Demos: Sync Points? FFW, RW, Pause, etc.
Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2005 6:55 pm
We've discussed demos many times-- see similar post here.
Since we now have a feature request forum, this frequently requested item should find a new home.
Note: This thread is *NOT* about compatability issues between versions.
What makes demo watching a drag for me is the inability to rewind, fast forward, pause, or otherwise navigate at more than 1x. Previous suggestions include speeding up game speed so that the demo is processed at a faster tic rate until brought back to the normal speed. Though some kind of FFW functionality would be preferable, it seems this was not very feasible and/or too much work to implement.
I propose a different approach (that may be easier to implement) involving some kind of periodic "sync point" similar to a save game. Basically, demos could be setup to autosave at a specified interval, and these save points (games) could be recalled (loaded) during demo playback--thus a demo could be divided into smaller sections, similar to chapters on a DVD.
The result would be a standard .lmp file and some recorded .zds files (though perhaps a new extension to help differentiate would be nice). The advantage of this approach is that you still have a compact and efficient demo, but you also have the ability to skip ahead or back a few "chapters." As far as all those .zds files getting in the way, perhaps they could be recorded to a new directory, or appended to each other, or who knows what.
Ideally, the period of the sync point would be user defineable via a command-line variable (in seconds, or game tics, or whatever). Then those who are concerned about demo size could create relatively few points (e.g. every 10 mins), while those who want more skipability could create more frequent points (i.e. every min), or--of course--you could create none at all.
What do you all think? Is something like this possible? Would you benefit from it? Would you use it? Obviously Curunir and I would, but I know we're not alone.
Pretty pretty please with imps and cacos on top? Thanks!
Since we now have a feature request forum, this frequently requested item should find a new home.
Note: This thread is *NOT* about compatability issues between versions.
What makes demo watching a drag for me is the inability to rewind, fast forward, pause, or otherwise navigate at more than 1x. Previous suggestions include speeding up game speed so that the demo is processed at a faster tic rate until brought back to the normal speed. Though some kind of FFW functionality would be preferable, it seems this was not very feasible and/or too much work to implement.
I propose a different approach (that may be easier to implement) involving some kind of periodic "sync point" similar to a save game. Basically, demos could be setup to autosave at a specified interval, and these save points (games) could be recalled (loaded) during demo playback--thus a demo could be divided into smaller sections, similar to chapters on a DVD.
The result would be a standard .lmp file and some recorded .zds files (though perhaps a new extension to help differentiate would be nice). The advantage of this approach is that you still have a compact and efficient demo, but you also have the ability to skip ahead or back a few "chapters." As far as all those .zds files getting in the way, perhaps they could be recorded to a new directory, or appended to each other, or who knows what.
Ideally, the period of the sync point would be user defineable via a command-line variable (in seconds, or game tics, or whatever). Then those who are concerned about demo size could create relatively few points (e.g. every 10 mins), while those who want more skipability could create more frequent points (i.e. every min), or--of course--you could create none at all.
What do you all think? Is something like this possible? Would you benefit from it? Would you use it? Obviously Curunir and I would, but I know we're not alone.
Pretty pretty please with imps and cacos on top? Thanks!