SWBFGamers

It's been awhile since I've been on the website [spoiler]or SWBF for that matter...[/spoiler], but I have some AMAZING news.

I'm quite aware the old Online Servers from Gamespy are shut down, but I think I know a way to get around that.
While looking through some files in the SWBF folders(this was before I even learned about this website and didn't know how to mod but wanted to figure out), I stumbled upon a file that to me back then, served no purpose. But now, it could be one of the best finds in SWBF yet.

That file's purpose is simple: Link SWBF to the Gamespy Online Hosters. Gamespy simply deleted all their hosters for SWBF, rendering the Link File useless to Gamespy. But not Completely Useless.
The Link File could possibly be modified to grant another Hoster from anywhere to run the servers instead. The SWBF Community could build their own Hoster and run it for free, or talk to a larger company (maybe Steam or Enjin or something) to give rights to run SWBF Servers through the modified file.(Or the company could give us a hoster themself.) Either way from a company, it most likely won't be free. That's why I suggested a completely-new hoster be built.

This topic was specifically placed in the Requests forum just for the purpose of asking that this may happen. I am currently unaware of the file's location in SWBF, for the day I found it was nearly 2 years ago. The file would have to be found by one of you guys. Same from you guys if you wanna build a Hoster.

I thought this was amazing news, and my buddy #GoldMan (GoldMan27), agreed when I told him on XFire.
Thanks for reading, -Ultimo

Constructing your own master server--easy to say, hard to do.

Another company would never do this, as I'm sure they would get sued.

Good luck!

what file?

I already said I don't remember it Phobos. The most I do remember was I opened it and the most I could make out was it's link to Gamespy

Quote from: _Ultimo_ (Coca-Cola_SURG3) on November 24, 2012, 01:26:02 PM
I already said I don't remember it Phobos. The most I do remember was I opened it and the most I could make out was it's link to Gamespy

Well that's really not much to go on. We don't have any of the master server software so even if we could redirect to our own server, it might not do any good.

So, Good question.
This topic was posted a long time ago.
BUT!
I'm hearing rumors that someone actually tried this.
Tis this true?
Someone tried to make a master server?

If someone tried this and it worked we would all be playing BF1 right now, so its all up to you Depressed Lion... uh I mean King

Quote from: {TCE}Call-of-Raindeer on December 08, 2013, 05:05:11 PM
If someone tried this and it worked we would all be playing BF1 right now, so its all up to you Depressed Lion... uh I mean King

I'll kill you...

As for the server, well that doesn't necessarily mean someone didn't try it or it didn't work. There's lots of reasons why we could be of online.
1) Needed money to run server, but had no moneys
2) Gamespy found out and warned them to shut it off
3) It did happen shortly, but was taken off because nobody else knew
and many more...

Quote from: The Black King on December 08, 2013, 05:11:56 PM
I'll kill you...

As for the server, well that doesn't necessarily mean someone didn't try it or it didn't work. There's lots of reasons why we could be of online.
1) Needed money to run server, but had no moneys
2) Gamespy found out and warned them to shut it off
3) It did happen shortly, but was taken off because nobody else knew
and many more...

I'll kill you too buddy, I'll kill you too

But to Fix Those Problems

1. We can run a fundraiser like Lead did for the servers

2. Why would GameSpy care we were bringing back the servers, legally they don't have to do anything, but if they do we can just relaunch it under new names (Perfect time to use your new name)

3. Im fairly certain we can let people know, this is a forum site after all

Quote from: {TCE}Call-of-Raindeer on December 08, 2013, 05:46:46 PM
I'll kill you too buddy, I'll kill you too

But to Fix Those Problems

1. We can run a fundraiser like Lead did for the servers

2. Why would GameSpy care we were bringing back the servers, legally they don't have to do anything, but if they do we can just relaunch it under new names (Perfect time to use your new name)

3. Im fairly certain we can let people know, this is a forum site after all

I was not specifically referring to someone on this site. I just said I heard general rumors about a master server.
If one of our big dev guys on this site wants to make a master server, then find a way to fund it, go right ahead.

Now what do I do with this now?

Quote from: SleepGiver on December 08, 2013, 06:14:51 PM
Now what do I do with this now?

Well, If you're saying what I think you are...
There's a file in the SWBF files that relates back to Gamespy.
I believe we may be able to use this file, by creating a master server that can run on it's own, for playing online through Internet again.
Hold up, I'll see if I can find the file.

