Currently I am unable to test this but it seems to sound like the game can be launched in an offline mode via the info provided at http://www.savecoh.com/p/download-issue-24-beta.html?m=1 can anyone confirm this for me?
If not I am looking at paying a freelance software developer to program an offline emu/private server program to launch the game. If anyone would be intrested in helping to fund this project should pm me.
cheers - squirrel
There's no offline mode yet - though apparently there's a way to get your character into a zone and promptly die. You can also use Codewalker's "Icon" program to access the character creator. Also, reverse-engineering efforts are already underway, though they're not currently public.
Plus, the client can still run demorecords... and since demorecords are just text with pretty well documented contents, you can still make your own demos "by hand" if you want to put together little (or not so little) animations of your favorite characters...
that's what i needed to know, thanks for the input. the quote i have from devs is about 500-1000 bucks USD to code an emu/private server software, when it's done i will be posting it for free mostly out of spite for NC, if nothing else the game will be playable by the end of next month. I will also make the source code available so that other mods and improvements can be made to the base program.
Quote from: Quinch on January 19, 2013, 05:58:09 PMAlso, reverse-engineering efforts are already underway, though they're not currently public.
Just wondering (although I wish the aforementioned efforts nothing but the best and dearly hope that they are successful) has anything like this ever been successfully pulled off before? Not that an answer of "no" should be cause for pessimism. I'm just curious as to how much trailblazing is going on with this noble undertaking. :)
Quote from: that squirrel on January 19, 2013, 06:21:04 PM
that's what i needed to know, thanks for the input. the quote i have from devs is about 500-1000 bucks USD to code an emu/private server software, when it's done i will be posting it for free mostly out of spite for NC, if nothing else the game will be playable by the end of next month. I will also make the source code available so that other mods and improvements can be made to the base program.
Spite or not, I really do hope that the server software will eventually be open sourced. Open source is awesome.
Quote from: Little Green Frog on January 19, 2013, 06:25:54 PM
Spite or not, I really do hope that the server software will eventually be open sourced. Open source is awesome.
Not likely, or at least not from NCSoft.
From what information I can gather NCSoft seems hellbent on keeping the CoH IP under lock and key. The exact reasons why are largely conjecture, but my own personal opinion is a fierce desire on the part of the Korean executives to
show those whiny american crybabies who the boss is.That being said, it is likely that a reverse-engineered server application likely will be released under a free-software license.
It is also possible that NCSoft's current trajectory will result in a bankruptcy proceeding, and a Korean regulator would have no qualms about selling the CoH IP. Depending on who actually buys the IP under bankruptcy proceedings would determine whether or not they might be open to re-licensing the server application.
Quote from: Zerias on January 19, 2013, 06:41:59 PM
Not likely, or at least not from NCSoft.
No, of course not from NCsoft. I was referring to both OP funded server and the community effort to make one.
Quote from: that squirrel on January 19, 2013, 06:21:04 PM
the quote i have from devs is about 500-1000 bucks USD to code an emu/private server software .... if nothing else the game will be playable by the end of next month.
Time - 6 weeks
Resources -- $500-1000 US,no mention if that is including some definition of labor
Scope -- "game will be playable", whatever that means.
I suspect it will take longer, cost more, and not nearly replicate I23's functioning....but I would love to be wrong.
Don't take this the wrong way, but there's a saying about fools, money and parting.
Ok lets break this down,
1, if WoW has been broken so that people can set up private servers and play the game then it can be done for the cox platform
2, I do have the project listed and have received 8+ responses from various software dev teams that say they can do it, most of which come highly recommended and have a track record of successfully completing their contracts. they only get paid once the software is tested and functional.
3, i don't have a ton of money but i will invest the 1k into this project cause it does mean so much to so many people and i want to be the one to deliver this.
and finally i don't have any faith in NC selling the rights to disney and/or any other company.
look at it however you want, i choose to hope that it will be successful.
Quote from: that squirrel on January 19, 2013, 07:10:58 PM
Ok lets break this down,
1, if WoW has been broken so that people can set up private servers and play the game then it can be done for the cox platform
CoH can have a proper private server as well. Nobody is discussing that. Actually, work on one is currently in progress.
Quote from: that squirrel on January 19, 2013, 07:10:58 PM
2, I do have the project listed and have received 8+ responses from various software dev teams that say they can do it, most of which come highly recommended and have a track record of successfully completing their contracts. they only get paid once the software is tested and functional.
For those teams to be able to fulfill their contract, they will need a full technical specification of what needs to be accomplished. I expect they assume you do have that spec, because - well - that's what I would assume as well if I got similar offer. Are you able to provide that spec?
Quote from: Quinch on January 19, 2013, 06:57:17 PM
Don't take this the wrong way, but there's a saying about fools, money and parting.
So, what's the
right way to take that? :P
full tech specs? the project is listed to the cox platform as is, nothing else provided. if there is any info that could be provided please tell me so that i might be able to relay it but as it stands this is how the project is listed.
Quote from: that squirrel on January 19, 2013, 08:49:24 PM
full tech specs? the project is listed to the cox platform as is, nothing else provided. if there is any info that could be provided please tell me so that i might be able to relay it but as it stands this is how the project is listed.
Oh boy.
You will need to give them every piece of data needed to recreate the server. These data include... Aw, hell. What you are expecting them to do is comparable to ordering an exact copy of Romeo and Juliet by saying to the writer it should be about two teenagers being in love and it should take place in Italy.
