase the size of downloads, not reduce it.

And facepalm-normal.dds for the next post.

[Mobius]

facepalm.dds

[Jeff Vader]

lock.gif if this stupid picture joke continues.

[Droid803]

If users don't read anything, what's the point in even writing tutorials and instructions?

We write them because we hope people read them.
Also, because we can go ***** at them about not reading the instructions if they don't get it. Duh.

[Mobius]

I think you got it right.

[MatthTheGeek]

Yeah, it's our safe bet. If we didn't have instructions, noobs would complain about us because they don't exist. Now, WE can complain about THEM for not reading the instructions. And flame them, and beat them to death for being stupid. THAT is the good way.

[Shivan Hunter]

Hopefully Desura wil negate most of these issues anyway. All hail Desura

[Mobius]

Plus, let's make sure it's promoted on ModDB. There are people there who complain about installations.

[Macfie]

mod.inis should never have to be touched by the end user

Some one should have told that to whoever named the new media VPs folder "mediavps_3612" instead of "mediavps", thus requiring changing the name of the folder or all the mod.ini's to be able to use them. 
And then there was the freespace FSPort mediavps that had a dash in the folder name that caused them not to work when they first came out unless they were renamed.

It would appear that we have not yet gotten to the point where the mod.ini's do not have to be touched by the end user.

Edited for clarity. --Jeff Vader

[Droid803]

That's more due to oversights than anything (at least on the part of the fsport mediavps).
The 3.6.12 mediavps are named differently intentionally, because theres so much in it that break backwards compatability or something.