Joystiq

Rumor: Maxis insider claims SimCity servers not essential

Mike Schramm — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 19:45:00 EST

Though EA's official stance on SimCity's persistent Internet connection has been that it's absolutely required for the core game to function, a report from Rock, Paper, Shotgun claims that is not the case. An inside source who asked to remain anonymous told RPS the online servers are "not handling any of the computation done to simulate the city you are playing."

According to the source, the servers are coordinating social messages between cities in a region, as well as "cloud storage of save games, interfacing with Origin, and all of that. But for the game itself? No, they're not doing anything."

Even when the servers go down, certain cities have stayed online and playable for a period of time, suggesting off-site computation is not entangled in the main gameplay loop. The RPS source claims servers are also being used to repeatedly check for instances of hacking and cheating - and the game's verification messages to servers are creating queues and hampering responsiveness.

Finally, the source casts doubt on EA's claims that a single-player version of this SimCity would be impossible to produce. "It wouldn't take very much engineering to give you a limited single-player game without all the nifty region stuff." EA's current public reasoning about why the game needs to stay online has done little to quell frustration voiced over the game's tremendous launch issues.

Joystiq has contacted EA for comment regarding the source's claims.

Rumor: Maxis insider claims SimCity servers not essential originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 12 Mar 2013 19:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: EA asks SimCity affiliates to 'stop actively promoting the game'

Ludwig Kietzmann — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 18:00:00 EST

Rumor: EA asks SimCity affiliates to 'stop actively promoting the game' originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 08 Mar 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EA adding more SimCity servers over next two days

JC Fletcher — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 09:45:00 EST

In order to help get more people connected to SimCity during a launch period plagued by intermittent (at best) access and data loss, EA has begun adding more servers for the online-only game.

"What we are doing is deploying more servers over the coming two days which will alleviate many of the ongoing issues," senior producer Kip Katsarellis said on the EA forum. "We are also paying close attention to all the bug reports we are receiving from our fans. We've already pushed several updates in the last few days. Our live ops team is working 24/7 to resolve issues and ensure that bug fixes roll into the game as quickly as possible."

On Tuesday, EA expressed its confidence that Origin services would be "stable" for international launches occurring later in the week. Despite that confidence, the Oceanic servers crashed at launch today.

EA adding more SimCity servers over next two days originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 07 Mar 2013 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PSA: Halo 2 PC multiplayer servers going offline Feb. 15

Jordan Mallory — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 22:30:00 EST

Online multiplayer matches in the PC version of Halo 2 are about to get a lot lonelier than they already are, as Bungie will be pulling the plug on Friday, February 15. Matches over LAN will still be possible of course, but as far as playing through Bungie's servers, that's all she wrote.

"We've been monitoring the population for months," the announcement reads, "and it's been peaking consistently at approximately 20 players or less." So! If you're one of the 20 people left in the whole of existence that are still playing Halo 2, allow us to officially welcome you back to society. You'll be pleased to know that several other Halo games have been released in your absence.

PSA: Halo 2 PC multiplayer servers going offline Feb. 15 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 19 Jan 2013 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New GameSpy owners Glu Mobile shut down multiplayer servers without notice

Mike Schramm — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 22:00:00 EST

Players of quite a few old PC games, including Neverwinter Nights, Microsoft Flight Simulator X, SWAT 4, Hidden and Dangerous 2, and Star Wars: Battlefront, are reporting that the GameSpy-powered multiplayer servers behind those titles and more have been shut off without notice. The GameSpy service was sold to publisher Glu Mobile from IGN a little while ago, so it's that company that's apparently responsible for shutting down these servers.

Another one of the games affected was Sniper Elite, and developer Rebellion says its hands are tied: Glu wants to charge a lot of money to turn the servers back on, and Rebellion doesn't have the resources to transfer the multiplayer on this old title to another service. Rebellion points out that fans of the game did get seven years of service for free. And while GameSpy's matchmaking is down, players of some of these games can still connect up online manually by IP.

Angry players have taken to GameSpy's old Facebook page to register their wrath, but there's no official response just yet.

