Thanks for the feedback Steven and I completely agree with you. This was a one time thing we did to address the issue we had with less proactive server hosts than yourself as well as an issue where a development version of the server's ini files got released before they were cleared for broad distribution. Essentially we had about 70% of the servers put up by server admins on the first day using the defaults (you know those servers that said "Killing Floor Server") that were incorrect. Fans were getting really angry that all the servers were Easy/Short.
We do use an inherited config system, in a sense that KillingFloor.ini will always inherit its settings from Default.ini. The problem was, that while we were still testing the server builds, the non-final version of the server got shipped and announced to the HLDS list. Thus the Default.ini settings were wrong, and even if we updated the Default.ini (which we did), all the servers had already inherited the wrong settings (including some non gameplay changing settings that were causing servers to not show up right in the browser). And our inherited ini system will not override KillingFloor.ini unless an admin deletes it and starts over Thus we had to do the one time force update to get everyone up to the official release version of the ini settings in their Default.ini and KillingFloor.ini. I'll once again apologize for the headache this caused, and let you know this won't be done again. One final thing though, please please please do NOT do this: [ROFirstRun] ROFirstRun=9999 That will definitely cause problems in the future as that setting is used by the engine not only to update ini settings but also do some other things behind the scene in the engine when versions change. Messing with that number will almost certainly cause with a server at some point when we update in the future. Regards, John Gibson President Tripwire Interactive LLC -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Steven Hartland Sent: Saturday, May 16, 2009 9:23 PM To: Half-Life dedicated Win32 server mailing list Subject: Re: [hlds] Required Killing Floor Server Update Released ----- Original Message ----- From: "John Gibson" <[email protected]> > Thanks for the feedback. The general changes were included in the e-mail > below actually. Specifically pertaining to servers, there were some > issues with the wrong default settings being set in the first version of > the default ini files that were released. KillingFloor.ini gets > generated based off of that default.ini. The server side settings we > changed were setting default difficulty to Normal, setting the default > game length to Medium, and setting the time the server waits before > changing maps to ten seconds (which was incorrectly set to 30 seconds, > having players getting bored waiting for the map to change). This should > be the last (and only) time we'll ever force update the KillingFloor.ini > from now on unless something is completely broken. Yer changing things like that is a very bad idea. Not only does it upgrade the settings, but it force overrides previously customised settings as well. This is also incompatible with GSP's systems that store configs in a database uploading as needed, resulting in the user being unable to change these settings as the server resets to these updated defaults every time. We've already had complaints from customers and wasted hours chasing this issue, please don't do it again! For those that don't want their configs messed with in this way there is a workaround set the following: [ROFirstRun] ROFirstRun=9999 If you want to update or add something in the future please just document it, doing it this way saves a lot of pain. Obviously ideal solution to use an inherited config set so that only "customised" settings need to be in the end user facing .ini. Doing this would mean defaults could be easily updated without affecting anyone who had explicitly set these settings. Should also remove all the lines which have absolutely no reason being there any more as well, like reference to Red Orchesta and UT2k4 maps etc ;-) Regards Steve ================================================ This e.mail is private and confidential between Multiplay (UK) Ltd. and the person or entity to whom it is addressed. In the event of misdirection, the recipient is prohibited from using, copying, printing or otherwise disseminating it or any information contained in it. In the event of misdirection, illegible or incomplete transmission please telephone +44 845 868 1337 or return the E.mail to [email protected]. _______________________________________________ To unsubscribe, edit your list preferences, or view the list archives, please visit: http://list.valvesoftware.com/mailman/listinfo/hlds _______________________________________________ To unsubscribe, edit your list preferences, or view the list archives, please visit: http://list.valvesoftware.com/mailman/listinfo/hlds
