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Dev blog: Download on Demand client for EVE Online

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Agent Known
State War Academy
Caldari State
#21 - 2014-12-16 16:11:32 UTC
CCP Maxwell wrote:
Agent Known wrote:
Just ran through the install and it does appear to go under %Appdata% ...so C:\Users\user\Appdata\Local\CCP.

Edit: Also, it's configured in the Launcher settings to be under C:\ProgramData\CCP\EVE\SharedCache ...so it can be changed.


Those would likely be the usual client settings. Not the resources. Have you tried looking into C:\ProgramData\CCP\EVE\SharedCache ?


Yep, I realized that after I had posted and edited my post :)

This'll be helpful for those with SSDs who want to store the cache elsewhere.
Gilbaron
The Scope
Gallente Federation
#22 - 2014-12-16 16:12:35 UTC
Harvey James wrote:
so whats the point of this exactly? .. will it speed things up or down?



this separates the program part of the client from the audio and textures part of the client

this is gonna make it much easier to manipulate one of the two without touching the other (you could, for example reinstall the program part without having to reinstal the audio and textures (which make up a massive part of the download size)

or you could copy the ressources from a friends computer and easily plug them into your own client when you are on a really bad connection
CCP Snorlax
C C P
C C P Alliance
#23 - 2014-12-16 16:13:30 UTC
Harvey James wrote:
so whats the point of this exactly? .. will it speed things up or down?

The goal is that you won't notice any difference when playing the game.

The primary driver for this change is to get people into the game quicker – both new players, downloading a trial for the first time and existing players patching after major updates.

There is less to download before you can enter the game, and the game itself will download the rest as it needs it.

CCP Snorlax - Software Architect - Team RnB - @CCP_Snorlax - http://ccpsnorlax.blogspot.is/
Tarsas Phage
Sniggerdly
#24 - 2014-12-16 16:16:58 UTC
CCP Snorlax, how will you see the following scenario play out from a performance perspective given the following:

1) I'm the member of a big 0.0 alliance
2) I just reinstalled my computer, or am logging on from a computer that otherwise doesn't have the EVE Client already installed. I am also a user who is unaware of the on-deman nature of the EVE Client, because hey we're not all tech geeks.

When I install the on-demand client, I log in and immediately get in on a fleet. This fleet sets out and gets embroiled in a fight where many different ship models are used. Perhaps we travel between two regions during this fight, which may have different assets for stargates, nebula, and the like.

How will my session changes work under such load? Will I black screen until all assets are fetched from CCP's CDN? What happens when a ship warps on grid and I don't have the asset for that ship already fetched? Will my client freeze until it is loaded?

Another, similar scenario: Install on-demand client on undock from Jita 4-4 on a busy day.
Noriko Mai
#25 - 2014-12-16 16:19:44 UTC
CCP Maxwell wrote:
Agent Known wrote:
Just ran through the install and it does appear to go under %Appdata% ...so C:\Users\user\Appdata\Local\CCP.

Edit: Also, it's configured in the Launcher settings to be under C:\ProgramData\CCP\EVE\SharedCache ...so it can be changed.


Those would likely be the usual client settings. Not the resources. Have you tried looking into C:\ProgramData\CCP\EVE\SharedCache ?

Can you please leave your dirty fingers from my filesystem. Stay where I allow you to through the install path!

"Meh.." - Albert Einstein
Sarmatiko
#26 - 2014-12-16 16:22:31 UTC
CCP Maxwell wrote:
Those would likely be the usual client settings. Not the resources. Have you tried looking into C:\ProgramData\CCP\EVE\SharedCache ?

Why not in actual game folder by default?
Before you edit this setting first time, launcher already downloading cache to ProgramData and then leaves thousands of empty directories there.
Agent Known
State War Academy
Caldari State
#27 - 2014-12-16 16:24:48 UTC
Sarmatiko wrote:
CCP Maxwell wrote:
Those would likely be the usual client settings. Not the resources. Have you tried looking into C:\ProgramData\CCP\EVE\SharedCache ?

