2.0 options for existing players: ISO download? digital copy disc?

I know some MMOs that offer a bulk file that people can use, in case a reinstall is necessary.

Will SE do the same?

It could be a full ISO download- current to the latest patch, or even an option to purchase a disc (at cost) by mail which includes current patch (and no serial).

Would be very interested in hearing what they plan, since the 1.0 discs are now obsolete.

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Setup file is just a small executable which goes through the lengthy download of the game's core files, installs, then downloads each subsequent patch until current.

By no means a lengthy process, which can result in hung downloads, corrupt files, and repetition.

An ISO download is an image of the entire game which can be burnt to a disc, or its even more reliable counterpart, they print a disc and send it to those who front the cost of the disc. Minimal time risking a download interrupt, fast reliable source for reinstallation.

Ask yourself what steps you would need to do to play XIV in 1.0 if you lost the disc. Compound that with 2.0 not even having a disc provided (unless you pay for the game again), and I'm looking for 1 or 2 simple, reliable alternatives.

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It's going to be a torrent program like any other MMOs. You download a small piece of program from the official website then use it to download a full game. If a hard copy you mean, SE didn't say anything, did they?

Edited: I don't believe ISO download is going to be happened though. However, I can rip a DVD on my computer and share it to the internet but keeping it the latest patch is impossible. You have to redo ISO every time if you patch it.

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Originally Posted by Zehira

It's going to be a torrent program like any other MMOs. You download a small piece of program from the official website then use it to download a full game. If a hard copy you mean, SE didn't say anything, did they?

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Read wrong.

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Originally Posted by Zenaku

no all they said was you said a setup.exe that download the client then you download everything by torrent lol

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... X_x

Does anybody actually understand what is the difference between download and install? lol

1) Download a setup.exe from the official website
2) Use it to install the new game directory
3) Open the game client
4) Download everything once
5) Enjoy! :D

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Originally Posted by Zenaku

not sure what you trying to get at or what you mean but i don't think that what the op was asking for,.

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I don't think I understand what the OP was asking for. :(

Any link on what the hell is this thread all about. X_x

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Originally Posted by Zehira

I don't think I understand what the OP was asking for. :(

Any link on what the hell is this thread all about. X_x

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Not sure i had to read it a few time i think he asking for a setup.exe "Like you said" file so he can download the game. In that case SE is giving everyone the 2.0 client for free download.

I was thinking early that he needed a way to get every patch of the game. Due to the fact that so many people still have shit internet or 250gb cap a month. But i think he asking for a setup.exe which is my mistake :)

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Originally Posted by Zenaku

Not sure i had to read it a few time i think he asking for a setup.exe "Like you said" file so he can download the game. In that case SE is giving everyone the 2.0 client for free download.

I was thinking early that he needed a way to get every patch of the game. Due to the fact that so many people still have shit internet or 250gb cap a month. But i think he asking for a setup.exe which is my mistake :)

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lol, I just edited my first post.

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It could be a full ISO download- current to the latest patch, or even an option to purchase a disc (at cost) by mail which includes current patch (and no serial).

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I need someone to explain what the hell he was talking about. XD
Well, it's a good idea for players with shitty internet. yeah yeah :p
ISO is a software so that's why I said a hard copy if he was asking for.

Setup file is just a small executable which goes through the lengthy download of the game's core files, installs, then downloads each subsequent patch until current.

By no means a lengthy process, which can result in hung downloads, corrupt files, and repetition.

An ISO download is an image of the entire game which can be burnt to a disc, or its even more reliable counterpart, they print a disc and send it to those who front the cost of the disc. Minimal time risking a download interrupt, fast reliable source for reinstallation.

Ask yourself what steps you would need to do to play XIV in 1.0 if you lost the disc. Compound that with 2.0 not even having a disc provided (unless you pay for the game again), and I'm looking for 1 or 2 simple, reliable alternatives.

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Originally Posted by Duuude007

Setup file is just a small executable which goes through the lengthy download of the game's core files, installs, then downloads each subsequent patch until current.

