Heavensward Predownload

[Limecat]

It sucks for people with slow net, but unfortunately there really is no other way to go about it.

They could encrypt the files, background transfer them(or offer a torrent), and then at the standard patch time distribute the key to the updater to decrypt them for installation.

[TitaniaZero]

I miss when FFXIV was patched via a torrent system. Sure it was a terrible torrent system but... it is better than the non-resuming mess we have.

B.net lets people download their expacs whole weeks in advanced. SE should figure how it was done.

[Canadane]

I miss when FFXIV was patched via a torrent system. Sure it was a terrible torrent system but... it is better than the non-resuming mess we have

I used my own torrent client for it because theirs wasn't the best.
But options like that were great.

[Sartori]

Windows: Available space on hard disk/SSD 30GB

PS4: Required Hard Drive Space 50GB minimum

PS3: Required Hard Drive Space 20GB minimum

you can't go by that, it needs to decompress files so it needs more room then what the actual file size is

[Millerna]

Windows: Available space on hard disk/SSD 30GB

PS4: Required Hard Drive Space 50GB minimum

PS3: Required Hard Drive Space 20GB minimum

Those number are for the full game, not just the expansion. They're also the installed game, not the download size.

My guess is that that 30gb limit on the phone subscription is more than enough to download the expansion more than once

[mbncd]

I can understand that certain pieces of information can be data mined to the detriment of the community but I can't for the life of me understand why neutral pieces like textures and the 2.xx content in DX 11 mode can't be downloaded in advance. Things like that are little more than pretty pictures, but they allow us to get a head start on the big chunk of data coming on the day, particularly for those with slow connections or in remote areas like Aussieland here.

[Phafi]

cause people will use model viewers to walk around the areas and stuff.

[Gyson]

Cap the data transfer speeds at whatever rate will prevent the patching from completing prior to the start of Early Access. Now you've eliminated the concern of spoilers or early data mining.

[mbncd]

cause people will use model viewers to walk around the areas and stuff.

But you don't have to attach the data to that sort of information, it can just be the parts that the later information will refer to. For example, the texture used in new gear, without information on what that gear is, what the requirements are for it, how to obtain it or anything else. Yes, someone could theoretically put the texture to a mesh and make an outfit out of it, but it still won't be useful or detrimental information and it means one less thing that needs to be downloaded on the day itself.

The only slightly (as in almost, maybe, ew but ok) valid reason I can see for not allowing the predownloading of neutral data like textures is the fact that the bigger the download on the day, the more staggered the times of patch completion will be, thus staggering some of the population and login queues. The problem with that is that everyone's paying for the same service and should have access to the servers from when they go back up.

[Warlyx]

cause people will use model viewers to walk around the areas and stuff.

nah more like to avoid the usual data mining