Starting a Multiplayer League

[XCom]

Well, I did a quick experiment.

The psa.zip file for an 18 team multiplayer league that I just created and uploaded to my server was 20.3mb. After it was decompressed, the .psa file was 68.2mb and the .psx file was 1.6mb. Using the 7z compression format that same archive (now called psa.7z) is only 5.3mb. Much easier to handle for dialup users!

The 7z compression format is open source and free to all.

http://www.7-zip.org

I think it could be easily incorporated into the multiplayer mode in place of whichever zip program is being used now. The owners never see the compression/de-compression take place when updating their league file in Puresim. This could make it much easier for multiplayer leagues to exist. This issue could be one of the reasons why you don't see many online multiplayer leagues popping up.

ORIGINAL: SittingDuck

True dat (file).

Only way around the bandwidth that I could see would be to post to those storage file sites.  A bit of a hassle, but whatever method is there?

Truthfully, there is nothing as cool as participating in a league for a challenge in these types of games.

[SittingDuck]

Thanks for that link.  Wasn't even away of the technology, to be honest.

[akcranker]

If that compression utility works that's great but one thing to note is as the league goes on the file gets bigger and bigger with all the data it has to store.

I say we go ahead and start a league anyways and test it out and keep track of the file sizes and what the difference is in file size from the beginning of the league and after a few seasons.  Then we can report all of our findings to Shaun.

[XCom]

ORIGINAL: akcranker

If that compression utility works that's great but one thing to note is as the league goes on the file gets bigger and bigger with all the data it has to store.

That is true, but if the archive size is about 4 times smaller, then even as time goes on this would at least be a much better option than the .zip files. I'm sure as the stats build over time the file will get larger. The test I did was on a Classic league which had not drafted yet.

[akcranker]

It's been awhile since I did a multiplayer league but I don't remember zip files.  Was puresim zipping up the files automatically and sending them and then unpacking them without the user noticing or having to interact with the zip file?  With this tool you mention do we have to zip the file ourselves each time we send it or does puresim automatically use it?

[XCom]

ORIGINAL: akcranker

It's been awhile since I did a multiplayer league but I don't remember zip files.  Was puresim zipping up the files automatically and sending them and then unpacking them without the user noticing or having to interact with the zip file?  With this tool you mention do we have to zip the file ourselves each time we send it or does puresim automatically use it?

Yes, I believe so. What I think goes on is that Puresim zips up the league files and then uploads them via FTP to the server when the commissioner wants to send a new file to the league. The team owners then click inside Puresim to update their league file, which prompts Puresim to download the zip file from the server, decompress it, and place the league files into the /psa folder on the local computer.

I am hoping that we can replace the zip format inside Puresim with the 7z format. So, Puresim would just use a different compression utility to compress/de-compress the league file when the transfers take place. It would be (hopefully) behind the scenes and the user wouldn't have to do anything different.

Otherwise, I do think that the compression and FTP steps could be done manually by the commissioner, placing the .7z file on his server and having a link for all the owners to download the file. Then each owner could have their own local copy of 7-zip to decompress the files to their /psa folder. I don't think roster and tactics changes submitted to the server from the owners use the compression sequence, so that would stay the same. Just the sending/updating of the league files would have to be done manually outside of Puresim.

Some of this is just speculation on my part. I'm hoping Shaun will take a look at this possibility and comment on whether it is possible or not...either to change the compression format inside Puresim, or whether manually compressing and uploading/downloading would work.

[SittingDuck]

Well, I am on the 'DL' for the near future, so I'll be off tomorrow and can whip something up.

What era do people want to play?

Deadball
Golden
60-80's
'Garbage', errr 'Steroid', errr 'Current'


One other thing - this is primarily an experiment. If we all really enjoy it, we can keep it going. If the majority want to can it, then fine, too. This isn't an 'all or nothing' kind of league.

[akcranker]

I'd prefer something from mid 80's on because that's the era I know best.. I know players from that era.  But whatever everyone chooses I'm fine with it.  If we do 80's era I'd prefer to be the Oakland Athletics.  If we do current I'd like to be St. Louis

[PadresFan104]

no preference

[dneely]

Does not matter to me! However I did ask to take over the Diamondbacks, based on an assumption that we were going to do current players.

DNeely

[Deltadog]

What ever rest prefer.

[Nukester]

Im easy. Ill do any era

[SittingDuck]

Well, how many guys do we want to get into this before we start?  I have no probs letting the AI run a few teams.  In fact, from the standpoint of learning about how the system functions, it might be preferable for awhile.

[Deltadog]

????

[SittingDuck]

Preferable in that you understand how the AI will function in that type of situation.  I don't see 24 guys lining up here to play.  When testing something out, you always want to see how the AI functions (interacts), especially when you have multiple humans playing.

[SittingDuck]

OK, not preferable.  Maybe 'give me an opportunity to analyze' is better?  [:D]

[akcranker]

I thought we had a good 8 people or so already volunteer to do this league?

[SittingDuck]

I guess.  I haven't gone back through to get each name.  Was hoping people would repost if they are still interested and I'd update the first post.

But the thing is we need a good bit, mainly because what league except some pre-1900 league runs 8 teams?

Of course, we could also do sandlot, and that might be preferable.  We could actually each choose a team from history and run that!

[SittingDuck]

OK, I've been thinking of doing the following:

Using Sandbox mode, create a small league 5-6 teams in each league of the all-time greatest teams of the post-deadball era.  Post-deadball mainly because of the xml matchup issues.

Each owner can choose a team.  I find this a better idea than picking a chronological year and going forwards.  And I think it would be a helluva lot more interesting.  Can you imagine trading Ted Williams (no, you can't, but anyways...) for a killer package from the Big Red Machine?

WOW.......  [&o]  Thanks for Shaun for giving us this ability. 

OK, so what does everyone think?  You can pick your own team out of history.  I am not going to pick them for you.

However......  I get the Orioles.  And no repeat teams, like two Yankee teams - that's lame.

[Nukester]

Why dont we just say NO Yankees to make it fair for the other teams [;)]

If possible, Ill take the 1937 Yankees. Yanks are my favorite, but if someone else absolutely has to have the Yanks, Ill change. Theres plenty of teams to choose from