Game file sizes - 50MB too much?

[Kinoko]

Just wondering, is there a particular game file size that would put you off downloading a game? The Apprentice II was about 40MB or so... how many people didn't download it because of that? I ask because my game is looking to be about 50meg (maybe more), and I don't want this to stop too many people from being able to download it. I understand the pain of being on dial-up ^_^

[Kairus]

I will definately not download a 50 meg size game. At leat not until I get a connection better than dial-up (that will probably happen in 2030 or something like that).

[BOYD1981]

if it's a good game then it's worth the download no matter what size it is but it can depend on what is taking up all the space. for example, if you have a fairly small game but with mp3 music and speech it's probably best to do what they did with king's quest and offer them as seperate downloads.
but personally as long as i have the drive space i'll download it, but if people with dialup don't want to just because they have dialup then they need to stop feeling sorry for themselves...

[MillsJROSS]

I'd probably download it, if it were a good game. But I have a fasr connection, and not too worried about filling space in my system. Putting it in two seperate packs, if the size comes from music, is a good idea.

but if people with dialup don't want to just because they have dialup then they need to stop feeling sorry for themselves...

Um...some people don't have a choice, either because dial-up is their only provider, or they live under their parents rule. So if you have dial-up, be strong, use and use some sort of download excellerator.

-MillsJROSS

[SpacePirateCaine]

I'm using broadband, so maybe I'm biased in this respect. I frivolously download 50-100 meg files and delete them without a second thought, but even when I used an old 14.4, I at times connected and left an 80+ meg download running all night when I had to. For dial-uppers, programs like GetRight and so on (if my memory serves me) have built in 'hang up after download finishes' options.

I guess the bottom line is that if the game looks good, people are more likely to download it no matter what the size is. Regardless of filesize, it seems that most of the people here have played Apprentice II and the King's Quest remakes. Of course, there are always going to be  people who just shun larger files simply because they're the size they are. Your best bet is to use a split archive so that people on dialup can get the game in chunks (5 or 10 megs, or whatever), and to have a seperate file for those whose bands are broad. Or you could just say 'Sorry, it's a big file', and let people decide whether it looks good enough to download anyway.

[Kinoko]

Well, I don't fancy splitting the file up much, and it's not that large due to music or speech packs, rather just a large game. I guess it'll be as big as it is, and if dial-up users don't want to download it themselves, perhaps they can get a friend to. I think most people at least know someone with a fast connection.

[MrColossal]

now is this 50mb zipped or rared?

[Peter Thomas]

I don't have a problem downloading 50 megs, since I'm on cable, but I probably would only do it if I had a couple of kick-arse screenshots to tempt me. Otherwise I just tend to assume it's 50mb of music and speech...

But I guess having played Apprentice II, it will probably be a game I'll enjoy muchly... (EDIT: Assuming you are comparing it to Apprentice II because it equates in awesomeness...)

[strazer]

Have you already tried compressing it or is 50MB the raw file size?

Your best bet is to use a split archive so that people on dialup can get the game in chunks (5 or 10 megs, or whatever)

Aside from speech and music packs, I don't understand why splitting up a game in multiple parts is better for dial-up users.
I imagine most of them use a download manager that can pause and resume anyway?

[Gilbert]

That also depends on whether the site hosting the file can resume downloads.

In my opinion I'd rather download large file in pieces if possible.

[Kinoko]

The file isn't -any- size yet because it's not finished. I'm simply estimating it may be 50MB It may be 60, or 100. I don't know.

[HillBilly]

Have you tried to ZIP it yet? It's incredible how much winzip compresses AGS games.


Of course you haven't, because the game isn't finished yet. Anyway, Winzip can probably sqeeze down a 50MB to only 7MB. It's awesome.

[Kinoko]

If that's the case, it should be alright. I've never taken much notice of how much Winzip ... er, zips. If it's that much, the whole thing should be no problem ^_^ Thanks.

[Gilbert]

It depends, if the game consists mostly of mp3/ogg/wav recorded soundtracks and samples and/or FMV AVI's, compression probably can't help much.
If most of the game's size is just made up of sprites and rooms, compressions can possibly do miracles.

[Andail]

If most of the game's size is just made up of sprites and rooms, compressions can possibly do miracles.

Isn't it just one of them which matters? (forgot which one) I thought either rooms or sprites were compressed in the engine itself, making further compression ineffective.

[TheYak]

Well, the 50 MB to 7 MB seems a bit over-optimistic.  However, you can get fairly decent ratios.  Fatman seems like a good example.  Using the (non-talkie?) Underdogs version, the decompressed size is: 61.7 Megs (on disk filesize). The total size for WinRAR archives is: 24.7 Megs.  So, roughly 40% of the original diskspace.

WinZip's ratios (v.8.1) are normally lower, though I haven't messed with their newest version.  The newer version runs into compatibility problems with other archiving software. Winzip (8-ish) has the advantage of being ubiquitous at least.  AGS only does some mild compression with the graphics but doesn't have the advantage of a full-tilt archiving program, it does more when compressing its scripting, I would guess.

[Edit: Good topic, by the way. It's been discussed before, but it's a good one to revisit occasionally - certainly better than "What's your favorite Strawberry Sundae?" I, for one, will download almost anything when on dial-up. I just do a lot of research first.]

[Sektor 13]

Well my game was 91 MB uncompressed and 35 under ZIP..... But a think main conceren is that AGS uses his own backgroun format for pics, that makes him very long...

[YOke]

In my experience you get compression down to between 1/4 and 1/3 of the uncompressed size.
The main pitfall is MP3/OGG sounds and music that don't compress well at all. (duh!)

[Gilbert]

Isn't it just one of them which matters? (forgot which one) I thought either rooms or sprites were compressed in the engine itself, making further compression ineffective.

Well, yea, mainly sprites actually, which are not compressed, but I think apart from the compressed backgrounds, rooms do contain other stuff like data and (compiled) scripts, etc. which may still benefit from further compressions.

[auhsor]

Well for me, if it was a good game, like I am pretty sure yours will be, I wouldn't mind downloading it even if I was on a modem still.