Has Factorio, in the past development, allow saved games to be migrated between different versions? If so, are there exceptions or restrictions?
In a general way, how was save game compatibility handled in the past?
factorio
Has Factorio, in the past development, allow saved games to be migrated between different versions? If so, are there exceptions or restrictions?
In a general way, how was save game compatibility handled in the past?
From my tentative understanding of Factorio train mechanics, and tidbits I found on the web (I've been working on a very similar type of system recently), there are two factors here:
A train does not recalculate its path every time it is stuck, but only when it leaves a stop or it passes a regular signal. (There's also some kind of timeout or scheduled recalculation so trains don't remain stuck forever, though I think that might be newer than the version you were using.)
When a train is choosing a stop, it doesn't matter if another train is already planning to go there, but only whether the block is currently occupied.
Therefore, two trains may pick the same stop while some distance away and not notice the interference. Here's how to help them notice, at least within your Yard:
Do not allow any stacking of trains before the Yard stops. Branch the track as close to the stops as you can, and use a chain signal at the entrance to the branching. This ensures that a train will be seen to occupy the stop as soon as possible after it's actually committed to that stop.
Place a regular signal shortly before the branching point, even though that means it's right before the previously mentioned chain signal. This will ensure that the train has picked a free stop based on the latest available information.
Unfortunately, there is a case where a train is doomed to wait unnecessarily: when all stops of that name are occupied. In this case, it will always pick one and head as close to it as signals allow, then wait there until the time-based recalculation sends it elsewhere (or that one stop becomes available). The way to make the best of this is to be sure to use chain signals to prevent the train from heading down a branch before that branch's stop is available.
(Your Unload stations seem to be designed suitably already, so it might be simply that the Yard isn't efficient enough to feed them.)
Finally, one weird possibly-bogus fact that you might bump into if you expand this further: from my own testing, it seems that a train will only choose between 10 same-named stations. Any more than that, and it will only check the nearest 10. You can work around this by using tricks like having trains arriving in different directions (having a different idea of the 10 nearest), or a multi-stage choice (e.g. each yard stop goes to a different set of 10 unloading stops), which is what I'm doing.
So you seem have to have a few questions, but for the most part, you want to know how to burn trees down quickly. My answer to that, is to use the tank's flame thrower (added in 0.15). This is by far the fastest way to destroy a tree using fire, and what is nice about it is it completely destroys the tree, instead of leaving behind a potential burnt tree carcass. Here is a GIF illustrating the speed of it:
Note that this was with Flamethrower Damage at level 7. A lower level in this technology will make this process slower, but it's actually not by a whole lot. This isn't too difficult of a science to research anyway, so you may want to invest in it if you haven't already for at least a few levels. I found that this method is by far the fastest way to remove trees. If you find a real dense forest that you need to remove, driving through it with your tank and using the flamethrower in a sweeping motion works wonders.
As for using the regular flamethrower on foot, this method is far slower, but allows you to "AFK" remove trees by taking advantage of the burning fires. The downside to this, is it leaves behind some dead tree carcasses. Another downside is if you have aliens in your world, the fire could spread to one of their bases, and they will come after you for attacking them. In my experimentation, I found that the maximum distance apart that trees can be in order to spread fire was... this (sorry, I don't know how to put it into actual length terms):
If I had to estimate, this distance is about two inserters long to give you an idea.
To answer your question of How does the amount of fuel or time spent burning affect the propensity for a fire to spread, I think that the amount of fuel used does not impact the spread of fire. Spreading fire seems to go on indefinitely so long as the tree density is high enough to support it. I tested this by making a very large and dense forest in the map editor and then ignited it at just one spot. The entire forest was burned down after some time.
To answer your question of Does it matter if I ignite multiple trees in different locations, or will a single fire spread and consume the whole forest just as quickly, I would say that burning multiple trees in different locations would remove the forest faster. This is because if you start one fire on one end of a forest, and one fire on the other end, you effectively double the rate at which the trees are burned. Eventually, the two fires will meet up (so long as tree density allows for it).
To conclude:
Best Answer
Yes. Factorio has historically allowed saved games to be migrated between versions, and the 0.14 to 0.15 migration is no exception. Factorio 0.15 will be able to load any save that was made in Factorio 0.12 or later -- from the patch notes:
Generally speaking:
Terrain will be preserved. If the game's terrain generation changed significantly between versions, there might be discontinuities between old and new terrain, but I don't think there's any such changes in 0.15.
Some ore patches will probably be created for the new uranium ore.
Most structures and items will be preserved. Some buildings which changed sizes between versions (like the fluid pump) may need adjustments, and I'm not sure what will happen with items that have been removed in 0.15 (like alien artifacts and science).
Any research you have completed will still be researched. You may need to research some new technologies if new prerequisites were added.