The Shot Heard Around Paragon City - SCORE Public Release

[undeadsuits]

We need more than two people with the keys to the kingdom so we don't face /another/ situation of someone "getting it ready" for six years (expect for their friends)

[Azrael]

I am not distributing the code. That isn't my place. I want a single thing - to make the server that encourages a developer to buy the game and make money for them and therefore keeping the game alive by getting NCSoft to sell it.

Simple mission statement right there.

Hopefully in such a scenario, that a 'developer' acts in the way that Linux distros do that allow you to run your own version of the server OS. 

Ie.  I could run a 'private' server ergo play solo, P2P, LAN or a more significant population server.

What we don't want is the 'same scenario' as the NC one where by if it's not going to make a lot of money (and I don't think it will...) or isn't pleasing shareholders or if it gets 'personal' it gets shut down, again.

Either way, a brave first step taken by you, Ironwolf.

And from creativity and constructive and balanced action many opportunities for the CoH community can arise.  Even, for example, Atlas Park Revival, patching it with 'improved' graphics or map creators or power mods or mission creators. 

While this is all very exciting, it still doesn't exclude the possibility, of the 'reverse' emulation (or 'equivalent' server work) continuing in addition.  It doesn't mean that SCORE's work stops.  I don't see such a scenario.  I've been fully expecting a playing server from Argentina ;)  for years now.  There's no way all that reverse engineering work goes in the bin.  They've clearly made plenty of progress.  This 'leak' doesn't invalidate anything or any successor projects progress.  I hope to see what Leandro, Codewalker (and SCORE) have been working on.  eg. Map creators and mission creators tease the imagination and take the game beyond what we know and allow the community (who was partly bored with the original...) to create their own content and push the game onwards.  They haven't explicitly said that(?) but from bits and pieces said, and the sheer vigilance on the SG bases of Paragon Chat we can dare to imagine a CoH +1.

That may take a bit longer but I still look forward to seeing it.  'The leak' may take a bit of the pressure off them and the CoH community demanding they are the 'ones' that deliver it.

But they have preserved teh legacy for us to enjoy.  We must remember that.  Without that leak to them.  Without their work?  No Icon.  No Paragon Chat.  No 'Secret Server' to push the reverse emulation effort forwards.  No 'server' to enjoy at all.  It took a lot of risk to do all that.  It wasn't risk free.  It took guts to do Icon, to do Paragon Chat and wait for the NC nerf bat.

This 'server' passing of the torch.  Is the first real challenge for the CoH community since shut down.  We may well be careful of the phrase, 'Be careful for what you wish for...'

In fact, it's a challenge to the whole community to press forwards.  The CoH community will have choices. 

There's still SEGS, Ship of Heroes, Heroes and Villains, Titans etc.

That's the beauty.

This can be touch point that really gets things going.  This thread hasn't been this busy or alive for a while.  And whilst the manner of the leak may be upsetting to some.

It's an opportunity for all.  It can release the burden for some.  Other's can help share the burden.

At the very least.  It should be an interesting game of whack a mole.

Azrael.

[Ironwolf]

I won't beat around the bush - when you have one cow and the village owns it - everyone wants the milk but no one wants to feed the cow and it dies.

I want an owner to run the game - take responsibility for developing it and perhaps start a CoH2 in the future. I don't want wild servers everywhere with a 10 player population and watch it starve to death with no marketing or publicity.

[Golden Aurora]

This approach makes a c&d super effective. Ncsoft applauds your efforts!

[Kistulot]

I won't beat around the bush - when you have one cow and the village owns it - everyone wants the milk but no one wants to feed the cow and it dies.

I want an owner to run the game - take responsibility for developing it and perhaps start a CoH2 in the future. I don't want wild servers everywhere with a 10 player population and watch it starve to death with no marketing or publicity.

You have never lived in a village with a cow.

Look at Leandro's server. It was funded by a small group of people. Like, look at the evidence that we have?

