THIS IS IN TEAM FORTRESS BETA, NOT TEAM FORTRESS 2 (but will be eventually)
Thread starter for Valve's SteamPipe (which is in beta at the moment), an update which will do several things for servers and disk space, as well as requiring mods for TF2 Beta to be moved into a new folder. This means custom maps, HUDs, scoreboards will need moving when the update reaches TF2.
F.A.Q.:
https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=7388-QPFN-2491
Official thread posted here:
http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3081573
Q. What’s happening?
We have been working on upgrading TF2, DoD:S, CS:S, and HL2:MP to be delivered through SteamPipe, Steam’s new content distribution. This will change how the game is downloaded and stored on your computer. The benefits to players are:
Faster and smoother downloads
Faster game boot times and map load times
Easier distribution, installation, and management of mods
Smoother dedicated server distribution and update rollover
[b]THIS IS IN TEAM FORTRESS BETA, NOT TEAM FORTRESS 2 [/b](but will be eventually)
Thread starter for Valve's SteamPipe (which is in [b]beta[/b] at the moment), an update which will do several things for servers and disk space, as well as requiring mods for TF2 Beta to be moved into a new folder. This means custom maps, HUDs, scoreboards will need moving when the update reaches TF2.
F.A.Q.:
https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=7388-QPFN-2491
Official thread posted here:
http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3081573
[quote]Q. What’s happening?
We have been working on upgrading TF2, DoD:S, CS:S, and HL2:MP to be delivered through SteamPipe, Steam’s new content distribution. This will change how the game is downloaded and stored on your computer. The benefits to players are:
Faster and smoother downloads
Faster game boot times and map load times
Easier distribution, installation, and management of mods
Smoother dedicated server distribution and update rollover[/quote]
I'm super confused about this whole thing -- what does this mean for HUDs? Just moving it to a different folder?
What's even the purpose of this?
I'm super confused about this whole thing -- what does this mean for HUDs? Just moving it to a different folder?
What's even the purpose of this?
What does this ultimately do? Other than having to move huds, maps, etc to new folders, is there a bigger picture for this?
What does this ultimately do? Other than having to move huds, maps, etc to new folders, is there a bigger picture for this?
So far I've read the FAQ of it being an ease of use thing as well as changing to .VPK instead of using .CGF. Keep in mind a lot of these things are for TF2 Beta right now and not yet TF2.
EDIT: gawd I'm so bad at everything. Moved quote to first post.
So far I've read the FAQ of it being an ease of use thing as well as changing to .VPK instead of using .CGF. Keep in mind a lot of these things are for TF2 Beta right now and not yet TF2.
EDIT: gawd I'm so bad at everything. Moved quote to first post.
Effectively using tf2 to test their new shit since all TF2 is a test model to them anyway.
Effectively using tf2 to test their new shit since all TF2 is a test model to them anyway.
I'm sorry, I should probably make it more clear it's tf2 beta, not tf2.. Don't start hating!
I'm sorry, I should probably make it more clear it's tf2 beta, not tf2.. Don't start hating!
Linux is their new shit too. Pushed 1.6 and hl1 via steampipe as well.
As for custom huds and stuff...Looks like you'll be able to pack the entire hud as a single .vpk!
Maps folder is moving to /tf/downloads/maps.
Linux is their new shit too. Pushed 1.6 and hl1 via steampipe as well.
As for custom huds and stuff...Looks like you'll be able to pack the entire hud as a single .vpk!
Maps folder is moving to /tf/downloads/maps.
jerryjigglerRabikulI'm sorry, I should probably make it more clear it's tf2 beta, not tf2.. Don't start hating!
Theres also a dota 2 beta but you don't see them upgrading that with steam pipe.
That's because Dota 2 and GO already use SteamPipe.
[quote=jerryjiggler][quote=Rabikul]I'm sorry, I should probably make it more clear it's tf2 beta, not tf2.. Don't start hating![/quote]
Theres also a dota 2 beta but you don't see them upgrading that with steam pipe.[/quote]
That's because Dota 2 and GO already use SteamPipe.
TF2 was a test ground for micro-transaction model. It was also one of the "test" games for the Orange Box Source engine. That's not the big issue with valve's updates. It's more that they keep adding features that can't be handled by older systems and stopped supporting old features (dx81, matmip -1, etc).
Steam pipe has nothing to do with it, and should honestly be an improvement over the current system (unless you like validating files all the time). This system could theoretically fix it if they fragment the files well.
Also, this could possible be the end of the .gcf, so I can stop using GCFscape from nemtools to extra stuff.
