Hi guys, I'm wondering if anybody would use a mod pack that includes about everything that has been released (things I know of).

The mod pack would use Jonesofts Generic MOD enabler and therefore is easy to swap mods on and off w/o destroying the base install.

We talked about it before Gotcha made the Autoupdater and he didn't like the idea of having the different MODS twice, i.e. in the MODs folder and copied to the folders. Fo me size isn't an issue and I uses this method right now.

But I can't host a 600mb file (I can, but my ISP wont allow) so we would have to find a place for it.
Second, if nobody would use it, it would be a waste of time and space.
Third, updates could be minor add. files and mayby once in a month a new package would be created.

What do you think? Fire away...

I do not know for sure, what kind of thing would be included (i readed "about everithing", but how "everithing" is everithing?).
If you say it could be possible to swap stuff whitout trouble, and the things included were good, i probably give it a try.
Also, how big it would (approximately) be?.
Alejandro.

Hi Alejandro, aa I wrote about 600mb. It would be all the 20-23 downloads from the autoupdater, i.e. warzones, texturepacks and what we could get from other sources like cockpit mods etc.

Well, i already have the autoupdater and mi EECH updated to 1.8.6, but it could be useful to the people who wants to make a fresh install (VERY useful), or the people who just bought EEAA/EEAA+EECH, also, i will definitively try it, just to check out what i do and what i do not have.
My opinion is that it would be useful, and it would be a very good alternative to the autoupdater.
Alejandro.

hi, I thought about that, there is no reason for a lot of files, the autoupdater could also have one big file. But a max up/download of 50 mb was my problem too, and some users have a slow connection so downloading a 600 mb file was giving problems (although almost everybody has a fast connection these days). Also each new change would need a new giga download or a small update, which sort of defeats the purpose. but still I see what you mean.
I can see a middle way with one big texture download, one big new campaign download and the exe separate. 3 or 4 downloads sort of. Maybe eechcentral can host that...?
not sure about jsmge, can it make a connection to a server? I thought that is nice about the updater (which is also a freeware product which I changed a bit, with permission).

Hi gotcha, no JSGME is only a mod tool for controlling what is installed. I.e. some of the packs one can download through your autoupdater, has multiple choices when installing, normal explosions, hollywood explosions. This is so easy to do in JSGME w/o remembering which. And I must confess I'm not sure clicking backup in any of autoupdate files makes sure I can return to normal. Thats the force of JSGME.

The big file will include all the old stuff. Most of the stuff that has been released in 2007 has been heli textures, cockpit mods, news exe and soundpacks.

The big file could be updated once in a month with the smaller files. So one could easily get a working version of EECH up and running.

The most important for me is total control of WHAT is installed and WHERE it is. One click removes something I don't like and I don't have to remember to restore a backup etc. So I'm just bringing this up because it helps me, and therefore could help others too.

I will take some screenshots tomorrow to show how JSGME works with EECH.

Between some installs the game requires a single launch. Can that be a problem?




Yes, one install a major addition (IMO). For me, it's the third most important thing on my list. The first is a good working multiplayer, the second is a great double seated multiplayer. Within reach, this is by far the best bet to take.


I presume newbies going to like it very much! Veterans like most of us don't need a single file install anymore.

The complicated install sequence is something people don't want to know. Just one click and it should work, that's what people are looking for.


It's common nowadays to have such large downloads, we should not focus too much on the lower bandwidths anymore.


I think America's Army handles this well.

Example:
Your version: 1.8.6
New version is: 1.9.0
You get the update package: 1.8.6 > 1.9.0 (30 MB)
Newbies get the full update: 1.0.0 > 1.9.0 (600 MB)

Btw, the updater already exists. People can choose to manual install, semi-automatic (Updater), full automatic (1 file).


Wow, we're thinking the same. The installation should be a no-brainer for 100%.

which leaves the need for a server that can handle these big files...

just made a complete mod install file as a single exe, its 594 mbyte

can or wil eechcentral handle that?

