294 réponses à ce sujet

[Pstemarie]

Elhanan wrote...

Atari may be involved with the lack of Premium mod support; uncertain. I believe they are a main reason behind much of the difficulty in getting them initially.

Yeah, it was Atari that pulled the plug on the Premium  Module Program.

Interesting side note, my nephew just bought the GOG version of NWN and when he got the authentication error he emailed Atari Tech Support - as directed by GOG. Atari's response was, "That game is no longer supported."  The email then directed him to the self-help support thread at the old Bioware forums.

Therefore, given the redirection from GOG to Atari, I would say its safe to assume that it was Atari that gave GOG permission to sell the game. If that is truly the case, then wouldn't it be reasonable to assume that it might be Atari that has ultimate control of the Master Server - which perhaps BioWare maintains on that company's behalf?

I know its a lot of conjecture from one short email, but with everyone else making hypotheses - what's one more in the mix?

Modifié par Pstemarie, 03 août 2011 - 10:31 .

[PlasmaJohn]

UrkOfGreyhawk wrote ...

If EA doesn't want to fix the authentication server they could easily disable the DRM on the server side by allowing it to authenticate all inquiries.

It's not that simple. The client makes an inquiry to the Master Server and it responds with a decryption key based on your cdkeys. Pretty much requires the full monty.

An easier and possible cheaper alternative would be to negotiate with the authors (or assignees) of the still encumbered modules to re-release them without encryption.

There are also some other ways to get around the authentication process that may be legally questionable but are also IMO, in the case of abandonware that you've paid for, ethically justifiable.

Access to media you've paid for is one of the few exceptions to the US's DMCA.

Pstemarie wrote...

... wouldn't it be reasonable to assume that it might be Atari that has ultimate control of the Master Server - which perhaps BioWare maintains on that company's behalf?

The only reason Infogrames (Atari) was involved was because they negotiated exclusive rights to D&D on electronic media. Bioware did a lot of things (eg. Master Server, Forums, Customer Support, etc.) that Atari should have but failed to do through sheer incompetence.

[Pstemarie]

PlasmaJohn wrote...

Pstemarie wrote...

... wouldn't it be reasonable to assume that it might be Atari that has ultimate control of the Master Server - which perhaps BioWare maintains on that company's behalf?

The only reason Infogrames (Atari) was involved was because they negotiated exclusive rights to D&D on electronic media. Bioware did a lot of things (eg. Master Server, Forums, Customer Support, etc.) that Atari should have but failed to do through sheer incompetence.

Yeah, I never did understand the whole tech support thing with NWN. I remember when I had issues with things sometimes it was Atari that handled it (as referred to by BioWare) or BioWare - depending on what the issue was with.

I do recall having a CD key issue when I first bought the game - the key on the manual was invalid (one of the numbers was too poorly printed to read) - which was handled by Atari. They looked up my key and gave me the correct key. However, in retrospect, it is quite possible that they forwarded my issue to BioWare.

I wonder if its a case of where BioWare knows what to do with the Master Server, but is stuck between EA and Atari as far as whose responsibility it is to fix it.

[WebShaman]

Oh my stars and garters! I didn't know that the Authentification Server was down for the Premium Mods!

Gak! I can no longer play my Premium Mods?

Me not like this!

And to those saying I am not "owed" something - oh, but wrong! I PAID for the rights to play the Premium Mods that I have. That this is currently not so, is something that needs to be remedied.

[Gregor Wyrmbane]

UrkOfGreyhawk wrote...

Gregor before blowing the same tired rhetoric you've been repeating for this entire thread would you mind doing us the courtesy of actually reading a few other posts? 

Nobody is asking for anything but an update.

And as paying customers (not just of NWN but also of a number of more recent titles), even just as active members of this community, we ARE owed that much.

We're all grown-ups here. Well... most of us. We understand that EA may have made a conscious decision not to fix the master server. If that's the case, FINE. We'll work around it. But grow some balls for God's sake. Just tell us what's going on.

