See the topic of this thread.

See! Zip's way out in front with 100% :D

I would rather keep it the way it is. It's already hard for many people to download, because they have no idea what they need and how to use the programs. If you get yet another fileformat, i think many, many people would get confused.

I voted *.rar because we already use it like angle said, and it can compress very adequately. But hey, I'm just one person, what difference can I make But I'm also particularly fond of the *.lla llama compression format :D

Zip. Easy to use, cross-platform, free tools exist.

A secondary would be 7Zip.

Agreed. Keep it simple - we get far too much whining about rars as it is. I don't want to see anything else introduced to make it more complicated for the less technically inclined users and more of a pain in the rear for us to deal with.

Personally, I prefer RAR. It has a nice compression ratio.

But I agree with angel and discordkitty. Keeping things "as is" minimizes technical questions. (Plus, I really don't want to have to install even more compression programs on my computer!)

Thank you for starting this "pure poll", Delphy! :D

And I myself still prefer 7zip and rar to choose from though I like llamas saying cheese, too...
Serious: yes, many users can be confused (downloader who might have to get along with another file format and uploader who could decide to offer their files in all available file formats just for the case that downloader struggle with the already available ones) but keeping things as is just because they work reminds me of my grandma who is afraid of all new scary things like telephones you can carry with you whereever you go (dangerous!) and little metal boxes with strange typewriters that work without paper but with a color TV too close in front of you (harmful!), not to forget these vehicles that are faster than 50km/h (help!).
Yes, many people don't know how to use programs that are essentials when surfing the net, some struggle with updates of security software, some even don't use this because they don't know these programs - some start to get such programs to know after someone made it to steal their money via the net or they just lost their data. Many people just want to use the web and certain sites without any knowledge required to do so but is this really a reason why improvements shouldn't happen? I don't think so but this is my personal opinion (and I hope that nobody has to start learning how and why to use security software after an attack on the PC or worse was "successful".)

karen82869, 7zip (the reason for this poll) does not need an additional program to work as it can be unpacked with WinRAR

I'm used to rar now but i can go with the flow so whatever you plan on doing i dont really mind.However i think most people are just familiar with rar and zips ( ok i still dont get why some people are obsessed with zip) so it should stay like it is.

I realize 7z can be unpacked using Winrar, just as many programs work across different file formats... but not all formats work with all programs.

Nothing in Dephy's post lead me to understand that the reason for this poll was specifically to discuss the merits of using 7z.

I am personally not opposed to 7z (though I don't care for lla because of a brief, unhappy experience), nor am I opposed to change. I AM opposed to people begging creators to change their uploads to a different file formats, as well driving moderators crazy by posting "How do I get this file to work in my game" without reading the FAQs. We will see more of this type of activity if more file formats are added. I would prefer MTS2 chooses to allow just 1 or 2 compression formats as standard. It seems easiest to leave it "as is" because it's very hard to drag a lot of people away from the zip format, which is the least-efficient file type.

But I'll always vote for cheese.

Last edited by karen82869 : 30th Dec 2006 at 03:54 AM.

I think it's necessary to tell readers the followings:

1. what programmes can do the decompressions of the listed compression formats, so they don't have to feel a compression format newer to them is a complete alien. WinRAR >=3.41 (shareware), 7-zip-manager >=3 (freeware), IZArc >=3.5 (freeware), power archiver >=9 (shareware), ZipGenius >=6 or else can all deal with 7-zip, rar, zip...

2. creators are NOT forced, commanded, or obliged to use a compression format newer to them.

3. how different for the processes to decompress and/or compress with the listed formats.
Basiclly, with the listed programmes, these formats are compressed or decompressed in the approximately same ways,
a. right-click context-menu and then choose to compress into which format (that's the only potential major difference for a user) or decompress here, into <folder>, or <yet another location>
b. in the compression software interface window, select compress or extract buttons for the select files and/or folders...

Surely, for those who only decompress files, the processes are exactly the same! Where's the difficulty for the whole process of usages?

Last edited by niol : 30th Dec 2006 at 06:16 AM.

I'm really not trying to be difficult or disrupt world peace...

I don't understand why it's so important to some that the 7zip format be allowed for upload. The difference in size between a 7z and a rar is insignificant at the smaller file sizes we usually see here. And nothing prevents you from uploading a 7z within a rar file. But I recognize people are entitled to their preferences.

Some of use believe that to simply add another format if only a handful of people prefer it would be silly because (despite the technical facts) it will increase the number of stupid questions moderators will have to deal with, while not offering a real benefit to the site performance.

If anything, I could understand if Delphy wanted to eliminate zip files in favor of other formats because of their size. The poll is appropriately worded. He's seeking input from the community on their preferences. If the results come in that a majority prefer 7z to other formats, I wouldn't even mind if creators were forced to switch to 7z. But if the results show an overwhelming majority prefer zip and rar and most people prefer to keep things the way they are, it shouldn't be a big deal if 7z isn't added.

I have complete confidence that Delpy will decide the appropriate action based on the poll results.

Let's allow people to answer the poll, without fearing the universe is coming to an end if they would prefer to keep the formats the way they are.

That's fine because this wouldn't have been correct neither. May take a look at this thread where the topic was already discussed and this poll was requested (see page 3, a poll template) to find out how other user think about changing/keeping.

One thing prevents from uploading 7zip within rar files: the users who already struggle with everything except zip - it would be confusing to them if 7z and other compressing formats would just be hidden in an upload-compatible rar or zip- file. Fine for those who already know that they can open these files with different endings (instead of *.zip and *.rar) with this or that program they already own - but those who do need support for downloading files would be lost and this would be bloody unfair!