By no means a lengthy process, which can result in hung downloads, corrupt files, and repetition.

An ISO download is an image of the entire game which can be burnt to a disc, or its even more reliable counterpart, they print a disc and send it to those who front the cost of the disc. Minimal time risking a download interrupt, fast reliable source for reinstallation.

Ask yourself what steps you would need to do to play XIV in 1.0 if you lost the disc. Compound that with 2.0 not even having a disc provided (unless you pay for the game again), and I'm looking for 1 or 2 simple, reliable alternatives.

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I agree, having a pressed disc would be handy.

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Originally Posted by Duuude007

Setup file is just a small executable which goes through the lengthy download of the game's core files, installs, then downloads each subsequent patch until current.

By no means a lengthy process, which can result in hung downloads, corrupt files, and repetition.

An ISO download is an image of the entire game which can be burnt to a disc, or its even more reliable counterpart, they print a disc and send it to those who front the cost of the disc. Minimal time risking a download interrupt, fast reliable source for reinstallation.

Ask yourself what steps you would need to do to play XIV in 1.0 if you lost the disc. Compound that with 2.0 not even having a disc provided (unless you pay for the game again), and I'm looking for 1 or 2 simple, reliable alternatives.

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I see what you mean the only thing i know there doing is giving everyone a discount for got the 1.0 CE. But i don't see them making a ISO file for everyone to download on there website but you never know they going to say if there enough request they would about anything lol.

I would say post what you want in the beta forums and you may get a answer. Overall i think best thing to do is always have a copy of all your files on other HDD or USB that what i'm going to do and update it each patch.

I think we're just going to get an installer like most companies distribute nowadays where you just run the file and it downloads and installs the files from their file server. Piracy really isn't an issue since the game has to be registered to your account anyway.

I'm betting that the disk in the retail version will only have a 100meg instal on it.

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Originally Posted by AmandaHuggenkiss

I'm betting that the disk in the retail version will only have a 100meg instal on it.

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I'm thinkin it will be a 4+ disc set with all the data for V2.0 on it.

I'm having a hard time imagining a feasible way to do this, considering that that MMOs these days can stretch to well over 12 GB of data.

What's wrong with downloading a baseline client for the current major version (i.e. 2.0, 3.0, 4.0), and downloading the other updates after installing that client?

Its going to be like this I am sure, you will download a small client maybe 20mb, and it will torrent the rest of the data needed to fully installed.

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Originally Posted by Wolfie

I'm having a hard time imagining a feasible way to do this, considering that that MMOs these days can stretch to well over 12 GB of data.

What's wrong with downloading a baseline client for the current major version (i.e. 2.0, 3.0, 4.0), and downloading the other updates after installing that client?

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Having a disc to install the base client from, then patch it is far less taxing on some people's bandwidth limits. As much as it should be, not everyone has unlimited bandwidth. Far more than people may think really. Plus, pressing a few extra discs isn't all that expensive, not to mention, people would be willing to pay media/shipping costs.

Even then, one idea was an ISO, so we can burn our own, although a pressed disc would typically last much longer.

Most likely they'll have us download an ISO image of the retail disc as it goes gold. Probably delivered via torrent.

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Originally Posted by Alhanelem

Most likely they'll have us download an ISO image of the retail disc as it goes gold. Probably delivered via torrent.

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I doubt they would do that because that would require a burner and specialized software to even play the game. There is almost no way the won't go with a small client that is a downloader that uses torrent protocol to install the game. Not everyone even has a dvd burner on their system. It will be like the 1.0 alpha/beta you download a small file and it downloads the whole game for you i bet.

It would be considered an alternative, not a requirement. An extra layer of customer convenience.

you'll have to download the game through the client portal the first go around, then download an ISO from whatever reputable source you can find.

Thats assuming they even bother to press discs for the PC client they may go an all Digital Distribution method, and only bother pressing 2.0 discs for PS3.

