MAKE .ROFL FILE (REPLAYS) VIEWABLE AFTER CLIENT UPDATES/PATCHES!!!

Syxbhel·Apr 25, 2017·8 votes·3,995 views

Why does my replay file need to be the same patch in order to view it? I saved a replay about a month ago (included an amazing Teemo Baron steal) and just now was deciding to go watch it again and maybe record highlights but it would not allow me to view it. i've looked up a few tutorials on how to watch them and they all say that the client patch needs to match from when the original replay was saved. This is stupid and needs to be fixed.

5 Comments

Mama SorakaApr 26, 20172 votes

When the server (and your client) are updated things change (duh) and since the replay files aren't actually movies they're re-enactments of the game in question running an older replay on the current patch will very likely desync it and cause the replay to be entirely unusable.

EG: Say they changed the cooldown of flash in a patch and your replay had you using it more often than is now possible, the playback would show your first flash fine but when it came time to flash again you wouldn't. Then the replay would continue as though you didn't use flash causing all of the rest of the actions you take to fail to sync up with the real position you were in.

TL:DR - It isn't possible the way replays are done. So if you have a great play make sure to record it as a webm.

Chimp JokerApr 25, 20171 votes

I would assume the servers would crash if that happened. A better alternate solution to this, which is already available, is to manually record the game. Just view the replay, hit the record button, and stop it when you have all the footage you want. It will be saved on your machine. Of course you still have to view the replay the game in the current patch, otherwise you wont be able to record it.

NickssaaApr 26, 20171 votes

Its because the Replay system was designed to pacify the community, and not for the sake of it being good. Season 6 was a tough time for Riot, and player numbers were most likely declining, so at the end of the season, they spent time trying to fulfill community request as damage control to try and keep the community pacified, and as such, most of these features were made rushed, and poorly made

The DeckownerApr 26, 20171 votes

From a programing perspective it is hard to do, since the replay file is basically codes written to tell the system to do x command at y time with unit z, if the command x or the unit z are different in two patches then the system would crash.

Try saving the highlight plays in video.

DrCyanideApr 26, 20171 votes

That problem is why we didn't have replays for 7 years. When the decided to abandon previous patch support we were able to get the replays.

The compromise was to build in a record functionality that could be used to make those videos of Teemo stealing Baron right then and there, 2 minutes after the game. You putting that off isn't really Riot's problem.