TL;DR
- update the offline cache for level results
- update the website
- new payment by Valve
- a special thank for DevBlog readers
Level Results offline cache
In case the server is not reachable, there is an offline cache of the levels results inside the game.
The offline cache is really old, as it dates from 2016 October 4th. I replaced it with a recent version.
To generate the cache, I had to call an online function on the server, from Unity editor. It was rather complicated, as the game needed to load real data ingame before using the editor menu to call the server. Hopefully, Postman makes the whole process easier, as I can use it to call the server in post mode, with binary files (containing the requested level and version list) attached to the body.
I can even use the "Save Response" button to directly save the server's data to the cache file.
With this new cached file, offline results are far much better!
Note: it looks like Steam cannot host this gif (maybe because it is too wide, with its 1610 x 1101 px size?), so I am using imgur.com with an img tag.
Trying to switch to a https website
I never set up https on the website, thinking it was not necessary. But I see that some browsers are using https by default (at least with autocomplete), so I simply thought that I will set it fastly and be done with that.
As usual, a simple action like this makes me fall into a rabbit hole of nerve-wracking configuration hell.
- I want to set up https
- I go on OVH (the web hosting solution)
- OVH tells me I "added multisite hosting within the last two hours"
- I did not change anything at this point, so I guess I can ignore that
- I see I need to activate SSL
- I find how to activate SSL on a tutorial
- OVH cannot activate SSL and does not explain why
- I find that it could be caused by the multisite option (to manage the website with and without "www")
- OVH cannot activate SSL on any multisite part and does not say why
- I kind of remember I added an entry in the DNS zone (the equivalent of Windows register for a web hosting), could it be that?
- I read all the DNS entries
The modification was for adding a google verification, so it should not impact anything. And the whole site configuration is almost 100% original, why such as simple automatic option does not work?
- I spent a few time reading more information on https
- I see that switching from http to https can break some content, such as links to files
At this point, I realize I am trying to change a very deep configuration option, which can impact a lot more things thatn I thought. If it was concerning the game, I would told myself that I should ship the game even in this condition, and do things better when starting from zero the next time. So finally, I do not switch to a https website.
Website modification
For the website, one of the things which bothers me now is that I have no source control (a way to save different version of the code). Any modification can break the site with no easy way to rollback. At this point of the development (10 years in), I don't want to create a new process, so I intend to just go the old way "comment the old code".
I am using FileZilla as a FTP software to access files on the server. FileZilla has a very distasteful update policy, as it reminds you to download the last update every time you launch the software, and force download the last executable in your download directory. You cannot disable the reminder or the automatic download, and they almost insult you when you complain on the forum. I have to say that I don't care about FileZilla updates, as I only need the most simple options (and I have been only needing basic FTP options during my 19 years of occasional web development). I spent some time a few months ago to hack FileZilla to disable automatic reminders (yes, that's a thing), but it looks like the developers found a way to remove the hack (yes, that's a thing). Yes, I could update FileZilla, but there is a new version like every month, so everytime I launch FileZilla (every few months), it goes back to the initial situation with the forced reminder and the forced download.
Hopefully, I can use Notepad++ "Npp FTP" plugin, which allows me to access files on the server easily. This is my way to go to edit fastly some file code.
On the server, I see a lot of old versions of the main index file, with names such as "index-old.html", "index-old2.html" or even "2016_05_18-index.html".
I create a save copy of index.php that I name "2023_07_15-index.php" (the last modification date). I get the modification date on FileZilla (then I close FileZilla), and I create the copy on Notepad++ by opening the file to create a local copy, then I rename the online file with the save name, then I modify the local file and I save it (it is uploaded with the default name).
After all of this, I update the website by removing the mini-crowdunfing parts (I added a FAQ entry to explain people willstill receive their special rewards such as their name in the credits). I put the removed parts of the website in sub php files, in order to keep them.
I also update the bottom copyright, to change the 2018 into 2023. It's nice to be back!
New payment by Valve
I had the pleasure to receive a new payment by Valve! As there are taxes for money transfer between US and France, I put a maximum threshold (at the time) of $1,000 to limit the amount of transfers. The last payment from Valve was more than 2 years ago (February 2021).
After chacking the financial data, it looks like announcing the resuming of the development trigerred a few more sales and helped reach the threshold.
Thanks to new players!
A special thank for DevBlog readers
There are around 20-30 readers of those DevBlog updates, who give around 5-8 likes. Thank to you, it matters to me, and it motivates me to work more on the game!
Back with my computer
I just spent 2 weeks on holidays, without my computer. Lot of sun, sand and water, but hopefully I am back in my home, with my computer.
I am using WhatsApp on Windows to easily send a few pictures from my phone to my computer. I am also using it the other way around to send a screenshot from my computer to my phone, this is better than taking a picture with my camera!