Slimming the Mod

Post by **Masaq** » 2007-08-23 21:53

The subject of removing vBF2 maps from your HD was asked about in the general forums.

Just thought that a good idea for the a future release - 1.0 would be the best bet - might be an option during installation of PR to remove any vBF2 assets, maps etc that aren't in use by PR and that wouldn't effect a player's standing with Punkbuster/MD5 checks etc.

Combined with slimming and tidying the mod itself, removing some vBF2 leftovers that weren't needed to run the mod could help players with limited hard drive capacity - as let's face it, the mod is only getting larger as time progresses.

Wouldn't help with download times, but it would make the BF2 folder itself smaller.

For players who wanted to still play BF2 or other BF2 mods, the option of leaving the original game intact would be selectable.

GrayeKnight · Post by **GrayeKnight** » 2007-08-23 21:55

was thinking about this as well.

i dont have any experience with installation programs, etc.
is it possible?

if so then that would be a good option.

blud · Post by **blud** » 2007-08-24 00:37

No, but if someone wanted to make a separate "BF2 shrinker" program for download for hardcore PR players that would make sense.

I say no because.. you don't want your mod installer to break the base bf2 install. Some morons would click it by mistake and then the rumor would spread fast that installing PR destroys your BF2, so don't try PR. Also, a mod installer shouldn't wreck your base game install even by mistake.

Post by **IronTaxi** » 2007-08-24 00:49

risk for breaking vbf2 is too high i would say..

i think the general policy of Eggman is not to modify anything outside of the actual mod install itself unless absolutely necessary...

which this really isnt...

as ive mentioned somewhere else though.. some servers will kick you if the check the md5 file for vbf2 maps ... a few servers off hand..

bigd from australia and Gloryhoundz..

Post by **eggman** » 2007-08-26 02:01

mod is going to get phatter and phatter...

LekyIRL · Post by **LekyIRL** » 2007-08-26 02:04

version 1.0=6 gigs????!?!?!?

Post by **BlakeJr** » 2007-08-26 09:28

I wouldn't say no to a separate "slimmer" for vBF2. As long as it comes with massive warning texts attached!

"DO NOT USE IF YOU INTEND TO PLAY/OR OTHERWISE USE THE BASE BATTLEFIELD 2 MAPS"
Etc...
To conserve size, you really have only one option and that is to remove the levels folders from \mods\bf2\levels\
Any other changes you can make will only make a minor difference really. (At least I don't think there are any big files left that you can remove without completely breaking the game.)

Swe_Olsson · Post by **Swe_Olsson** » 2007-08-26 09:56

this is probaly a bit of track but would you guys be intrested in making pr_0.7patch.exe 300mb instead of a full install each and everytime you update your client files

General Dragosh · Post by **General Dragosh** » 2007-08-26 10:04

Then make the vBF2 maps a standalone mappack---!

Thunder · Post by **Thunder** » 2007-08-26 10:06

General Dragosh wrote:Then make the vBF2 maps a standalone mappack---!

that wouldn't fix things. just cause more problems

Post by **Rhino** » 2007-08-26 10:14

it would be best not to "slim" vBF2 as PR in a later release may use something more from it. So in other words, do it at your own risk.

bare in mind that hard drivers are getting cheaper and cheaper these days so just buy one, they cos nothing.

Swe_Olsson · Post by **Swe_Olsson** » 2007-08-26 11:24

I only have installed programs on my Harddrive, everything else such as Music,movies and softwares are in my 3 External HD's

AnRK · Post by **AnRK** » 2007-08-26 11:28

[R-DEV]Rhino wrote:it would be best not to "slim" vBF2 as PR in a later release may use something more from it. So in other words, do it at your own risk.

bare in mind that hard drivers are getting cheaper and cheaper these days so just buy one, they cos nothing.

Watch it though because (for those who aren't very familiar with computers) it's because they're becoming obsolete, I only know because my brother off to do electronic engineering next year though...

Post by **eggman** » 2007-08-26 16:53

I don't think the installed footprint of PR is such a big deal... it's the download size that's the biggest problem.

There definitely are some inefficiencies in the mod and we're going to look at cleaning some of those up. But that's mostly about client performance and it won't do much to trim the size of the download.

There's probably about 1 gig worth of community developed content that will (hopefully) make its way into PR in the near future... so... that puts us at about 3 gigs.....

myurko · Post by **myurko** » 2007-08-26 16:56

I believe that as long as the mod will fit on a DVD that the size isn't really an issue. An extra hour or two of downloading shouldn't affect the content of the mod. In fact, extra downloading time might serve to scare away some people who don't have the patience to be a team player.

Post by **Z-trooper** » 2007-08-26 16:57

The size of the download can be rather overwhelming - especially when I had my 256kbs (or 512kbs) connection, but now with my 1mbit its okay.. still its definitly worth the wait