GENERAL: activsion

[Zaphod Beeblebrox]

they don't have the source code? shoudln't activision be the "owner" of it?

[J Bytheway]

Huh? That's wierd. I don't really know how these things work, but I'm sure the programmers all signed contracts agreeing not to let on any of Activisions secrets, including the CTP2 source code, so getting it from them might be tough. Besides, I'd be surprised if any of them still had it - it was a project they worked on relatively long ago.

[Locutus]

I was afraid that that might be the case -- I warned about it a long, long time ago but noone believed that that would be possible.

They gave up support for this game quite soon after release, they've been through a couple of reorganisations and quit software development entirely, so it's very well possible the code was simply thrown out at some point as there was no use in keeping it. Or it may still be there but there's noone left at Activision who could possibly know where it is.

Someone could indeed try contacting Winnie Lee (she still posts here from time to time, saw here commenting on the latest column just a few days ago), David Ray or someone else, but as John said, not much chance they will be willing and/or able to help...

[Locutus]

The Big Mc,
Who exactly at Activision have you been talking to? I wanna do a news item on this but could do with a source of that statement. Just some tech support guy or someone in particular?

[Martin Gühmann]

Originally posted by Locutus
The Big Mc,
Who exactly at Activision have you been talking to? I wanna do a news item on this but could do with a source of that statement. Just some tech support guy or someone in particular?

Yes that would be really interesting if it was a tech supprt guy, so if yes then we could have a chance, actual also a way to pass a request along to the dustbin. So before this should be posted I want to see a hard proof.

-Martin

[The Big Mc]

Recently you requested personal assistance from our on-line support
center. Below is a summary of your request and our response.

We will assume your issue has been resolved if we do not hear from you
within 96 hours.
Thank you for allowing us to be of service to you.

You may also update this question by replying to this message. Because
your reply will be automatically processed, you MUST enter your reply
in the space below. Text entered into any other part of this message
will be discarded.
[===> Please enter your reply below this line <===]

[===> Please enter your reply above this line <===]

If your issue remains unresolved, please update this question at

https://activision.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/activision.cfg/php/enduser/acct_login.php?p_userid=the_big_mc1@hotmail.com&p_next_page=myq_upd.php&p_refno=030428-000031&p_created=1051548606

Subject
---------------------------------------------------------------
Re: I can't download anything from the ctp2 download page can you help! Itkeeps
... [Incident: 030402-000003]


Discussion Thread
---------------------------------------------------------------
Response (Ismael Garcia) - 05/06/2003 10:02 AM
Hello,

Unfortunately I've hit a brick wall on this. Even though we published the
game and developed it in house, the developers (programmers) no longer work for
Activision so I can't ask them about any of the games assets. The producers
have all moved on as well so there is not much left to work on here. I'm sorry
that can't provide you with anything to work with but we just don't have that
information anymore.

Customer - 05/06/2003 02:20 AM
>Could you find anything from the game unused pictures for example.
>

Response (Ismael Garcia) - 05/01/2003 01:17 PM
Hello,

I did some looking around for the programmers of the game and they are no
longer employed by Activision. The last thing I found was for David Ray who
also worked on Ice Windale for Black Isle Studios. We do not have any source
code so I figure that the programmers are the way to go. You may want to
contact Black Isle studios for help in contacting David Ray. I hope this
helped.

Customer - 05/01/2003 11:35 AM
>I am acting on the behalf of that community.
>

Response (Ismael Garcia) - 05/01/2003 11:31 AM
Hello,

You can go to http://apolyton.net/ctp2/ for some resources that may help
you alter the game. There are also some 3rd party patches made by the
community.

Response (Ismael Garcia) - 05/01/2003 11:13 AM
Hello,

You can go to http://apolyton.net/ctp2/ for some resources that may help
you alter the game. There are also some 3rd party patches made by the
community.