UrkOfGreyhawk, I read every post in this thread before I posted the first time, and I've read every one since. I've seen a few positive, optimistic posts, and a lot of whining, sniveling, and threatening about various things in the rest. Bioware gave this community unprecedented support for NWN for 10 years. Even if they still existed as they did, to turn on them to the degree that I've seen in this thread because they haven't given us an update for a month is childish, unappreciative, and indicative of an attitude of entitlement that is tantamount to a spoiled rotten brat. 10 years versus 1 month is quite a disparity, don't you think? Perhaps if the "adults" here could find a little more patience in themselves, an update will be forthcoming at some point in the future. If I were Bioware, reading this thread, I don't think I'd be inclined to give back anything in the way of an update until I was good and ready. Purely from an emotional standpoint, you understand.

And this is an NWN forum. The other games that Bioware/Atari/EA created that anyone has issues with have no bearing here. I'm sure there are forums for those games that one can vent their displeasure in.

[UrkOfGreyhawk]

Ah. I see. So only people with "positive, optimistic posts" have valid posts and those of us who are pissed off are "whining" and "sniveling".

Nobody's turned on Bioware, dude. Bioware is dead. What EA is trotting out and calling "Bioware" is a painted lady. Bioware is just her street name. She's really just a sad little **** being pimped out by her corporate daddies. The real Bioware wasn't just hot, she was sweet and kind and and generous and she had a beautiful laugh. The only expression we've seen from this new girl is a vacant stare. And dude, have you played DAL? She's not even hot.

Oops! I'm not supposed to reference DAL, am I? I mean this is a NWN forum, so I guess you want me to post a nasty thread in the DAL forum and link to it in order to make my point?

That's IDIOTIC Gregor. If I post it here I'm off topic, and if I post it there I'm a troll. Like it or not DAL being, well, crappy is relevant to this thread, so I'm posting it here. My hunch is you just don't want to hear it. Well that's just tough.

And stop whining about 10 years this and 10 years that. WE'RE NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT NWN HERE. At the risk of violating your NWN only rule I've had serious technical problems with DAO and ME2 also, and EA support has been useless, at times even downright disrespectful. Are these legacy titles too? Am I being a whiny self entitled brat because I expect a product to actually work when I pay my hard earned money for it?

That, by the way, is a rhetorical question. I don't really care one way or the other what you think, but I'm also not inclined to let some pathetic little self-deluded fanboy call me a "spoiled rotten brat" unchallenged in a public forum.

Modifié par UrkOfGreyhawk, 04 août 2011 - 03:12 .

[FunkySwerve]

UrkOfGreyhawk wrote...

Ah. I see. So only people with "positive, optimistic posts" have valid posts and those of us who are pissed off are "whining" and "sniveling".

Nobody's turned on Bioware, dude. Bioware is dead. What EA is trotting out and calling "Bioware" is a painted lady. Bioware is just her street name. She's really just a sad little **** being pimped out by her corporate daddies. The real Bioware wasn't just hot, she was sweet and kind and and generous and she had a beautiful laugh. The only expression we've seen from this new girl is a vacant stare. And dude, have you played DAL? She's not even hot.

Oh yes, I'm sure all the Biowareans reading this would agree you are clearly in their corner. If you want to do something community-minded,, would you just stop posting, please? You're doing a lot more harm than good. Gregor is right - if I were Chris or whoever is responsible for fixing the master server, I would be strongly tempted to leave you in the cold, the way you're carrying on. No one at Bioware - and I'm sure a lot of them still strongly associate themselves with the name, regardless of EA's purchase - has done anything to deserve this kind of invective.

Funky

[UrkOfGreyhawk]

Oh REALLY? Gee... I thought this was a BUSINESS. I thought this was all about ECONOMICS. I thought stuff like "feelings" and "loyalty" didn't come into it.

Did all that suddenly change because of little old me?

