bitmap_z

Patching

▼

Patching

You have GOT to be kidding me!

from Sins Forums
The hoops one has to go through to get the initial patch is just completely uncalled for.  The SN for the game, entered through the games GUI, should be enough.  Making us register and give you our spam email accounts is just one sure way to make me think twice before purchasing any other games out of this dev shop.

To add insult to injury, the patch is moving across what must be the slowest network on the planet.

I get that you guys are a small shop, but come on.  How about making the patching process a bit less of a pain in the ass?  My friends and I just want to play your game and have fun, not spend all this time spinning our wheels and hoping the game is good enough to be worth the trouble.
128,114 views 46 replies
Reply #26 from Sins Forums Top
We won't spam you, and considering that email address is your link to download the entire game at any time you choose in the future, it'd probably be better to use one you're going to remember and keep access to.
I just got spam from you guys.

I'd expect that any slowness you're experiencing is due to routing issues between you and the server. Downloads from our sites average at least 700kB/s for me (and I work offsite, hundreds of miles from the servers).
Ahh, then perhaps it was time of day or some such. I get > 1.6MB/sec for most things, I got 28k/sec when I was getting the patch I mentioned. I will see how the new patch goes. But given I am just south of the border and Vancouver is roughly 55 miles / 90Km away, the connectivity *should* be solid. Doesn't mean it is, just means that it is likely. I get > 2MB/sec sustained from Redmond, with bursts over 4MB.

Please know that Sins is currently the most popular RTS game out there right now.
Where are these stats coming from? In all the lists I have seen Sins doesn't even show up in the top 10.
Reply #27 from Sins Forums Top
I just got spam from you guys.


"Hey, there's a new patch out for your game" is hardly spam. If you don't want to hear from us at all (mailers like that go out pretty infrequently), you can do that, though I don't have the page for that handy (support would be able to get it for you).

But given I am just south of the border and Vancouver is roughly 55 miles / 90Km away, the connectivity *should* be solid.


The web servers are in the midwest US, not at IC headquarters. The main download uses a transparent worldwide mirror service, but the patch may come from our servers directly.

Where are these stats coming from?


Sins was in the NPD Top 10 PC sales charts (peaked at #2 overall, IIRC, and those charts don't include direct sales) from release up until a couple of weeks ago, when Age of Conan (having two separate SKUs) bumped it off the list.

Given there haven't been any other new RTS releases in the past couple of weeks though, it's still the top in its category.
DeskScapes - Bring your desktop background to life.
Reply #28 from Sins Forums Top
"Hey, there's a new patch out for your game" is hardly spam. If you don't want to hear from us at all (mailers like that go out pretty infrequently), you can do that, though I don't have the page for that handy (support would be able to get it for you).
Isn't that what the Patch button on the UI is for? But fair enough. Having an opt-out option in the account I was forced to make would be nice, though.

The web servers are in the midwest US, not at IC headquarters. The main download uses a transparent worldwide mirror service, but the patch may come from our servers directly.
If the patch is served by the same site that serves the web pages, that might explain the slow connection. Who knows what might have been going on over that many hops, it could have just been unfortunate timing. I was already frustrated by having to jump through all those unnecessary hoops just to get the patch, and that wasn't helping my distaste for the process.

Sins was in the NPD Top 10 PC sales charts (peaked at #2 overall, IIRC, and those charts don't include direct sales) from release up until a couple of weeks ago, when Age of Conan (having two separate SKUs) bumped it off the list. Given there haven't been any other new RTS releases in the past couple of weeks though, it's still the top in its category.
Ahh, ok, thank you :-) There are so many different methods of measuring popularity, it is far from an exact science. Hopefully Sins will enjoy continued success :-) It will be interesting to see what Ironclad will produce in the future.

Reply #29 from Sins Forums Top
Hey... thanks for changing the name! I do appreciate it...

Isn't that what the Patch button on the UI is for? But fair enough. Having an opt-out option in the account I was forced to make would be nice, though.


I get one email a month about the latest stuff, and an occasional email from them concerning specific patches. Although I did get one today about 1.05 coming out, which was from May 11th... Hardly being spammed. Compared to the number of emails I get about buying out of stock fake rolexs, Canadian pharmacy's and how much my girl will love my new male enhancement It's as close to zero as you can get without actually BEING zero.

As for the patch button in the UI, I never use it, preferring to use StarDock. Others prefer Impulse. Both of these options were well placed in the "spam" I got today. I even visited the Impulse website to see what it's about. For now I'll stick with StarDock though. My patches download automatically, take a few whole entire minutes and they're done.

It seems to me you want to find exception and continue the argument for the arguments sake. If you had expended half the energy and time it took to do all this you could have had StarDock or Impulse downloaded, installed and had your game patched already.