Why not in actual game folder by default?
Before you edit this setting first time, launcher already downloading cache to ProgramData and then leaves thousands of empty directories there.

This is probably because the client will share this cache with others installs of the same client (hence SharedCache). This also means those who test on Singularity won't have to download and patch the entire client twice ...at least, that's what I'm thinking. Not quite sure how it would handle that.
Dominique Vasilkovsky
#28 - 2014-12-16 16:25:40 UTC
Will we get an option to force the full download so we don't have to rely on any streaming of data on demand as you can bet it will try to download something just as you are about to blow something up?
CCP Maxwell
C C P
C C P Alliance
#29 - 2014-12-16 16:29:38 UTC
Noriko Mai wrote:
CCP Maxwell wrote:
Agent Known wrote:
Just ran through the install and it does appear to go under %Appdata% ...so C:\Users\user\Appdata\Local\CCP.

Edit: Also, it's configured in the Launcher settings to be under C:\ProgramData\CCP\EVE\SharedCache ...so it can be changed.


Those would likely be the usual client settings. Not the resources. Have you tried looking into C:\ProgramData\CCP\EVE\SharedCache ?

Can you please leave your dirty fingers from my filesystem. Stay where I allow you to through the install path!



Ummmm......Sure.

CCP Maxwell - QA Engineer - Team RnB
Noriko Mai
#30 - 2014-12-16 16:30:57 UTC
Tarsas Phage wrote:
[..]How will my session changes work under such load? Will I black screen until all assets are fetched from CCP's CDN? What happens when a ship warps on grid and I don't have the asset for that ship already fetched? Will my client freeze until it is loaded?[..]

At the moment everything just black screens if it isn't downloaded already. Really confusing.

Please at least add a loading wheel or something.

"Meh.." - Albert Einstein
CCP Maxwell
C C P
C C P Alliance
#31 - 2014-12-16 16:31:47 UTC
CCP Maxwell wrote:
Noriko Mai wrote:
CCP Maxwell wrote:
Agent Known wrote:
Just ran through the install and it does appear to go under %Appdata% ...so C:\Users\user\Appdata\Local\CCP.

Edit: Also, it's configured in the Launcher settings to be under C:\ProgramData\CCP\EVE\SharedCache ...so it can be changed.


Those would likely be the usual client settings. Not the resources. Have you tried looking into C:\ProgramData\CCP\EVE\SharedCache ?

Can you please leave your dirty fingers from my filesystem. Stay where I allow you to through the install path!



Ummmm......Sure.


Although, I will admit that setting the cache-path is not yet in the installer. It can be set in the launcher settings.

CCP Maxwell - QA Engineer - Team RnB
drummendejef maaktnietuit
Ramm's RDI
Tactical Narcotics Team
#32 - 2014-12-16 16:32:14 UTC
Quote:
If you prefer, we will of course also have the option of downloading all resources beforehand.



Yes please
CCP Snorlax
C C P
C C P Alliance
#33 - 2014-12-16 16:33:02 UTC
Agent Known wrote:
Sarmatiko wrote:
CCP Maxwell wrote:
Those would likely be the usual client settings. Not the resources. Have you tried looking into C:\ProgramData\CCP\EVE\SharedCache ?

Why not in actual game folder by default?
Before you edit this setting first time, launcher already downloading cache to ProgramData and then leaves thousands of empty directories there.

This is probably because the client will share this cache with others installs of the same client (hence SharedCache). This also means those who test on Singularity won't have to download and patch the entire client twice ...at least, that's what I'm thinking. Not quite sure how it would handle that.

Correct - these resources will be shared between EVE installations, making for easier setup for test servers. EVE Probe will also share that same folder.

Before we release this on TQ the choice of where to put this folder will be done in the installer, for players installing for the first time. If this hasn't been set (as will be the case for existing players) the launcher will prompt you before it downloads anything. We didn't want to postpone initial public testing while waiting for those installer/launcher changes, so bear with us for now.