EDIT:
Ugh... I posted this thread a real long time ago, so I don't remember for sure where it is. It could possibly be the Gamespy ICO file in the Install folder, but I'm doubtful.

EDIT 2:
Well, does anyone know of any files that relate directly to online playing capabilities?

Wait, I thought about it. It's gotta be that Gamespy file.
Can we somehow create a master server, convert it to file form and use it as basically a mod in replace of the existing file?

Um, *.ICO is an windows bitmap Icon file.. Lol
Also, there is a registry file that can dictate where SWBF looks for the server, and that has already been patched by SleepKiller. Also, the executable has been fixed to where it looks for another server as well (openspy).

All the solutions have already been exploited.. At least, all the do-able ones.

The one thing that we could really do to fix online option, is if the openspy scripts were fully released so that SWBF could be hosted on a master server/domain, and even then it needs a bit of work. The scripts have been released, and SK is still working on them as far as I know.

Ok now I feel dumb lol. You know I don't mod.

Quote from: The Black King on December 08, 2013, 07:08:33 PM
Ok now I feel dumb lol. You know I don't mod.

It's alright, we can't all be scientific nerd/geeks :shrug:
I just wish I excelled in sports..

edit- I now realise what you were talking about, but that is outside the applications working directory (GameData/ , Battlefront doesn't do anything outside of it, besides registry files/*.reg and your internet and firewall), so it wouldn't matter even if it did somehow work.

So might our culprit connection to Gamespy be a little program inside the battlefront application inside the Gamedata folder?

That's my final guess. :/
I'm just curious now

The code is just integrated into SWBF. It isn't a program with in it, it is part of it.

Sorry, that's what I meant, just had one of those derp moments.
But, like all codes, they can be changed, removed.
Man, I gotta figure this out myself.
I'm doing too much asking, and not enough doing.

Out of curiosity, what's wrong with Tunngle? I haven't played SWBF in too long so I wouldn't know.

As far as I'm aware, Tunngle's still the easiest way to play this game online. Making a new master server means patching everyone's game and splitting up the already tiny swbf1 community even more.

Quote from: aeria. on December 08, 2013, 08:40:33 PM
Out of curiosity, what's wrong with Tunngle? I haven't played SWBF in too long so I wouldn't know.

As far as I'm aware, Tunngle's still the easiest way to play this game online. Making a new master server means patching everyone's game and splitting up the already tiny swbf1 community even more.

Personally I've never really got it. But here is what I gather to be people
s reasons.

Tunggle is finicky and not very user friendly at times. - This is sadly true.

Some people don't want to use Tunngle for some unknown reason or have friends that don't want to. Yet they say they would be willing to play again if there was another solution. - If this is true, it could potentially offset the loss of players from Tunngle. Although hard to say if it is.

Quote from: aeria. on December 08, 2013, 08:40:33 PM
Out of curiosity, what's wrong with Tunngle? I haven't played SWBF in too long so I wouldn't know.

As far as I'm aware, Tunngle's still the easiest way to play this game online. Making a new master server means patching everyone's game and splitting up the already tiny swbf1 community even more.

Not sure why, but I would like things to be the way the used to as well.. Very strange.
--
Also, to understand this kind of stuff, you have to dabble into it a bit first..(Which means you might as well not even try unless you desire to use it in the future, possibly even for a job or education), the code to battlefront executable is compiled, which means that you can't just de-compile and edit it (You could, if you were a very intelligent and I dare say desperate hacker.. Even then you'd run into snags.) that way you wish to, or else people would have done it a VERY VERY long time ago.
edit- The way the executable was edited to accommodate for the new server, was via hex editing (hacking, basically), and it's not a very efficient or easy way to do things. You can't add new things to it, or make great changes that would ultimately give it something that it didn't have before, and rarely can you fix a broken compatibility with that method, but you can change references (sometimes, depends on encryption) and null things out. So in the EXE we just changed gamespy reference to openspy and used openspy as our host from there, and then they went down..

"If you can think of it, somebody has already done it."

Quote from: -ChristmasCommando- on December 08, 2013, 09:07:51 PM
"If you can think of it, somebody has already done it."

This quote annoys me my dear fellow. I would request you to go and think about it carefully then come back. Then I would request that you don't quote it again good sir.

Quote from: aeria. on December 08, 2013, 08:40:33 PM
Out of curiosity, what's wrong with Tunngle? I haven't played SWBF in too long so I wouldn't know.

As far as I'm aware, Tunngle's still the easiest way to play this game online. Making a new master server means patching everyone's game and splitting up the already tiny swbf1 community even more.