Quote from: Little Green Frog on January 19, 2013, 09:01:46 PM
Oh boy.
You will need to give them every piece of data needed to recreate the server. These data include... Aw, hell. What you are expecting them to do is comparable to ordering an exact copy of Romeo and Juliet by saying to the writer it should be about two teenagers being in love and it should take place in Italy.
Oh boy indeed. From what info I've gathered lurking across the internet (mainly the Titan Network forums) most of the stuff via the engine is handled server side, and since NCevil have their heads up their butts, they most likely never release that sort of information.
I'm far from being a genius, but yeah, it's going to be difficult. From what I know...
You need to have the information on how the client and game itself communicates with the server, which seems to be the biggest issue. Any emulating/private server/foilating have this as the biggest issue.
Please feel free to correct me...
Also, I might be interested in donating to the efforts. Send me a PM with more info about who you may be contacting, if your interested in some support.
the game uses the same cryptic engine that CO uses, given the similarities between the 2 games i would assume they're communicating in the same fashion. so trying to acquire that information would probably be easier. i'm still looking in to the matter.
Quote from: that squirrel on January 20, 2013, 12:38:21 AM
the game uses the same cryptic engine that CO uses, given the similarities between the 2 games i would assume they're communicating in the same fashion. so trying to acquire that information would probably be easier. i'm still looking in to the matter.
It doesn't use the same engine. While it's possible that some CoH code was reused when creating CO, the only other game using the same engine as CO is STO.
well, keep us updated squirrel! (Even in updates, if necessary!)
Quote from: that squirrel on January 20, 2013, 12:38:21 AM
the game uses the same cryptic engine that CO uses, given the similarities between the 2 games i would assume they're communicating in the same fashion. so trying to acquire that information would probably be easier. i'm still looking in to the matter.
Look, for the server to be able to handle the game, it needs the following:
- Precise description of the protocol that handles client-server communication. Here is an example of how a simple protocol looks like: http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc1459.txt.
- An array of coordinates for every building, tree, mailbox and other world objects. Also their dimensions. Without that, mapping won't work.
- Mission data. The server needs scenarios for all missions, task forces and events in order to be able to play them for you.
- Costume data. The server needs to render other entities in the world for you.
- Finally you will need to recreate the combat engine for which game mechanics will be required.
Mind you, those need to be concrete data: arrays of numbers as far as eye can see, lengthy formulas, algorithm descriptions and so on.
I am sorry to rain on your parade, but I sincerely doubt you can provide your team with any of those. And without them, well, they can still make a bare bones server that you can connect to and fly around, I suppose. That is if they crack the communication protocol without having access to any documentation and having no familiarity with the game. It should be possible, but it would also be very time consuming. Not sure how much will they be able to pick up in just a month. All in all, I predict the result will severely disappoint you.
Edit: grammar.
"Mission data. The server needs scenarios for all missions, task forces and events in order to be able to play them for you.
Costume data. The server needs to render other entities in the world for you."
Both of these were not handled server side, random instances such as dev created invasions were plotted and started server side however all the required programming IE maps, missions, characters, story and related mechanics are in the .piggs files. the server did run hit calcs and relay the actions to any other available parties.
Edit: character information was saved server side though :)
Quote from: that squirrel on January 20, 2013, 07:02:52 PM
"Mission data. The server needs scenarios for all missions, task forces and events in order to be able to play them for you.
Costume data. The server needs to render other entities in the world for you."
Both of these were not handled server side, random instances such as dev created invasions were plotted and started server side however all the required programming IE maps, missions, characters, story and related mechanics are in the .piggs files. the server did run hit calcs and relay the actions to any other available parties.
Edit: character information was saved server side though :)
When you enter the mission, your client loads data from PIGG files and is able to draw you a map and show you the instance. That's about it. It is up to the server to populate it with enemies, react to your actions, such as clicking glowies and handle awards. Plus track your position in the game world, of course.
Other players will need to be rendered in your client and it will be up to the server to determine who sees whom and relay necessary data between game clients.
Quote from: Little Green Frog on January 20, 2013, 07:37:22 PM
When you enter the mission, your client loads data from PIGG files and is able to draw you a map and show you the instance. That's about it. It is up to the server to populate it with enemies, react to your actions, such as clicking glowies and handle awards. Plus track your position in the game world, of course.
Other players will need to be rendered in your client and it will be up to the server to determine who sees whom and relay necessary data between game clients.
and far more than that. Look at what I arrived : http://www.cohtitan.com/forum/index.php/topic,4982.msg46676.html#msg46676
Forgive me but I cannot help but realize that this squirrel is looking for some nutz.
I see 6 posts on his profile and if I wanted to bogart some money from people missing the game this is the exact way I would do it. If you wish cash there are many ways to crowd source things now and this seems a lot like trolling.
I just wanted to say thanks for this post just for the link to the icon program. I didn't realize it was out there until I read this post and now I can open the character creator! I realized after the shutdown I didn't take nearly enough screenshots. At least now I have a way to take some more. Yay!! :))
Head to the main Titan Forums and there is an entire section devoted to teaching people how to make their own demorecorded movies. There are some amazing pieces being created entirely piece by piece in demorecord mode by folks who started from scratch not that long ago. Even if you saved nothing, you can recreate your character in Icon, load the costume file and create a video with him.
Thanks VV!! Fortunately I saved my characters with the Sentinal+ extractor and now I can see them in DemoMode!!