A lot of you seem confused,

iso = a perfect "copy" or "image" of a cd/dvd. This single file can be burned to a disk to create an install disk. (with software you can use the iso file to install without burning it to disk first)

The iso method is an extremely inefficient method to deliver a mmo game client. This is because every patch, a whole new iso file would need to be made that includes that patch, and the WHOLE iso would need to be downloaded again (many gigabytes) and then installed over itself.

It is much more likely (as others have said) that a small "patcher" program will be downloaded. 20mb or so.
The patcher then downloads the rest of the game, and also provides the updates to the game. (this is how WoW, SC2, D3, FFXI, FFXIV 1.0, and many other MMOs do it)

Even new WoW disks only have a single 5mb file on them. The patcher. They contain no actual game data.

I checked my Starcraft 2 disk, it also had only the patcher on it. 15mb or something. Just used to download the game from the web..

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Some companies will include the base client, and the patcher on the retail disk. This saves a good portion of downloading to begin with. Only the updates need to be applied after the base is installed.

For the retail version disk, expect to see the base release client + patcher on the disk,

For the beta, and for release, expect just a patcher for us legacy members.

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Originally Posted by DoctorMog

A lot of you seem confused,

iso = a perfect "copy" or "image" of a cd/dvd. This single file can be burned to a disk to create an install disk. (with software you can use the iso file to install without burning it to disk first)

The iso method is an extremely inefficient method to deliver a mmo game client.
------
Some companies will include the base client, and the patcher on the retail disk. This saves a good portion of downloading to begin with. Only the updates need to be applied after the base is installed.

For the retail version disk, expect to see the base release client + patcher on the disk,

For the beta, and for release, expect just a patcher for us legacy members.

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DocMog is 100% correct about the .ISO image.

Now for people like myself, I'm going to install this on 2 maybe 3 different machines. So that means if the game is 15-20 gigs (like most modern games) that means i'll have to download 45-60 gigs. Thats a huge chunch of bandwidth for people with capped data.

If SE released an option for .ISO of the release client I could download 15-20 gigs once, burn it to a disc then install it on my other machines saving me 30-40 gigs of data. Sans updates.


I suppose you could download the client and updates once, burn the updated game directory to a disc. Start the patching process on the new machines, then just copy the directory on the disc to the correct location on the new machines.

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Originally Posted by DoctorMog

A lot of you seem confused,

iso = a perfect "copy" or "image" of a cd/dvd. This single file can be burned to a disk to create an install disk. (with software you can use the iso file to install without burning it to disk first)

The iso method is an extremely inefficient method to deliver a mmo game client. This is because every patch, a whole new iso file would need to be made that includes that patch, and the WHOLE iso would need to be downloaded again (many gigabytes) and then installed over itself.

It is much more likely (as others have said) that a small "patcher" program will be downloaded. 20mb or so.
The patcher then downloads the rest of the game, and also provides the updates to the game. (this is how WoW, SC2, D3, FFXI, FFXIV 1.0, and many other MMOs do it)

Even new WoW disks only have a single 5mb file on them. The patcher. They contain no actual game data.

I checked my Starcraft 2 disk, it also had only the patcher on it. 15mb or something. Just used to download the game from the web..

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Some companies will include the base client, and the patcher on the retail disk. This saves a good portion of downloading to begin with. Only the updates need to be applied after the base is installed.

For the retail version disk, expect to see the base release client + patcher on the disk,

For the beta, and for release, expect just a patcher for us legacy members.

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My Starcraft II disc has near 8 gigs of Data, My MoP Discs have around 8 gigs each as well. In fact, I don't think i've gotten a single game like you describe.

I have my MoP discs. It came with 2 dvds, basically it was 5.0 version of the game which is like 20 gbs, it still downloads like 4-5 gb of patchs after that of the new stuff they added.

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Originally Posted by ispano

Having a disc to install the base client from, then patch it is far less taxing on some people's bandwidth limits. As much as it should be, not everyone has unlimited bandwidth. Far more than people may think really. Plus, pressing a few extra discs isn't all that expensive, not to mention, people would be willing to pay media/shipping costs.