New GameSpy owners Glu Mobile shut down multiplayer servers without notice originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 12 Dec 2012 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dragon Age Legends no longer online, but playable offline for free

Mike Schramm — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 04:00:00 EST

Dragon Age Legends, as fans will tell you, was one of the more popular Facebook games EA has ever put together -- at least before its untimely death earlier this week. Such is the fate of a freemium promotional game for a much larger console and PC series.

But while most online games simply shut down and go gently into that good night, Dragon Age Legends is doing no such thing. As promised, the dev team has re-released the game as a single-player title, available as a free download right now. You won't be able to invite friends (or buy any microtransaction-based items), but you will be able to play the title offline and forever, regardless of EA's server status.

The game runs on Adobe Air, so you'll need to download and install that if you haven't yet. And while previous characters and accounts have been locked online for now, the team is working on a way to archive them offline, so they can be used in the single-player game as well. This could set a very nice precedent for popular Facebook titles, that would otherwise face oncoming oblivion thanks to server death.

Dragon Age Legends no longer online, but playable offline for free originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 20 Jun 2012 04:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PS2 and PSP SOCOM servers shutting down at the end of August

Jordan Mallory — Wed, 30 May 2012 23:59:00 EST

Amazingly, Zipper Interactive servers for SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs have continued to be active since the game's original debut on the PlayStation 2 in 2002, meaning that ~~crazy people~~ dedicated fans with online adapter-equipped PS2s have been able to keep playing for nearly 10 years. Now though, since Zipper Interactive doesn't exist anymore and everything, the servers for four PS2 SOCOM games and four PSP SOCOM titles will be taken offline at the end of August.

PlayStation 2 SOCOMs I, II, and III (as well as SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Combined Assault) will be going dark, as will the PSP various SOCOM titles, Fireteam Bravo (I, II and III) and SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Tactical Strke.

If this outage affects your regular gaming routine, we offer our most sincere condolences. Also, we'd like to point out that many thousands of games have been released since 2002, some of which you might enjoy. Perhaps this will be a good opportunity to go check some of 'em out?

PS2 and PSP SOCOM servers shutting down at the end of August originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 30 May 2012 23:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Diablo 3 patch incoming, real-money auction house still without launch date

Mike Schramm — Thu, 24 May 2012 22:15:00 EST

Blizzard has made a quick update on its forums for Diablo 3 today, saying a post-launch patch could be ready as soon as next week. The patch, along with a number of server updates and other incoming fixes, will "further address client issues and apply additional bug fixes." One of the biggest issues is that, while the servers were bobbing up and down like buoys in the ocean last week, lots of players weren't able to earn achievements. Blizzard says it's still working on a solution.

Meanwhile, the real-money auction house has yet to be given a release date. It was supposed to be online earlier this week, but was pushed back after launch last week, and is now delayed indefinitely. "More information soon," says Blizzard.

Finally, Blizzard claims it's following the security concerns of players closely. According to the company, there is no "server spoofing" going on, official Blizzard servers themselves haven't been compromised, and Blizzard Authenticators are still the best way to keep an account secure. There's no word on the PvP update or any post-launch content yet - Blizzard's main goal at this point is to make sure the game is running steadily and securely.

Diablo 3 patch incoming, real-money auction house still without launch date originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 24 May 2012 22:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EA: lack of official Battlefield 3 servers due to rentals

Mike Schramm — Fri, 11 May 2012 19:00:00 EST

Battlefield 3 players recently noticed that all of DICE's official servers for the game appeared to be unavailable, and they wondered: What's up with that? What's up with that, EA says, is that the game was too popular. DICE runs a number of official servers, but those servers can also be rented by players, and if too many players rent official servers, they can appear to be unavailable. But EA and DICE say they want what's best for players, so DICE will keep an eye on the policy, and "will reserve a percentage of servers for players who prefer to connect through DICE-hosted servers."

The publisher hopes that will answer player concerns. And if not ... free XP? Starting tomorrow through Sunday, Battlefield 3 is hosting another double XP weekend for all ranked servers and matches, with players earning twice as much experience as usual. This special weekend isn't a direct response to the server concerns, but hey, free points are free points.