TF2 was a test ground for micro-transaction model. It was also one of the "test" games for the Orange Box Source engine. That's not the big issue with valve's updates. It's more that they keep adding features that can't be handled by older systems and stopped supporting old features (dx81, matmip -1, etc).
Steam pipe has nothing to do with it, and should honestly be an improvement over the current system (unless you like validating files all the time). This system could theoretically fix it if they fragment the files well.
Also, this could possible be the end of the .gcf, so I can stop using GCFscape from nemtools to extra stuff.
Ultimately, this is a good thing generally. Faster boot times, map loading, and etc. sounds great, all we can hope is that everything goes smoothly and Valve doesn't mess up during the process. But I'm really glad Valve remembered about the games and will actually try to improve the system. Just remember to save your custom files!
Ultimately, this is a good thing generally. Faster boot times, map loading, and etc. sounds great, all we can hope is that everything goes smoothly and Valve doesn't mess up during the process. But I'm really glad Valve remembered about the games and will actually try to improve the system. Just remember to save your custom files!
Magikarp Just remember to save your custom files!
It looks only the gcf's are going to be deleted when they transition to steamPipe. I'm gonna redownload tf2 so I don't have residual files.
Q. What will happen to files I downloaded or customized?
The conversion process will delete the GCF files and some other files such as movies. All other files in the game folder --- files that you downloaded from gameservers or customized --- will be retained.
No files will be automatically migrated to the new directory. You will need to copy them from the old installation directory to the new one. Remember, the directory structure has changed a bit, so it's not recommended to just do a blanket copy of all files to the new directory. It' recommended to keep all custom files under the tf/addons folder. This cleanly seperates custom files from official shipping files, and ensures your custom files don't get clobbered by Steam. Files downloaded from gameservers go in the tf/download folder.
[quote=Magikarp] Just remember to save your custom files![/quote]
It looks only the gcf's are going to be deleted when they transition to steamPipe. I'm gonna redownload tf2 so I don't have residual files.
[quote]Q. What will happen to files I downloaded or customized?
The conversion process will delete the GCF files and some other files such as movies. All other files in the game folder --- files that you downloaded from gameservers or customized --- will be retained.
No files will be automatically migrated to the new directory. You will need to copy them from the old installation directory to the new one. Remember, the directory structure has changed a bit, so it's not recommended to just do a blanket copy of all files to the new directory. It' recommended to keep all custom files under the tf/addons folder. This cleanly seperates custom files from official shipping files, and ensures your custom files don't get clobbered by Steam. Files downloaded from gameservers go in the tf/download folder.[/quote]
I hope this means they're going to integrate Workshop maps in TF2 like in the same vain as GO. Maps download surprisingly quick and seamless from Workshop.
I hope this means they're going to integrate Workshop maps in TF2 like in the same vain as GO. Maps download surprisingly quick and seamless from Workshop.
RIP GCF fix-CRC mathacks 4ever (thank god)
RIP GCF fix-CRC mathacks 4ever (thank god)
http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showpost.php?p=34032703&postcount=68
"Validating files" every time should be fixed by this change.
We'll migrate certain user config files to the new directory when the real game is converted. (But probably not custom content. That will just stay in the old folder and you can move it to the appropriate place.) We didn't do that for the TF beta, though. We'll have a blog post that explains more details about that when the time comes.
...
Users of the TF beta are reporting their boot and load times have been cut in half.
Good news
http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showpost.php?p=34032703&postcount=68
[quote]
"Validating files" every time should be fixed by this change.
We'll migrate certain user config files to the new directory when the real game is converted. (But probably not custom content. That will just stay in the old folder and you can move it to the appropriate place.) We didn't do that for the TF beta, though. We'll have a blog post that explains more details about that when the time comes.
...
Users of the TF beta are reporting their boot and load times have been cut in half.
[/quote]
Good news
Past... Valve... while you're at it, how about that competitive lobby system...
Past... Valve... while you're at it, how about that competitive lobby system...
"When the game is converted to SteamPipe, the installation directory is shared between users. The directory will probably be something like"
That means my alt and main account can use the same tf-folder files. : )
"When the game is converted to SteamPipe, the installation directory is shared between users. The directory will probably be something like"
That means my alt and main account can use the same tf-folder files. : )
SBARROHOTTOPICI'm super confused about this whole thing -- what does this mean for HUDs?
I read the entire article, and from what I understand, not much.
You can package all the HUD files into a single VPK and drop that into the custom directory, which could make HUD installation simpler. However, this would probably make customisation a bit more annoying as the user would have to extract the contents to make any changes.
That said, it will still be possible to keep the HUD files unpackaged, stored in a subdirectory in the custom directory. Valve claims this method will result in slightly slower load times, but I'm fairly certain the difference will be negligible, unless you go overboard with the number of such directories.
