Update a game post-release

[Xeeko]

Hi

I'm releasing a commercial game fairly soon, through various digital distributors, but it has come to my attention that might require to update the game after release. What is the best way to do this? I've been looking at the Patch Maker, or Install Creator, does any of them do the trick? Basically what I want to do is having the game check at start if there's a new file on my server, then download and replace the current exe. What's the best way to do this?

[happygreenfrog]

Patch Maker just creates an patch installer. You could make the game check to see if you have a new patch available, and if there is one, tell the user that there is an update available, and ask them if they would like to update the game. If they click yes, then download the patch installer made with Patch Maker. After the download is complete, close the game and open the patch installer at the same time. I think there is probably some way to use patch maker to automatically open the game up after the update, or at least give the user the option to open the game back up. I haven't ever done this myself, but I'm sure it would work.

[Stephen]

Basically what I want to do is having the game check at start if there's a new file on my server, then download and replace the current exe. What's the best way to do this?

You could use the GET object to check a text file on your server, compare it, and if needed, download your new file with the Download object.

[ProdigyX]

I have a rough example of how to do this. It doesn't require the GET object or your own server, so to speak. If you do have your own server (as I do not) then the GET object would be the way to go I imagine

[Xeeko]

Alright, thanks for the answers. The patch maker seems to be the way to go then. How exactly do you get a program to download a file?

[Xeeko]

You could use the GET object to check a text file on your server, compare it, and if needed, download your new file with the Download object.

Thanks. I've set up so that a file will be downloaded and so, but I can't for the life of me figure out the GET object. How do you read a text file with it?

[Stephen]

+Get "YourFile"

--On Get Complete
+Set Editbox (or whatever) to Get Text

I don't have MMF2 at the moment, so the names may be different but you get the idea.

[Xeeko]

Ah yes, the problem was that it was a a bit to easy to do, so I got confused I didn't realise it automatically read a text file just by pointing at it.