EQLive testing new login 7/16

[Jett]

This could get ugly if they change it like they did last time, if they keep a similar eqhost it shouldnt be too bad, but im not a dev hehe.

Hey folks,

Our platform group has put together a new version of Launchpad, just for EverQuest. The new Launchpad system, which is used for all other SOE games, is now being applied to the Test server for you folks to try out. Please log into test, using the Testeverquest.exe icon from your EQ directory and download the Launchpad front end. Expect the login process to be a little slower the first couple of uses as it sets up its caches, but after it is all set, you should be logging in faster than ever.

Make sure you submit your feedback using the bug command in-game or by using the feedback link, here on the Dev Corner.


Just a heads up, when they add it, you may not want to patch. :lol:

[aendaar]

it has become increasingly obvious that SOE is slowly and quietly trying to break EQEmu, this being alot of proof

[sshinji]

PlanetSide requires you to log in before you can patch... if this is what they are doin... some EQEmu members wont be playing for free or at all anymore... if you know what i mean -_-

[rizzen04]

it has become increasingly obvious that SOE is slowly and quietly trying to break EQEmu, this being alot of proof

I think SOE couldnt give a shit about EQEMU, this is a very small project in comparison to the amount of work it takes them just to modify something like that. They are still bringing in tons of money off EQ and even alot of the people that play EQEMU have live accounts on EQ still. there are around 16,000 registered accounts here, even if that was 1 account per person and always active it wouldnt even dent EQ's total account base.

[meeble]

PlanetSide requires you to log in before you can patch... if this is what they are doin... some EQEmu members wont be playing for free or at all anymore... if you know what i mean -_-

Indeed, it does look like that's what they're doing. They said it's the same Launchpad system as is used for their other games, and I know that SWG certainly requires you to login before patch, so it looks like going to be the same system. *sigh*

[Melwin2]

Good thing that they keep all EQ files up for download on their FTP then, huh? Secondly, I think it's high time we client locked.

I know they keep zone files and such for all their games, so I can't imagine they wouldn't keep game files there.

[Jett]

Hmm, as of 12:00 Noon PST, i logged on test and there was no change *shrug*

[Katts]

PlanetSide requires you to log in before you can patch... if this is what they are doin... some EQEmu members wont be playing for free or at all anymore... if you know what i mean -_-

Indeed, it does look like that's what they're doing. They said it's the same Launchpad system as is used for their other games, and I know that SWG certainly requires you to login before patch, so it looks like going to be the same system. *sigh*

Yep.. its true. If you have LaunchPad from Sony installed you can tell.

Make a shortcut, and edit it like this:

"C:\Program Files\Sony\Station\Launchpad\LaunchPad.exe" /game:Everquest

Run that, and it will download the new-developmental Everquest Patcher. My guess is they will transition it over eventually... but it may or may not be working now.

[Windcatcher]

All the more reason to get our own client going. Once they make the transition the result could be disastrous for EQEmu. I've been working like crazy trying to get mob models rendering and to learn everything I can about .WLD files. I'll be releasing an updated WLD reference doc and some other goodies sometime this week. I strongly suggest that anyone who can help develop a client please do so, since the clock is definitely ticking.

WC

P.S. By the way, there's a problem with the forum. I can't post a new topic :(

[fnemo]

why trying to read a file format you know almost nothing (or knew) instead of creating a new one ?
why stick with the old op_codes problems (the unknown ones) instead of implementing your own op_code both in client and server ?

[Windcatcher]

I agree with respect to opcodes, but a client still has to read the EQ content that all players have. :? I'm working on trying to read content so a client will be able to prosper. If I was writing a client I'd pick an existing EQEmu version and just stick to that in terms of opcodes.

WC

[Windcatcher]

Actually as I think about it I guess it isn't disastrous for EQEmu, but it means that everyone has to pay for an account. It's still a pain in the butt though and would hurt the project mightily, I suspect.

WC

By the way, I still can't post a new topic :( Something about a SQL error on line 269...

[killspree]

I'm not sure I understand how this really hurts? Logging in before patching shouldn't hurt as long as the patch server is in eqhost too, shouldn't it?

[Melwin2]

I'm not sure I understand how this really hurts? Logging in before patching shouldn't hurt as long as the patch server is in eqhost too, shouldn't it?

eqhost has nothing to do with the patch server. eqhost.txt manages the login and registration servers.

Actually as I think about it I guess it isn't disastrous for EQEmu, but it means that everyone has to pay for an account. It's still a pain in the butt though and would hurt the project mightily, I suspect.

WC

By the way, I still can't post a new topic :( Something about a SQL error on line 269...

An EQ client of our own would be hot, but it'll be some time before it's done, and our popularity and thus population will still crumble. And if everyone had to pay for an account to play, our population would become nil.

[bloodgoth]

We could have our own client, we wouldn't be able to charge for accounts though... That's like, totally illegal. If we had a dedicated host, I'm sure we could get someone who plays both EQLive and EQEmu to upload the changed files every time it is patched, therefore providing it to the community via a patcher that is run from our end.

