Recent patch?

[mangoo]

Who wants to buy more EQ CDs?

[Wumpas]

In reply to the above few posts I think the ability to be able to stop playing catch up and instead be able to work on the MANY little things like real eqlive like pathing and other goodies that may be in the scope of posibility if the devs didn't have to spend every waking miniute updating to LIVE. Sure LDON and anything newer wouldn't work but does it have to? Theres already alot of content up to this point and It's my feeling that it would be nice to see the blanks all filled in.

29 dollars is not much of a sacrifiece hours of coding to stay caught up to LIVE definatly is. If im totaly left base with this idea im sorry but id still like to know what the devs think about the idea. as far as what the patch status is on the cds would have to be figured out and the coding for the emu changed acordingly but after that No more catch up work !!! : ) then the devs could work on bigger better things. (aka everything else)

[mangoo]

In the last week, Grouping, Spells, Trading, AAs, and more things that I don't know about have been added to 5.0. That's along with 2 patches, so I don't see any arguement for those who say to freeze catching patches and to add more features. Only about 1% of the members on this board listen, so every time there is a patch there are 40 new posts about 1017 error and not being about to connect because of new patch. So why stay up with EQLive? Because if they didn't, no one would be able to play.

[Purcevil]

Wumpas, I see your point, don't believe that I don't. Also, I believe I said it was a good idea.

The problem is not the idea. The problem is, the dev's have set a course, and they intend to follow it. All of their efforts are aimed that way.

Try driving for 300 miles and then remembering a random signpost 200 miles or so back, chosen by a third party near the end of that trip. You would be hard pressed. Even if you had documented EVERYTHING continuously on the trip it might take days of research to find that exact signpost and the information contained on it.

So, with the dev's dedicated to making a good and working server that works for anyone that just happened to trip over the site, their time is used up. Period. They don't have the time to keep track of every patch for the last 6 weeks, let alone the last 6 months or even more.

To get a working server for any past release of the EQ client (as it comes out of the shrink wrap) might require months of research, even if you had the old server data to work from. Which equates to time the dev's don't have. And since they don't want to work in that direction anyway, the results would be less than optimal.

SOE makes changes regularly, partially in an attempt to keep interest level up for hardcore players, partially to attract new players, but I'm sure partially to thwart the efforts of devs like those you find here. The rules change almost constantly. That makes it impossible to test against old versions of the client. (Using the earlier example, its like having every trace of that signpost's existance erased except memories of it, and having to EXACTLY reproduce that signpost in every detail.) Meeting the expectations of similar play varies widely depending on the level, class, race, ad infinitum. The only way to be able to test against those expectations is to stay current with the live servers. Plus the devs rely on players for data collection, which I don't know if you've noticed, but it seems there aren't many willing or able to supply it, which means they have to go get it themselves (more time lost from actual coding, and longer delays in matching expectations). If even 1 percent of people playing live also played the emu and 1 percent of them provided reliable needed data (the key here is needed) the devs might be able to meet those expectations faster, and the issue of matching a shrink wrap version would be a moot point, cuz you don't have to have an active account to patch.

If that doesn't work for you try finding someone that has the old data and will share it. Find some devs willing to work towards static compliance with a shrink wrap client. Perhaps it might even be easier to find devs willing to build a client from scratch that uses the data from those shrink wraps and a different kind of custom server. Heck, legal issues might even prevent that. I just don't know.

If you program at all, I am sure you will understand that what you are suggesting is a huge change in direction with massive time requirements. Expecting the current dev's to spin on a dime just isn't feasible and its a bit disrespectful of the work they've done to this point.

I dabble in programming, and would love to have the talent to work on what you suggest. BUT, I don't have the skill or the time at this point. If I did have those tho, I'd probably dedicate it to helping the current dev's get where they want to be with EQemu, or useful 3rd party tools, rather than reinventing the wheel with EQ, or I might just build a better client and hook up with others for original content. Sounds simple, but pracical application proves to be just a bit [sarcasm added] more difficult.

Again, its not a bad idea. But think about all the consequences and requirements of what you are suggesting and compare those against where it seems the current devs desire to go. It's not as simple as it may appear to be on the surface when everything is considered.

P.S. If you detect any flamage while reading this, check around your computer or get your detectors calibrated, as no flame is intended. Merely a perspective to consider.

[Wumpas]

Thank you for your alternate viewpoint and Very valid points Purcevil! Id have to say much of that never crossed my mind. It was all wishfull thinking from a noob to programming lol i only know qbasic well and a little of Borland C++. mabe if i could ever read enough of those "Teach Yourself (insert language here) in 7 easy steps) Books id be able to help out or even pursue my dream of a EMU for the original trilogy instalation only (pre luclin much more fun )

Once again very valid points i enjoyed your feedback

PS(Theres no such thing as a flame only Enlightenment )

[Purcevil]

I'm glad you found it worthwhile. Thank you.

I would love a static server, myself. I spend a lot of time on the road, and it would be perfect for my current needs. But, I think once they finish the 5.0 server you may see a mass of 3rd party tools that will let you create your own pre-luclin like behaviour for yourself. (hope hope hope) Or whatever suits you.

As for teach yourself how to brush your teeth in 7 easy steps... Well, I have the same problem. I've been trying for 20+ years and have come to the conclusion that there is no such thing as easy. Do it the hard way, its faster. LOL

And there is nothing wrong with QBasic or Borland C++. It just doesn't happen to help you much when everyone else is using Microsoft Visual C++ (and I've been seeing some C# code starting to surface... gack). Personally, I like C++ Builder. But, switched to MS because of the emu. rofl (I'm still trying to figure out the IDE)

Later... afk till next time
[reaches for that bigger hammer to help with MS software]

[heydafam2]

I just briefly scimmed these pages and I came across someone's point about the patcher and pulling old files from a seperate folder or something to that manner.

Pardon me but what the shizeenizee do we need a seperate folder for when you should ALREADY have one for EQEMu.

*walks away boggled*

[heydafam2]

I just briefly scimmed these pages and I came across someone's point about the patcher and pulling old files from a seperate folder or something to that manner.

Pardon me but what the shizeenizee do we need a seperate folder for when you should ALREADY have one for EQEMu.

*walks away boggled*

[arkaria]

Originally Posted by heydafam2

I just briefly scimmed these pages and I came across someone's point about the patcher and pulling old files from a seperate folder or something to that manner.

Pardon me but what the shizeenizee do we need a seperate folder for when you should ALREADY have one for EQEMu.

*walks away boggled*

You clearly don't understand what he was trying to say.

I agree, instead of scimming and coming to the wrong conclusion try reading it.

[heydafam2]

I was thinking... the patch program could just save off the current files somewhere on the player's computer the first time it is run. Then if EQ is changed, it pulls them back from the saved area and restores to the original state.

This would eliminate warez, since the player would have to have the files originally and it would only move them from the player's own backup area.

What I'm getting out of this is that he wants to make a seperate folder/place so when the patcher is first run, it saves all the files in the EQ folder to another one, and when he is over updated he/she can go back and get the files from that new folder? How is that not justl ike havign a seperate folder for EQEmu?

I didn't mean to throw pooh in anyone's direction in my last post but maybe I'm just reading it wrong.