EA: lack of official Battlefield 3 servers due to rentals originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 11 May 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Battlefield 3 customizable servers coming to consoles

Alexander Sliwinski — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 08:00:00 EST

Karl-Magnus Troedsson, CEO of Battlefield developer DICE, announced at an Electronic Arts event last night that customizable servers would be available for consoles in the future.

"All active players out there playing on consoles today will now have the opportunity to customize their servers and set them up exactly how they want them to play," said Troedsson. "Now this is a feature that in Battlefield on PC we've had for some time, but it's an absolute first on console. So, we're pretty excited about this."

The developer did not share details on pricing or a release timetable. In the meantime, start saying your prayers, Operation Metro.

Battlefield 3 customizable servers coming to consoles originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 07 Mar 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mojang acquires Minecraft mod makers, will make mods official

Mike Schramm — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 23:59:00 EST

The four main developers behind Bukkit, a popular set of unofficial modifications for Minecraft servers, have been hired on by Mojang, makers of the uber popular block-world simulator. Mojang says Warren Loo, Erik Broes, Nathan Adams and Nathan Gilbert will join the company to update Bukkit and make it more compatible with the next version of the game, and to enable support other server mods in the future.

Loo writes on the official forms that the team will basically redesign the game's API, which means unofficial developers everywhere will be able to hook into the game's mechanics much more easily and smoothly. Mojang points out that there are a few teams that have made popular mods for the game, including Spout and Forge, but the Bukkit team was chosen because they've developed specifically for Minecraft servers. The plan is to have them working on "more than just modding."

Obviously, the gentlemen are quite excited about joining the Mojang guys. That tends to happen when a company whose game you work on for free decides to start paying you in real money.

Mojang acquires Minecraft mod makers, will make mods official originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 28 Feb 2012 23:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BioWare looking into Star Wars: The Old Republic server queues

Justin McElroy — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 11:10:00 EST

If you're tired of being denied in your attempts to boldly go where no man has gone before in Star Wars: The Old Republic, take heart! BioWare has done the Vulcan mind-meld with you, heard your distress and is trying to figure how where they need to jam more dilithium crystals to solve the problem.

"While we can't promise that there won't ever be queues, we can promise you that we are taking this matter seriously and constantly reviewing them to make sure that they are manageable and reasonable," said Jeff Hickman, executive producer of live services.

Sounds like BioWare is concerned, though not necessarily able to make a sweeping fix. In other words, they're givin' it all she's got, captain!

BioWare looking into Star Wars: The Old Republic server queues originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 19 Dec 2011 11:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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League of Legends splits European servers into two regions

Mike Schramm — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 02:00:00 EST

Riot Games made the decision this week to split up its European server into two separate platforms in order to help out with lag and other issues. The company is now running both "EU West" and "EU Nordic and East" servers on the Old Continent, each offering League of Legends matches and services to their various regions.

Feedback on the official forums is mostly positive (and the split should provide faster games to those on either of the new servers), though a lot of players seem concerned that there's another division between the two regions. You can read the full press release after the jump -- Riot says each server is designed to support "hundreds of thousands of concurrent players." Just between us, though, if they could send a little extra lag to Evelyn players, there'd be no problems with that.

Continue reading League of Legends splits European servers into two regions

League of Legends splits European servers into two regions originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 02 Jul 2011 02:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DC Universe Online 'Super-Servers' to address queue time issues

James Ransom-Wiley — Mon, 02 May 2011 12:30:00 EST

"Super-Servers" sure sounds like a euphemism for "server merge," a sign that the DC Universe Online community is in rapid decline, but SOE is putting a positive spin on its plan to address "concerns about queue times on the servers." The DCUO operator expects to begin testing "new technology to meld all of our US and European PC and PS3 servers into four Super-Servers" this month, according to a news post on the official game site.

The so-called Super-Servers would be divided into two per region, with the US and Europe each hosting a PC and PS3 server and continuing to segregate the platform communities. "This will allow for more opportunities to queue and participate in other group related game mechanics," SOE explained, without clarifying whether the move would actually reduce the number of servers or instead initiate cross-server queuing to cut down on wait times. The "melding" has also raised questions about how SOE would keep PvP and PvE players separated. "We'll have more details at a future date," said the company.