Modifié par UrkOfGreyhawk, 04 août 2011 - 03:38 .

[Elhanan]

*"It's my party, and I will cry if I want to" elevator music is heard in the background*

By Thor's rubber hammer, it continues....

[Lord Sullivan]

UrkOfGreyhawk wrote...

Oh REALLY? Gee... I thought this was a BUSINESS. I thought this was all about ECONOMICS. I thought stuff like "feelings" and "loyalty" didn't come into it.

Did all that suddenly change because of little old me?

You know what?... maybe they're right you might as well give up arguing with them and stating your opinions about
EA since if EA as already decided not to say anything in the hopes to let the situation die the slow death in silence,
were not going to change anything regardless of what we have to say about it either positive or negative.

Don't say what you're going to do about it here, should the situation be that EA doesn't bring back the master server and should they also remain silent to this community about it. When the time comes that it is obvious, just go ahead and to what you must.

Modifié par Lord Sullivan, 04 août 2011 - 04:49 .

[UrkOfGreyhawk]

You are a voice of reason, Lord Sullivan. There's no point trying to teach a chimpanzee to play the piano. Time will tell. And as another very wise man once said, "the best way to make an idiot look like an idiot is to let him talk". But you see even I have this pathetic little shred of hope that this is all a huge misunderstanding and the Bioware of old shall throw off the yoke of their corporate overlords and rise from the ashes. I come into this thread every day to see if there's been any movement. I would have happily skulked away again long ago, except I'm not inclined to ignore the personal aspersions that have been cast my way of late.

I didn't start this, and I'm NOT walking away from it. But I'll make a deal with Mr. Soft and Spongy Hammer and Mommy Scoldsalot. You lay off, I'll Lay off. Otherwise I'm content to watch the fireworks from right here and continue to give as good as I get.

Modifié par UrkOfGreyhawk, 04 août 2011 - 05:40 .

[Elhanan]

*waits for the update message while playing NWN1 and DA2*

[Tremayne7]

I've sent emails and a PM to Aaryn Flynn asking for an update. Politely of course. Maybe if more people did that, they'd answer us.

[FunkySwerve]

UrkOfGreyhawk wrote...

Oh REALLY? Gee... I thought this was a BUSINESS. I thought this was all about ECONOMICS. I thought stuff like "feelings" and "loyalty" didn't come into it.

Did all that suddenly change because of little old me?

Not remotely. The economics of it would explain a decision to cut support, if one has been made. The emotions would explain a delay in implementation of support, though a wholly hypothetical one, as well as as simple refusal to answer. Real life is complex. This kind of single-cause, dichotomous thinking is for children. Relying on it to try to read a contradiction into my posts that isn't there is just transparently silly.

Again, please just stop posting. You're not helping.

Funky

[Pstemarie]

Tremayne7 wrote...

I've sent emails and a PM to Aaryn Flynn asking for an update. Politely of course. Maybe if more people did that, they'd answer us.

From what I've seen lately, a growing majority of what's left of the "Community" seems incapable of civil behavior let alone such common courtesy.

Nevertheless, kudos to you Tremayne and I hope Mr. Flynn responds soon.

[UrkOfGreyhawk]

FunkySwerve wrote...

Again, please just stop posting. You're not helping.

Funky

Really? You think you can shush me? Do I really strike you as the kind of personality that can be shushed?

Fat friggen' chance.

[WebShaman]

This situation reminds me of a similar one - from long ago.

The cancellation of the Premium Mods by Atari.

I distinctly remember the dismay and venom that was posted back then by the leader of DLA. I can also remember a Bioware that fought tooth and nail to bring WCoC to the Premium Mod line-up...and won!

That was a very proud moment for many of us Bioware fans, and being able to play WCoC (which I purchased) was just the creme-de-la-creme. Remember, this Premium Mod is what brought those very nicely modeled rideable horses...among other things.

