Giant Multiplayer Robots! [Civ5]

FYI: I just took a turn in G&KMP in which the download file was 1,989, but the save file was 3,011 when I compared file sizes before submitting. So I canceled the Submit window, deleted the previous downloaded file (don't think this is required), manually downloaded a new file (don't think this is required), and re-took my turn. New save file was 1,989, so I submitted it. So the game moves on!

I'm going to suggest to the GMR team that they implement file size checking in the client.

Wonder what is inflating the file size to begin with. Re-taking turns is a pain in the ass.

It's a bandaid, but at least it keeps the blood from gushing out of the wound. The games are playable! Woo!

I do love work-arounds.

Nice find, looks like we'll have to implemented this kind of sanity check as hosts ourselves for now (ie, when it gets back to me I'm going to make sure it's not 2x the last turn i played).

So in figuring out how to save and submit the turn I found out that you could easily cheat the fog of war at turn 1 to get a much better view of the surroundings. I didn't mind you, I did the same thing the 2nd time I fired the turn up aswell, but I'm not sure if people are aware of this or not?

Is this accomplished by loading the downloaded file multiple times for the purposes of sending units in different directions to see what's where, and then submitting your turn after taking the most beneficial paths?

The savegame for Foodless has inflated in size to the point where I cannot load the savegames in DX9 mode and play it even with all of my other applications turned off. :(

Is there a way to load up Civ5 and then kill Steam? That would probably buy me another few turns' worth of inflation.

Pretty much, yes. I discovered it because I accidentally didn't save my turn the first time I completed it (it said it was Nate's turn and I got confused) :)

I figured everybody knew and would be honest about taking turns and not reloading. There's no way to police it, though, which means people will do it.

I'll revert the turn and hopefully we can debloat the file. Remember the Mysterio way: everyone please check your turn files for bloat before submission.

Foodless BBQ is still showing bloat (sitting at 3444 KB and crashing on my computer) after I accidently reverted two turns back to myself. Reverting some more...OK, full cycle back to me, the file sits at 2070 KB when I download it and then goes to 2071 KB when I hit the save button.

If you see any bloat, redownload and retake the turn and check the file size again. Hopefully it'll do it right eventually. If not, let me know.

I dunno. I'd like to think BF players are above the PUG mentality. Whenever I'm forced to re-take a turn, I always send my units on the same path upon which they were previously sent, since I tend to remember. Maybe I need to take my turns while drunk.

Can't man, it's not my Mac.

Sans Spaceships

The file I downloaded for the game is already at 1,612 KB. That seems awfully large for a game that's only on Turn 2. Has everyone been comparing the size of the downloaded and save files before submitting their turn?

EDIT: I'll take my turn, but I'm concerned the file's already been bloated.

EDIT 2: I'm doing some testing on the downloaded file. Will post results shortly.

Not bueno. More than double! Nearly triple, really.

After reading McKnight's post and noticing the downloaded file size for Sans Spaceships was already at 1,612 KB, it struck me: "What if reloading the downloaded file from within the game is what's causing the save file to be bloated?"

So I ran some tests using Sans Spaceships, since it's the start of the game, and here are the results, the pdf of which I'm going to e-mail to GMR:



So reloading the downloaded size file from within the game causes bloating of the save file.

Nate, since it's so early in Sans Spaceships, I'd suggest reverting all the way back to your first turn (before founding your initial city) to ensure we don't have any bloating.

Well I'm glad my stupidity helped somebody :)

Working on that right now.

OK, had to restart the game completely, but it should be up and running again.

Sans Spaceships

Nate, I'm third in the turn order, but the size of the file I just downloaded is 2,374 KB. What was the size of the file you uploaded?

deadbuffalo, what were the sizes of your downloaded and uploaded files?

2366 is the size of the GMR play this one, 2374 is the upload.

Could be bigger than usual due to a bigger map? The turn file isn't in there any longer, but I'll go ahead and create an identical game and check on the file size when I save it.

That's a definite negative. 478 KB on my end. Before it gets uploaded, though. Does it not run, Mysterio?

But the size of the file I downloaded before you reverted was only 1,612 KB. I'm thinking we might have to scrap this game and start a new one, maybe with the same civs and turn order?

Yes, but I have a hefty desktop PC.

I think it's likely (since I can see) that Nate took his turn in a few other games and then loaded the save without exiting the game, which looks like it appends the saves instead of recreating them, hence the bloat. You probably have No Fighting and Impurify in that save :) I think it's on firaxis actually since they enabled the hotseat back to main menu instead of forcing the quit like GMR had.

Blergh! Sending out invites to a new game! Feel free to select the nation you were given or go random again for a new one.

Oh, and we'll call it Avec Spaceships!

I have it set up so that civ shuts down after every turn I play.

Same here. I don't trust that return-to-main-menu thingamajigger.

VegasRobb, McKnight, Josho, Hanzii, Brian Rubin, and deadbuffalo, surrender out of Sans and join us in Avec. Tres bien.

I should be playing Napoleon apparently.

It worked so well for a couple months...

So should I shut down CivV after every save?

I love that most of us are like, meh I'll take a new random Civ and make the game brand new. And Nate is like, fuck all of you I got Japan and I'm keeping the awesome Civ :)

Someone fucked up and submitted their Frontier game wrong, because I'm getting an error that I don't have the requisite DLC.

reverted to the mad hatter

In! And totally randoming this thing.

Also to reiterate what Mr Rubin asked - the general idea is to download the game via GMR, without CIv V running, then only run Civ V for that game being downloaded, and quit straight after the turn is completed? That's what I've been doing anyway. I hope I haven't been screwing things up. The file delta on my save games is fairly low - Sans Spaceships jumped a few KB though I suspect that is from the placement of my city?

The last time it loaded the wrong game, this time it worked (barely, with all settings at minimum level).

I've never played Japan. Better something new than one I've played before.

This seems to be the best way to avoid the bloat. A couple KB seems reasonable.

I tried to stick with Denmark, even though I've never played them, but I'm a random guy. I love being surprised by the civ I draw.