I am wondering how many people would want a custom CD sent to them containing all or most of the maps that are on our server that are not included in the game?
If I knew that people would use the cd to copy all the maps on it to the map folder and any custom textures and static meshes, I would be willing to make some cd's and mail them out at no charge.
I am thinking I will have 3 folders on the cd, all labeled exactly like what folders you need to copy them to in your UT2004 folder on your hard drive.
I have a lightscribe drive and can burn a nice label and put our server name and IP address on it and instructions on the cd on what to do.
What do you think? Also, anyone good at scripting or making it auto install the maps and other stuff automagically after inserting the cd in the drive... or am I just getting too silly.....
Custom server maps on CD
It's a nice idea for dial-up people perhaps, but for anyone on a faster connection I'm not sure I see the point. There's plenty of cache conversion programs out there if you want to try the maps in single player. Alternativly, you could just change the cache expiration length to something like a year or two in your .ini and not worry about re-downloads after that point.
Either way, I've decided to go ahead and create a self-installing CD that will install the maps and textures etc. automatically to the UT2004 folder. I found an open source installer program to create this. I myself would find it handy to have a major portioin of the maps being autoinstalled for when I re-do my system, and its one less thing to worry about backing up to the hard drive.
Not only that, its something new to try just for the experience or heck of it. I've never done something like this, and this is a valid excuse to create a self-installing (running) custom installer. This is a simple exercise, not that hard, the hardest part will be determining what textures and static meshes are not part of the origional install.
From all the people I work with and experienced in this day and age, you'd be suprised how hard some people find doing a simple copy operation of files from one location to another can be.
Not only that, its something new to try just for the experience or heck of it. I've never done something like this, and this is a valid excuse to create a self-installing (running) custom installer. This is a simple exercise, not that hard, the hardest part will be determining what textures and static meshes are not part of the origional install.
From all the people I work with and experienced in this day and age, you'd be suprised how hard some people find doing a simple copy operation of files from one location to another can be.
Sounds like a good idea. You may want to consider setting up this set of files for a download. So those who do have Hi-speed can simply download the CD and save on shipping costs.
Either way, I definitely like the idea of an all in one package for the server maps.
Either way, I definitely like the idea of an all in one package for the server maps.
Namu
If theres a place I can put the file on-line, I will do so. It will be a single setup.exe type of file. It will end up being a large file. Haven't gotten all the files ready yet, but it could well be over 200MB. It currently is almost 150MB in size, and I havent added the static meshes or textures that some maps need.
Great idea about putting it on-line.
:cheers:
Great idea about putting it on-line.
:cheers:
It's ready to be tested. I have run it on Win XP64 Pro (dual boot partition D) as well as Win XP Pro on the C drive. I have run it on my office machine also. No problems to report. Its pretty straightforward when you run the installer. It shows you the location of the UT2004 folder, and you just confirm that that is where you want them installed, after that, it will install 30 maps, and texture and static mesh files. ( I checked the textures and static meshes carefully that are needed by a couple of maps, and believe I have them all.)
The file is 163,175 MB in size. I can also do add-on or supplememental installers for any new maps that come up in the future. If you want, give me your e-mail address and I will send it. I will need to do it in 10mb segments, as I cannot mail a file over 10 mb in size. I can create a self extracting .rar that will take all the parts I will need to send you. (17 files altogether) Unless I can FTP it to you. Or I can also burn a CD and mail it, your choice.
Tell me what would work best for you.
The file is 163,175 MB in size. I can also do add-on or supplememental installers for any new maps that come up in the future. If you want, give me your e-mail address and I will send it. I will need to do it in 10mb segments, as I cannot mail a file over 10 mb in size. I can create a self extracting .rar that will take all the parts I will need to send you. (17 files altogether) Unless I can FTP it to you. Or I can also burn a CD and mail it, your choice.
Tell me what would work best for you.
If you're going to go thru with this, I'd suggest using Bittorrent to distribute this size of a file rather than messing around with multiple 10 MB emails to a bunch of different people. Just create a torrent of the file host it yourself, and send anyone who wants to download it the .torrent file itself.
If you're not sure what I'm talking about or how to do this exactly, try these pages:
http://azureus.sourceforge.net/faq.php#17
http://azureus.aelitis.com/wiki/index.p ... urTorrents
Enjoy.
If you're not sure what I'm talking about or how to do this exactly, try these pages:
http://azureus.sourceforge.net/faq.php#17
http://azureus.aelitis.com/wiki/index.p ... urTorrents
Enjoy.