Even then, one idea was an ISO, so we can burn our own, although a pressed disc would typically last much longer.

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That's pretty much what every game does these days, so... I wouldn't worry about it. Especially MMOs that require a persistent internet connection. When you buy an expansion game box, you're really just buying the license key for it, and then a plastic disc with the free game client upgrade that you would have gotten regardless when you logged into your old stuff.

Which is also why some MMOs these days have their boxed expansions priced at $10-30 more than just buying the upgrade via digital download.

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The iso method is an extremely inefficient method to deliver a mmo game client. This is because every patch, a whole new iso file would need to be made that includes that patch, and the WHOLE iso would need to be downloaded again (many gigabytes) and then installed over itself.

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Uh, yeah, except that it's way more efficient than shipping a new disc every time they release a patch. They don't do this. Why would they do it for the ISO? an ISO is just a dsic image. It's not going to be updated with every patch.

Why would you install the game over itself anyway? The proper thing to do if you need to reinstall is uninstall then install again.

I'm not sure what you're thinking, but nobody is suggested that patches be delivered via ISO. patches will be delivered the same way for everyone- just downloading the updated data- not the whole game over again.

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Originally Posted by ChiefCurrahee

DocMog is 100% correct about the .ISO image.

Now for people like myself, I'm going to install this on 2 maybe 3 different machines. So that means if the game is 15-20 gigs (like most modern games) that means i'll have to download 45-60 gigs. Thats a huge chunch of bandwidth for people with capped data.

If SE released an option for .ISO of the release client I could download 15-20 gigs once, burn it to a disc then install it on my other machines saving me 30-40 gigs of data. Sans updates.


I suppose you could download the client and updates once, burn the updated game directory to a disc. Start the patching process on the new machines, then just copy the directory on the disc to the correct location on the new machines.

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Generally you can just start the patcher,
Copy all the files from a machine with the game installed to the same directory on a new machine,
Restart the patcher.
Done.
No download needed.

And in other words, what purpose does a game disc even serve? You have to have a persistent internet connection to play the dang game, so unless that disc came with figurines or a map or some other collectible good, it would be an extremely worthless disc.

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Originally Posted by DoctorMog

Generally you can just start the patcher,
Copy all the files from a machine with the game installed to the same directory on a new machine,
Restart the patcher.
Done.
No download needed.

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only if the game engine was designed to be or is multi platform, otherwise you going to need a registry entry for the game as well.

Something I think everyone is confused about is that this does not have to be the standard. If they want to mass distribute a patcher-only disc, then that's up to them. But for those with capped data, or an exceptionally bad data connection (i.e. those that have to start the download again and again before their client even gets enough connections.

For those people, it may be worth their time to pay money to have the bulk of the games files (that won't be patching every update) sent to them.

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Originally Posted by DoctorMog

A lot of you seem confused,

iso = a perfect "copy" or "image" of a cd/dvd. This single file can be burned to a disk to create an install disk. (with software you can use the iso file to install without burning it to disk first)

The iso method is an extremely inefficient method to deliver a mmo game client. This is because every patch, a whole new iso file would need to be made that includes that patch, and the WHOLE iso would need to be downloaded again (many gigabytes) and then installed over itself.

It is much more likely (as others have said) that a small "patcher" program will be downloaded. 20mb or so.
The patcher then downloads the rest of the game, and also provides the updates to the game. (this is how WoW, SC2, D3, FFXI, FFXIV 1.0, and many other MMOs do it)

Even new WoW disks only have a single 5mb file on them. The patcher. They contain no actual game data.

I checked my Starcraft 2 disk, it also had only the patcher on it. 15mb or something. Just used to download the game from the web..

------


Some companies will include the base client, and the patcher on the retail disk. This saves a good portion of downloading to begin with. Only the updates need to be applied after the base is installed.

For the retail version disk, expect to see the base release client + patcher on the disk,

For the beta, and for release, expect just a patcher for us legacy members.