Editor's note: As of publishing, access to the DCUO site (and game) has been suspended due to a separate issue. We've re-posted SOE's Super-Servers announcement after the break.

Continue reading DC Universe Online 'Super-Servers' to address queue time issues

DC Universe Online 'Super-Servers' to address queue time issues originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 02 May 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dragon Age: Origins PC servers experience 'unidentified failure,' DLC unplayable

Alexander Sliwinski — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 11:00:00 EST

BioWare finally responded to the Dragon Age: Origins server outages yesterday by saying it is working to resolve the issues on its end. BioWare's Rob Bartel acknowledged on the company's forums that the problems began over the weekend of April 9 when the servers experienced an "as yet unidentified failure."

The server issue caused connection errors, which flagged DLC content as unauthorized. Although we've yet to test this ourselves, folks on the forums say that the game is still playable in offline mode.

Bartel expressed that the company will update the thread once it knows more. A similar, unintended incident occurred only a few months ago due to server maintenance.

Dragon Age: Origins PC servers experience 'unidentified failure,' DLC unplayable originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 12 Apr 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Final Fantasy XI and XIV servers back online this Friday

JC Fletcher — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 23:00:00 EST

Though the real Japan's recovery efforts are ongoing following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, the virtual worlds of Vana'diel and Eorzea will be back in pristine, explorable condition on Friday, March 25.

After taking the servers down for both Final Fantasy XI and XIV as a power conservation measure on March 13, Square Enix announced today that it'll reopen the MMO worlds this Friday. To keep power use down even with the servers running (the servers account for about 11 percent of the power use in the company's Tokyo office), Square Enix has "shut down our air conditioning system (8.8%) and enacted other power conservation measures, such as reducing lighting in our offices, to achieve over 10% in energy usage reductions."

You can think of those poor staffers stuck in an air-conditioning-less office with giant, heat-spewing computers while you play the games for free. Yes, Square still plans not to collect any monthly fees for April.

Final Fantasy XI and XIV servers back online this Friday originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 22 Mar 2011 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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FFXI and FFXIV servers temporarily closed in wake of Japanese quake

Ben Gilbert — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 16:20:00 EST

Given the enormity of the events in Japan right now, it feels kind of ridiculous to be writing about the massive earthquake's effect on video game servers, but here we are. Both Final Fantasy XI and XIV have had their servers temporarily closed in an effort by Square Enix to help conserve energy in the ailing country. The publisher's web portal services will also be temporarily closed.

Square directly attributes the temporary closures to "continuous earthquakes occurring in the eastern regions of Japan," and says that servers will be down for "at least a week starting on Mar. 13, 2011 3:00 (PDT) [7:00 EST]." It is currently unknown when the servers will go back up, but Square promises regular updates as they come in. Neither game will charge subscription fees through April as a result.

If you'd like to help out, head over to the Red Cross site and donate what you can.

FFXI and FFXIV servers temporarily closed in wake of Japanese quake originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 13 Mar 2011 16:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Demon's Souls server operation extended until late 2011

Ludwig Kietzmann — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 18:30:00 EST

If you've ever set foot within the cacophonous, blood-encrusted hallways of Demon's Souls, you know that sure footing isn't always guaranteed. The only assurance you'll ever have is the one from the insidiously designed RPG's North American publisher, Atlus, which has pledged to keep online servers safe until the game's second anniversary, coming up in October 2011. Before this announcement, servers weren't set to fall away until "at least" March 2011.

Of course, since this is Demon's Souls, the kindness of Atlus comes at a terrible cost. While you enjoy the continuing online features and a new, Pure White World Tendency event taking place from December 20 until the beginning of 2011, spare a thought for the children sitting in a Californian basement, dutifully turning the server cranks.

Continue reading Demon's Souls server operation extended until late 2011

Demon's Souls server operation extended until late 2011 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 17 Dec 2010 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Stargate Resistance servers to shut down Jan. 15, game no longer for sale

David Hinkle — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 05:00:00 EST

If you've been keeping the Stargate Resistance alive since it launched back in February, sadly, all hope is lost: The game will shut down on January 15, 2011. According to a recent missive on the game's site, the agreement between MGM, the owners of the Stargate license, and Cheyenne Mountain Entertainment, the Resistance developer, expired earlier this month, and as a result the game is no longer being offered for sale to new customers. If there's a silver lining here, it's in the ability for existing players to keep up the fight ... until the inevitable end in mid-January.