To summarise what I just said, HUD installation will be simpler if you do not intend to make any changes, and it won't be any more difficult than now if you do.
[note] As far as my HUD is concerned, I intend to continue shipping the HUD in the same format as now, through Git and ZIP files. If there exists a command-line tool to create VPKs, I will generate nightly packages; otherwise, I won't.
[quote=SBARROHOTTOPIC]I'm super confused about this whole thing -- what does this mean for HUDs?[/quote]
I read the entire article, and from what I understand, not much.
You can package all the HUD files into a single VPK and drop that into the custom directory, which could make HUD installation simpler. However, this would probably make customisation a bit more annoying as the user would have to extract the contents to make any changes.
That said, it will still be possible to keep the HUD files unpackaged, stored in a subdirectory in the custom directory. Valve claims this method will result in slightly slower load times, but I'm fairly certain the difference will be negligible, unless you go overboard with the number of such directories.
To summarise what I just said, HUD installation will be simpler if you do not intend to make any changes, and it won't be any more difficult than now if you do.
[note] As far as my HUD is concerned, I intend to continue shipping the HUD in the same format as now, through Git and ZIP files. If there exists a command-line tool to create VPKs, I will generate nightly packages; otherwise, I won't.
omp[note] As far as my HUD is concerned, I intend to continue shipping the HUD in the same format as now, through Git and ZIP files. If there exists a command-line tool to create VPKs, I will generate nightly packages; otherwise, I won't.
I'd be very disappointed if they didn't release packaging software/library for the new file format. I imagine they will though.
[quote=omp][note] As far as my HUD is concerned, I intend to continue shipping the HUD in the same format as now, through Git and ZIP files. If there exists a command-line tool to create VPKs, I will generate nightly packages; otherwise, I won't.[/quote]
I'd be very disappointed if they didn't release packaging software/library for the new file format. I imagine they will though.
Doesn't it also mean that custom hud files wont be overwritten by updates? and your customizations (that would be in a separate folder) wouldn't be replaced by newer versions of files?
media.steampowered.com/apps/520/vpk.exe
media.steampowered.com/apps/520/vpk_linux32
media.steampowered.com/apps/520/vpk_osx32
Doesn't it also mean that custom hud files wont be overwritten by updates? and your customizations (that would be in a separate folder) wouldn't be replaced by newer versions of files?
media.steampowered.com/apps/520/vpk.exe
media.steampowered.com/apps/520/vpk_linux32
media.steampowered.com/apps/520/vpk_osx32
Overwritten by updates as in HUDs won't break?
Overwritten by updates as in HUDs won't break?
@22 Yes.
The reason being that having a mod package like they do with the vpk means that the game would have to go through archives and delete modified files in order to keep the current "overwrite mods when we update" behavior, which is like, a really really really stupid idea.
@22 Yes.
The reason being that having a mod package like they do with the vpk means that the game would have to go through archives and delete modified files in order to keep the current "overwrite mods when we update" behavior, which is like, a really really really stupid idea.
Hope they fix the exploits before TF2 switches cause apparently other games that already use steampipe have numerous ways to get around sv_pure.
Hope they fix the exploits before TF2 switches cause apparently other games that already use steampipe have numerous ways to get around sv_pure.
TF2 already has a way to get around sv_pure. If you put the modified file in the GCF and then "fix" some CRC, it'll work. Says someone I talk to about source engine problems.
EDIT: Obviously I have not tested this and don't have any plans to.
TF2 already has a way to get around sv_pure. If you put the modified file in the GCF and then "fix" some CRC, it'll work. Says someone I talk to about source engine problems.
EDIT: Obviously I have not tested this and don't have any plans to.
you guys still have time to change your spy_uncloak sound to the obnoxious "happy birthday" sound, and change spy_cloak to a really long sentence from half life (so you can track the spy as he's cloaked via the voices). you can also lower the volume of your weapons, but not others. might as well disable ambience in the manifest-ish file. Forgot what it's called, but it has a huge table of values one of which includes Ambience.
Edit: clearly i have tested this and used it many many times, and have plans to re-do it if I ever decide to play the game.
you guys still have time to change your spy_uncloak sound to the obnoxious "happy birthday" sound, and change spy_cloak to a really long sentence from half life (so you can track the spy as he's cloaked via the voices). you can also lower the volume of [i]your[/i] weapons, but not others. might as well disable ambience in the manifest-ish file. Forgot what it's called, but it has a huge table of values one of which includes Ambience.
Edit: clearly i have tested this and used it many [b]many[/b] times, and have plans to re-do it if I ever decide to play the game.