About half of people out there can't get it to work on their computer. Finding an easier way to connect would probably grow SWBF's tiny community in my opinion.

Also, speaking of open spy, does any one know what happened to that? It was really easy to use and mimicked game spy perfectly, shouldn't we try to get something like that back up?

Quote from: SleepGiver on December 08, 2013, 09:13:18 PM
This quote annoys me my dear fellow. I would request you to go and think about it carefully then come back. Then I would request that you don't quote it again good sir.

Sorry mate, I wasn't the first bloke that said it. If it irritates you greatly, then I will refrain from using such dastardly quotations.

Quote from: {TcF}Dr.Penguin on December 08, 2013, 09:20:40 PM
About half of people out there can't get it to work on their computer.

So, you and Latro are "Half the people out there" :P ?

It isn't the most user friendly program in the world, that is for sure.

Quote from: -ChristmasCommando- on December 08, 2013, 09:26:21 PM
So, you and Latro are "Half the people out there" :P ?

It isn't the most user friendly program in the world, that is for sure.

Tunngle works on my computer, not really sure what to make of this post? You're very secluded if you can only think of one person who can't master tunngle.

Quote from: {TcF}Dr.Penguin on December 08, 2013, 09:28:38 PM
Tunngle works on my computer, not really sure what to make of this post? You're very secluded if you can only think of one person who can't master tunngle.

Well, I don't really know anyone that used SWBF out side of people that still do now, so it makes perfect sense to me :P

No but really, I totally agree with Tunngle being too complicated.

Tunngle works just fine imo, some people complain about players lagging more shots, but that's a small price to pay. It's free and it usually takes less than a minute to load tunngle.

Quote from: The Black King on December 08, 2013, 08:12:30 PM
Sorry, that's what I meant, just had one of those derp moments.
But, like all codes, they can be changed, removed.
Man, I gotta figure this out myself.
I'm doing too much asking, and not enough doing.

Okay let's get back on topic

Quote from: {TCE}Call-of-Raindeer on December 09, 2013, 01:02:32 PM
Okay let's get back on topic

If COD is saying get on topic, you guys must be WAY off topic. But from a glance, are you really off topic?

Yes. because TCF

Anyways, I will be looking for this code soon.
I will find it...
swap out a few things...
see about a new master...
then test it out.
THEN... seeing if I can do it as a mod-file, instead of having everyone look for the code.

Yea they are there now talking bout how good Tunngle is, which isn't that off topic but they need to get back on topic about the GameSpy stuff

EDIT: ok King just do whatever you said :tu: (emotional support)

Quote from: The Black King on December 09, 2013, 02:28:58 PM
Yes. because TCF

Anyways, I will be looking for this code soon.
I will find it...
swap out a few things...
see about a new master...
then test it out.
THEN... seeing if I can do it as a mod-file, instead of having everyone look for the code.

You can look at the issues we have had with OpenSpy by doing a forum search.   It is not documented.  It needs a MySQL database that contains unknown tables.

Many have said "Let's make our own Master Server!"  but from what I can tell, only Sleepkiller has a shot.

Unless you really really know what you are doing, I suggest you spend your time doing something more worthwhile.

I've always wanted to learn some code, and I didn't get programming this year at my school, so now I have something that gives me a chance to atleast learn.
I don't know exactly what I'm doing, but I'm going to try do.

God, may the force be with me.

Quote from: Buckler on December 09, 2013, 05:58:06 PM
You can look at the issues we have had with OpenSpy by doing a forum search.   It is not documented.  It needs a MySQL database that contains unknown tables.

Many have said "Let's make our own Master Server!"  but from what I can tell, only Sleepkiller has a shot.

Unless you really really know what you are doing, I suggest you spend your time doing something more worthwhile.

Actually, would MySQL Databases be found in Visual Studio 2010? If so, I might download that or Visual Studio 2013 and see if I could work on it. I've toyed very little with SQL Databases in Visual Basic, but I am very interested into it, so if possible, I might see if I could be of some assistance.