Cheyenne has had a rough year, filing for Chapter 11 shortly after launch of Stargate Resistance. While it's possible MGM and Cheyenne could strike a new agreement bringing the game back online, the chances appear to be slim to none.

[Thanks, Robin]

Stargate Resistance servers to shut down Jan. 15, game no longer for sale originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 24 Nov 2010 05:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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APB comes to a 'premature end'

David Hinkle — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 12:10:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

Realtime Worlds community officer Ben Bateman just popped on the APB official forums to present this sad bit of news: The game is shutting down for good. In his statement, Bateman says, "APB has been a fantastic journey, but unfortunately that journey has come to a premature end."

Apparently the servers are still up for the time being, so if you've got the game, you're encouraged to hop in and pour one out for Realtime Worlds' gangsta-sim. We've just got one question: what happens to all of those "Realtime Points" consumers have purchased with their real-world money?

APB comes to a 'premature end' originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 16 Sep 2010 12:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chronicles of Spellborn servers going offline next month

Mike Schramm — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 05:30:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

After a few years of service in various incarnations, Playdom's Chronicles of Spellborn MMO is calling it quits and will be shutting down its servers next month. Recent server outages are unrelated, apparently, but the game, which started out as a pay-to-play title and then redeveloped as a free-to-play game after the original developers went bankrupt, will be done for good at the end of September, according to an email from a company representative. The game still had a small but active community, and they've started the usual Internet petition to try and keep it online.

We contacted Disney to see what part, if any, it might have had in the game's shutdown, given that it now presumably oversees the property, but the House of Mouse declined a comment. Whoever decided to pull the plug, looks like the Chronicles has reached its last page.

Chronicles of Spellborn servers going offline next month originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 10 Aug 2010 05:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Eye of Judgment online servers closing in September

Andrew Yoon — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

While Eye of Judgment never became a runaway hit for Sony, the PlayStation Eye-enabled, augmented reality card game has a small, but dedicated fan base. Unfortunately for them, the online community will be discontinued on September 30, according to a notice on the European PlayStation forums. "Offline play will remain available even after the conclusion of online service," the announcement adds, meaning EoJ fans will have to meet in person to continue competitively playing.

While it's not uncommon for online games to be discontinued, it does leave fans with few options. Some EoJ players are planning to move on to the PSP version, Legends (which doesn't require physical cards). Others, however, feel betrayed by Sony. "I am afraid that my long lasting relationship with SCEA/E/J products end 9/30," one fan commented on the forums.

Eye of Judgment online servers closing in September originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 02 Jul 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Next wave of EA game server shutdowns detailed

David Hinkle — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 15:30:00 EST

The list of game server shutdowns back in January was pretty extensive in its own right, but EA's not done retiring more of its legacy titles from online play. Over at EA.com, the full list of server shutdowns details the next wave of house cleaning, starting on April 15 with Burnout 3: Takedown for PS2 and Army of Two for PS3 (in Asia only). Then, on March 15, additional titles will no longer support online functionality, including Def Jam for PS3 and Xbox 360, Mercenaries 2 for PC and Lord of the Rings: Conquest for PS3, Xbox 360 and PC.

For the full list of games going offline and when, head on past the break.

[Thanks, Marcus N]

Continue reading Next wave of EA game server shutdowns detailed

Next wave of EA game server shutdowns detailed originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 17 Feb 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PSA: Original Xbox games' DLC already offline

Xav de Matos — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 14:56:00 EST

Plans to disconnect Xbox Live services for original Xbox games have apparently already begun, as DLC servers for Xbox titles have been quietly taken offline. According to numerous forum threads and our own tests of an assortment of Xbox titles, attempts to download original Xbox game content are now fruitless. Each title tested yielded the message: "Could not download content list. Please try again later." (The image above was taken from our test of Halo 2.)

