1.3 CTD on Login is related with Ranking Systems...

[DarkPepe]

Hi.. the new BF2.exe (v1.3) comes with a fail safe against modifications on the windows HOSTS file.. so if you have that file modificated to re route the trafic from bf2web.gamespy.com to another IP, your game will CTD.


My 2 Cents.

Well... we where checking with some friends who has this CTD when trying to login on BF2 with their accounts.

We notice that all of them where using ABR Client for automatic host modification (to re route the incoming traffic from bf2web.gamspy.com [GS Stats Server] to a new IP [ABR Stat Servers]).

So we put down the ABR Client (so the hosts file on windows/system32/drivers/etc/ is now clean) and the we can login normally with our accounts.

Investigating further, I opened the BF2.exe file and some dmp files from the Error dumps of the game, and the EXE file now has some kind of a fail check called HTTPRequest.cpp .. that file, checks YOUR HOSTS file to catch any modification on the BF2web.gamespy.com dns (like redirecting it to another IP [ABR, Battlefield statistics, MyISs Ranking System). If there is a modification on the hosts file.. your game will CTD... if not... it will pass clear.

So is this the end of alternative rankings? Big efforts from the ABR ranking System (http://www.battlefieldranking.net) are beeing compromised with this "solution" that EA/DICE Canada took to keep the alternative rankings out of the picture... what will happend now with Ranked Mods like PRMM?


I'm sure that the community will not be happy with this things because EA / DICE CANADA decide to cut down the legs of the community with this Rank Deterrent system.. so now we have to stay with our arms crossed? I think Not.


What you think guys?

DarkPepe From the Chilean BF2 Community http://www.battlefield.cl

[WarGimp]

Re: 1.3 CTD on Login is related with Ranking Systems...

Good catch, looks feasable to me. That early leak did state that there were mesuares being taken to deter alternate ranking... we just didn't have a clue as to what that ment.

We still don't really, tho.

Sounds like ABR et all are going to have to wrestle with this one and come out with a new version. I know they originally had an agreement with Dice, but since then Dice has been aquired by EA en-total. Thus agreements are likely to change.

[DarkPepe]

Re: 1.3 CTD on Login is related with Ranking Systems...

Good catch, looks feasable to me. That early leak did state that there were mesuares being taken to deter alternate ranking... we just didn't have a clue as to what that ment.

We still don't really, tho.

Sounds like ABR et all are going to have to wrestle with this one and come out with a new version. I know they originally had an agreement with Dice, but since then Dice has been aquired by EA en-total. Thus agreements are likely to change.

It's seems to be that the agreement with DICE and EA was AFTER the DICE acquisition by EA, so the problem atm is the lack of compromise of EA and DICE with the community and particulary with the alternative ranking community. Take my example, I represent 3000 players from Chile, we DONT have any Ranked Servers rental Company, so our only way to play BF2 with decent pings is play it on ABR servers (PRMM, Public World, etc).. so now my 3000 players community is back to the ages of playing unranked servers... Take another piece of example... what is happening with the MOD community? , besides the lack of support by EA /DICE to the modders, now we CANT count with an alternative ranking system for our mods... this is the BIGGEST isue atm...

[WarGimp]

Re: 1.3 CTD on Login is related with Ranking Systems...

As I understand it, the steps taken against alternate ranking had to do with unoffical ranked servers being listed as offical ranked servers in the browser.

If my memory serves me correctly, the origial agreement was made shortly after EA had purchased 60% of Dice outright. Since then, EA has fully aquired Dice. Thus, Dice is no longer an idependant organisation that can make agreements and EA isn't under obligation to honor past deals.

What needs to happen is some communication between the people in charge of ABR and EA. Not in hostial "WTF are you doing to the community" terms, but rather in "We're trying to help and are willing to do what it takes" terms.

[DarkPepe]

Re: 1.3 CTD on Login is related with Ranking Systems...

As I understand it, the steps taken against alternate ranking had to do with unoffical ranked servers being listed as offical ranked servers in the browser.

If my memory serves me correctly, the origial agreement was made shortly after EA had purchased 60% of Dice outright. Since then, EA has fully aquired Dice. Thus, Dice is no longer an idependant organisation that can make agreements and EA isn't under obligation to honor past deals.

What needs to happen is some communication between the people in charge of ABR and EA. Not in hostial "WTF are you doing to the community" terms, but rather in "We're trying to help and are willing to do what it takes" terms.

The problem is.. that ABR servers AINT listed as Ranked Ones... ABR people is on contact with DICE atm, I dont know what things are going to come after that... but I sure that the 'tecnical solution' isnt the right one... Because right now... not only ABR, or others alternative rankings are going offline.. also EA's OWN SYSTEM is broke... so.. what is EA doing with this right now?

Talking about agreements... when you buy a car.. you have to accept the things that comes with the car... so if the car is actually been rented, you have to wait until the rental agreement is over to start using the car (at least that says the law on my country).. If EA buys DICE, they must respect the agreements of DICE with other people. Also... the agreement was confirmed by the Community Manager from Germany (EA) Andreas Koch (aka Gamma)...

[satcomNL]

Re: 1.3 CTD on Login is related with Ranking Systems...

yeah dodgy scripts like bf2statistics they suck. here's what you get from them.