I'm sorry, clearly you can do what you want and I can't stop you, but your cynicism and your desire to do things "the right way" put us all but right back where we started, and you're even wanting to paint a red bullseye on your back.

[undeadsuits]

C&D aside, the more people that have it the better for trust and transparency. Something that has been severely lacking in the half a decade Leo has been the sole holder of it.

[Ironwolf]

This approach makes a c&d super effective. Ncsoft applauds your efforts!

I can only give the facts and purposes of any server I create.

I am not going to lie to anyone. I am blunt and to the point. If you want secrecy go talk to SCoRE and i don't mean that as a knock - it is what they did for 6 years. I am being as open as humanly possible from day 1.

[Azrael]

You have never lived in a village with a cow.

Look at Leandro's server. It was funded by a small group of people. Like, look at the evidence that we have?

I'm sorry, clearly you can do what you want and I can't stop you, but your cynicism and your desire to do things "the right way" put us all but right back where we started, and you're even wanting to paint a red bullseye on your back.

At some point.  Somebody has a bullseye on their back.

The 'leaker?'  SCORE for receiving the leak.  SCORE for putting out Icon or Paragon Chat.  And working on reverse engineering to make it 'more' legal.

Or Iron Wolf?

He's got the guts to give it a go. 

I have complete faith in his intentions.  Let's get this this up and running. 

And we'll have our answer from NC soon enough.  Silence?  Or Legal rebuttal.

As I have in SCORE.  I commend their work in getting us THIS far and for the work they're probably still going to continue.

Along with the successor parties.

Azrael.

[Ironwolf]

You have never lived in a village with a cow.

Look at Leandro's server. It was funded by a small group of people. Like, look at the evidence that we have?

I'm sorry, clearly you can do what you want and I can't stop you, but your cynicism and your desire to do things "the right way" put us all but right back where we started, and you're even wanting to paint a red bullseye on your back.

I don't understand why I am cynical? A small hobby server for you and your friends will likely be possible in the near future. I want more than that and trying to find a legal owner and to treat NCSoft's product with care is cynical? I really don't understand what you mean. It's ok - I clearly laid out my goals and intents. This is what I meant by some things won't be secret but also not up for debate.

[Sinistar]

I don't understand why I am cynical? A small hobby server for you and your friends will likely be possible in the near future. I want more than that and trying to find a legal owner and to treat NCSoft's product with care is cynical? I really don't understand what you mean. It's ok - I clearly laid out my goals and intents. This is what I meant by some things won't be secret but also not up for debate.

Ironwolf I have always respected you and I hope you do get something going and yes I do hope that someone can then step in and buy the game from NCSoft.

However NCsoft hasn't wanted to sell the game before, but we shall see.

That being said though.......I would want the code to be scrubbed to keep the leaker's ID secret....but THEN I would want the code distributed to file download sites and CoH fans can download it, and even if they can't get a private server of their own running, they still HAVE the code, can keep it safe in external back up drives and cloud storage so that if NCSoft goes on a legal rampage and shuts servers down, the code is still out there....

Just like how the seed was distributed at the end of the first Sword Art Online anime and thus games popped up everywhere, or as they said in Serenity "Can't stop the signal"

[Azrael]

I won't beat around the bush - when you have one cow and the village owns it - everyone wants the milk but no one wants to feed the cow and it dies.

I remember your original posts about making this a community game.  There is the possibility that the 'community' mods it.

eg.  The work of SEGs.

Ergo, you get a lot of cows. 

Modding is now a key element of the more advanced communities using 3D engines.  That use a core 3d engine and the community mods the graphics or the whole game.

As you can probably tell, I don't have a lot of faith in corporations who gave us little room for reply before shutting down.

However, it's still their (NC's) IP and they will get their chance.  We'll see if they really want to 'crack the American market' or punish the rump of what's left of the CoH community.

That won't stop SCORE's unholy war to preserve the game.

Leandro's copped a bit of heat.  I don't see why.  It's a legacy preserved.  And if he's passed it on? 