I hope that you continue with the last sentiment you expressed above and continue in that positive direction, and that you learn to aim this kind of energy at solving your problem, not just carrying on about it.

We are always here to help. Some of us anyways. I take most of the week off. Too busy playing games and stuff. ;p

T
Reply #30 from Sins Forums Top
Isn't that what the Patch button on the UI is for?


You'd be surprised how many people never seem to notice it.
Reply #31 from Sins Forums Top
Notice what???
Reply #32 from Stardock Forums Top
I even visited the Impulse website to see what it's about. For now I'll stick with StarDock though. My patches download automatically, take a few whole entire minutes and they're done.


I recommend Impulse greatly for Sins players. I urge you to get used to it now since not only will it have all of your Sins update information, fastest access to the expansions and content updates, but it is going to have very powerful match making tools for all the online play.  That and eventually it will be replacing Stardock Central.
Reply #33 from Sins Forums Top
I even visited the Impulse website to see what it's about. For now I'll stick with StarDock though. My patches download automatically, take a few whole entire minutes and they're done.I recommend Impulse greatly for Sins players. I urge you to get used to it now since not only will it have all of your Sins update information, fastest access to the expansions and content updates, but it is going to have very powerful match making tools for all the online play.  That and eventually it will be replacing Stardock Central.


Will it transfer all of my info over from StarDock, including all of the GC2 info or do I have to "start over", so to speak? I figure this will be a pretty popular question in the near future so I might as well get it out now...

T
Reply #34 from Sins Forums Top
Will it transfer all of my info over from StarDock


There's really nothing to transfer. All the account stuff is the same as it was, it's just a new method for getting the stuff from it.
Reply #35 from Stardock Forums Top
Please look to the rather large update as Impulse is going to the full version very soon. 
Reply #36 from Sins Forums Top
If u have problems with it then just download it from filefront. its free and spam free.
Reply #37 from Sins Forums Top
I'd just like to let you know that I'm living in Australia... and I've had absolutely NO problems updating SINS. Download speed is normal, and website access is simple.

Dunno what you're complaining about?!  :D 
Reply #38 from Sins Forums Top
This is getting ridiculous. Ironclad and Stardock do not spam. At all. I applaud the companies for their services and their games. The fact that staff members are here, keeping in touch with their userbase is evident enough of their dedication.

If you need help, Ijustwantapatch, ask for it nicely. No need to be a total ass about it. They are willing to help you.
Reply #39 from Sins Forums Top
I second that, Stevo. I'm in Sydney and I downloaded the patches through my uni's proxy. No hassle at all. I reckon its the topic creator's own issues for his relatively slow download speed.
Reply #40 from Sins Forums Top
Thanks kryo and Seabass... Looks like it's time for something new...

T
Reply #41 from Sins Forums Top
Just for the record... from Stardock Central to Impulse was a snap. I didn't have to type anything or enter anything at all. It pulled almost everything straight from SC.

It did not recognize ToA as installed and wanted to reinstall it, which I did just to keep it all uniform. All in all from start to finish, including ToA, 15 whole minutes. Hardly any time at all considering what was done.

I did notice that the interface was twitchy, jumpy even. It seemed like it was hesitating as it went through everything... I imagine because it's in beta and still needs some TLC??? Not a serious issue, but I did get a little antsy at first. After it went on for a bit I figured that's just the way it is for now.

Oh, and it even had green... :D

T
Reply #42 from Stardock Forums Top
antracer you are a very kind customer and I will help you any time you ask. However bright green on white background is just killing me....

 :CONGRAT:
Reply #43 from Sins Forums Top
Please give these guys a fair shot Ijustwantapatch... you'll see they're not like most companies out there.
Reply #44 from Sins Forums Top
antracer you are a very kind customer and I will help you any time you ask. However bright green on white background is just killing me.... 


Sorry about the green...but my eyes actually have trouble with the white... The contrast is too much and I end up seeing spots because of the black background. Aside from the fact I can read the green better, it also seems I'm the only one who does it, so I am able to find posts and answers quickly...

Maybe I'll experiment with different colors to see if I can find one that doesn't jump out at everyone ;p

Thanks for the help!

T

PS- first color test commencing in 3-2- what do you mean it's already started???
Reply #45 from Sins Forums Top

antracer,

The problem is, some people (incl seabass apparantly) view this forum from the main stardock or impulse forums......and therefore the background is not black. It's white.....and I think by going to a lighter green you just made things even worse....lol

Reply #46 from Sins Forums Top
antracer,The problem is, some people (incl seabass apparantly) view this forum from the main stardock or impulse forums......and therefore the background is not black. It's white.....and I think by going to a lighter green you just made things even worse....lol


So does it appear as black at their end if it's white here ??? Oy... ;p

T