EA, PLEASE FIX YOUR STARTUP CACHE!
Hello ( :_; ) ~ I am aware EA's team doesn't directly support the usage of mods, but it is an apparent fact that the vast majority of PC users indeed mod the game as they choose.
AND- There is a fair amount of simmers whom have folders over 600GB. Yes, the game still works... but startup times take 30mins-8hrs+ for many of these highly modded games. My point is, a supremely simple solution to this would be to make sure TS4 doesn't constantly re-index the same files EVERY SINGLE LAUNCH SEQUENCE! Instead, create a cache of everything that is loaded in the FIRST sequence, then if nothing is changed, skip indexing those files as they've already been read. OR... If the user's game has already been fully cached from one game session, but let's say they install 70 .package files into the mods folder; then couldn't the game just index THOSE FEW files rather than having to re-index the entire game again?
I’m not suggesting that EA somehow validate, troubleshoot, or guarantee compatibility with third-party mods. I’m suggesting that the game remember files it has already successfully indexed. If a package’s file path, size, modified date, or hash has not changed since the previous launch, there should be no reason to fully process that exact same file again from scratch. The first startup after creating this cache could obviously still take a long time. However, later startups could compare the existing index against the Mods folder and process only newly-added, modified, removed, or replaced files. There could even be a “Rebuild Game Cache” button for troubleshooting if a user wants to force a complete rescan.
; v
For example: Launch #1: 100,000 package files = index everything = save persistent index Launch #2: no changes = reuse existing index Launch #3: 70 new package files = index those 70 + update cache
AAANDDDD, this would not only benefit people with enormous Mods folders.. but players with every expansion/game/stuff/kit pack installed, large Tray folders, large saves, or older PCs could potentially benefit from more efficient asset indexing as well!
lastly, vv
I JUST SAW EA DID AN UPDATE FOR THE MARKETPLACE CACHE, SO IM CROSSING MY FINGERS THE GAME'S STARTUP UPDATE IS NEXT! :D
