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[Dabi]

What exactly is the version control issue?

When this gets released there will be a link on the frontpage: Download latest version here (torrent)

A few weeks later we have a new version and the torrent-link gets replaced with the new one, what is the big deal?

Even better. Doesn't a reuploaded torrent get automatically updated? If so, and if you just keep your torrent client running, you'll get a new version as soon as the torrent is updated. Naturally, the torrent would also contain all previous DF versions.

I'd seed it. And it's another good fact that torrenting isn't only for pirates.

[StealthArcher]

Time for the really late but still necessary page 1000 RELEASE chant that will accomplish nothing but making us look awesome.

RELEASE

[Sean Mirrsen]

Hmm. I'm not proficient at crafting ominous chants... not even novice, probably. Still, here's a chant-ish line of you want one:

"oogreatudeveloputoaduonu, releasudwaffotressutwo-o-one-o"

(I'm not sure how to make it make phonetical sense)

[SmileyMan]

I think the issue of version control out weighs the benefit bandwidth cost.

A quick look at the download page shows me that I can download any released version that I want.  So I don't see why version control would be a problem.  AFAIK, Toady has always kept old versions around for people with beloved old fortresses.

[yarr]

What exactly is the version control issue?

When this gets released there will be a link on the frontpage: Download latest version here (torrent)

A few weeks later we have a new version and the torrent-link gets replaced with the new one, what is the big deal?

Even better. Doesn't a reuploaded torrent get automatically updated? If so, and if you just keep your torrent client running, you'll get a new version as soon as the torrent is updated. Naturally, the torrent would also contain all previous DF versions.

No it doesn't work like that. You need a new .torrent file if there is an update, unfortunately, since the file contains important information (hash values etc). So you'd have to download the new .torrent from here.

Still, after the initial rush is over just the download-link + mirror will be enough i guess and all this torrent talk will be forgotten

[MrWiggles]

I think the issue of version control out weighs the benefit bandwidth cost.

A quick look at the download page shows me that I can download any released version that I want.  So I don't see why version control would be a problem.  AFAIK, Toady has always kept old versions around for people with beloved old fortresses.

Indeed. However you can select which version you are downloading with very little worry on Toady part for management, with torrents. Not so much, and it can arise with questions of continually pointing to new torrents instead of a new link.

And also it being a torrent doesn't allow for a down load count as easily, so it'll make it harder to judge how popular it is.

A comic that I am working on, I plan on releasing every 22 pages as a digital comic on various torrent sites. I like the idea, as it has no real additional cost to me. I don't like it as I can't control what the product others are getting. I can't stop someone from giving out erroneous items under the name. I also can't easily if at all tell how many times its been down loaded or read.

[SmileyMan]

Indeed. However you can select which version you are downloading with very little worry on Toady part for management, with torrents. Not so much, and it can arise with questions of continually pointing to new torrents instead of a new link.

But it would be as simple as hosting a .torrent file on the B12 website, and having a link to it on the download page.  The .torrent file would be a few kilobytes

And also it being a torrent doesn't allow for a down load count as easily, so it'll make it harder to judge how popular it is.

You could still get download stats for the .torrent file, you could also look at the number of active seeds and leeches

A comic that I am working on, I plan on releasing every 22 pages as a digital comic on various torrent sites. I like the idea, as it has no real additional cost to me. I don't like it as I can't control what the product others are getting. I can't stop someone from giving out erroneous items under the name. I also can't easily if at all tell how many times its been down loaded or read.

If people get the .torrent file from you, then they get your content.  If you release "trackerless" torrents using the DHT mechanism only, then there's the potential for spoofing.  But if you have your own domain to host the .torrent on, then this is a non-issue.

[Qiu]

I don't mind torrents, however you should remember that some ISP totally block defaults torrents ports. And changing the default ports might be too much headache for someone who just wants to download a game.

[John Keel]

Plus, some people (coughmecough) have paranoid parents who refuse to let them use torrenting software.

[Sean Mirrsen]

Not even, say, Opera? Which doubles as a browser.

[Necaladun]

How about just emailing it to a gmail account and giving out the password? That'll work for a few minutes. It's all I'll need. *twitch*

[Halconnen]

I don't see how version control is too big a problem. Just invalidate the old torrent, and the tracker will basically throw a "This torrent no longer exists" error message. That'd be a sure sign for people that another version is out that needs to be torrented again.

[SirPenguin]

I don't see how version control is too big a problem. Just invalidate the old torrent, and the tracker will basically throw a "This torrent no longer exists" error message. That'd be a sure sign for people that another version is out that needs to be torrented again.

You need to think in terms of the average DF player, who is by and large not someone who is familiar and comfortable with such concepts. A user who doesn't know (or doesn't care) how to forward ports will be stuck downloading the thing at dial-up levels. Even a 6mb file could take hours.

Anyways, there are still numerous ways to release it. MegaUpload is certainly the most popular and widely used, offering minimal advertisements.

[Toady One]

Ah, I should say that I was talking about 17 releases over a short period being a bandwidth problem.  I think a release a week will probably be okay as long as I've got a few mirrors working.  I'm not really sure, since we haven't had a delay this long for this many people before.

[Grax]

Ah, I should say that I was talking about 17 releases over a short period being a bandwidth problem.  I think a release a week will probably be okay as long as I've got a few mirrors working.  I'm not really sure, since we haven't had a delay this long for this many people before.

Torrent is the answer. ;-)