If this is True, SE is TOO EVIL!

[viion]

I'm still not sure I get that point haha.

Even with the 1.21gb thats not like pure additional stuff, that 1.21 fixes and adds on to original file stuff. But what is you posting it trying to prove? That theres been no new content because im fairly sure we ALL know that and dont need a file size to tell us.

[Synthesis]

Agreed. They could implent this into 1.18 instead of 1.17b, would save time and effort.

[TonyMontana]

Does all of this mean my easter egg hat is about to change into a chocobo or an Auction House??!!

[Gramul]

THAT'S your definition of evil?!

[nyxem]

I'm not surprised about re-downloading the same fixes. It probably has a lot to do with how their update system and software works. My guess is, after the 1.8 patch, they will probably stop adding on to this patch and start anew.

Plus the difference in size of the files only has to do with what was added to the files, not with what was changed. Content is what really takes up the most in file size, not code changes.

Also, remember that this is an n-tier Client<->Server application... They probably made a lot of code base changes on the servers, which we wouldn't be seeing on the client.

[Crevox]

The reason behind the big file sizes is simple.

Person A has been playing the game. They have their game at 1.17a, which was 300mb. They decide to patch to 1.17b, which is also 300mb. Most of the content downloaded is just 1.17a over again, but there's also some new updates to 1.17b.

Person B quit playing at 1.16. They decide to start playing again. Instead of downloading 1.17 and 1.17a, they go and instantly download 1.17b, which contains all the content and saves them having to download two patches. Only 300mb, rather than 900mb. Even if it's not THAT much in the whole case, it's still less patch files you have to download, and you're getting ALL the updated files and not re-downloading the same files over and over (download a file a, next patch updates file a, next patch updates file a, etc). You download the update to date version immediately and save a lot of time.

Person C is installing the game fresh. Thanks to the efforts made by SE to skip patches, they end up having to download a LOT less to patch their game, and only update to the final revisions of patches, saving much time and bandwidth. That's multiple gigabytes they are not having to download.

Are there more efficient ways to patch the game? Yeah, SE could've done a bit better, but THAT is the reasoning behind it. We, being person A, did in fact have to download a bunch of stuff we've already downloaded in the past. It sucks, but it's not "hidden content" or "laying the groundwork." It's exactly what I said above, and it's what the patch actually is. Patch 1.17b is an UPDATE to patch 1.17. You're downloading the updated version of patch 1.17, which includes the content patch 1.17 provided, with whatever updates needed.

There's nothing "evil" about it. That's how they did their patching system. It has its positives and negatives.

[Azurus]

The reason behind the big file sizes is simple.

Person A has been playing the game. They have their game at 1.17a, which was 300mb. They decide to patch to 1.17b, which is also 300mb. Most of the content downloaded is just 1.17a over again, but there's also some new updates to 1.17b.

Person B quit playing at 1.16. They decide to start playing again. Instead of downloading 1.17 and 1.17a, they go and instantly download 1.17b, which contains all the content and saves them having to download two patches. Only 300mb, rather than 900mb. Even if it's not THAT much in the whole case, it's still less patch files you have to download, and you're getting ALL the updated files and not re-downloading the same files over and over (download a file a, next patch updates file a, next patch updates file a, etc). You download the update to date version immediately and save a lot of time.

Person C is installing the game fresh. Thanks to the efforts made by SE to skip patches, they end up having to download a LOT less to patch their game, and only update to the final revisions of patches, saving much time and bandwidth. That's multiple gigabytes they are not having to download.

Are there more efficient ways to patch the game? Yeah, SE could've done a bit better, but THAT is the reasoning behind it. We, being person A, did in fact have to download a bunch of stuff we've already downloaded in the past. It sucks, but it's not "hidden content" or "laying the groundwork." It's exactly what I said above, and it's what the patch actually is. Patch 1.17b is an UPDATE to patch 1.17. You're downloading the updated version of patch 1.17, which includes the content patch 1.17 provided, with whatever updates needed.

There's nothing "evil" about it. That's how they did their patching system. It has its positives and negatives.

^^^^ this is 100% correct in the most clear and concise way possible. thank you for sharing this.

[Grundy]

There's nothing "evil" about it. That's how they did their patching system. It has its positives and negatives.

I bought FFXI at the EU release. The last fresh install I did was two years ago. The update process took 8 hours.

Now, incredibly, it looks like the same type of update system has been rolled into FFXIV. Are you trying to tell me that in the 8 years since the release of FFXI there has been no advancements made on how to patch a game?

[Crevox]

I bought FFXI at the EU release. The last fresh install I did was two years ago. The update process took 8 hours.

Now, incredibly, it looks like the same type of update system has been rolled into FFXIV. Are you trying to tell me that in the 8 years since the release of FFXI there has been no advancements made on how to patch a game?

If you have your ports forwarded properly, FFXIV should not take 8 hours to patch (unless you have really bad internet). XI's patching system was a LOT different, and this system is a lot faster and more optimized.

Advancements have been made, they are using a peer-to-peer system. The patching system is a lot better than most people make it out to be. Of course, it has its flaws, but every game patching system has its flaws.

[Renshi]

yawn... Oh! What's this?

*reads*

meh, some theory-making is just stupid. Moving on... Oh, another thread!