It's given us this opportunity. 

Azrael.

[RGladden]

To Ironwolf, et al, I say...Bonne Chance. 

To other CoH fans, we may be closer to getting the game back than we've ever been...even excluding the news about the secret emulator.

I have here a film released by SEGs just a week ago.  It shows a character flying about through their world...and reveals mobs spawning on all of their maps.  In my opinion, they are just an eyelash away from having a functioning street-sweeping game.  All that is needed is functioning AI and combat system.

In addition, it would not surprise me if the admin who gave the server code to Leando also gave it to others. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlFCcANj6u4

[weenus]

That link is to a file that is only about 470MB to download and I am not downloading it.

That's how you get your computer sick.

[Sinistar]

Here's a question: if this is the i-24 beta prior to shut down code,    what about the player database?  Was it the beta-test server player character database or is it the live server?

[Sinistar]

To Ironwolf, et al, I say...Bonne Chance. 

To other CoH fans, we may be closer to getting the game back than we've ever been...even excluding the news about the secret emulator.

I have here a film released by SEGs just a week ago.  It shows a character flying about through their world...and reveals mobs spawning on all of their maps.  In my opinion, they are just an eyelash away from having a functioning street-sweeping game.  All that is needed is functioning AI and combat system.

In addition, it would not surprise me if the admin who gave the server code to Leando also gave it to others. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlFCcANj6u4

Indeed, this code leak could be a boon for SEGS.

While they cannot plagiarize the CoH code, they could still study the code and say "So THAT's how they did that! okay team, how can we recode this from scratch using their code as a blueprint without directly copying it?"

[Eiko-chan]

That link is to a file that is only about 470MB to download and I am not downloading it.

I've never worked on a code project of this scale before and I have not unpacked anything from the archive, but what I'm looking at in 7zip does look plausibly like source code for many game server parts. (There are C-language code files and .h files among other things.)

There us a txt in the root that references the poll that Bree Royce posted on MassivelyOP to confirm it is current.

[Noyjitat]

I don't understand why I am cynical? A small hobby server for you and your friends will likely be possible in the near future. I want more than that and trying to find a legal owner and to treat NCSoft's product with care is cynical? I really don't understand what you mean. It's ok - I clearly laid out my goals and intents. This is what I meant by some things won't be secret but also not up for debate.

Yeah what your planning is only going to result in ncsoft saying thanks and  shutting it down. It is 100% guaranteed. You can't make a business proposal with for something stolen rofl. Don't purposely say Here we are. Just host it.

[Sinistar]

Massively's latest

https://massivelyop.com/2019/04/18/whats-going-on-with-city-of-heroes-now-this-game-is-a-unicorn/

[RGladden]

Yeah what your planning is only going to result in ncsoft saying thanks and  shutting it down. It is 100% guaranteed. You can't make a business proposal with for something stolen rofl. Don't purposely say Here we are. Just host it.

Maybe....but maybe not.  NC may think "Aw chit...the cat is out of the bag, and the code is being destributed endlessly across the internet.  Fighting this isn't worth the trouble anymore."  Maybe.  The whole thing is balanced on the edge of a knife...

[Angel Phoenix77]

I did not steal it and in fact have zero idea where the code I may receive is from other than hearsay. I can say the code is modified as powersets and development has occurred from the videos I have seen.

I have seen so many various rumors of what, how, where, when the code was released or came into being. I know many other private servers for other games have been setup - where did they get the code? If I act as a responsible steward for their game - not allowing a profit to be made and actively seek to get a buyer to purchase it from NCSoft and step away from it - other than a C&D letter - which I would comply to immediately, I can't see what risk - I am taking? I am not damaging the financial future of the product - it is closed. I am not seeking to make a profit or to harm NCSoft - in fact I want the opposite - to give them a fully functioning product they no longer have.

I am no lawyer, with that said, I think as long as its donations and not subs. Should be fine. This is going by board games such as Kickstarter. Ip owners shouldn't care as long as its not making money.