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Compression Techniques

Author:

Crystal Clear (H.E.S)

Submitted:

25th March, 2003

Views:

4949

Rated:

Compression techniques

Okay here is the File size for a blank TGF (The Games Factory) & MMF 1.5 (Multimedia Fusion 1.5) Project.

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MMF 1.5 .cca – 6.88 kb MMF 1.5 (EXE) – 309 kb
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TGF .gam – 20.6 kb TGF (EXE) – 196 kb
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Okay so now you see the Difference in the End a TGF project saves more space, but keep in mind that this is a BLANK project where talking about here. From what I’ve heard MMF Compresses GFX and SFX/MUSIC a lot better then Clickteams other 2d Game Makers.

So lets have a look at some Compressors shown below:

MMF Compressed files (Compressed with ZIP/Installer utilities):

Compressed with - Size - Type:

*Innosetup 441 kb Freeware
*WinZip 160 kb Freeware(Registered $39)
*WinRAR 141 kb Freeware (Registered $36)
*InstallMaker 245 kb Freeware (Registered $39)

TGF Compressed files (Compressed with ZIP/Installer utilities):

Compressed with - Size - Type

*Innosetup 375kb Freeware
*WinZip 94.8kb Freeware (Registered $39)
*WinRAR 82.5kb Freeware (Registered $36)
*InstallMaker 178 kb Freeware (Registered $39)

Okay now you see the Difference between the files sizes, You see how a MMF Blank Standalone is much bigger then a Blank TGF file, although from what ive heard MMF Compresses files GFX and SFX a lot more then TGF files.so Probably overall the best in the end would be…. MMF!!!

Comments/Rating/Information on the Compressors shown above:

Innosetup:

Using:
This is Created using InnoSetup’s Language (Script) although I have tried using many Languages and gave up I actually found this easy to learn after a little bit of Experimenting, although if your not to much good at scripting there is a Step – By step wizard with many options to construct your installer.

Compression:
InnoSetup is Definitely the worst in Compression!!!! Not recommend for users with a small website space but does have some good qualities.

Presentation:
Definitely the most professionally looking installer overall with a great surface and the ability to do lots of things with this utility.

- Worst at Compressing files
+ Most Professional looking Installer

WinZip:

Using:
Very easy o use, actually you just right click on the file you want and click “Add to zip file” and there you have it, it’s done, Definitely the easiest of all the tools to use.

Compression:
2nd best Compression tool on the Internet I know and have tested. So definitely for all those people who don’t want to use a lot of web space.

Presentation:
Probably one of the worst tools for Presentation not recommended for anyone who wants to distribute their products.

- Not very good for Presentation
+ One of the best at Compressing

WinRAR:

Using:
Also one of the Easiest tools to use for Compressing basically the same interface as WinZip.

Compression:

The best utility for Compression, just a bit better then WinZip in compressing files.

Presentation:
Better then WinZip in Presentation, also not Recommended for distributing your files.

- Also Not very good for Presentation
+ Best Compressor

Install Maker:

Using:
A very easy to use Program, Using Step – By Step wizards, with the Ability to showcase Pictures in the Installer (which none other has) and other powerful things.

Compression:
Compresses files really well, not as good as WinZip and WinRAR but better then the others.

Presentation:
Overall a nice installer when it comes to presentation definitely the 2nd best in presentation.

- No really bad Points
+ Best of Both Compression, Using, and Presentation

Posted by Crystal Clear (H.E.S)

25th March, 2003

Do you like??? some bits got a bit screwed up from copying it from Microsoft Word..

Posted by DeadmanDines

26th March, 2003

The problem with WinRAR is that not many people have it.

Posted by Daniel[Crazy_Productions]

26th March, 2003

but then you could just put a link in your game presentation to itX)

Posted by Aali [Crazy_Productions]

26th March, 2003

well i hope u know that the TGF executable doesn't contain the game itself, just the code needed to run the game...

Posted by Ian M. Phoenix

26th March, 2003

You have good points Paul, but not everyone has cncs232.dll, so having an install program is good, especially for custom fonts, etc.

Posted by Reaven Khali

26th March, 2003

What about Wise Installation Creator, Setup Factory or Install Sheild Express Installation Creator?

Posted by Crystal Clear (H.E.S)

26th March, 2003

Hmmmm??? ive never heard of them Reaven Khali i might try them out... oh and Aali i included both of the files, and Paul yeah Winzip is the way to go!!

Posted by Crystal Clear (H.E.S)

26th March, 2003

Hmmmm??? ive never heard of them Reaven Khali i might try them out... oh and Aali i included both of the files, and Paul yeah Winzip is the way to go!!

Posted by Phredreeke

27th March, 2003

Another method of lowering filesize is to set the graphics mode to 256 or 65K colors instead of 16M. A 256 color picture takes half the space of a 16M and 2/3 of a 65K. (Excluding compression)

Yet another method if you have a long animated intro is to compress it as an AVI. The downside is that the player must have a proper decompressor to play the intro. I used Cinepak, which is a very common decompressor, for Pling Muncher and it lowered the intro from around 2 megabyte to 160 kilobyte(both values excluding further compression)! That is a reduction of 92%

Note that both methods lowers picture quality.

Posted by Jenswa

27th March, 2003

Add winace, it's a little bit smaller than winrar

Posted by RapidFlash

27th March, 2003

And you can also reduce file sizes by CROPPING YOUR GRAPHICS AND GETTING RID OF USELESS OBJECTS! That does save a bunch of space.

Posted by Crystal Clear (H.E.S)

27th March, 2003

Cool thanks for the Suggestions!!!! and alebrain oh boy do i know about that

i leave so much useless stuff around on my games, like extensions and GFX i never use..

Posted by Lew

1st April, 2003

What Aali said...Did you include the .gam file or just the exe?

Posted by Crystal Clear (H.E.S)

2nd April, 2003

I included both files.

Posted by Jenswa

2nd April, 2003

I do not agree with winrars presentation,
sure it's not so cool if you use an self-extracting archive.
I am working on an installer for HoogHaar XL (yes is still am working on it)
and it has winrar compressing and my own adjustable interface

So wait and see (might take some months)

Posted by Jenswa

2nd April, 2003

So wait and see (might take some months)
Oh btw my 5mb gam file with 400 k exe and installer and readme, is compressed in a total of 1 mb.

Posted by Crystal Clear (H.E.S)

3rd April, 2003

Woah.. thats alot of Memory saving, i use stuff like Winrar and that for people to download but the other Installers like INNOSETUP are only really good for selling your creations on a CD.

Posted by Crystal Clear (H.E.S)

5th April, 2003

I might make another Article about Compression Techniques with the other installers mentioned??

Author Info

Crystal Clear (H.E.S)
Possibly Insane

Registered
06/10/2002
Points
2548

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