Game Patch Questions

[uncle5555]

I figured you guys were the people to ask since you know infinitely more than myself on these issues, so here goes.

As seeing as I've had my system since launch but didn't own any PS3 games (that installed game data and needed a patch) till last month ( I borrowed a few from a buddy, but that's it), I now own a few that I know have patches available on the PSN and would like to grab them when I get the chance to.

Here's my questions...

1.) Do I have to have the game data installed to d/l a patch for a game (I.e. Lair, Fallout 3, ect.) or will it d/l, recognize that I "own" the game based on saved games only or even without saved games present? 1A.) Can I do this manually and just keep the patches on the Hdd until I want to use them?

2.) Can I download and just keep the patches separately until I play the game then patch the games when I'm ready to play them? 2A.) In line with that, say if I d/l'ed the patch but deleted the game data, but come back to play the game later, does the patch need to be gotten again, or will it be available (on the HDD to re-patch the game) and ready to go?

3.) Downloadable content is the same way, can I grab say the Lair "dragon pack / analog control", or Folklore add-on for instance without having the games installed to my hdd? (in this case neither of them have to be installed to play, but the option is there if you want to do it)

The main reason I'm asking is that I don't have easy access to high speed internet for my PS3 and if I do get access to it I wanted to get all the patches without having to have all multiple gigabytes worth of game data floating around on the HDD and only able to delete them if I wasn't going to play the game any time soon. I only have 60gb and don't plan on upgrading the hdd anytime soon and space is getting tight with all these installs. (Some can be removed and will be, but still my point remains)

I never really had a reason to ask before, but as I said I never have had any PS3 games before to worry about this particular issue, (plus I never knew so many of them have game installs either, out of the 16 I bought, like 11-12 have installs, so that's why I'm curious about this if I have to retain the game data for quite a few of the ones that have patches or downloadable content available)

I know parts of questions 1 & 2 are similar but I was just jotting down eventualities as they popped into my head, so bear with me on that.

Thanks for trying to help me clear up this confusion I have.

 

[Rig]

1. AFAIK, you can't find/download a patch to a game, unless you are physically running the game. I don't think I can go grab a patch to a game that I've never played. Even if I have played it, I think the game has to be running.

2. Like I said, I don't think you can download patches without putting the game in, so you definitely can't grab a patch and keep a game unpatched.

2A. Patches and your save data are kept separate, so if you were to remove a save, the patch would still be there.

3. Yes. I grab d/l content for games I've never played.

I think that's how it all goes.

 

[uncle5555]

Ok, thanks Rig, the only reason I asked is because I've seen the Folklore and Lair patches / DLC available for D/L before but never grabbed'em because I never owned the games (until recently) so I didn't know whether or not they'd be on the system if I deleted the game data or not for the specific game it was for. I know Mercs 2 has both, and when I got stuck in a building when I played it the other day, I know I need to patch it first (and the extra content before I even start to play)

Anybody else have experience with what I'm trying to figure out? And can maybe clarify some of Rig's points. Methinks I might need to PM Frisky too, since he knows a lot.

Thanks again for the reply Rig, I appreciate it.

 

[Barnolde]

Pretty sure patches and DLC are stored in game data. User-content for UT3 is why I kept the optional install in my game data folder, so I don't have to input all the user-mods again.

 

[FriskyTanuki]

I'm a little confused reading your questions since it seems like you're not sure about what Game Data is and how patches work. Game Data generally contains install data, DLC, and patches into one file unless otherwise specified which don't exist until the game first boots up and creates that kind of stuff. Patch downloads are initiated only when you boot up a game while online and very rarely are there any kinds of updates in the PS Store. I think Super Stardust and Lair are the only ones I can recall. So keep that in mind while I try to decipher the questions.

1. No, because the patch(es) would download first when first starting up a new game before any installs would happen. If you download DLC before owning a game, it'll create its own spot in your game data folder that the game accesses if you ever actually buy the game.

1A. No, you need the game and an online connection to download them, so you can't download them from some other source.

2. This is the same question as 1A, I think.

2A. Yes, when you delete the game data, any DLC, patches, or installs that it contained have to be downloaded over again unless those are kept in a separate file under Game Data.

3. Of course, it's just DLC and you're allowed download/buy anything in the store if you have the space/money to get it. It'll just create a file under Game Data for that game that contains just the DLC, unless you just delete it to save the space but keep it on your download list for the record if you do buy the game in the future.