Customer - 05/01/2003 03:05 AM
>Thank you for passing on my request for the source code and look forward to
>getting a response form you after the week end.
>

Response (Kirk McNesby) - 04/30/2003 09:11 AM
Hi,

Our support does not allocate your incident to a specific person. All emails go
into a queue which are then answered by whoever is available first. This
ensures the fastest response time possible (and a fair distribution of the
work).

Rarely will companies open the source code for a game to the public. I can pass
along your request however.

Customer - 04/30/2003 04:50 AM
>Well my question was for help with bugs in the game as well as missing
>graphics.

I first ask a few weeks ago but went on holiday over Easter. The problem was
I got passed around a bit before Easter.

And my question was why have I been transferred to some one else.

The last person said that no modes were coming out . But before I can ask a
second question I get passed around and have to talk to some one else.

The second request I was going to give ones for the source code and files to
be made public domain. As activision have little in the way of commercial
use for them now. So that the greater internet community could at least
attempt to rectify some of these bugs.

Thank you

>

Response (Kirk McNesby) - 04/28/2003 12:23 PM
Hi,

I'm not sure exactly what your question is at this point. Please restate it.

Customer - 04/28/2003 09:50 AM
Incident created due to reply to expired incident 030402-000003.

>can somebody please answer my question.
>


Question Reference #030428-000031
---------------------------------------------------------------
Platform: PC
Title: Call to Power II
Contact Information: the_big_mc1@hotmail.com
Date Created: 04/28/2003 09:50 AM
Last Updated: 05/06/2003 10:02 AM
Status: Waiting

Explanation
---------------------------------------------------------------




Ismael Garcia
Activision Customer Support Representative

[stankarp]

My 2 cents worth here as well.

When Ctp2 first came out, there was a lot of multi player interest and I participated in an intense on line league competition. It was great fun, nearly got me divorced. Then someone discovered a rush buy bug in multiplayer, if you rush bought during your opponents turn, you could then change the item and it would still give it to you, so you could rush buy a warrior and change it to a settler or a settler and change it to a wonder.

When everyone complained to Activision, they refused to do anything. I personally sent a email querie and got back an automated message saying they are no longer supporting the game and I would not get any help.

At the time, I thought of demanding a refund and know several leaguers did claim and get refunds from the place they bought the game. No one wanted too play for points anymore and the league collapsed.

I was so pissed off with Activision that I vowed never to buy another Activision game. I have also seen other adverse comments about Activisions "customer support".

Maybe things havnt changed that much at Activision.

Each time I have a senior moment (temporary dementure) and play Civ 3 again for 10 minutes, I think what an opportunity Activision have stuffed to really produce the ultimate Civ game using CTP2 as the base.

Seems like someone at Activision threw the goose that could have laid a golden egg out without bothering to see what it could do. F@#**##its.

[The Big Mc]

Now now no swearing.

[stankarp]

Sorry, Having another senior moment.

[The Big Mc]

No its not for me but you never know how old some new members can be.

[stankarp]

I hope Locutus includes a copy of the transcript of my above post in his news, maybe he could also sent to "Inactivision' or was that "Stupidvision".

[Peter Triggs]

I think Joe Rumsey would be the one to go to on this.

[The Big Mc]

who is Joe Rumsey

[Martin Gühmann]

Originally posted by The Big Mc
who is Joe Rumsey

Joe Rumsey also known as Mr Ogre, he was the CTP2 lead designer and is the author of the slic documentation.

In this thread Vel had the idea to buy the source code. And Peter wondered if one of the game designers still work at Activision:

I think Dan Hagerty (one of the game designers) still works for Activision. At least he did last March:

http://pc.ign.com/articles/356/356030p1.html

It wouldn't hurt to ask him what he thinks of the idea anyway.


edit: Bloody advertising! Follow the continue to interview button at the top of the page.

And by the way don't forget to vote in the Apolyton Hall of Fame: May 2003.

-Martin

[The Big Mc]

I have read the tread and nothing seems to have come form it.