Reducing the SE4 footprint.

[dogscoff]

Not sure. The blank CD I have here offers 702 meg.
If I look at the properties screen for my shrapnel dir, it says it takes up 741 meg (777,617,052 bytes), but that that's 786meg (825,196,544 bytes) on disk. Confusing. I assume the "size on disk" figure is a product of Windoze' bloaty file system, and that the former number is the one that would apply if I were to copy the files to a CD.

What I will probably do is leave out (or zip up) a number of the less-used races.

I just thought this would be an interesting thread for anyone trying to save a little space.

Also I think I have screwed up my sounds folder. Anyone know where I can download the enhanced sound mod? Doesn't seem to be on the Gold CD.

[JLS]

Originally posted by dogscoff:
Anyone know where I can download the enhanced sound mod? Doesn't seem to be on the Gold CD.

This may be what you want, Dogscoff

MM Mod list

Mod: Tampa_Gamer Sound Mod maintained by Tampa_Gamer Mod Version: 1.40 SE4 Version: 1.60+
Description: Space Empires IV Gold Version 1.xx (Compatable with all future Versions)
March 6, 2002 (verified February 1, 2003)
Tampa_Gamer Sounds Mod 1.40

This sound mod will replace almost all of your 60 original sound files.

~~~~

I just thought this would be an interesting thread for anyone trying to save a little space.

This is a very interesting thread; I just wish my CD burner received with my windows 98 Gateway Computer, were compatible with the new XP Windows I installed; so I can do what your doing

[ May 15, 2003, 15:11: Message edited by: JLS ]

[dogscoff]

Thanks JLS. I think the problem may reside in the words "almost all " in that description. I deleted all my original sound files, not "almost all" of them.

Oops...

[Suicide Junkie]

What if you were to zip up the entire thing, and just put an autorun file in there. You could have the thing automatically unpack to the HD when you throw in the disk!

[Urendi Maleldil]

Hey dogscoff. I really like what you're doing. I'm too lazy to do it myself. Could you put your "optimized" cd image up for download when you're done?

*minus "se4.exe" of course*

[ May 15, 2003, 18:38: Message edited by: Urendi Maleldil ]

[dogscoff]

Good idea Urendi, except I'm on dialup and a 800 meg upload would not be fun.

I guess I could send you a CD by snail mail though, if you PM me your address. I think I'll probably "make the burn" next week, after I've spent the weekend on the KanesS images.

[Krsqk]

Lessee, 800 MB at ~3.5KB upload per second (pretty generous with my ISP), it would take...

*taps calculator keys furiously*

...approximately 3900 minutes, or 65 hours, or 2.7 days. That's assuming, of course, that you remembered to turn off call waiting so you didn't get disconnected halfway through.

[dogscoff]

Also, my dialup kicks me off every 2 or 3 hours. Barbaric or what?

I suppose I could plug my laptop into my mobile phone and use GPRS, that doesn't kick me off. However, it does charge me £7.50 per meg. So for an 800 meg upload that would be something like £6000 sterling.

Nice.

EDIT: The other option is to take my laptop, my wireless networking card, my copy of netstumbler, go for a drive and see if I can borrow *cough*steal*cough* me some free bandwidth courtesy of an unsuspecting corporate HQ somewhere...

[ May 16, 2003, 14:53: Message edited by: dogscoff ]

[geoschmo]

D, are you still trying to find ways to save space or did you get it all straight? I have some suggestions. I may have missed them, but I don't see these listed in the thread.

You can remove the manual directory entirely. Only used if you ever hit the help screens during the game. > 7meg (EDIT: Oops, you did have this one already.)

If all the pc's you are going to use the game on are the same display size ie, 800x600, or 1024x768, then reducing the color depth of the system bitmaps for the size you aren't going to use will free a TON of space with no change in game image quality. > 2 Meg

You can reduce the color depth of the intro and finale bitmaps. Those a few for the biggest files in the Se4 install, and are only used for a few seconds of the game. Lower quality for those wouldn't really detract from game play. Heck, you might never even see the finale screens. > 1 - 3 Meg

Many mods have customized intro screens. Nice for their ego, but totally unneccesary if you are tight on space. > 1 Meg

Hope these help.

Geoschmo

[ May 16, 2003, 15:10: Message edited by: geoschmo ]

[dogscoff]

Thanks Geo, good suggestions.

Actually, since starting this thread I've installed several new shipsets and mods, so I think it is impossible for Se4 to ever get any smaller. I'm going to have to just give in and burn myself 2 CDs.

Still, this thread might turn out to be useful to someone, somewhen.