Enlisting help to verify 1.1 final and the Sync Bug Fix

from Sins Forums

Hi guys,

We might have fixed the sync bug but its very difficult to verify so I'm enlisting the help of the community. I really wanted to release 1.1 today but I figured its better we take the sync fix for a test run first. 

I've created a special version of the 1.1 build which has some special sync bug tracking information (it also includes the latest fixes for lots of other stuff that isn't released yet).

If you are interested in helping here is what you need to do:

1. Download the 1.1 Sync exe by going to ironcladgames.com/sins/Sins1.1Sync.rar

1. Back up your current Sins install.

2. Unrar the files into a temp directory and copy them into the corresponding locations in your original Sins directory. (You are basically manually patching 1.096 to 1.1)

3.Run the new Sins exe.

4. Verify that in your settings file these settings are set as follows:

 CalculateCheckSumTickFrequency 50
 CalculateCheckSumDetail 3
 SaveCheckSumSnapShotsInGameTickFrequency 0
 SaveCheckSumSnapShotsOnSave TRUE
 IsCheckSumLoggingOn FALSE

(The settings file is likely in something like C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\Local Settings\Application Data\Ironclad Games\Sins of a Solar Empire\Setting\user.setting)

5. Play Sins over ICO using Alloy with someone (or multiple people) using the same Sins1.1Sync version.

6. If a sync bug is detected (red letters) send us the sync data from all players at [email protected].

The checksum data will be in C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\Local Settings\Application Data\Ironclad Games\Sins of a Solar Empire\CheckSum

Be warned, this is a special build with excessive extra sync checking which may slow the game down once there are a lot of ships!

Once we verify its fixed, we'll turn this stuff off and the game will run fast again.

Even if the sync bug turns out to NOT be fixed, this information will drastically improve our ability to track it down.

Thanks for your help!

Blair

 

5,679 views 23 replies
Reply #1 from Sins Forums Top

rgr

...will download and test sometime this weekend.

Reply #2 from Sins Forums Top

Monk, I'll hop on IRC, happy to finally play some games with ya with this one on. Be sure to poke me there when you have time.

Fences - Organize your desktop icons today!
Reply #3 from Sins Forums Top

I'll download this by the end of the weekend (band practice tonight), if you guys want an extra person in on multi message me with your online times and I'll do my best to hook up with you.

Reply #4 from Sins Forums Top

 

I'll download it when people are on.

 

Soo close to the final version... soo close!

 

Edit:

 

Archiving almost complete. Now I just need to find people to face. Will Impulse tell us who has the version we do?

 

edit #2:

 

K, installed.

 

When checking the user setting flie:

CalculateCheckSumTickFrequency 50
CalculateCheckSumDetail 0
SaveCheckSumSnapShotsInGameTickFrequency 0
SaveCheckSumSnapShotsOnSave FALSE
IsCheckSumLoggingOn FALSE

The SaveCheckSumSnapShotsOnSave FALSE  is that a problem? What does that mean?

Reply #5 from Sins Forums Top

I haven't played in months and months online, but I'll give this a shot.  Downloading...

Reply #6 from Sins Forums Top

if i bought 1.05 at the store and upgraded it online when setting up the first install, then i should be at 1.096, yes?

I will need to copy the game to another area and see if i can download this and load it into the second copy. Does that sound right? Sorry for all the questions.

-Teal

 

 

Reply #7 from Sins Forums Top

Quoting Teal, reply 6
if i bought 1.05 at the store and upgraded it online when setting up the first install, then i should be at 1.096, yes?

I will need to copy the game to another area and see if i can download this and load it into the second copy. Does that sound right? Sorry for all the questions.

-Teal

 

 
End of Teal's quote

 

1) Depends on when you updated it. I don't think it will matter, since you'll be updating it anways.

2) Use impulse to archive it. That's what I did.

Reply #8 from Sins Forums Top

I'm in-game and think I'm on IRC too, but it's a ghost town.  If anyone gets a 1.1Sync game going, let me know.


Edit:  Seen a bunch of people with the 1.1 Beta so far, but nobody with the desync-testing patch since all games I've joined have warned me I have a different version.  I'll try again later as I have some errands to run.

Reply #9 from Sins Forums Top

Quoting Mazuo, reply 8
I'm in-game and think I'm on IRC too, but it's a ghost town.  If anyone gets a 1.1Sync game going, let me know.