-edit-

Or... Ya know, we could just modify the old patcher and still leech off the SOE ftps.

[jimbox114]

it has become increasingly obvious that SOE is slowly and quietly trying to break EQEmu, this being alot of proof

I think SOE couldnt give a shit about EQEMU, this is a very small project in comparison to the amount of work it takes them just to modify something like that. They are still bringing in tons of money off EQ and even alot of the people that play EQEMU have live accounts on EQ still. there are around 16,000 registered accounts here, even if that was 1 account per person and always active it wouldnt even dent EQ's total account base.

You forget who your talking about. Sony is the biggest Bastards ever, remember what they did to Bleem!? Not only did Bleem! not hurt them any, but they actually was increaseing the amount of people who could buy Playstation 1 games. Bleem! did nothing illegal, yet they was shut down cause Sony just countlessly took them to court till Bleem! was bankrupt. If they can screw EQEMU, they will do it.

[sotonin]

Nope sorry. there's a big difference in your comparison bro.

Bleem charged for their software program, they profited off it.

EQEMU does not. Thats the real basis. If sony sued anybody on the project they wouldn't get much. if anything from anybody.
But since it's an open source program written by them and not being sold. Sony can not do a thing

[x-scythe]

i totally think we should stop updating to live and perfect what we have.

[Raddiux]

i totally think we should stop updating to live and perfect what we have.

/agree

With each passing patch, more crap gets broken in EQlive anyway, so why bother?

[KhaN]

X-Scythe
i totally think we should stop updating to live and perfect what we have.

Raddiux
/agree

With each passing patch, more crap gets broken in EQlive anyway, so why bother?

Yes, stop catching up to live, this way, no newcomer will be able to join the EQEmu community, you guys should start to brainstorm why EQEmu is always trying to catch up live.

Yes, EQemu could stick to a version, this way, devs could perfect the code, but with time passing the one who patched by mistake, or the newcomers wouldnt be able to play on this "perfected code" because giving eqlive files is warez.[/b]

[Melwin]

X-Scythe
i totally think we should stop updating to live and perfect what we have.

Raddiux
/agree

With each passing patch, more crap gets broken in EQlive anyway, so why bother?

Yes, stop catching up to live, this way, no newcomer will be able to join the EQEmu community, you guys should start to brainstorm why EQEmu is always trying to catch up live.

Yes, EQemu could stick to a version, this way, devs could perfect the code, but with time passing the one who patched by mistake, or the newcomers wouldnt be able to play on this "perfected code" because giving eqlive files is warez.[/b]

A backpatch would naturally be supplied if we were to do this.

[Cisyouc]

I'm sure we could get someone who plays both EQLive and EQEmu to upload the changed files every time it is patched, therefore providing it to the community via a patcher that is run from our end.


This is warez. Cant do that. Big no-no.


-edit-

Or... Ya know, we could just modify the old patcher and still leech off the SOE ftps.
Dont know if this is possible. Never know.

[Windcatcher]

IMHO an EQEmu client should use whatever content it can find but never crash if it's looking for something that isn't there. It should either just skip anything that's missing or fall back to something that everyone has (like in EQ classic). That way content shouldn't be too much of a problem. As people start making their own content (like zones) it should become less and less of an issue.

WC

[Raddiux]

What if you used a patcher program. Not like the one EQ uses, but the kind that analyses the differences between the old and new file, and only stores the differences between the two. And when you run the patch, it simply modifies the old executable with the new data to bring it up to date. At least, i think thats how these worked.
Old DOS games like DOOM and Quake used to use this type of patcher. Even UO used this I think, to save on bandwidth back when everyone had dialup. Since all you would be doing is modifying eqgame.exe and whatever else files (like a crack would), it might be safe?

[aendaar]

and why wouldnt SOE want to break EMU? its giving players the opportunity to download their files, for free (thats why they have the station client thing in testing) and play for free on somebody elses server, of course they would want to break it, regardless of the amount of people actually doing it, they still think they are losing money...

[Cisyouc]

and why wouldnt SOE want to break EMU? its giving players the opportunity to download their files, for freeThey are doing this themselves. THEY are allowing us to download the trilogy free on their homepage and patch to the latest expansion.

(thats why they have the station client thing in testing)Can someone explain to me, does launchpad check your subscription or just the fact you have the expansion bought?

and play for free on somebody elses server, of course they would want to break it, regardless of the amount of people actually doing it, they still think they are losing money...They arent loosing as much money as it seems, alot of people here have EQLive Accounts. And compared to the thousands of people who play EQ we are such an insignifigant number.

[sotonin]

In fact, sony gained money from me. I had quit eq for 3 years.

Then i found out how far eqemulator had come, re-activated my accounts and started to collect zones.

So it's kind of funny if you think about it. =D

[Repod]

One thing everyone has are the original disks!!!


Why not perfect that? People can reinstall the disks to a sepparate directory for their client. If we got the server/db side working with the OOB binaries we'd be set.

