Releasing game update without resetting player's data

K

krugen

Guest
So, says I made a mobile game.
I uploaded it. It has 50 levels for now.
I build more and release the new version with 100 levels.

So the player sees an "update" button on the app page.
The player downloads it.

This part, what exactly is happening? Uninstall and install the new version?
Does that mean player data from the older version will become irrelevant and that player will have to start from level 1 again?

Generally, what is the work-around for this sort of process?
 
Last edited by a moderator:

pipebkOT

Member
no, updating the game will not erase any existing data, as long you have a save system(ini file, json, etc) the save file will remain intact. you don't have to worry about it.
 
K

krugen

Guest
I am using ds_map_secure_save. Is that ok? I did not use any ini or json.
 

Lukan

Gay Wizard Freak
In theory this should work, though I know that function can be wonky sometimes.
The best bet is to test it on your own device via a development build.

I know Android/Google have an easy system in place for this, but IDK about Apple's development console.
 

GMWolf

aka fel666
I am using ds_map_secure_save. Is that ok? I did not use any ini or json.
Yeah, that would probably be ok

One thing to watch out for is that the old data can still be read by the new game.
So make sure you saved with strings rather than resources indices etc.

If you did save resource indices rather than names, then make a note of what they were before and write scripts to go from old index to name.
 
K

krugen

Guest
Yeah, that would probably be ok

One thing to watch out for is that the old data can still be read by the new game.
So make sure you saved with strings rather than resources indices etc.

If you did save resource indices rather than names, then make a note of what they were before and write scripts to go from old index to name.

Wait, resource indices? names? what do you mean?
 

GMWolf

aka fel666
Wait, resource indices? names? what do you mean?
If you write the value obj_foo or spr_bar, it will actually write a number. That number may change as you add or remove resources.
Rooms work the same way.

Instead you can get the actual string of the resource name using object_get_name, sprite_get_name etc.
 
K

krugen

Guest
If you write the value obj_foo or spr_bar, it will actually write a number. That number may change as you add or remove resources.
Rooms work the same way.

Instead you can get the actual string of the resource name using object_get_name, sprite_get_name etc.
Wait, I don't understand.
My question is that when I release an updated version of the game, players basically uninstall the old version and install the new version (I'm not sure if I am correct)

So, my concern is that by uninstalling the old version, the player loses his game data.
 
L

Lonewolff

Guest
Wait, I don't understand.
My question is that when I release an updated version of the game, players basically uninstall the old version and install the new version (I'm not sure if I am correct)

So, my concern is that by uninstalling the old version, the player loses his game data.
Well if you uninstall properly, then yes data should be destroyed also.

It depends on your uninstall process and that is all entirely up to you.
 
K

krugen

Guest
Well if you uninstall properly, then yes data should be destroyed also.

It depends on your uninstall process and that is all entirely up to you.
I don't understand.
Haha, I guess, they'll just have to start from level 1.
 
L

Lonewolff

Guest
If your update system consists of just replacing the exe and data.win files then you should be fine.

If you are wiping the directory first, then you'll lose the data.

How does your update system work?
 
K

krugen

Guest
If your update system consists of just replacing the exe and data.win files then you should be fine.

If you are wiping the directory first, then you'll lose the data.

How does your update system work?
I don't know anything about that.
I just upload a new .apk and let players download them.
 
Top