An idea I had

[CraigTBoone]

So I was talking to Jax today/yesterday about issues with the installer. One of the issues he has a serious problem with is compensating for all different possible versions of FO3. Not languages, but like GFWL, Steam, Retail, DLC Discs, etc.

So, I was knocking the idea around the ol' noggin and I remembered back to my UseNet days of using PAR2 files. PAR2 is a parity system similar to how RAID5 works.

At any rate, what it would be able to do, is take any version of FO3 and turn it in to the Steam version potentially making other versions irrelevant.

So, I'm uploading a PAR2 of my Fallout 3 data set. What you need to do is download a PAR2 parser (I use [url=www.quickpar.org.uk]QuickPar[/url]) and run it against your Fallout 3 folder.

Post the results here along with the version you claim to have.

The PAR2 files were generated against the GFWL v1.7 version.

[thermador]

Good idea!

You might want to add which GFWL - the separate discs, or the GOTY discs?

[TJ]

Some people have downloaded the data file he uploaded. That's not the idea. That data.rar is the par2 file from his FO3. You need to download QuickPar or the like, run it on your Fallout 3 folder (Not TTW or New Vegas) and upload the result as he did. This will potentially allow Jax to discern the differences between the game versions and fix the installer. Do this people. If you have any love for TTW do this now!

[CraigTBoone]

The game was originally from a disc, then DLCs were downloaded individually off GFWL as they came out.

You're meant to download the PAR2 file and run it against your local Fallout 3 directory using QuickPar or whatever, doesn't matter. Then once it's done, post a screenshot or a log of what matched, what didn't match, etc along with what version you have. Ignore block size for the moment.

[TJ]

[quote=CraigTBoone]You're meant to download the PAR2 file and run it against your local Fallout 3 directory using QuickPar or whatever, doesn't matter.[/quote]

I see. My bad.

[Greslin]

Wouldn't this open TTW up to some copyright liability?

If I'm understanding you correctly, you'd effectively be "upgrading" non-Steam versions to the Steam release.  I imagine that Bethesda would rather people just rebuy the game in Steamland.  And yeah, technically the TTW installer bends the EULA rules a bit (modification of original game, etc.), but something like this may end up being a few steps too far for the relevant IP owners.

From a technical standpoint, I agree that its an intriguing idea.  I just wouldn't want to see the Bethesda MIBs land on TTW, now that they've got their Interplay busy work wrapped up.

 

[thermador]

The TTW installer would be using this information to determine what game version the user has (Steam, GFWL, disc, etc.) and then make the appropriate adjustments - that is all. 

Nothing that the user experiences would be "upgraded to the Steam version" or "turned into the Steam version" per se.

[CraigTBoone]

The idea is to gauge which files are different and by how much. If they're only off by a small amount, then no. This wouldn't be such a problem if my GFWL key worked on Steam, but then I'd still have to fucking rebuy the DLC which sucks donkey dick.

I still have not seen anyone run the PAR2 yet.

[Risewild]

Mmm never used any software to do this so I am not sure if I did it correctly , but here is a screenshot of the results I got after running CraigTBoone .par2 file against my own FO3 files. I am sure I need to somehow post also why are some files different but I am not sure how to do that, do I just make a .par2 of my own FO3 files and post it here?

My FO3 game is GFWL GoTY edition (all DLC's are in disk too).

[collapsed title=Screen][/collapsed]

 

[CraigTBoone]

Alright, so the GFWL downloaded and the and GFWL DLC disc are different. Can someone with the Steam version run it?