Desura MCF errors!

So, a lot of people are having Desura MCF issues with the download - I've had a lot of Desura messages and a lot of emails / forum messages about it. I've had a chat to the Desura folks and they've said they're working on a patch to make the issue better, but it won't necessarily fix it completely. In the meantime, you can log into Desura and download the standalone files here: http://www.desura.com/games/xenonauts

The problem is because their system isn't that great at handling LOTS of small files, and thanks to a combination of the tiles and the sprites, Xenonauts has LOADS of small files. Unfortunately this problem is only going to get worse until we hit beta (when all the units are in the game).

That's what you get for using dated tech - but it's far too late into development for us to change our setup. We'll use a better engine next time around though. Apologies for the difficulties it is causing everybody!

Hmf. As long as you've at least considered seppuku, it's aight bruv.

I plan to delegate that to one of the team members. I'm trying to decide between Matthew, Giovanni and GJ at the moment.

With Desura, is it possible to run post-installation scripts? I was thinking that you could zip up the collections of files into a few large zip/tar files and have Desura download those, then run a post-install script to uncompress them.

The downside would be that you'd have to download the full zip if any file in it had changed.

With Desura, is it possible to run post-installation scripts? I was thinking that you could zip up the collections of files into a few large zip/tar files and have Desura download those, then run a post-install script to uncompress them.

The downside would be that you'd have to download the full zip if any file in it had changed.

Sounds a good idea! We should consider it, Chris..

Yes, but then you have to download the entire file if any file in it has changed, which defeats the entire point of people not just downloading the standalone. I imagine for the final version of Xenonauts everything will be zipped up, but not while we're regularly releasing builds.

I haven't looked too closely at the directory structure, but if you have 1 zip file per directory, it will reduce the file count by a reasonable factor while still only requiring the zip to be downloaded if a file in that folder has changed.

Yes, but then you have to download the entire file if any file in it has changed, which defeats the entire point of people not just downloading the standalone. I imagine for the final version of Xenonauts everything will be zipped up, but not while we're regularly releasing builds.

We could split it in many zip files, so that only the changed ones are downloaded, still reducing the total number of files..

Hmmm. Look into it when I'm on holiday then, it may be worth doing for the units and tiles directories.

I too had the same error when I tried to download the file. Luckily I got the standalone file too.

(ShadowFox4 is my screen name for Desura)

Desura - buggy service...

I don't know how these things works but, is there any kind of virtualization which could allow you to trick your engine into a virtual file system which allows you to put everything into a small amount of files?

I'm afraid that the current amount of small files could get you in trouble even with steam, or for further developments...

I have been unable to download the newest version and possibly the one before that.

I try to DL every few days and give up after gaining new grey hairs.

Shame TBH but am looking forward to the fix & new version.

mace have you tried to dl the standalone zip file?

mace have you tried to dl the standalone zip file?

I was going to do that the ther day but Chris mentioned releasing a new patch before his holiday so I have decided to hold off. But thanks for the advice mate.

Desura - buggy service...

Technically, fault is Xenonauts' because engine of it involves lots of itty bitty tiny files And every other game works on Desura.

its murder¬!

Technically, fault is Xenonauts' because engine of it involves lots of itty bitty tiny files And every other game works on Desura.

Nah, desura errors often enough on anything. See their forums! I guess you're just far more likely to encounter it here due to the number of files. In any case, a download service should be able to handle serving anything. There shouldn't be a limitation to what they can reliably supply.

just did a force update, and it worked. at least i am at the install stage, which is usually past the mcf error stage (download stage). i force updated desura: start menu>desura>desura (force update). after the client updated itself i was able to update the game.

Does that trick (The force update) work if you're downloading the game for the first time, as the previous 2 times I tried to install the game I got the MCF error both times.