nl.alink.gamepoint.net

[Martin Gühmann]

Originally posted by mapfi
From my experience with craptivision support I'd say this is typical - they show concern to some extent, and now when you get down to the serious questions they'll drop you...

If anyone's planning to set up a MP server on his own - there's the info on how to do it in my Multiplayer Network Questions Thread, got it by asking them to death... and searching the net

http://apolyton.net/forums/showthrea...52#post1321952

You should put this into the FAQ.

-Martin

[mapfi]

Should I? Maybe I should...

[Maquiladora]

I thought you were gonna put how Activision are a bunch of useless uncooperative bastards

They never replied to my last email anyway so You can find my question on the Activison customer support site. It might help if someone else started complaining too.

[Maquiladora]

Q57Why are Activision a bunch of uncooperative useless retards?
A57Because they dont care about customers once theyve published a game. It might help relieve some of your anger by spamming their customer support site.

[Devil of Truth]

Originally posted by Maquiladora
Q57Why are Activision a bunch of uncooperative useless retards?

It would be fruitless trying the false marketing approach, even though the contents of the box is distinctly different to what is printed on the box. Craptivision has already alluded to their defence:

Yes the box does advertise on-line play but you must understand that the game is more than three years old. We have not disabled the feature and it seems like many players out there are still able to enjoy on-line play. Activision can't control the Internet nor individual Internet Service Providers, but we can do our best to improve your situation.

All they need is a rookie, green-nosed lawyer, and they’re off the hook.

Best idea would probably be to inform some online gaming sites/publications etc. about your experiences. Be very careful what you say, and how you say it. Be sure to have watertight examples to back up whatever you say. Keep all correspondence (and just for good measure, cc. Craptivision). It is your right as a consumer (in most countries) to complain publicly about a product. Just don’t defame. This may pressurise Craptivision to change their stance. (Emphasis on “may”.)

Yes, I’m in Marketing and Mercantile Law. If there are any consumer/product lawyers out there – let’s hear your views.

This can be done in our favour.

[mkalthoff]

Subject
---------------------------------------------------------------
I can not play multiplayer over internet any more. I have the patch installed...


Discussion Thread
---------------------------------------------------------------
Response (Sam Akiki) - 12/11/2002 09:39 AM
Hello,

There will be no new servers for this game. What is out there now is all that there will be. If you have any further questions feel free to email us back.

Customer - 12/11/2002 03:09 AM
Hallo,

of course there is much you can do. You can buy a server, install
the host software for ctpII and place it in the internet.

Let me ask you directly: Will you care for enabling multiplayer
functionality over internet for ctpII?

Response (Sam Akiki) - 12/10/2002 10:20 AM
Hello,

This game is old and the servers are no longer maintained by us. We have no access to the servers. There is not much more that we can do. If you have any further questions feel free to email us back.

Customer - 12/09/2002 12:25 PM
Well, where are YOUR servers? I can buy your game today with
"multiplayer over internet" on the box. I could understand, that
you do not support ctp 1, because the current game is ctp 2.
I have not complained, as long I could play, no matter it was a
server of an other company. Where is the problem in
installing the host software, e.g. on your internet server?

Response (Sam Akiki) - 12/09/2002 10:52 AM
Hello,

Unfortunately you will have to wait until the server admins bring the server back up. We have nothing to do with the servers that you are trying to connect to. They are not run by Activision and are not supported. You will have to contact the servers admins for help. If you have any further questions feel free to email us back.

Customer - 12/06/2002 01:35 PM
Here is the dirextX file.

Response (Ayal Moreno) - 12/06/2002 11:57 AM
Hello,

It is possible that there is only one server left. It is also possible that this last server is having techinical difficulties and the Admin of that server hasnt performed the necessary maintenace. I would wait several days and try again. Another option try and email the Admin of that server and ask if there are any special settings you have to use.


Please attach a dxdiag to your next email by following these steps:
We need to further diagnose your situation. To do this we ask that you do the following:
1) Click on the Start button > Run.
2) In the box type: dxdiag
3) Click the OK button.
4) DirectX Diagnostic Tool will open, click the Save All Information button at the bottom.
5) Save the dxdiag.txt file to your desktop.
6) Come back to this email and attach the dxdiag.txt file.

Feel free to call or email customer support if you have any questions or problems.

Customer - 12/06/2002 11:22 AM
Hi,

I just activated my old ISDN-Connection. This connection has the
same network stack but does not use PPPoE. But I have stil the
same problem. I only see one server(games.igateway.net). I can't
log in the server (Connection is lost/broken).

