For download games, it can take anywhere from 2 to 24 hours to download the game client. Generally a game is 95+% done in the week before the server(s) turn on. It may be worthwhile to allow the download of the game client in the week before release and if there are any last week changes, have a patch for it.
Thu, 02/26/2015 - 08:24
#1
Decouple launch day and download day
I like this idea. I also like the idea of somehow rolling the game out gradually in some way. Maybe make it accessible at some set time ("game on" at 5pm Friday evening LOCAL time) so that each time zone get's its own launch time.
If the character creator tool can be used offline, it might be good to let people have that time between the install and the launch to make their account and one or more toons, get the costumes looking right, etc. Since the naming convention is (I think) going to be "LocalName@GlobalName" there shouldn't be any competition for names like CoX had.
R.S.O. of Phoenix Rising
This idea has a lot of merit. CoH even did something similar with the pre-downloads of content updates when logging out, then releasing the patch to fix any last minute problems and make the content live.
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The Titan Legacy - Defender of the Inner Flame
+1
+1 Why has no one thought of something this simple before? Good on you, Brighellac.
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Many games are going with a "soft launch" approach. PWE's Neverwinter game did this quite well.. being able to address launch concerns without the PR nightmare that comes from a hard launch. Plus its much cheaper to ramp up performance on an as needed basis instead of trying to cater to a massive amount of people and incure the inevitable drop off that ALL games (good or not) have to deal with.
Crowd Control Enthusiast
Most games do this... they generally tie it into the early access/headstart period for pre orders.
And then there are the open beta players who got the client even earlier and only needed an earlier period.
Steam does this as well with (some) of the titles as well. You can download the game ahead of purchase and it unlocks at a specified time.
Side note: The reason why I say about the early access/pre orders period is that it has happened to me with almost every MMO that I beta tested. I was able to use the existing client/cut and paste it into a install to save myself a whole load of download bandwidth/time
I'm certainly not against having any kind of "prelaunch download" period that'll make things easier for people to be ready for the official launch of CoT.
But it's funny when you consider that most of us here on these forums today are likely going to be among the people testing the various Alpha/Beta builds of this game for many months before launch. Of course I'm sure there will be SOME people who'll need to download the entire game just before launch. But my guess is that a relatively large percentage of the playerbase will have already downloaded this game a long, long time before that ever happens.
CoH player from April 25, 2004 to November 30, 2012
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Don't forget that we are definitely launching the creator before the game, if not other modules. It would also make sense to use one client launcher for all of them, so that would be a definite DL time saver for you.
[color=#ff0000]Sound Lead, Bullpen Writer[/color]
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The Mobile version of the Avatar Builder probably shouldnt have a launcher, not that its allowed or even technically possible.
Or even try to download/stream all the assets itself i think, initially right after install.
Meaning? If i get a phone call that last 30 to 40 minutes, will my download be interrupted for all that time if the CoT Avatar Builder isnt in the foreground? Not that im expecting the Avatar Builder to be available for mobile devices till much later. ;D Just my mind wonders. ;)
I think i'm gonna start calling it Avatar/Character Builder, because it might be easier later.. since we will have a few other Builders... so might as well stick to calling them Builders now. ;D
I am entirely behind this idea, especially if the game is larger than 10 gigs (which, for it being an MMO, it may well be.) I guess it's more for selfish reasoning, since my download speed is capped at 300 kb/s (I live in the half of the village that doesn't get fibre optics, and instead relies on overheads.)
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