-Repod

[Grim]

Yeah why not retool original? Classic/Kunark/Velious/Luclin/Yakesha/PoP/Ldon/GoD original disks no patching, just patched to what the last disk updates to.

[bloodgoth]

Not everyone has LoY/LDoN/GoD disks because of them also being downloadable expansions.

[Windcatcher]

If we have our own client it's no problem. The client tells the server that zone xyz isn't there and the server doesn't let the player zone in. The sticky part is where models/item icons/etc. aren't there. In that case the client needs some sort of default to fall back to. Done properly it shouldn't be too much of a problem to accommodate varying amounts of available content.

WC

[Richardo]

Patcher

Would it be illegal to have a patcher distributing eqlive files to a previous date? Seeing winters roar supplies old files, I dont see why not. I dont know much about the legal section but I have read Winter Roars legal disclaimer and im not sure if that would cover it but I will defenetly contact my family lawyer and talk to him about this, and have some real legal advice. I am really confused about all of this, and also. I have several EQ Live Accounts, and as long as sony still allows people to have "Free Trials", its not really a big problem to download updates hehe.

[Repod]

Not everyone has LoY/LDoN/GoD disks because of them also being downloadable expansions.

So don't include them. Go up to POP and end it there.
People that have that set can play (most do).
We call that EQEMUPOP

Now for others that have LOY/LDON/GOD disks
We have EQEMUGOD
People that have the LOY/LDON/GOD disks can play that (most don't, but you can still find em :).

Seems like a simple concept and may work... (Of coarse I'm not writing any of the code so what do I know :)

[hypershadow66]

well what i think is you guys whoever was making those WLD or whatever models and everyone else should just make their OWN game. not using any of EQ's files. then you could patch at your own rate, have your own content and rollback if you have to. but have everything Look and Feel just like EQ withought being it. i would guess it would take a looonggggg time to do that but i think its a good idea...

[Windcatcher]

That's the point of OpenZone, though it doesn't cover everything. There are people making zones with it, though they haven't released their content yet. Within the next few months I hope to see an amount of content come out that will surprise everyone (even me).

WC

[darkhawk]

14. You will not create, use or provide any server emulator or other site where EverQuest may be played, and you will not post or distribute any utilities, emulators or other software tools related to EverQuest without the express written permission of Sony Computer Entertainment America.

right off the sony website

lol lucky me have problems with authority

thats the first rule i have ever read i could care what they all say lol

:twisted:


EDIT: there was just 100+ people on or so it said at the main screen ... now it says 0 people on (still 6 servers) ... did it just go poof or did the number break

[mattmeck]

I dont play live so I dont click any "I agree" button so that rule dont apply to me and most the people here come to think of it.

[darkhawk]

it was uhh more of a joke ... but ok :roll:

[Windcatcher]

14. You will not create, use or provide any server emulator or other site where EverQuest may be played, and you will not post or distribute any utilities, emulators or other software tools related to EverQuest without the express written permission of Sony Computer Entertainment America.

DIRECTLY VIOLATES TITLE 15 OF UNITED STATES ANTITRUST LAW.

[quote]Sec. 14. Sale, etc., on agreement not to use goods of competitor (

[Windcatcher]

Furthermore, if I really wanted to be mean, I might try to make the argument that banning people who play EQEmu damages the EQEmu team:

[quote]Sec. 13. Discrimination in price, services, or facilities (

[KhaN]

well what i think is you guys whoever was making those WLD or whatever models and everyone else should just make their OWN game. not using any of EQ's files. then you could patch at your own rate, have your own content and rollback if you have to.
Its being worked, it just take a looooong time (count in year)~

[Windcatcher]

And as a final point, this is taken directly from the Department of Justice's guidelines for licensing of intellectual property:

[quote]3.4 Framework for evaluating licensing restraints

In the vast majority of cases, restraints in intellectual property licensing arrangements are evaluated under the rule of reason. The Agencies' general approach in analyzing a licensing restraint under the rule of reason is to inquire whether the restraint is likely to have anticompetitive effects and, if so, whether the restraint is reasonably necessary to achieve procompetitive benefits that outweigh those anticompetitive effects. See Federal Trade Commission v. Indiana Federation of Dentists, 476 U.S. 447 (1986); NCAA v. Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma, 468 U.S. 85 (1984); Broadcast Music, Inc. v. Columbia Broadcasting System, Inc., 441 U.S. 1 (1979); 7 Phillip E. Areeda, Antitrust Law

[darkhawk]

people have no sense of humor these days :?

[mattmeck]

Hard to find something funny when the SAME this is brought up at least monthly by people who are serious about it.

[darkhawk]

bleh people who are serious about have no sense of humor and take everything seriously, the person who listens to everyone and does what he is told ... the person who most people like but never want around just because you want to talk with them

then theres the cool person who could give a shiz about what people tell him to do or anything that goes on around him, careless, and does what he wants ..... GO NUMBER 2!!!