Last Friday, Microsoft announced online support for original Xbox titles would be discontinued on April 15, but made no mention of disconnecting DLC servers earlier than that. Some forum users claim that the DLC servers for Xbox titles were taken offline as soon as the announcement was made last week. So, if you've continued to put off your infiltration of the Kola Cell in the original Splinter Cell, you'd better have already downloaded the mission.

[Thanks, Bren]

PSA: Original Xbox games' DLC already offline originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 10 Feb 2010 14:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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David Jaffe talks death of Calling All Cars as servers go offline

Mike Schramm — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 13:00:00 EST

This week heralded the end of the Calling All Cars saga, as David Jaffe finally saw the lights go out on his PSN baby. He's got a set of final thoughts over on his blog -- he says that as his first online game, it was definitely a learning experience, and while there were good times, it wasn't the most fun he'd ever had. He's suprisingly regretful about the whole thing: He says that he seriously thinks he probably should have "made it war themed and ['ditched'] the cartoony stuff," and that it was really a problem of expectation. At $10, he says, they were expecting gamers buying downloadable titles to just be "sampling them like candy," not looking for a full game experience.

But we wouldn't worry too much about Jaffe -- while he jokes that the CAC server shutdown "marks the beginning of the end of my career," we're sure there's still more fun to be had from that mind of his. We're hoping to see what he's got planned next by the time E3 rolls around this year.

David Jaffe talks death of Calling All Cars as servers go offline originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 16 Jan 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Everyone rush! Multiplayer returns to PS3 Modern Warfare 2 [update]

Andrew Yoon — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:05:00 EST

Just as Veteran's Day comes to a close, it appears Infinity Ward has finally been able to get the online infrastructure stable for the PS3 version of Modern Warfare 2. It appears the third party-powered servers simply couldn't handle the overwhelming demand following the game's launch. Makes sense: it did sell close to a zillion copies. "We expect smooth skies ahead," IW's Robert Bowling stated in a recent tweet. That is, unless all of you rush to your PS3s again now that multiplayer is working yet again. Remember, though: this is simply a server-side fix that allows you to play multiplayer. The party system still won't work until a patch, planned for release on Friday.

Like many Joystiq commenters have pointed out, we're hoping this closure means the end of Modern Warfare 2 stories for a while. Hopefully we can keep this tag closed for at least a few days, before people start murmuring about the inevitable DLC to come.

Update: The PS3 patch for party invites has also gone live. More info can be found here.

[Thanks to everyone that sent this in!]

Everyone rush! Multiplayer returns to PS3 Modern Warfare 2 [update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Alert to all Jerks: Valve to rate Team Fortress 2 servers

Xav de Matos — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 19:45:00 EST

After racking their brains and kicking around a few of different proposals, Valve has figured out how to rate servers automatically in the back end of Steam for Team Fortress 2. Valve's Robin Walker detailed how the system will work and help players in search of a decent game (Read: Not achievement farming): New servers begin with a score of 0, each time a player connects it loses 15 points but gains 1 point per player for each minute they remain inside (with a 45 point max per user).

"In short," Walker writes, "servers that have lots of players joining & leaving rapidly will score badly." The rating will ensure players are walking into honest assessments of a server's quality -- sometimes server hosts write false descriptions to entice people to join. Well, with the new system those jerks can keep their phony servers because the first order of business on Valve's end is to completely "delist" them. The server breakdown (pictured above) shows last week's server statistics, ignoring all password-protected servers as well as servers had fewer than 200 connections per day. Walker also notes that Valve will continue to improve their ability to measure these types of server problems.

[Via Big Download]

Alert to all Jerks: Valve to rate Team Fortress 2 servers originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 13 Mar 2009 19:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LittleBigPlanet servers down until 5pm GMT

Jem Alexander — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: News

Sony has revealed, via ThreeSpeech, that the LittleBigPlanet online servers will be undergoing "essential maintenance" until 5pm GMT. That's midday Eastern and 9am Pacific, for all you Americans out there. Sounds like new servers are being installed to spread the weight of this week's European release. Hopefully this will be the last of the jiggery pokery necessary to get the online portion up to scratch. With the first batch of LittleBigPlanet DLC arriving today, we're looking forward to the new servers getting switched on so we can show off our new threads.