Now, one will recall that the Premium Mod program had been cancelled, and the last patch for NWN was being created and worked on for NWN - in other words, NWN was nearing the end of the support cycle. Still, Bioware did not let down it's fans, although there was absolutely no economic recompense for their efforts, whatsoever, to be had.

This was a company that I could get behind!

Flash forwards to now.

Discarding the Master server issue, the authentification issue with Premium Mods, etc - is it then too much just to ask for a bit of information now?

In light of the track record set before?

I kind of wonder about those who disagree. *shrugs*

I seem to remember similar voices back then, who were "dumping" on those who were vocal in expressing their displeasure about the Premium Mod cancellation (including on the leader of DLA).

Well, back to my CC, I guess.

[Pstemarie]

There's a big difference between vocalizing "displeasure" and spewing venom. As pointed out, in the past BioWare has always managed to pull though for its supporters - DESPITE all the bile and venom slung their way. If people really think its going to make a difference then by all means flame on - it is your right. However, it doesn't seem to be moving BioWare along any quicker. In fact all it seems to be doing is making those who are left here turn on each other. Pretty sad IMO.

Modifié par Pstemarie, 04 août 2011 - 08:45 .

[WebShaman]

You are right, Pstemarie - there is a difference between vocalizing displeasure and attacking one another.

Perhaps more of the first, and less of the later?

I can surely understand "flying off the handle" and that which occured at the beginning of the thread as being over the top. No doubt about it (and you will note that I did not subscribe to that).

But this is quite some time later, and just the courtesy of a short blurp of information is surely not too much to ask here.

Especially considering the past track record of Bioware here.

[Elhanan]

@ WebShaman - that Premium mod story is exactly one of the reasons why Bioware has earned my trust. As far as the current silence, I cannot blame them a bit as they get pommeled by giving info or remaining quiet. The entire debacle that erupted involving the hackers just before the server was taken down is an illustration of the wild speculation that one must suffer in sifting thru these threads, and it continues on currently.

[WebShaman]

One that, had a small amount of time investment (what, 30 seconds, perhaps?) would have prevented.

And an occasional "still in progress, stay tuned" or whatever, would have prevented more.

Instead, it seems that we get instead a mighty frustrated fanbase, and a pretty frustrated and exasperated Dev (Chris), followed by a sticky for the topic and a short info blurb from a Dev...then nothing.

It does seem that this thread and action was designed to act as a target for exactly that.

Also, one will note that there is no exact time measurements for the posts here.

"about a month" is the rough estimate.

But that is not true.  It is more like almost 2 months now.

And to be blunt - if you remember back to the Premium Mod closing, you will also remember that we were kept informed, even if it was a "no new information to report at this time.  We will keep you informed of any and all changes as they occur" sort of thing.

Modifié par WebShaman, 04 août 2011 - 09:41 .

[Elhanan]

While true we used to get info more often, the community used to be a tad smaller, and less full of themselves, IMO.

For myself, am willing to wait and play Bioware games in the reception area.

[Universal Pagan]

The funny thing is... This is what EA or whomever wants us to do. Turn on each other, new players see all this hate and stop playing, and older players just say screw this and go somewhere else. Why? So EA or whomever can completely pull the plug.

We all need to stick together as a fan base be as mature as we can be. Voice our opinions with respect etc and move on.

Just a couple hopefully positive thoughts to add.

[Universal Pagan]

To EA, Atari, Bioware etc... Please may we have an update on whats going on? Even if it is " we have no information at the moment " would suffice.

Despite the flame wars etc. Most of the fans here have been loyal to all three of these companies. We are all just frustrated at the fact that all of a sudden there has been long periods of silence all of a sudden. Although it isn't the end of the world but we all paid for our games and such and would really love any kind of response. Even if it is a F***U people. It would at least tell us your listening hehe.

End of weird post....

p.s. we still love all three of your companies work and games. And are great full for all that has been done in the past, present and future ( if there is one left for this ).