And even if I'm not, it would be a good learning experience for me and my studies.:)

No shame in getting familiar with SQL. Database managers will always be needed anywhere humans are using computers. Be warned, it's a bit of a beast and at the points where it isn't boring, it's explicitly boring. I avoid it, but I'm also lazy like that.
[spoiler]Boring story... I was once commissioned to make a membership database for a local art gallery. Being a not for profit, I felt there would be some inexpensive but ready made solution... well I found a 'cheap' one for $10,000... Ok... SQL then, I can get that for free... Way over my head. Oh my god, it was embarrassing how out of my depth I was. So I started a small MS Access DB for them. It had half of the functionality of the mailing system their secretary hacked together using an old IBM word processor. I don't know what they ended up with. They couldn't have stuck with my little tool... it was awful. I went back to fixing spreadsheets for plant managers through a temp agency.[/spoiler]

There are may different distributions of SQL and I believe Visual Studio comes with a Microsoft SQL Server that is version matched for VS.  SK might know more about what flavor of SQL OpenSpy requires. I'm sure there is a lot of context similarity across the different brands, but if it has a preference, then you will need to mind it.

Well, this is great... I'm grounded from my PC for a bit, and depending on my mood when I get back (I'm actually mildly bipolar), I do't know if I'll be willing to put in the work, but I hope I will...

I've been avoiding weighing in properly in this thread due to the fact I don't have much nice to say.

So then, The Black King it's very clear you don't understand the problem properly. This is the first indication that solving it may not be your task. The code with in SWBF isn't the problem and even if it was assembly is a pain to read. If you want to learn programming I encourage you to; but assembly is not a good place to start. Check out this site if you're keen on learning programming http://www.greenfoot.org/ (http://www.greenfoot.org/).

I don't want to completely discourage you from trying to make a new master server. Anything is possible if you keep your mind focused and stick to it. But your time would probably be best spent following your dreams. (And I find it very unlikely that making a new master server for SWBF is your life goal.)

Quote from: {Alpha}Gold Claus on December 09, 2013, 07:23:58 PM
Actually, would MySQL Databases be found in Visual Studio 2010? If so, I might download that or Visual Studio 2013 and see if I could work on it. I've toyed very little with SQL Databases in Visual Basic, but I am very interested into it, so if possible, I might see if I could be of some assistance.

And even if I'm not, it would be a good learning experience for me and my studies.:)

The problems with Openspy are far deeper than just the database. I got the database to a state that it became, "It works now kind of. It can be improved later." Openspy just doesn't like SWBF and who knows why. Fixing it would be too much of a hassle imo. I am currently chasing down a different route which I will talk more of when I have something to show.

The problem is not learning SQL, it is determining what goes in the tables.




An analogy is trying to learn how to build a car from a giant box of stuff.  But not just any car, it has to be the exact perfect car--but you don't know what car.  Oh, and before you start, you have to tell me what parts go in the box for that exact model of car that you don't know.  (i.e. tell me what goes in the database tables or else it will never work).

What you have going for you--well, you know it's a car (SWBF), and you can read a book to learn how to use a wrench (SQL)


Now perhaps you can grasp the magnitude of the situation.  Just to get to that understanding took several weeks of SKs efforts plus his Linux and SQL skills.


edit:  plus the other issues SK mentioned as I was typing!

Ah, ok. I think now we all understand what the difficulty is here. So it's not so much the SQL, as it is that just plain OpenSpy is having a hard time working with SWBF. Well, I'd figure I would chuck my two cents into this, but seeing as how the stuff that SK has gone through requires more knowledge than I currently know and that everything in general is far above my head, I guess learning SQL isn't entirely needed here. However, I will still try and learn it, who knows, it might give me a good job someday. :)

Can someone dumb this all down to where a 5yr old with down syndrome can understand

Quote from: {TCE}Call-of-Raindeer on December 10, 2013, 01:13:16 PM
Can someone dumb this all down to where a 5yr old with down syndrome can understand

-You can't do it, it's too big for you.
That better?

Fine you can make it a bit more smaterness, but not much

Quote from: {TCE}Call-of-Raindeer on December 10, 2013, 01:13:16 PM
Can someone dumb this all down to where a 5yr old with down syndrome can understand

That's kinda the point of it all though.
There is a lot of general programming/reverse engineering knowledge needed to get this thing up and going.
No one has even gotten down and dirty with hard facts or code, so the descriptions above are the layman's terms. To dumb it down further would be to just grunt keywords. "Code not work. Code use unknowns. Need unknowns, make code work."

Quote from: tirpider on December 10, 2013, 03:10:34 PM"Code not work. Code use unknowns. Need unknowns, make code work."

This gave me a chuckle. I'm going to quote it next time a topic like this pops up.

There ya go

It helps to imagine the gorillas from Battle for the Planet of the Apes, sitting around their campfire plotting against Ceaser and grunting:
"Guns mean power. Need Guns. We have Power."