CCP Snorlax - Software Architect - Team RnB - @CCP_Snorlax - http://ccpsnorlax.blogspot.is/
Dr Cedric
Science and Trade Institute
Caldari State
#34 - 2014-12-16 16:33:27 UTC
I am an absolute idiot in this conversation as I just open my game and play it. So from what I hear:

I won't notice anything, save a bit longer load time when I click on that fancy new destroyer and zoom in on it to see it.

I have the "option" to keep things moving the "old" way, if I can figure out a bit of Tech Savvy (/me looks for his tech savvy skillbook)

If I can't get my tech savviness up to the appropriate level, I'll be stuck (for good or bad) with this new system.

My question:

Is this an every-time-I-launch-the-game sort of thing? Like will i need to DL these resources over and over each play session? Each patch? Each Update?

Cedric
CCP Snorlax
C C P
C C P Alliance
#35 - 2014-12-16 16:34:32 UTC
Noriko Mai wrote:
Tarsas Phage wrote:
[..]How will my session changes work under such load? Will I black screen until all assets are fetched from CCP's CDN? What happens when a ship warps on grid and I don't have the asset for that ship already fetched? Will my client freeze until it is loaded?[..]

At the moment everything just black screens if it isn't downloaded already. Really confusing.

Please at least add a loading wheel or something.

Where are you getting a black screen? That should not happen, and is not what we've seen in our testing.

CCP Snorlax - Software Architect - Team RnB - @CCP_Snorlax - http://ccpsnorlax.blogspot.is/
CCP Snorlax
C C P
C C P Alliance
#36 - 2014-12-16 16:34:58 UTC
Dominique Vasilkovsky wrote:
Will we get an option to force the full download so we don't have to rely on any streaming of data on demand as you can bet it will try to download something just as you are about to blow something up?

Yes.

CCP Snorlax - Software Architect - Team RnB - @CCP_Snorlax - http://ccpsnorlax.blogspot.is/
SpaceSaft
Almost Dangerous
Wolves Amongst Strangers
#37 - 2014-12-16 16:35:04 UTC
Is this somehow connected to the down time less server model?
Noriko Mai
#38 - 2014-12-16 16:36:45 UTC
drummendejef maaktnietuit wrote:
Quote:
If you prefer, we will of course also have the option of downloading all resources beforehand.



Yes please

It's already implemented. Launcher should force a restart because activating it and saving the settings leaves the user there with a "Client is ready" message and nothing happens.

"Meh.." - Albert Einstein
CCP Snorlax
C C P
C C P Alliance
#39 - 2014-12-16 16:37:35 UTC
Sarmatiko wrote:
CCP Maxwell wrote:
Those would likely be the usual client settings. Not the resources. Have you tried looking into C:\ProgramData\CCP\EVE\SharedCache ?

Why not in actual game folder by default?
Before you edit this setting first time, launcher already downloading cache to ProgramData and then leaves thousands of empty directories there.

The default installation folder is under Program Files - Windows does not like you writing to that folder outside of an installer.

We will improve the process in the launcher before releasing this on TQ so that you will always have a way of setting the cache folder location before we download anything. This is just the first public test of the feature in the game itself - not the final version.

CCP Snorlax - Software Architect - Team RnB - @CCP_Snorlax - http://ccpsnorlax.blogspot.is/
Alundil
Rolled Out
#40 - 2014-12-16 16:37:55 UTC
What nefarious uses can (and will) this be put too?
Scenario:
Want to know what's in a neighboring wh system. Exit Eve client. Clear cache on scouts account. Login and load wh system. Analyze the files downloaded on demand for currently connected systems. Intel?

How will the prefetching handle bridging?
Scenario:
New player joined a "titan-owning" corp/alliance. Is told to join fleet and warp to a POS for Titan bridge. Takes titan bridge to a system he's never been to before. Will he die while resources are loading for what's in that system and surrounding systems?

These types of things, I think, could hinder adoption of this deployment methodology.

I'm right behind you