Edit:  Seen a bunch of people with the 1.1 Beta so far, but nobody with the desync-testing patch since all games I've joined have warned me I have a different version.  I'll try again later as I have some errands to run.
End of Mazuo's quote

 

I'm here, waiting in #sins

 

edit:

 

Its been an hour. The IRC server is soo slow, (not connection wise) nobody ever talks. I'm soo lonely. :pout: #:( :'(

Reply #10 from Sins Forums Top

Hrm, where can I find the mIRC/IRC channel for Sins?

 

I didn't know there was one to check.

Reply #11 from Sins Forums Top

It's in impulse, in the community section. don't really remember much more, but seek and ye shall find. :grin:

Reply #12 from Sins Forums Top

still waiting to find a game. We aren't being a very good and helpful community. People need to get online more. -_-

Reply #13 from Sins Forums Top

I tried a few times today, but yeah, all I found were 1.1 beta folks.  I should be on during the day tomorrow, so maybe we can arrange a game then.

Reply #14 from Sins Forums Top

Quoting Mazuo, reply 13
I tried a few times today, but yeah, all I found were 1.1 beta folks.  I should be on during the day tomorrow, so maybe we can arrange a game then.
End of Mazuo's quote

how can you find any people? Nobody talks on IRC and I haven't seen 1 game in over 4 hours on saturday and sunday.

Reply #15 from Sins Forums Top

I am willing to jump over for a test. So some who wants a test partner pm me. I live on the the east coast U.S. to help corresponding a time.

Reply #16 from Sins Forums Top

how can you find any people?
End of quote

Players without the sync patch were on every time I logged on.  For my part, whenever I get on, I'll be creating a 1.1 Sync Patch channel and waiting in there.

Reply #18 from Sins Forums Top

Using v1.5 my son and I had a sync error lastnight, it's been awhile since this has happened. This game was a LAN game on a HP Procurve Gig network.

Will give this one a try tonight on a local LAN.

Reply #19 from Sins Forums Top

so is there an estimated release date on the final?  I have an idea for a mod but until 1.1 comes out I don't really want to start it xD

Reply #20 from Sins Forums Top

Quoting XselenS, reply 19
so is there an estimated release date on the final?  I have an idea for a mod but until 1.1 comes out I don't really want to start it
End of XselenS's quote

 

The faster we play games with 1.1 sync, the faster they can get it done.

 

Seriously guise, I haven't seen 1 multiplayer game in impulse so far.

Reply #21 from Sins Forums Top

Played a 1v1 game earlier this evening and didn't have any sync problems.  I normally don't have sync problems though, it's typically mini dumps that are my problem.

They need to hurry up and release 1.1 even with the way it is, the online community is become severely fragmented with users in 1.05 and others going to 1.1beta because it is just a better build.

I personally have not had a minidump in 1.1beta, but when playing 1.05 I normally use the solar sins addon.

Reply #22 from Sins Forums Top

Quoting HaTaX, reply 21
Played a 1v1 game earlier this evening and didn't have any sync problems.  I normally don't have sync problems though, it's typically mini dumps that are my problem.

They need to hurry up and release 1.1 even with the way it is, the online community is become severely fragmented with users in 1.05 and others going to 1.1beta because it is just a better build.

I personally have not had a minidump in 1.1beta, but when playing 1.05 I normally use the solar sins addon.
End of HaTaX's quote

He's right, Sins has taken a major hit and the online community was tiny to begin with...Sins is a great game but since it doesn't have many players to begin with, has three differant versions being played at the same time now, and also that it takes a long time to finish a game, the online community is puny...Maybe some advertising would help?  Once entrechment is released I'm sure you guys could afford some commercials since $10 per entrechment and no paying for boxes is a pretty good deal and the online community desperately needs it.  Please advertise stardock PLEASE!

One thing I though developers might want to know is that in 1.05 people can make their own online account with a fake game serial, I've done this three times with one of the serials being 12345-67890-09876-54321-12345-67890, all I think 1.05 recognizes is the serial must contain 35 digits so if done you can make any account, I have bought the game though but I tried this out and it worked.  You developers might want to destroy 1.05 online completely once 1.1 final is released since I garuntee you pirates are using this exploit to go online for free...impulse is the best protection for the game there is but this exploit is just plain sad.

Reply #23 from Sins Forums Top

Argh! I remember trying to get online with HW2 and recieving a "Your code is not valid message" with a legitimate code. I hope none of the fake accounts you created used someone's real code (although this would probably be extreme coincidence) or they could be feeling a little cheated, but thanks for pointing it out.