So this poll is so far for nothing than showing as much as possible personal opinions (and as Delphy already told us his opinion I don't expect anything at all :D)

I recently sent my mom a .rar through email of some pictures of my cats. She sent me an email back saying that she "had let her WinRAR program lapse" and that since it was cheap she was "just going to buy it." I immediately sent her an email back saying DO NOT BUY WINRAR. You can still use it to unpack files even after the trial wears off, it opens SO many different formats, AND there are free programs that open the same formats that don't have trial periods. You just have to look for them, and if you don't know where to look, asking never hurts.

Ever since .rar was introduced I have liked it better and said to myself that I think this site should only allow .rar files to be uploaded, as it would save bandwidth and server space, effectively saving money in the long run. Not only that, but it really bugs me when people post the same file in BOTH .zip and .rar, because then I can't click the "download all files with Q-Express now" link. I have to go and pick all the .rar files individually, and then there's barely even a point in even using the program. Like corvidophile2, I do not understand the obsession some people have with .zip files. It makes no sense, to me at least.

That's just my 2 cents, and I hope I didn't offend anyone, just wanted to get my opinion in a little

Another thought. If a new format was introduced, or if, like I said above, only one format were allowed, there could simply be a link to an explanation of how to use it, what programs you can download, etc., in the top frame. "Click here to find out how to open the files you download from this site!" And it could be bold and red, or something. I know some people still don't see things like this, but I think it would cut down on a lot of questions, I.M.O.

Last edited by Khallayne : 30th Dec 2006 at 08:33 PM.

Yet I'd say at least 50% of the site users maybe more can't even handle opening rar files ... ergo, they won't be able to open 7zip.



We don't allow people to post them like that anymore. It's either one zip or one rar but not one of each.

If they really want those contents, they'll learn how to decompress rar and 7z especially when the extraction processes are exactly the same as zip so long as they've got compression softwares like those mentioned before.
If they worry those softwares will cause problems to their computer, then so will the TS2 custom contents which are generally riskier.

Everytime, I gather some custom contents, there're always a few ones not working well...
That don't happen to me with those compression softwares.
For winrar, one hasn't to install but decompress it for it to work.

rar for forever!

Only 30 people have voted on this poll?! Considering the numbers that visit here on a daily basis I'd say the majority are happy with things the way the are.

This poll is not only testing out how people feel about 7z but also show that rar is much more accepted since its usage and imprementation into this site.

Back to the days, most people whined for zip, and it was even still harsh to get rar used here... What do we see now, rar has got so much support in the 30 votes or even most people want it as is. So, the courage done for rar has been a right decision. With some formats relatively unfamiliar to most users can also make them realise rar is already very common and useful here and obviously much better than zip! rar wasn't appreciated.

This poll is not for a single purpose.

That's where you're wrong. They don't learn they whine and moan, pitch fits and demand stuff be made in just .zip format.

Trust me, as a mod I've seen it all. It's not that simple.

It doesn't really matter because creators will use what they prefer, and the whiners will always find something to cry about.

Personally, I think creators should use whatever they are comfortable with the forget the whiners...and as far as whiners, they need to just shut up and be grateful they're getting free stuff.

I can imagine what a moderator has to face in this situation..., and that's why I never choose to be one but just stay as a simple member who can choose when to help voluntorily or if I ignore a whiner's rant in the dl threads I've started. I can say many allowed things a member can while a moderator can't.

When I've already given out the instruction on how to get the files decompressed as often. Many readers of my threads have learnt that I shan't give out more help whenever they ask for something already mentioned in the thread. So, only the few ones in the beginning would ask me for that a few times, and this ended not very long after.
Guess, I'm lucky, or is it that they realise that I'm too stubborn to heat their whines.
Yet, sometimes, I may just point out where in the thread they can find the instructions, then I have never heard anymore question about that similar question.

I'm not worried they get upset at all. That's completely fine with me. If they can't even learn that little bit, I doubt they can really enjoy what I've given out. The pleasing act is expected to yield a better dl count or what. But when these are not my goals, let's forget it. No match.

As a moderator, one can just tell the whiners that these're the choices made by the uploaders, and in my cases, I'm the one fully responsible for my compression format decision and these whiners should whine at me about the compression format(s) I've chosen. They went to a wrong place to whine that at a moderator, so they may deserve a warning for whining at a wrong person.


I personally wouldn't mind no preview for 7z, but I guess that's inconvinient to some downloaders as well as the site staffs.

The content-makers should be the one to decide what compression format to use but not the requester, or that's not a request but a command.

Last edited by niol : 17th Jan 2007 at 02:58 AM.

I must admit to being rather partial to .rar files, I always have been. I dislike most of the others and it was a delight to see for me that we had .rar files here as one of the options, and even, the more commonly used one. I have been asked a couple of times to upload .zip files but in the end it ended with me explaining what a .rar is and how to go about it. People seemed to catch on and even keep .rar as a preferred option.

But to be brutally honest, I think I'd ask the mods what they want here - not us. From what I can see the questions about .rar files and the requests for .zip ones has died down from what it used to be. I can only imagine what it was like before (and being a mod at one site I do know how frustrating it can get, with all the other work you have if the site is a bigger one). So add a new file format and IMO all hell will break loose.

People, in general, know about .zip and .rar files, they are indeed the two most common - so for everyone's peace of mind, I say let it be.

Rar, because I have WinRAR ^^'

I couldn't have said it better myself.