Yes one big install, but I want to be in control what is active and what is not.

Take a look at this picture:


This is still WIP, and I'm not finished unpacking and renaming MOD folders. So some of the folders in the screen shot dosn't have the [] in the name. And I havn't really decided yet if I want to have [] before the text and thereby sorting all textures, campaigns etc.


This single mod file would just install a folder (MOD) in your Razorworks directory, since I don't think we are allowed to add the JSGME.exe installer in the package. So one would have to download the latest version (free) from Jonesofts homepage.

Next step would be to get all those loose skins, cockpit, sounds etc....

that looks ok to me but to complex for others maybe? A newbie just wants a one-click-go solution. Maybe the one big mod file and having control over all the details are two different things?

if I understand correctly you have it all in a MODS dir n some organized wya and then you can move it over to its proper place, but how does it decide where everything should go?

JSGME works from the root of the game. That means that all mods has a "motherfolder" that gives it the name in JGSME (see above screenshot). Under the "mother folder" lies the files, i.e. common\...

So as we talked about then, still stands, you will have the mod files up to two times! JGSME dosn't give us zip/arj like LoMan. I looked at LoMan last time we discussed this, because of the zip possibilities, but its a techinal products and takes some time to setup EECH as a game and making mod packages.

Yes there are many mods and some of them would 99% of us only installe as one package. But again, I like to have the option.

Its pretty simple, I could add a 01 to each folder name to all we would consider a basic install, that way a noob could click the top most and shift click the last 01 and the click the ">". A basic mod install of EECH. 02 could be optional or what ever.

Just a thought.

Cheers
Mark

I don't like that GUI, it does not feel familiar.

I like this one very much:



It's the common install screens people know and feel familiar with.

Can we use the latter for an install wizard?

Between some installs the game requires a single launch. Can that be a problem?

Well its what everyone in the Silent Hunter, rFactor, etc. community sees. Its time to see something new and learn something new if you want the true power over your MODs.

The other picture is an installer. And we could use an installer for the MOD package, but that would require the MOD master to use it, and I dosn't have the tools. No give me WinRAR any day....
The installer can't really handle activating/de-activating of MODs, thats the job of a MOD enabler. Every mod enabler looks different.

Which?

But this could be a dead horse. We have a lot of views and not many replys from people considering the good use of this.

Launches in between are not necessary, that is just a left over from old install procedures. the only time you need a lauch is to unpack te graphics files of EEAH. EECH never needed that, people just do it to feel sure. Even the order of the mods is almost not significant (almost )

I just did a fresh install of the cohokum CD, the unpacked my 564 Mbyte single install which unpacks to 1.45 Gbyte and it upgrades everything to 1.8.6! pretty neat. The advantage of the NSIS install exe is the very good compression rate. Cougar, you should look at the NSIS stuff, it very versatile.

the advantage of cougars approach is that you can take away mods or install other options over them.

I think we are talking about two different things here, one is a big file that unpacks to a MODS directory and gives you modding control such as cougar wants, one is a big file that unpacks directly in the game and is as a singlke "newby" install (no offence intended).

you can probably make a single install file with two options: unpack to the MODS structure or unpack directly! but that would need some figuring out.

still I have the question: who is willing to host a file of 564 Mbyte, my own webspace doesn't handle files bigger then 50 Mbyte...?

I would very much appreciate a one-click install, with the ability to choose options. And an autoupdater included would be icing on the cake.
Just my two cents.

I think this is something for the specialist. Not many people knows how to do this. Including me, hencing that I didn't know the difference between an install application and a mod selector
application.


I think I get my hands off of this! (of technical part)

Great work guys!


I think we're on the same page! Lovely!

well that is the catch, a large install and maintaining all the choices (especially the textures variations in camoflage) is a lot of work to make properly. Just a large bulk install is no problem

Kassie: the second "run once" for EECH is not necessary, I never do it and it runs fine.