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im not really sure what your on about. having the bulk of the game on physical media is always faster and more efficient than any download only option, unless you have a 50mbit line a DVD will instal faster. you dont patch the intire base game therefor your whole you'd need a new iso every patch release makes no sense. a patcher works by creating new or modifying entry's in the base of the game.

I'd rather get the ISO and instal a large chunk of the game then run the patcher/updater. This seems to be the most logical approach as if you need to reinstall you don't have to the 18gig+ download every single time. Though you could backup the files before the uninstall, but you might have copied the broken files. the patcher old approach seem terrible! Updating 1.0 for me was evilly slow where my DL speed is 10megs and I'm barely getting 10kB most of the time. Though the slow speeds might have just been my router not forwarding the ports properly for it. I don't want to turn on plug and play on the router as it opens too many holes. Let me set a fixed port like I can do on my other Torrent clients.

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Now for people like myself, I'm going to install this on 2 maybe 3 different machines. So that means if the game is 15-20 gigs (like most modern games) that means i'll have to download 45-60 gigs. Thats a huge chunch of bandwidth for people with capped data.

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Why would you have to download the iso 3 times when you could just burn it to a disc and use the disc to install on the other machines?

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Originally Posted by Wilksha

I'd rather get the ISO and instal a large chunk of the game then run the patcher/updater. This seems to be the most logical approach as if you need to reinstall you don't have to the 18gig+ download every single time. Though you could backup the files before the uninstall, but you might have copied the broken files. the patcher old approach seem terrible! Updating 1.0 for me was evilly slow where my DL speed is 10megs and I'm barely getting 10kB most of the time. Though the slow speeds might have just been my router not forwarding the ports properly for it. I don't want to turn on plug and play on the router as it opens too many holes. Let me set a fixed port like I can do on my other Torrent clients.

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Funny thing about that is SE's Official port was :55296 for the patcher, but my router always reported the patcher operating on port :55297. either they told us to forward the wrong port or they changed the port number very early after launch

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Originally Posted by Valmonte

Funny thing about that is SE's Official port was :55296 for the patcher, but my router always reported the patcher operating on port :55297. either they told us to forward the wrong port or they changed the port number very early after launch

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For me, it seemed to rotate ports. Even forwarding the reported port. I was getting slow speeds.

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Originally Posted by Alhanelem

Why would you have to download the iso 3 times when you could just burn it to a disc and use the disc to install on the other machines?

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If you read his full post, his post mentions both instances. He was just pointing out there if it was just the patcher he downloaded all 3 time.

Most Internet providers in the US have a 250-300gb cap if they even have a cap at all. Its pretty hard to even reach that cap unless your sitting there watching HD Netflix all day every day. So I don't even see what the issue is.

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Originally Posted by Wilksha

For me, it seemed to rotate ports. Even forwarding the reported port. I was getting slow speeds.

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yeah UPnP never worked for me after i manually forwarded the ports and turned off UPnP in the XIVConfig i was getting like about a Mb a second no where near topping of my connection but a hell of alot better than the 10-50kb i was getting.

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Originally Posted by Zumi

Most Internet providers in the US have a 250-300gb cap if they even have a cap at all. Its pretty hard to even reach that cap unless your sitting there watching HD Netflix all day every day. So I don't even see what the issue is.

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i keep for getting its the united states of earth, my bad.

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Originally Posted by Zumi

Most Internet providers in the US have a 250-300gb cap if they even have a cap at all. Its pretty hard to even reach that cap unless your sitting there watching HD Netflix all day every day. So I don't even see what the issue is.

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Most people have more then one person using the internet doing the same thing. Just me and my gf can eat up 150gb in 2-3weeks watching shows and playing online games. The issue is that many part of USA don't have great internet and most people are still using dial up or DSL that is very unstable. That the big issue in USA and i'm sure other part of the world are worth off then we are. Look at AU i know people with 250gb cap once they reach it they no longer have internet at all vs USA where you have to pay 10$ for every 50gb you pass.

But i agree with many people they just have to make a ISO of it or back up everytime there a patch SE i don't think SE want to waste that much cash to help people :(