Major Update Speculation Thread v12: Layoffs Edition - Games

am i clocks? 6:37 PM - Narry Gewman: This change will impact server operators in at least two significant ways: · You will use steamcmd instead of the HLDSUpdateTool to install/update the server. · The conversion will entail significant changes to the way the files appear in the local filesystem on the server and client. The client no longer uses GCF files. Instead, most assets are packed up into VPK, and those VPKs are the same on the server and the client. The server no longer uses 1000’s of loose files. We’re using the TF beta to test these changes and identify the bugs, and give everybody a chance to make sure their favorite mod or plugin will work in the new system. 6:38 PM - Narry Gewman: Yes, and we've improved how this works. When you visit a gameserver that is running a custom map or server-side mod, the engine downloads any assets it needs to run the map or mod. Previously, files downlaoded in this way went directly into the game folder. (For example, directly into tf/materials). This mixed the files downloaded from random gameservers you connect with customizations you intentionally installed, and some official game files. We’ve changed this so that files downloaded from gameservers go into the tf/download folder, so they can be clearly identified (and safely deleted if you want). In particular, maps downloaded from gameservers will now go into the tf/download/maps folder instead of the tf/maps folder.

Source engine games are finally moving to the Steam pipe delivery system. Via HLDS: [quote=Fletcher Dunn via HLDS]The orangebox engine games (Team Fortress 2, Counter Strike:Source, Day of Defeat:Source, HL2:Deathmatch) are being upgraded to SteamPipe. Steam’s new-and-improved content delivery system. SteamPipe is currently used by most games on Steam. This change will impact server operators in at least two significant ways: · You will use steamcmd instead of the HLDSUpdateTool to install/update the server. · The conversion will entail significant changes to the way the files appear in the local filesystem on the server and client. The client no longer uses GCF files. Instead, most assets are packed up into VPK, and those VPKs are the same on the server and the client. The server no longer uses 1000’s of loose files. We’re using the TF beta to test these changes and identify the bugs, and give everybody a chance to make sure their favorite mod or plugin will work in the new system. Everybody is encouraged to download the TF beta! We’ve prepared an FAQ that discusses the details of the change and answers the questions we anticipate: [url]https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=7388-QPFN-2491[/url] Please report gameserver related bugs in this mailing list. Client bugs can be reported through this mailing list, or in the TF beta forum. [url]http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=1038[/url] Thanks for your help, and happy testing! (And remember, playtime in the beta counts towards item drops in the release game.) - Fletch[/quote]

[QUOTE=wickedplayer494;39651177]Source engine games are finally moving to the Steam pipe delivery system. Via HLDS:[/QUOTE] hi, you're kind of clocks [highlight](User was banned for this post ("Why reply" - MaxOfS2D))[/highlight]

What [I]is[/I] Steampipe anyway?

[QUOTE=BigJoeyLemons;39651186]What [I]is[/I] Steampipe anyway?[/QUOTE] vpk files like in portal 2 and L4D2 [editline]19th February 2013[/editline] [IMG]http://puu.sh/25oqT[/IMG]

[QUOTE=spencecool;39651185]hi, you're kind of clocks[/QUOTE] Your post doesn't really make it obvious that the new delivery system is being used for Source games since you posted just snippets from what someone gave you over Steam.

[quote=Steampipe FAQ]Faster and smoother downloads Faster game boot times and map load times[/quote] Best part of SteamPipe, right there.

Wait, will this break any/all mods we currently have installed?

[quote](And remember, playtime in the beta counts towards item drops in the release game.)[/quote] So you get bonus item drops for playing the beta? :0

[quote](And remember, playtime in the beta counts towards item drops in the release game.)[/quote] I never knew that? So you play 10 hours in beta you don't get drops in the actual game? lol.. well that sucks. Also is steam community down for everyone? Not loading at all.. (especially the market) Edit: Its back, nvm

[QUOTE=MaxOfS2D;39651277]So you get bonus item drops for playing the beta? :0[/QUOTE] No, it means that your item drop cap can and will still be burnt up if you play beta. The change was made a while back, if it wasn't this way already.

Got kicked from a server for doing the tauntwalk with the Shred Alert. Fun stuff

-rip merge- [editline]19th February 2013[/editline] [QUOTE=PimpinDemopan;39651263]Wait, will this break any/all mods we currently have installed?[/QUOTE] [quote=Nicholas Hastings via HLDS]If you read the FAQ, you'll see that it most likely will _not_ break everything (though I'm still downloading and haven't tested yet). SourceMod is agnostic to the content delivery system and they claim to have made no further changes in the current beta.[/quote]

[QUOTE=wickedplayer494;39651177]words[/QUOTE] so... What good thing can this thing bring to the game? if someone is kind enough to explain

[QUOTE=HyperTails;39651288]Got kicked from a server for doing the tauntwalk with the Shred Alert. Fun stuff[/QUOTE] Eh, seems fair enough.

[QUOTE=Cosa8888;39651297]so... What good thing can this thing bring to the game? if someone is kind enough to explain[/QUOTE] Faster boot/map load/file download times, vpk files. Not sure how this affects current mods.

hmmm I wonder if this will effect the ever valuable TF2 wiki diffs.

This doesn't include the item compiler yet, right?

So when is this update due to ship? Any ideas?

[QUOTE=Cosa8888;39651297]so... What good thing can this thing bring to the game? if someone is kind enough to explain[/QUOTE] Updates should be relatively smaller in size as they'll become deltas - only what's changed will be replaced, instead of just the whole file.

[QUOTE=PimpinDemopan;39651310]Faster boot/map load/file download times, vpk files. Not sure how this affects current mods.[/QUOTE] Hate to sound like an idiot, but can someone educate me on what are the benefits of .vpk files? Faster performance or something?

[QUOTE=PimpinDemopan;39651325]So when is this update due to ship? Any ideas?[/QUOTE] Same time the Portal 2 Box opens.

[QUOTE=PimpinDemopan;39651325]So when is this update due to ship? Any ideas?[/QUOTE] People have asked about it on HLDS, but no response so far.

[QUOTE=Lium;39650241]There will be no Crate 50, why do people seem to think there will be? They won't do another salvaged, and if they do it definitely won't be 50.[/QUOTE] Before Valve created Crate 40, I remember a lot of people saying: [QUOTE]There will be no Crate 40, why do people seem to think there will be? They won't do another salvaged, and if they do it definitely won't be 40.[/QUOTE] Crate 50 confirmed, soon

So, 15 min SFM video this week right?

seems like a big update this week. This is somewhat what the Hatless update was kind of, it did similar stuff with the schema and what not

So, just to check, it'll improve loading times and stability for players, and make things a bit easier on server owners, in theory, right?

[QUOTE=1Eevee1;39651383]So, just to check, it'll improve loading times and stability for players, and make things a bit easier on server owners, in theory, right?[/QUOTE] Hopefully that'll shush the people who get constant crashes

[del]Beware that this will likely prompt a 1/31/13 Dota 2 update-esque update for TF2 in terms of file size when it hits.[/del] Oh whoops, the FAQ states this ISN'T the case :suicide:

[QUOTE=ned_ballad;39651312]hmmm I wonder if this will effect the ever valuable TF2 wiki diffs.[/QUOTE] It'll probably effect them in some way, but we still diff fine over at the Dota 2 Wiki.