LittleBigPlanet servers down until 5pm GMT originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 06 Nov 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LittleBigPlanet servers temporarily switched off

Ludwig Kietzmann — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 15:25:00 EST

Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3, Action

Not too long after flipping the giant JOY switch deep within their basement, the folks at Media Molecule have had to temporarily extinguish all the lights across LittleBigPlanet. The servers will remain powered down until "the glitching issues some players have experienced" are resolved, says the developer's blog.

It's certainly been a rough starting period for the PS3's adorable build-a-platformer, with potentially offensive song lyrics delaying and staggering its debut. Let's hope things go more smoothly once everybody's in on the fun.

LittleBigPlanet servers temporarily switched off originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 28 Oct 2008 15:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pirates of the Burning Seas makes seven servers walk the plank

Alexander Sliwinski — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: PC, RPGs, MMO

Arrrr, it be cruel out there on the MMOceans as Pirates of the Burning Seas has shut down seven of its 11 servers. Developer Flying Lab explained that the upshot of the maneuver would be denser servers, especially after an update allowed for more characters per server.

We'd speculate that PotBS probably hasn't come close to hitting its expected subscription numbers. The developer will soon make changes to the game, which may bring in new players. But, as we've learned in the post-WoW years, you can't relaunch an MMO no matter how many upgrades fix the initial product.

[Via Massively]

Pirates of the Burning Seas makes seven servers walk the plank originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 16 Apr 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Would You Rather ... Laggy Edition

Xav de Matos — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fan stuff

In our continuing effort to bring you fresh and interesting content, X3F presents Would You Rather ... a weekly feature that asks you the hard questions. The point? If you had to choose one or the other, which would you go for?

It's the eternal question and a mainstay in the argument during the silly console war. Which is better? Dedicated servers or peer-to-peer connection? Sounds silly to even ask but let us examine our experiences.

While peer-to-peer has powered the vast majority of Xbox Live titles, some games have seen dedicated love. But how are the results? EA primarily uses their own servers to power their games, but have had issues. Frontlines: Fuel of War runs off a dedicated server farm, but it's been plagued with reports of lag too. Peer-to-peer has treated us well so far, but insane situations like XBLA titles running poorly, Team Fortress 2's virtual unplayability and issues stemming from the host migration in Call of Duty 4 makes this week's WUR a tough one. So X3F Army, tell us...

Feel free to share the reasons for your vote in the comments. We'll share the results of the poll during the next edition of Would You Rather ... which hits X3F every Wednesday.

Last weeks WUR results can be find after the jump ... and stop breathing heavily into the mic!

Continue reading Would You Rather ... Laggy Edition

Would You Rather ... Laggy Edition originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 19 Mar 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony's Warhawk server farm is made of PS3s

Christopher Grant — Sat, 11 Aug 2007 19:27:00 EST

Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3

Incognito's Dylan Jobe is the man behind Warhawk and over at the PlayStation.Blog, he wants to share with you some details on the tech behind the game's dedicated servers. Sure, Warhawk is going to offer players the ability to host matches straight from their own PS3, but they're also offering "Ranked-Dedicated" servers which are powered by - you guessed it! - PlayStation 3s! Sony's IT team has apparently built clusters like this "all over the world," providing gamers with an ostensibly reliable backbone for Warhawk fragging while providing the tinfoil hat crowd a compelling reason to unplug their PS3. They can talk to each other you know ... can't you hear them?!

[Via Engadget]

Sony's Warhawk server farm is made of PS3s originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 11 Aug 2007 19:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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What does 75 PlayStation 3s get you?

Colin Torretta — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: PlayStation Network, News

Why, a huge amount of official Warhawk dedicated servers -- of course! In the most recent post at the official PlayStation.Blog, the game director of Warhawk, Dylan Jobe, posted pictures of their Ranked Servers data center and talked about online/server details for their upcoming Sixaxis-friendly title.

