How to update Steam game without removing all save data

[Witherskeleton]

As can be gleaned from the forum I'm posting this on, I made a game in RPG Maker VX Ace (Super Gorilla Quest) and posted it on Steam. I'd like to update it to fix a few things and the like, but I have no idea how to update it without removing the save data of everyone who gets the update, as VX Ace stores its saves in the same folder as its game. I've found a few plugins to make the save data go somewhere else, but they're only for MV. Does anyone know how I could do this? Thanks!

 

[Trihan]

Updating your game on Steam shouldn't affect anyone's save data. If you're just replacing some files, their folder structure won't be touched.

 

[Roninator2]

but I have no idea how to update it without removing the save data of everyone who gets the update, as VX Ace stores its saves in the same folder as its game. I've found a few plugins to make the save data go somewhere else, but they're only for MV. Does anyone know how I could do this? Thanks!

If you update your game with fixes to bugs in the code or events then there is very likely no change it will affect the end user.
If you add in a script to change the save location (there is one for ace) then that would affect every current user for your game. They would in effect have to start over or copy their save file to the new location.
If you add new scripts then there could be an issue with the users having to start a new game.
Otherwise I do not believe you will see any issue.

 

[Andar]

However there are a lot of update types that will make the old savefiles incompatible.

That is something completely different to overwriting saves.


If you read through the forums, you'll learn that everyone suggests starting new games after adding a script or plugin. That is because most scripts and plugins store their data into the savefiles, changing the required data structure of said savefile and making older savefiles incompatible.

So it completely depends on what you're changing with your update. Changing a few values of items should not be a problem, but reorganizing the database or adding scripts/plugins or a number of other changes will make the savefiles incompatible even if they are still kept.

EDIT: ninja'd

 

[ATT_Turan]

I have no idea how to update it without removing the save data of everyone who gets the update, as VX Ace stores its saves in the same folder as its game.

As a general computer rule, files are only removed if you specifically delete them, delete the folder containing them, or overwrite them with a different file that's named the same.

Just copying files into in existing folder (i.e. Steam replacing updated files) won't affect files with any other name.

 

[Witherskeleton]

Ok well all I'm gonna do is just add some enemies and fix a few issues so it shouldn't break the game

 

[kyonides]

OK, define "fix a few issues" first.