Is it possible for FF to do own steam support?

o_mikequist · 09-15-2005, 06:56 PM

So I know nothing about coding. But theres no way you guys can do some research and have Steam update it automatically, by use of your own servers? I'm sure many servers would be happy to offer service so I'm sure thats the least of your troubles.

Is it crackable, or would it be illiegal to make it so it does update on steam, but through your own servers? I know I'll probably be dissapointed.

o_travis dane · 09-15-2005, 07:03 PM

If you're going to use your own servers, you might as well circumvent Steam altogether, and build an auto-update system in FortressForever itself. To answer your question though, I don't think it would be possible. VALVe doesn't appear to want to relinquish their control over this process just yet (whatever the future might bring along, we can only speculate).

Defrag · 09-16-2005, 04:35 AM

If you want steam distribution, you have to negotiate with valve, period. I doubt valve will ever support us, so we'll just have to update the mod through traditional means.

o_zsilver_fox · 09-16-2005, 05:28 AM

A simple weekly autocheck for updates would be nice.

o_fresh · 09-16-2005, 09:15 AM

well all youd need to do is on all official pub / league servers spam "New update 09/1/06 - www.fortress-froever.com"

o_sp0rk · 09-16-2005, 09:56 AM

I know little to nothing about Steam, but wouldn't you need to be kicked from a server if you're using an older version? If people can play on whatever version they want, then all client-side exploit patches are negligible.

o_rp · 09-16-2005, 11:33 AM

You can only play in servers that runs the same version as you, otherwise you'll prolly recive an error with something like "your client version is different from the server version".

o_etzell · 09-16-2005, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fresh

well all youd need to do is on all official pub / league servers spam "New update 09/1/06 - www.fortress-froever.com"

And then everyone gets 404'd!

Jiggles · 09-16-2005, 11:18 PM

FroEver. You're on to something!

o_lektrik · 09-16-2005, 11:59 PM

what about a built-in automatic update function

Defrag · 09-17-2005, 06:27 AM

Easier said than done. Look at steam.
The best we could probably hope for is an update notifier.

o_skanky butterpuss · 09-17-2005, 07:25 AM

that will do just fine

o_sobe green · 09-17-2005, 09:37 AM

To me things like an update notify utility or even an auto patcher on a small level encourages less community involvement. Rarely is a game update ever a suprise to everyone. Usually people know it is coming atleast a week or three days before it comes.

Take into the fact that some people play games only on the weekends, and sometimes for just a few minutes maybe an hour. They don't post on forums, they rarely check community fan sites, they just download and install and then play. Having something that tells them "New patch" or something that even downloads the patch without them even visiting a website keeps them isolated from the community.

For most games this isn't an issue. For mods like Dystopia it certainly wouldn't be. For this game I'd take it a bit higher than the rest. Here we have a game based on a once popular Half-Life mod that has nearly died out to the general public. Not to mention the less popular versions of the game on other engines. I think the more we have people coming here or atleast a fansite to find news or any other info will better benefit the community in the long run.

o_nezumi · 09-17-2005, 10:03 AM

Could you have something built into the game, whereyby when you load FF, it tries to connect to a server and check to see if it's version is what the server says is the newest version?

Like, if a patch is out, there is a little message on the menu screen (Like, discreetly placed down there below the 'quit' button) saying so? Perhaps it could actually be a button that minimizes the game and opens up fortress-froevar.com or something.

o_ivaqual · 09-17-2005, 10:08 AM

i have something much less complicated.
when you join a server, if it has a higher version than yours, simply display a "check www.fortress-forever.com for updates" alert box. end of the story.

o_sobe green · 09-17-2005, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nagual678

i have something much less complicated.
when you join a server, if it has a higher version than yours, simply display a "check www.fortress-forever.com for updates" alert box. end of the story.

This would happen anyway. The game is going to tell you that your version is out of date. I don't know if you can customize that message or not since I'm not a coder.

o_rebo · 09-18-2005, 01:15 AM

Heh considering we are still proscribed by steampowered I thinking not =].

o_lektrik · 09-18-2005, 01:39 AM

Yeah, but Steampowered doesn't equal Valve...

o_ginger lord · 09-18-2005, 01:19 PM

Make it so the version number is included in the mod title e.g.:

Fortress Forever v1.2

So when people load it up and no servers or few are shown they should realisle it, or make all servers show the version number.

