"Patching" a released Ren'Py game [Resolved]

[drbugs]

Hi all!
I want to add some new content to a ren'py game that I've already released, and possibly update some text in the released game. Is there a way to do this via some sort of patching tool etc, or does it require either:
1. Creating an entirely new build and having people redownload the entire game to access the new content.
2. Outputting a file with updated and additional .rpy files, i.e. a new version of the script, which includes the new content, and any new assets.

Those two options aren't exactly ideal from a consumer ease standpoint, so I was wondering if there's any other way to do it?
All I've managed to find are ways before you release the game to allow future patches, which doesn't really help my situation, as I hadn't planned on adding content until... last night basically.

Thanks for any advice you can give!

[Ocelot]

You can check RenPy updater: https://www.renpy.org/doc/html/updater.html

Though you need to provide your own hosting for it.

[rames44]

A lot depends on how the game is packaged. I usually package my rpy files into a “scripts.rpa”, images into “images.rpa,” etc.

This means that providing updated scripts can be done by distributing a new scripts.rpa, which is usually much smaller than the images, for example.

If everything is packaged into a single “archive.rpa” it’s trickier. You could, in theory, distribute replacement scripts as an add on by using different label names and have the old scripts jump into the new scripts by using renpy’s “replace this label with that” support.

[drbugs]

Thanks for the suggestions!

@Ocelot: I don't have it online and I'm not sure if I really plan to but I'll keep it in mind. I don't know if it's a viable option for me though as I don't have anywhere to host it.


@rames44: I'm pretty sure I packaged it in the most generic way; you download it as a zip file and in the zip file is the exe but you can also see all the scripts/images etc, I didn't do anything to bundle them or archive anything. That's why updating a script would be viable, but would also require people copying the new script, images and music into their old folder which is... Well, it's an option but not super customer friendly, you know?

[Ocelot]

The next option is to write your own updater. Make it replace nessesaty files with new ones.

[jeffster]

That's why updating a script would be viable, but would also require people copying the new script, images and music into their old folder which is... Well, it's an option but not super customer friendly, you know?

Some developers do just that. They pack some files in 'game' folder inside zip, and let users just unpack it overwriting the previous folder.

Having a hosting is not too complicated either. It costs like a dozen or a few dozens bucks a year, and also there can be some free hosting options (though they might work a bit slow... but this case is definitely not so critical to demand some runtime fast reaction)...

[drbugs]

Some developers do just that. They pack some files in 'game' folder inside zip, and let users just unpack it overwriting the previous folder.

Having a hosting is not too complicated either. It costs like a dozen or a few dozens bucks a year, and also there can be some free hosting options (though they might work a bit slow... but this case is definitely not so critical to demand some runtime fast reaction)...

That's a point!
I think I'll just do the zip file option after all, and just add some patch coding for next time (if there is a next time).

Thanks everyone for responding!

[jeffster]

I think I'll just do the zip file option after all

I don't know about Mac and Android, but it works for Windows and Linux.
Good luck!