Compressing and decompressing takes too much time. I save frequently. I don't want saves too take that long.
And i choose to slightly doubt that claim, Myrthos.
Yes, really compressing that vast 1.00GB at once took my system and zip-programm quite some.
But for the save function we´re of course talking about only saving one of them at a time. Would have to do more testing on that matter, of course, but i wouldn´t think of the compress feature adding beyond a very few seconds.
It depends - the game doesn´t need the whole set of data at its disposal all the time during gaming, so some part would already be existent in the desired state for saving.
After all i think it´d be indeed rather a question of slightly intelligent managment/handling of the compress procedures, in terms of
when and
what parts are compressed/uncompressed, granularity.
E.g. you don´t have to have all world maps expanded in memory at the same time - and they had the lion´s share in <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/div.gif" alt="" /> already, about 5 maps á 9 to 10 Megs, blowing up the save really awfully, alone!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />
(In the end
one savegame had not only 20, but about
160 Megs!!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" /> )
So in turn the remaining maps would already be there in compressed form! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/idea.gif" alt="" />
Would be interesting to know whether the
Larians already had spent thought on that back with
"Divinity" and to what extent. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/think.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
If they can guarantee, however, the saves with <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beyond.gif" alt="" /> will stay really around the current ~20 Megs, then you´re right, it would be a waste to care for compression.
That compromise between size and save speed certainly should do.
Yet, as i said, i see this 9Meg map already making it´s reappearance - and we only unveiled
one (= a small part of one) with the Demo! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/think.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/puppyeyes.gif" alt="" />
Ragon