**mervaka** · 09-18-2005, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ginger Lord

Make it so the version number is included in the mod title e.g.:

Fortress Forever v1.2

So when people load it up and no servers or few are shown they should realisle it, or make all servers show the version number.

or have an ff_version variable or whatever. something is needed though

09-15-2005, 06:56 PM	#1
o_mikequist Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Tampa Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	Is it possible for FF to do own steam support? So I know nothing about coding. But theres no way you guys can do some research and have Steam update it automatically, by use of your own servers? I'm sure many servers would be happy to offer service so I'm sure thats the least of your troubles. Is it crackable, or would it be illiegal to make it so it does update on steam, but through your own servers? I know I'll probably be dissapointed.

09-16-2005, 04:35 AM	#3
Defrag Retired FF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Scotland Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	If you want steam distribution, you have to negotiate with valve, period. I doubt valve will ever support us, so we'll just have to update the mod through traditional means. __________________ Fortress Forever. Level Designer, Gameplay Dude and whatnot.

09-17-2005, 06:27 AM	#11
Defrag Retired FF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Scotland Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	Easier said than done. Look at steam. The best we could probably hope for is an update notifier. __________________ Fortress Forever. Level Designer, Gameplay Dude and whatnot.

09-15-2005, 07:03 PM	#2
o_travis dane Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Down here Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	If you're going to use your own servers, you might as well circumvent Steam altogether, and build an auto-update system in FortressForever itself. To answer your question though, I don't think it would be possible. VALVe doesn't appear to want to relinquish their control over this process just yet (whatever the future might bring along, we can only speculate).

09-16-2005, 05:28 AM	#4
o_zsilver_fox Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts Rated Helpful 2 Times	A simple weekly autocheck for updates would be nice.

09-16-2005, 09:15 AM	#5
o_fresh Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Brum. Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	well all youd need to do is on all official pub / league servers spam "New update 09/1/06 - www.fortress-froever.com"

09-16-2005, 09:56 AM	#6
o_sp0rk Join Date: May 2005 Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	I know little to nothing about Steam, but wouldn't you need to be kicked from a server if you're using an older version? If people can play on whatever version they want, then all client-side exploit patches are negligible.

09-16-2005, 11:33 AM	#7
o_rp Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Israel Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	You can only play in servers that runs the same version as you, otherwise you'll prolly recive an error with something like "your client version is different from the server version".

09-16-2005, 11:18 PM	#9
Jiggles Retired FF Staff Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: CowTown Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	FroEver. You're on to something!

09-16-2005, 11:59 PM	#10
o_lektrik Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Belgium Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	what about a built-in automatic update function

09-17-2005, 07:25 AM	#12
o_skanky butterpuss Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Tampon, FL Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	that will do just fine

09-17-2005, 09:37 AM	#13
o_sobe green Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Arkansas Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	To me things like an update notify utility or even an auto patcher on a small level encourages less community involvement. Rarely is a game update ever a suprise to everyone. Usually people know it is coming atleast a week or three days before it comes. Take into the fact that some people play games only on the weekends, and sometimes for just a few minutes maybe an hour. They don't post on forums, they rarely check community fan sites, they just download and install and then play. Having something that tells them "New patch" or something that even downloads the patch without them even visiting a website keeps them isolated from the community. For most games this isn't an issue. For mods like Dystopia it certainly wouldn't be. For this game I'd take it a bit higher than the rest. Here we have a game based on a once popular Half-Life mod that has nearly died out to the general public. Not to mention the less popular versions of the game on other engines. I think the more we have people coming here or atleast a fansite to find news or any other info will better benefit the community in the long run.

09-17-2005, 10:03 AM	#14
o_nezumi Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: The Peoples Republic of Harmfull Free Radicals Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	Could you have something built into the game, whereyby when you load FF, it tries to connect to a server and check to see if it's version is what the server says is the newest version? Like, if a patch is out, there is a little message on the menu screen (Like, discreetly placed down there below the 'quit' button) saying so? Perhaps it could actually be a button that minimizes the game and opens up fortress-froevar.com or something.

09-17-2005, 10:08 AM	#15
o_ivaqual Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Europe, Front Yard Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	i have something much less complicated. when you join a server, if it has a higher version than yours, simply display a "check www.fortress-forever.com for updates" alert box. end of the story.

09-18-2005, 01:15 AM	#17
o_rebo Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts Rated Helpful 1 Times	Heh considering we are still proscribed by steampowered I thinking not =].

09-18-2005, 01:39 AM	#18
o_lektrik Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Belgium Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	Yeah, but Steampowered doesn't equal Valve...

09-18-2005, 01:19 PM	#19
o_ginger lord Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Carlisle, UK Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	Make it so the version number is included in the mod title e.g.: Fortress Forever v1.2 So when people load it up and no servers or few are shown they should realisle it, or make all servers show the version number.

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