Kaiser Soze 71 Posted November 30, 2002 Share Posted November 30, 2002 What happened with the patch? :confused: I have started now 2 new CMBB PBEM-games and first one was QB, 2000pts, large map. First movie size was 4,3Mb! We quitted that game and started a new one. The new game was QB, 1250pts, medium map. And with these settings the first movie size was 6,3Mb! We've played 3 QBs before 1.01-patch and none of the file sizes went over 700kb. What has happened? These 6Mb file sizes makes PBEM-gaming impossible for me because I'm behind a crappy modem... 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
André Posted November 30, 2002 Share Posted November 30, 2002 That sounds wierd... I have rarely seen movie files over 2 mb, and that was some huge battles. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruno Weiss Posted November 30, 2002 Share Posted November 30, 2002 Modem! You'd need to FedEx that one. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nolloff Posted November 30, 2002 Share Posted November 30, 2002 I do also have some in the 3-5 MB size playing a small map but I haven´t played PBEM before and thought it´s normal. Nolloff 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ex Bellator Posted November 30, 2002 Share Posted November 30, 2002 Kaizer - I also have noticed a large increase in file sizes although I have yet to see one over 2.5MB. As a slightly fiddly workaround you can .zip the files before mailing them (there are several ways of doing it but I use PowerArchiver). Keep this thread active and you'll probably get a comment from someone at BFC very soon. [Edit] What type of terrain was on those maps, were they heavily wooded? My pet theory at the moment is that somehow trees are causing the big files. They certainly are bringing the game to a crawl in normal play as well. [ November 30, 2002, 08:56 AM: Message edited by: Rex_Bellator ] 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Commander Posted November 30, 2002 Share Posted November 30, 2002 Originally posted by Rex_Bellator: Kaizer - I also have noticed a large increase in file sizes although I have yet to see one over 2.5MB. As a slightly fiddly workaround you can .zip the files before mailing them (there are several ways of doing it but I use PowerArchiver). Keep this thread active and you'll probably get a comment from someone at BFC very soon. [Edit] What type of terrain was on those maps, were they heavily wooded? My pet theory at the moment is that somehow trees are causing the big files. They certainly are bringing the game to a crawl in normal play as well.LOL - The trees (or number of them) have or do nothing to add to the size of a PBEM file. The terrain part of the file should be a fixed size and would contain data describing the X loc,Y loc,altitude,terrain type, etc... The units and the plotting of moves make a big difference. If the battle being talked about consisted of large amounts of armored units with all of them moving at the same time then that is probably why the file size is so big. I have to admit that I would freak out with a 6 Meg file size! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chad Harrison Posted November 30, 2002 Share Posted November 30, 2002 That seems very very odd. Something must be wrong because I have a 10,000 point campaign and it tops out at usually 4 megs or so. If you want to play with large files and have DSL/Cable, then go DL WinRar. Zips and breaks up files into whatever size you like. Chad 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Treeburst155 Posted November 30, 2002 Share Posted November 30, 2002 "Zipping" the files solves some email problems, but it actually INCREASES the size of the files. Treeburst155 out. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panzer Leader Posted November 30, 2002 Share Posted November 30, 2002 I think it's all about LOS calculations. If you have even a small battle, but there are twenty tanks at once facing off it will create a huge file size. Let me guess - in your 6mg battle, you guys are all in range and LOS of each other, aren't you? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kaiser Soze 71 Posted November 30, 2002 Author Share Posted November 30, 2002 I also like to mention that BEFORE 1.01CDV patch I've played 3 CMBB PBEM-games. 2000pts, medium map, summer day, moderate tree coverage, still (biggest file :864kb) 1500pts, medium map, snow ground, moderate tree coverage, blizzard (biggest file :604kb) 1250pts, medium map, summer day, moderate tree coverage, breeze (biggest file :459kb) Now AFTER THE PATCH, the first 1 minute video : 6,21Mb! Some specs of this QB Tree coverage : moderate Hilliness : modest hills Damage : none Ground : snow Air : snow & strong wind So, all the environment settings are very similar than always before, but the file size has increased 10x! I zipped the 6,21Mb file to 4,3Mb, but still it's too large for a modem player. OH YEAH! And all the games were meeting engagements, so at the beginning there is a lot of moving going on... I cannot afford yet to buy the "all-resolving-ADSL"-connection. [ November 30, 2002, 11:50 AM: Message edited by: Kaiser Soze 71 ] 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kaiser Soze 71 Posted November 30, 2002 Author Share Posted November 30, 2002 Originally posted by Panzer Leader: I think it's all about LOS calculations. If you have even a small battle, but there are twenty tanks at once facing off it will create a huge file size. Let me guess - in your 6mg battle, you guys are all in range and LOS of each other, aren't you?No, I don't see any enemy troops/tanks and I have placed my troops so, that the enemy certainly won't spot my troops on first minute... 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. Steiner Posted November 30, 2002 Share Posted November 30, 2002 Hmm, I had been thinking of trying PBEM, but not with file sizes like that. Anything 1 MB or above, and my modem-powered e-mail chokes. Maybe someday when we finally get DSL out here in the sticks.. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panzer Leader Posted November 30, 2002 Share Posted November 30, 2002 I've just checked my 'sent' folder in Outlook, and the largest file-size I have is 900kb. And I am playing about 11 games of varying size, with the largest a 3000 Armoured Engagement. The average movie-file seems to be 400kb - 700kb, and in all my years of CM I've NEVER seen one over about 2mb. The new game was QB, 1250pts, medium map. And with these settings the first movie size was 6,3Mb! That can't be right, there has to be something else causing the large size. Can you think of anything it might be? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kaiser Soze 71 Posted November 30, 2002 Author Share Posted November 30, 2002 Originally posted by Panzer Leader: That can't be right, there has to be something else causing the large size. Can you think of anything it might be? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panzer Leader Posted November 30, 2002 Share Posted November 30, 2002 Battlefront, US version. Maybe it is a CDV version difference, but I am playing people with CDV and still I'm not getting unusual file sizes. Is there a lot of burning or smoke? A lot of planes? Anything unusual? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kaiser Soze 71 Posted November 30, 2002 Author Share Posted November 30, 2002 The guilty thing is probably found :eek: My opponent put both times "extreme fog of war". Now we started a new game with "full fow". I'll let you know... 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Firefly Posted November 30, 2002 Share Posted November 30, 2002 I haven't noticed it myself, the most recent I've received (about 5 minutes ago) is a movie turn from one of the CD scenarios - 481kb. I'm using the CDV version, but I can't see why it should be an issue of localisation. So far though I've only played scenarios PBEM, I wonder if it's just QBs that are casuing the problem. Edited for Kaizer: I always use EFOW too. [ November 30, 2002, 01:07 PM: Message edited by: Firefly ] 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
athkatla Posted November 30, 2002 Share Posted November 30, 2002 Could it be anything to do with Mods, i.e. a lot of hi-res mods. I'm not a techie, but this just crossed my mind. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panzer Leader Posted November 30, 2002 Share Posted November 30, 2002 Nope, not mods, the size is almost totally dependant on calculations. I don't think EFOW makes a difference, either. In fact, it's possible EFOW would create smaller sizes since target-recognition would be reduced. I would say it has to do with a great number and variety of unit types coupled with long and complex movement paths, and intensive LOS calculations. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andreas Posted November 30, 2002 Share Posted November 30, 2002 Things that really matter are: 1) LOS calculations 2) long range gunnery 3) movement paths (the longer the worse) - because there has to be a calculation figuring out whether the unit can be seen and shot at, at any given point, for every moving unit in comparison to any other unit on the board (at least that is how I understand it). Now I have just sent off a turn in which I have quite a bit of long-range fire (up to 1,600m) and about 50-80 moving units. The size was 408k. In 1.01. I think BFC will need to see the file to figure out what is going on. [ November 30, 2002, 01:48 PM: Message edited by: Andreas ] 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Visom Posted November 30, 2002 Share Posted November 30, 2002 I've never seen anything above 2.5 megs, it would be nice if BFC could comment this one. If it's not a bug, then an explanation of what's causing that huge file size so that I can avoid it. I have the same opinion as Andreas about what causes the big file sizes, but from what I can understand that shouldn't be the cause here. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kaiser Soze 71 Posted December 1, 2002 Author Share Posted December 1, 2002 It's also weird, that we both updated the game as instructed - without any problems. And when we continued the (now with updated CMBB) ongoing battle, the file sizes were always as usual (less than 1Mb). But with the new game, the problems started. If Battlefront wants that file, I will happily send it to them (even when it takes about 40mins). Yes, I have a lot of hires-mods, but my opponent doesn't. The screen view is just different for him than I have (for example I see winter uniforms, but his troops are wearing summer clothing). PBEM-files doesn't include the bitmaps. PS. Now with the new game, the placings are done and next we are going to order some movements. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seanachai Posted December 1, 2002 Share Posted December 1, 2002 Originally posted by Kaiser Soze 71: Yes, I have a lot of hires-mods, but my opponent doesn't. The screen view is just different for him than I have (for example I see winter uniforms, but his troops are wearing summer clothing). PBEM-files doesn't include the bitmaps. Bugger Mods. Mods are on your computer, and affect nothing, other than the pretty pictures that you see. They are not transmitted, affect not the file size, and go unreguarded by your opponent. Omit this from you concerns over 'large file sizes'. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kanonier Reichmann Posted December 1, 2002 Share Posted December 1, 2002 Just to throw in my 2 cents worth. It may be related to playing the game in snow/ice conditions (although god knows why). I'm currently playing a game against Noloff set in snow/ice conditions with my units wearing ski's. Perhaps the ski's may have some effect on file size since I noticed my initial PBEM file was almost 2 megs in size which certainly surprised me for a relatively modest sized scenario. I assume the programme has to keep tab of which unit is using ski's & which isn't and this may have something to do with it. Of course, I could be talking completely out of my arse as well! Regards Jim R. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kaiser Soze 71 Posted December 1, 2002 Author Share Posted December 1, 2002 Well at least it's NOT EFOW. Because the first video file size is 5,29Mb. Maybe Kanonier Reichmann's gut feeling about skis is correct. In these 3 games both (Finns & Sovs) have ski-troops in use and before that we haven't used ski-troops in our battles. OK, Next I'll try with summer settings.... 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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