[AlexRuyZ]

Re: Confirmed. 1.3 CTD on GS Login..

what the hell did you just say, can you elaborate for us a little

[lil_jimmy_norton]

Re: 1.3 CTD on Login is related with Ranking Systems...

Merged with your other thread about the same thing.

[Verzili]

Re: 1.3 CTD on Login is related with Ranking Systems...

on a side note,bf2statsistics is for lan games with bots,the server wont even show up in the game browser.

but..you can make a server that does and yes it may show up as ranked so what!! that will not stop you from conecting a realising you have no unlocks due to the fact you havnt updated youre host.

now after reading abr forum msg's i read a few that said "we have EA devs backing abr ect.

hmm i smell a fox

whitch is worse for EA...

1.ppl modifing there host and playing bf2 statistcs with bots/humans and geting ranked with unlocks,and a small bug that shows servers as ranked

or

2.the abr stat system that not only works with bf2/sf/ef but also mods,yes mod(mods could kill bf2)

now from a EA perspective they make money from ranked servers(yes)
why would they risk losing the ranked comunity to mods that have stats(major killer to EA pocket)

its seems they new what they were doing when they added that little nasty to the 1.3 exe.

imo the abr system and bf2statistics are a good thing they give you 100% of the game you paid for.

i for one hope abr/bf2stat crack it but who nows.

i am also interested in what EA have to say about abr.

as the "we added this thingy to 1.3 cus bf2statisics servers showed up as ranked"
just doesnt cut it for me.

imho to me EA saw the list of mods out and about to be realsed and stamp out the ranked compition in one 1.3exe

[perry]

Re: 1.3 CTD on Login is related with Ranking Systems...

I can verify that behavior. I was logged in, made a change to my hosts file (127.0.0.1 bf2web.gamespy.com), logged out, logged back in, crashed to desktop. I took out the change, started BF2, and was able to login normally.

Downright shi... of EA to do this to the community.

[satcomNL]

Re: 1.3 CTD on Login is related with Ranking Systems...

on a side note,bf2statsistics is for lan games with bots,the server wont even show up in the game browser.

--cutted--
as the "we added this thingy to 1.3 cus bf2statisics servers showed up as ranked"
just doesnt cut it for me.

imho to me EA saw the list of mods out and about to be realsed and stamp out the ranked compition in one 1.3exe

omg!!,

1st. Bf2statsistics is usef for online play. even MYIS uses it.

for point 2.
Bf2statistics requires the SV_RANKED=1

meaning? -> yes it shows up as ranked!
for 'Not Showing Up in the Server Browser' try run Bf2 with bf2statistics, in internet mode.

About competition, there aint any.
EA goes for bf2142 the next flagship, and bf2 will be forgotten.

if EA/DICE would only talk to us...

for now we have to deal with 1.3 thing.
we have a fix already, but im not ready to reveal it.
let's see what patch 1.31alphabeta will bring us....

i ment the fix for the patch

any more questions?

Yawn....

i shoudl get some sleep.

But before that :

A first seen on totalBF2 forums :


... nothing's gonna stop us now!

[DarkPepe]

Re: 1.3 CTD on Login is related with Ranking Systems...

nice pic sat.. so it's a matter of time to make ABR work on 1.3 :)

[Verzili]

Re: 1.3 CTD on Login is related with Ranking Systems...

omg!!,

1st. Bf2statsistics is usef for online play. even MYIS uses it.

for point 2.
Bf2statistics requires the SV_RANKED=1

meaning? -> yes it shows up as ranked!
for 'Not Showing Up in the Server Browser' try run Bf2 with bf2statistics, in internet mode.

About competition, there aint any.
EA goes for bf2142 the next flagship, and bf2 will be forgotten.



if EA/DICE would only talk to us...

for now we have to deal with 1.3 thing.
we have a fix already, but im not ready to reveal it.
let's see what patch 1.31alphabeta will bring us....

i ment the fix for the patch

any more questions?

i hope you get it working you put alot of effort in making a good ranking system for mods,and im glad to hear you on to it.

i was just curious to as why EA felt they had to put a stop to a great project,just cus of a server or 2 showing up as ranked lol.

there are loads of k/p servers that are ranked yet they dont seem to close them.

good luck with you work on fixing 1.3 :)

[gilo]

Re: 1.3 CTD on Login is related with Ranking Systems...

First of all BIG THANKS ,

Now I know why I was CTD after login with the new patch so its fixed and I can play again .

But I only modified the hosts file to make the game lag less , a tip i read in some forum , Now I notice my stats havnt been updated for a while and I have the white progress bar at 100% , can I atleast fix that ?

Thanks again .

[DarkPepe]

Re: 1.3 CTD on Login is related with Ranking Systems...

First of all BIG THANKS ,

Now I know why I was CTD after login with the new patch so its fixed and I can play again .

But I only modified the hosts file to make the game lag less , a tip i read in some forum , Now I notice my stats havnt been updated for a while and I have the white progress bar at 100% , can I atleast fix that ?

Thanks again .

That's because you probably altered the Gamspy stats server, now, just play a bit, when a "new rank" notification appears on your screen, finish the round and then go to BFHQ and accept that rank.