How to start own MP server

[Losfalos]

Is it hard to run your own gamespy clone server?

Maybe there are legal obstacles - has anyone read the user agreement in detail? In any case, even if it is restrictive, it is probably in breach of trade practices anyway.

Okay, im readying a class action suit.

Anyone coming?

http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/joker.gif

actually, if you hand out free copies of the game and only charge for membership on the MP server for one year, you would reduce the cost of the game. Also, people can renew their membership when they want to play again.

[Dionysus9]

Los,

I'm not quite understanding your questions, but maybe I can help answer them. I am an attorney, so I have some idea of what may be permissible and what may be unlawful.

Also, it is important to remember that although something might be unlawful, the economics of the law will prohibit [edit: DISCOURAGE, not prohibit] a corporation from coming after you for a small violation. For example:

CA can tell you how you can use their game--because it is issued to you under a license to use it. The terms of that license are the rules you must follow in using the game--and like you said those rules are in the user agreement. Lets say the user agreement prohibits any use of a multiplayer server other than Gamespy. Lets say you set up a server in violation of the agreement, but only you and 2 other guys use it and you dont charge them for the use. Chances are that--even if CA found out about it--they wouldnt waste their time coming after you. Now if you get 50 people using it, or if you start making money off it (even indirectly, like advertising banners) then I would expect them to come after you and shut it down.

I have not read the agreement in detail, but I'd encourage you to cut and paste it here and I will take a look in detail. I remember taking a brief look at it and thinking that they had covered most of their bases.

I'm not saying you should go out and violate the agreement, but if you do it in very very small ways they are not likely to care much. If you do it in a big way then you can expect trouble.

And as for a class action, are you talking about a suit against CA? For what? Monopoly or something? I think CA is within their rights to restrict your use of their product in any number of ways....just because they tell you you cant run your own server doesnt make it a trade practice violation...in fact, if you were to breach the agreement you would be the one in violation.

Now....back in the STW days when the server was down A LOT of the time, we might have had a case-- they promised MP and we couldnt play MP....but now that the server works, at least fairly well (albeit many bugs and drops), I dont think it's very realistic to bring a class action suit. And, anyway, even if you could (and even if we had back in STW) your damages per classmember would be no more than the price you spent on the game...$30? Not worth it.

So, we go back to the age old balance of burgouise economics...us little guys take what we can get. The big dogs make the rules.

[FearofNC]

well put http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

there is a program for running your own server... but i cant for the life of me figure out why you would want to use if you have a valid cd key.

in all the time tw has used gamespy , i think the total server down time is less than 1 day.

i have yet to see a in game drop casued by gamespy.

so... why do you want to host your own server?

[Losfalos]

Hi dionysus, tks for the reply

I agree with you. For the sake of discussion, it is my opinion that limitations of use agreement has very narrow abilities in providing CA a legitimate cause of action against all potential misuse of their software.

For example, if someone was to reverse engineer a server for a MTW MP platform, and the players were all using copies of MTW which had their CD key identificaton removed, then an attempt to enforce the limitations agreement would fail for want of privity, or be uneconomic because there are too many defendants whose identities are obscure. In addition, it is submitted that an attempt to bring action against the reverse angineered server will be an extremely litigious process with very little certainty of success.

However, CA can try to rely not only on the limitations of use agreement, but also on criminal and intellectual property law to enforce its control of servers running MP environements.

In terms of the class action in Trade Practices (TP) Law, I
posit that two concepts already in every jurisdiction make it inevitable that the current MP marketing model of limiting user to those with CD keys is doomed :-
(a) TP law frowns upon limitation of re-seller rights. TP law will take a dim view of a contract by a software developer which purports to limit the ways in which its customers can repackage and on-sell their products.
(b) TP law frowns upon activity by corporations which limit the operation of the concept of free market competition. TP law will take a dim view of a contract by a software developer whose terms promote an uncompetitive market.
It is submitted that prevailing attempts by the industry to limit the way in which consumers can use their software will be ultimately found to be illegitimate. In this respect, TP law globally often provides means by which class actions can be undertaken. In addition, such rights may be used as a shield against litigation.

It is submitted that the combination of unweildy enforcement methodologies for protecting control of MP servers and TP law restrictions are poised to revolutionise the industry. The catalyst would be the size of the MP user revenue base. This is expanding rapidly in Asia which appears to lead the world in propensity of MP users per head of population. More importantly, I think these users are willing to pay for the right to play. This is already proven in the proliferation of cybercafes across Asia.

Gosh I enjoy competition law. Comments welcome from everyone Sorry for the convoluted text, it is just for discussions sake.

Well, if anyone wants to pay for further consultation, feel free to contact me

dionysus - i always like to be paid by the big guys to settle for the little guys. actually, i think all lawyers should work on that principle - it encourages competition and ultimately makes more money for the corporates anyway. Dernit, i hate it how inertia at large corporates limits the speed of an economy's evolution - this means less jobs for everyone and less enjoyable jobs too

fearofNC - yeah let's host our own private server

[FearofNC]

email me... any discussion of this topic is actually agaist org policies. and i dont say that sarcasticly, this isnt the place for discusing the grey area things that may or may not be violations of the game license.

[Aelwyn]

Quote[/b] (FearofNC @ May 23 2003,00:48)]i have yet to see a in game drop casued by gamespy.
You sure? http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/joker.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif

[Daevorn]

why this discussion is against org policy?

CA always say that MP is less than 1% of their market...
if it is right then it won't be a very important loss for them a private server....

or maybe Ca say that just because they don't want to give us enuf patches http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/joker.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/joker.gif

Daevorn
Paladino del Cigno Nero

[Hakonarson]

Quote[/b] (Losfalos @ May 22 2003,05:03)]actually, if you hand out free copies of the game and only charge for membership on the MP server for one year, you would reduce the cost of the game. Also, people can renew their membership when they want to play again.
There's an ancients wargame out there called DBAOL that doese this - the game is free & you can play it hotseat at home for nothing.

But to play PBEM you subscribe to their server - it's a proarietry server, so there's no chance of anyone ever copying it

I go on and off it from time to time by paying the appropriate fee - it's a good system for the consumer.

But it is a different game - more hard-core wargaming, and the game can ONLY be played vs a human opponent - there's no AI.