How to automatically update game

[Vilius]

So, I update my game every week and I want to automatically update it without anyone losing their levels, items and progress. Is this possible?

 

[Zane]

Nope. Manual updates all the time. Ace doesn't have an Auto-Update option. As for people loosing items progress or levels. That would depend on what you did to the project before updating it. If your adding scripts or modifying to many values that totally change the game play it will end up breaking saved games.

 

[Vilius]

Nope. Manual updates all the time. Ace doesn't have an Auto-Update option. As for people loosing items progress or levels. That would depend on what you did to the project before updating it. If your adding scripts or modifying to many values that totally change the game play it will end up breaking saved games.

I never change scripts. If this is not possible is it maybe possible with RPG Maker VX or any other RPG Maker version?

 

[Nathanial]

The only thing I can think of off the top of my head isn't very efficient and is a hack around, really.

Script connects to server to check for latest version (perhaps checking something as simple as a text file for a string for the version) -> update found -> player is prompted with a window to ask if the game can update -> player chooses yes -> game closes and updater exe is launched that pulls the latest files -> afterwards game is relaunched.

Somebody better with scripting is probably laughing at me with a better method in their heads, but it's what I could think of immediately without a conflict.

That's of course assuming you don't add/change scripts as well.

 

[Vilius]

The only thing I can think of off the top of my head isn't very efficient and is a hack around, really.

Script connects to server to check for latest version (perhaps checking something as simple as a text file for a string for the version) -> update found -> player is prompted with a window to ask if the game can update -> player chooses yes -> game closes and updater exe is launched that pulls the latest files -> afterwards game is relaunched.

Somebody better with scripting is probably laughing at me with a better method in their heads, but it's what I could think of immediately without a conflict.

That's of course assuming you don't add/change scripts as well.

Ehm, I'm kinda new. Can you tell me what I should write step by step to do this?

 

[Zane]

The only thing I can think of off the top of my head isn't very efficient and is a hack around, really.

Script connects to server to check for latest version (perhaps checking something as simple as a text file for a string for the version) -> update found -> player is prompted with a window to ask if the game can update -> player chooses yes -> game closes and updater exe is launched that pulls the latest files -> afterwards game is relaunched.

Somebody better with scripting is probably laughing at me with a better method in their heads, but it's what I could think of immediately without a conflict.

That's of course assuming you don't add/change scripts as well.

I never change scripts. If this is not possible is it maybe possible with RPG Maker VX or any other RPG Maker version?

None of them do however Nathanial just gave me a great idea/possible solution.

Caphyon Advanced Installer does exactly what he described with the text file however it can update in the background provided the game isn't open at the time but it'd block execution while opening.

If you have the money for such a thing and knowledge on how to set it up that would actually work.

 

[Zoltor]

To OP: Why does it bother you that much, the game/save files should be used for just testing anyway. If you want char to have certain items, levels, gold, ect, just make a shortcut event, to give them all the stuff needed.

Also if you don't start saving the changes, like everytime you make a change, I'm gonna slap you.

How do you only save the changes once a week, are you keeping your editor running 24/7 or something? Even if that is so, you should be saving the changes you make very often. Saving the changes only once a week is a very bad practice, so stop it before you regret it.

 

[Nathanial]

I think you're misinterpreting what he meant. He meant he pushes updates to his game for players weekly and wanted to know if there was a way for his game to auto-update for players.

 

[Vilius]

I think you're misinterpreting what he meant. He meant he pushes updates to his game for players weekly and wanted to know if there was a way for his game to auto-update for players.

Yes, but I could do this by them downloading it everytime from my website, but I DON'T WANT THEM TO LOSE ANY PROGRESS.

 

[Nathanial]

Then unless they delete their save files, you add/change scripts or any other changes/additions that cause conflicts they should be able to do that.. As long as you're not deleting/overwriting their save files.

 

[Vilius]

Then unless they delete their save files, you add/change scripts or any other changes/additions that cause conflicts they should be able to do that.. As long as you're not deleting/overwriting their save files.

What "save files"?

 

[Zoltor]

I think you're misinterpreting what he meant. He meant he pushes updates to his game for players weekly and wanted to know if there was a way for his game to auto-update for players.

Oh ok(thought he was talking about his test game's save files, and changes to his project).

 

[Nathanial]

What "save files"?

Your games save files? For when they save the games progress.

 

[Vilius]

I'll try to explain easier. It's Christmas and I want to update my game with snow and christmas event and add also a "Santa Claus" NPC with quests, after doing all the quests they receive a gift and some exp from the quests of course. After the christmas event ends, I want to update the game, but I don't want anyone to lose their chrirstmas quest gift nor the exp they earned.

This is similiar, just I want to make updates weekly (once a week).

 

[Tsukihime]

Given Vilius' response I'm not sure if he's talking about player's save files.


How do players keep track of their exp and levels?

 

[Zoltor]

I'll try to explain easier. It's Christmas and I want to update my game with snow and christmas event and add also a "Santa Claus" NPC with quests, after doing all the quests they receive a gift and some exp from the quests of course. After the christmas event ends, I want to update the game, but I don't want anyone to lose their chrirstmas quest gift nor the exp they earned.

This is similiar, just I want to make updates weekly (once a week).

Someone around these forums created a patching utility if I recall, I have no idea where it is though. Perhaps look through the master script list. I don't know how it exactly works, but if anything can do what you want, It's that.

 

[Vilius]

You still don't understand?

A player has 20 exp and 80 gold and a longsword > I update game with a new building > the player still has 20 exp and 80 gold and a longsword and now also gets a dagger > I update game with a new quest > the player still has 20 exp and 80 gold and a longsword and a dagger

 

[Nathanial]

No, we're understanding.. I just don't think you understand that when a player saves their progress a save file is created that contains their save data (items they have, experience, map they're on, etc). 

And what I'm saying is... even if your player redownloads and installs your game.. as long as they haven't deleted their save files, you don't overwrite them, or any other potential conflicts mentioned above... everything should be okay.

 

[Vilius]

No, we're understanding.. I just don't think you understand that when a player saves their progress a save file is created that contains their save data (items they have, experience, map they're on, etc). 

And what I'm saying is... even if your player redownloads and installs your game.. as long as they haven't deleted their save files, you don't overwrite them, or any other potential conflicts mentioned above... everything should be okay.

They can use the same save file from v.1 for the v.2?

 

[Zoltor]

They can use the same save file from v.1 for the v.2?

Yea they should be able to, all they need to do is take the save files in the v1 folders, and move them to the newly DLed v2 files.