Is this the only server left? What's up with nl.alink.gamepoint.net?
That server worked fine for us 3 days ago. My teammates have the
same problem (one with windows98, one with windows2000).

Response (Nick Bee) - 12/06/2002 03:46 AM
Hi,

Your network stack looks good. Hoewver, the game may be incompatible with some high-speed internet connections. Those Internet Service Providers, which require you to dial-in and establish a connection in order to access the internet, and use PPPOE (Point-to-Point Protocol Over Ethernet), may be unable to play Call to Power 2 over the internet. With PPPOE each time you dial in to the Internet, you are assigned a different private IP address (dynamic IP addressing , using a "10-dot" scheme). Unsolicited information cannot pass through the firewall to you. If you receive the message "Unable to join lobby" when selecting any server from the Internet Server List, the game may not support internet play through your Internet Service Provider. LAN play over TCP/IP and IPX should not be affected by this.

Customer - 12/05/2002 11:30 PM
Hi,

I have XP. Wenn I click on Properties I see different categories
(general, options, security, ..). Under network I see:
Internetprotocol (TCP/IP) - checked
QoS-packet planer - checked
Client for Microsoft Network - UNchecked
File and Printer sharing for microsoft networks - UNchecked

(I hope the translations are correct)

Response (Anthony Griffin) - 12/05/2002 01:32 PM
Hello again,

Thanks for the information. Since you are receiving that message, please list all the items in your network stack.

(2000/XP)
1)Go to Control Panel
2)Double click the Network Connections Control Panel
3)Double click your Connection then select the Properties button
4)List all the items you see there (such as "Client for Microsoft Networks" and "TCP/IP" etc) in your response to this e-mail.

Also note the following:

The game does not function correctly over networks using dynamic IP addressing. Most dial-up connections and some DSL connections use this method. With dynamic IP addressing each time you dial in to the Internet, you are assigned a different private IP address (dynamic IP addressing , using a "10-dot" scheme). Unsolicited information cannot pass through the firewall to you.

Customer - 12/05/2002 01:17 PM
Hi,

on games.igateway.net I get the message
"Die Verbindung wurde abgebrochen" (german). This is in english :
"The connection is lost" or so. I can not see any other servers,
even with you servers.dat file.

Response (Anthony Griffin) - 12/05/2002 11:08 AM
Hello,

Thanks for contacting Activision Customer Support. There aren't too many servers left for this game, but I'll do my best to help. What exact message do you receive when you try to join that particular server? Also, if you have not done so already, please try the following:

To refresh the servers list:
1) Highlight one of the servers listed and then click Next.
2) When the next screen comes up click on Back.
3) You should now see a longer list of servers.

Ensure that your SERVERS.DAT file is up to date. You can download the attached servers.zip file which contains the needed servers.dat file. Simply extract the contents into your game directory.

[Maquiladora]

Response (Sam Akiki) - 12/11/2002 09:39 AM
Hello,

There will be no new servers for this game. What is out there now is all that there will be.

Thats it then. I think any further badgering will get the same loop of answers.

Although i still dont get the legality of advertising it on the box still, no matter how old the game is. I guess MP *is* working, just no working servers exist to play on.

[Locutus]

Well then, I guess we just have to set up our own server. I've looked into the Anet files mapfi provided and concluded that getting a server to run under Windows is gonna be a huge pain, so if I have time during the holidays, I want to see if I can install Linux (I've been planning to do that for like 5 years now but I've always been too lazy to actually do it ) and experiment with the game server code. Not that my PC is particularly suitable to use as game server, but at least we'll have an idea of how (if) it works and what it would involve...

[mkalthoff]

the alternative would be to have a working vpn-connection for every team. Does anyone know how to set up a vpn-server on windows? Is there cheap vpn-server software available?
I have lately read about installing a vpn-server (free-ware) on linux, but I have no extra box available.

[Maquiladora]

I brought up this particular subject in another one of these threads, before the servers disappeared. Have a look at this http://www.vpnlabs.com/vpn-categorie.../36/index.html

Apprently Windows VNP software is very insecure but its a possible solution perhaps.

[Maquiladora]

Anyone wanna try this one with me sometime?

http://www.cisco.com/univercd/cc/td/doc/product/vpn/client/3_1/user/index.htm

[Maquiladora]

Actually i just noticed thats a commerical product, not free. :/ I cant find a free windows one anywhere.

[cloud99]

nl is back

hey guys i just tried NL and its back)

[Maquiladora]

WOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOO it is

Do you think it was my begging email to nlink?

[Gilgamensch]

Maq,

maybe they DO read 'our' forum' sometimes as well