According to Dylan, they have PS3 clusters like the one above scattered all over the world to make sure you you have access to a fast, latency free server -- no matter where you live. Also, since you can host your own servers, even if you don't find an official server you like, it shouldn't be hard to find a player server that fits what you're looking for.

Players can create their own dedicated Warhawk servers for up to 32 players at once, but they won't be able to play on their PS3 while the server is running (to longtime PC gamers, this is nothing new). Players can also create their own servers that they can play in for up to 24 players at once, offering a ton of flexibility for clans and hardcore players. Between ecstatic previews, an accessible price point and strong server support, Warhawk is looking more and more like it could be a major hit. Only three more weeks until the Game Drought of Summer is over!

[Thanks everybody!]

What does 75 PlayStation 3s get you? originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 08 Aug 2007 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EA to remove online servers for 49 games

Justin McElroy — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 11:45:00 EST

Filed under: PC, Sony PlayStation 2, Sony PSP, Microsoft Xbox, Microsoft Xbox 360, Driving, Online, Sports, Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

Expect EA's wrists to be pretty sore on Sept. 1 from all the plugs they'll have to pull. Forty-two of their titles on systems ranging from the PSP to the Xbox 360 will have online support discontinued next month, with another 7 casualties to follow on Nov. 1. The majority are sports titles like 2006's Madden, FIFA, NASCAR and NBA Live, but there are a few oddballs like Marvel Nemesis: Rise of the Imperfects and Burnout Revenge (PS2 and Xbox), which is in the November group.

We understand that it probably costs a chunk of change to keep all of those servers running, and that's probably the primary motivation for the move ... but we bet EA wouldn't mind if the cancellation convinced you run out and get the latest iteration of their games. The full list is after the jump, are any of your favorites on there?

Continue reading EA to remove online servers for 49 games

EA to remove online servers for 49 games originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 03 Aug 2007 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The death of console game servers

Kyle Orland — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 13:40:00 EST

Filed under: Nintendo GameCube, Sony PlayStation 2, Microsoft Xbox, Online, MMO

The fine cranks over at Curmudgeon Gamer have pointed out a somewhat disturbing trend of server shutdowns for some high profile online-enabled games from the last generation. Apparently, the online user base for these games is no longer sufficient to justify the expense for the companies running their servers.

It's a little bit troubling to consider that there's an effective time limit for the online features of any console game you buy, and that this limit is totally at the discretion of the publisher. Then again, it's hard to ask a company to continue to devote resources for servers that few people are using and fewer still will likely use in the future.

The solution seems obvious to us -- let players host their own servers, either through a PC or through the console itself. The online experience might suffer a bit, but at least interested players will still be able to play online without being a burden on the publisher. Failing that, follow the Curmudgeon's suggestion bring back the direct connection, player-to-player multiplayer that was available on the Dreamcast. Either way, don't take away our online play.

Previously: Amplitude servers going offline, 'farewell party' Sunday

The death of console game servers originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 04 Mar 2007 13:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NPR starts a gaming podcast

Conrad Quilty-Harper — Mon, 12 Jun 2006 11:55:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Online, Business

National Public Radio in the U.S. has started a fortnightly podcast on the topic of video game culture called Press Start. Kyle Orland, the guy that runs VGMWatch, is one of the hosts of the show along with Ralph Cooper, an ex-NPR staffer and current stand-up comedian, and Robert Holt, NPR's server guy who also reviews games for All Things Considered. Their first show, which runs for a short but sweet 15 minutes, covers that time old topic "video games as art". Some choice quotes:

Kyle - "You really need to know what art is before you can determine whether video games are art".

Ralph - "I feel like a lot of video games, at least right now, they're not really trying to make statements".

Rob - "When I was in Grand Theft Auto... I was driving through the city and listening to the radio and I drove over a hill and I saw... this huge moon rise over the horizon, I was just in it at that point. I just knew that this was not your normal game. Of course, I could have just been beating up hookers..."

If you're up for some interesting and to-the-point video game culture commentary but want to skip on the usual "I like to hear the sound of my own voice" crap from the host(s), then make sure to add Press Start to your player of choice (iTunes link, My Yahoo! link, generic podcast RSS feed).

NPR starts a gaming podcast originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 12 Jun 2006 11:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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