World of WarCraft - Alpha Leaked

[Naeadil]

http://skull.vinyamar.com/news.php - Main distributor
http://www.wowforge.net/ - Attempting to Emulate a server.
http://imageshack.us/host/noSensitveINFO.JPG.php - Proof
http://s90685286.onlinehome.us/tos.html - Terms of Service, WoW
http://s90685286.onlinehome.us/wow.JPG - Proof
http://s90685286.onlinehome.us/wow2.JPG - Proof
http://s90685286.onlinehome.us/wow3.JPG - Proof

(no links to the alpha are here - it's being distributed on IRC).

[JohnRev]

Lol, damn...

[DeletedUser]

Looks like warforge already bit the dust. rofl.

[Naeadil]

Looks like warforge already bit the dust. rofl.

WoWForge? It's still up buddy

[JohnRev]

So with that, I could play WoW right now lol?

[DrPlump]

Nope and there prolly wont be an emulator because its not a simple matchmaking software this time its a funny interactive MMORPG that would be like making eqemu without packet collecting!

[Naeadil]

Well I think their current goal is to just have a "sandbox" or single-player, empty, open world to run around in.

[Naeadil]

and that would be done:

http://home.no/lagra/ - Emulated Sandbox Server

[DeletedUser]

DrPlump, they are getting packets from a certain secret "insider".

[Naeadil]

Player, not employee though as I understand

[Windcatcher]

Well, here's my two cents...

I went on some unofficial WoW fan sites and people are uniformly upset about the leak, for varying reasons. The major reason seems to be for the leak itself, which would at the very least involve violating an NDA and at worst involve felony break-in to Blizzard's servers (unlikely though it may be). I can't say I blame them on that score (what can I say, I have a lot of friends in law enforcement). Most of the others are concerned that it might push the beta back or hurt Blizzard financially. It's possible, but since there is zero content with the leak (as there would be since it all has to reside on the server), I think that's unlikely in the extreme.

This concerns me in other ways:

I'm sure we're all aware that third-party servers are indeed 100% legal. If no one believes me, go look up Title 15, section 14 of U.S. Federal code (Title 15 covers antitrust law). There's a law that's been there since 1914 that says it's flat-out illegal to sell (it's termed "sale, etc." to make it even broader than that) anything with any stipulation that the buyer can't use competitors' products. Simply put, third-party servers are competing products and no vendor can legally bar you from using them. I'm not a lawyer, but the language in the law is plain enough to me to say that any such language is simply void. That doens't mean we can stand up to a lawsuit brought anyway (though we might win). No money, no defense. I dread a legal crusade by Blizzard on the leakers, because it might become a crusade against third-party servers in general.

What worries me is the blatancy of the leak and the "sandbox" effort stemming from it. Building a server based on illegally-obtained information is almost certainly not legal, but I'm concerned that we might be lumped in with them. There's a lot of talk on WoW message boards that EQ emulators exist as well. The talk is mostly non-judgmental, only judging EQEmu in terms of how fun (or not fun) it is to play on the servers, but that doesn't mean it will stay that way. I wonder if this might be a good time to consider if there's a way to make sure people understand that we're not like or associated with the people that leaked WoW.

On another note, regarding the servers: on the WoW boards there's a lot of talk about third-party servers in general, and the talk I've been hearing vis-a-vis EQEmu is that it doesn't compare to live. I think, though, that the ones saying that are missing the point: from what I read here, the most widely anticipated and lauded servers are the ones the intentionally *deviate* from live servers. Custom quests, reconnected zones, different rules, and other custom content are only some of the ways where EQEmu gives players a new, fresh experience, but somehow the message isn't getting out. I don't know if that's good or bad -- the universal opinion I saw was that we were decidedly no threat to SOE (which is true) and perhaps that perception is at least a good thing. However, I think customization is definitely the single best feature EQEmu (and third-party servers in general) offer. Perhaps it's not easy enough for the casual user yet, but I do think it should be our first mission.

Okay, that was a lot more than two cents -- it's just the mishmash of thoughts I've formed so far on this issue.

Wind

[DeletedUser]

They didn't steal anything, the guy who gave them the stuff is techniquely stealing it, as the rumor goes. The rumor is pretty sound though.. but I doubt this would push back the beta.

Beta will have sign ups at end of the month, it's not going to change.

If people want to ruin the fun of playing it before release, let them.. I know i'm going to wait, even if I had access to alpha.

[mattmeck]

They didn't steal anything, the guy who gave them the stuff is techniquely stealing it

thats called recieving stolen property, which IS against the law :shock: so anyone who has a copy or benifits from a copy of the "leak" is just as guilty as the person who leaked it.

[farce]

It's certainly not receiving stolen property.

The reason you are legally suspect if you receive a *tangible* piece of stolen property is because YOU have it and not the owner.

In digital cases you're only morally suspect if you receive stolen items.

You didn't sign an NDA therefore are not bound to anything. You have no agreement with Blizzard at all.

They suffer no loss for you having an alpha copy of their client, especially when beta is a month away.

just my 2 cp.

[JohnRev]

Heard this shit's fake...

[Kroeg]

believe everything you hear?

[Naeadil]

It's real, I have it. Sandbox is out, world is fucking awesome. They are trying to get official alpha testers to give them packets from the official alpha. They've begun working on putting in NPC's and such, as seen here: http://skull.vinyamar.com/files/wowscrnshot_011104_043121.jpg

[Kroeg]

Makes for an interesting read, but still seems like risky business if there is no source to make sure it isn't a hacked client (and resides in external code somehow) .. otherwise, what'd be the point to follow the project if legally, it's bound to eventually get shut down due to the presence of cracked software. If it were open source, that would be an entirely different thing :D

[Naeadil]

More NPC work:
http://onsekowaa.com/~xerax/omg.jpg
http://onsekowaa.com/~xerax/omg2.jpg

And items:
http://skull.vinyamar.com/files/item.jpg

[flyrken]

HAHA!!

I just was thinking, what am I going to start to play next.

Arx Fatalis is installed and forgotten --I hated the magic system--, Morrowind is saved at end encounter for a nice restore.. NWN CD is somewhere, I beat it before they patched the bugs out of it and made it harder. (I guess I paid to Beta Test their game)

Expansion play for both Morrowind and NWN is a possibility...Wizardry 8 is no where near completion (did anyone "finish it?" I have completed characters ie can't level no more and I feel that I have only scratched the surface).

I want a break from EQ, yes I still have a LIVE account, plus I know a cool place where I can always play ;)

I'd like to get into another game, and see if that word "fun" exists.

Kroeg, I will let you know if its real... :)
EOF

[flyrken]

Confirmed real -- Alpha Leak.

Bullshit hassle with 0 gameplay to 'sandboxed/patched'.
Has some good music someone ripped out of it.
Its a W word so no more talking from me.

EOF

[Lasiel]

I'd like to get into another game, and see if that word "fun" exists.
EOF

Don't bother w/DAoC if yer contemplating it. Let's just say Mythic couldn't balance a seesaw with equal weight on either end. But it sure feels good to hit that cancel button after 2+ years ;)

[flyrken]

Thanks for the heads up on DAoC. :)