Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[The War Z hack accessed login info, not game accounts]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/15/the-war-z-hack-accessed-login-info-not-game-accounts/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/15/the-war-z-hack-accessed-login-info-not-game-accounts/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/15/the-war-z-hack-accessed-login-info-not-game-accounts/#comments The War Z publisher OP Productions has released the preliminary findings of its investigation into a recent hacking attack on its forums and databases. The publisher has revealed that the hackers gained access to several of the administrator accounts on the War Z forums, which also gave them passwords for the administrators' game accounts. This resulted in deletion of the forums database, as well as "several dozens" of players being banned from the game (and subsequently reinstated).

The forum databases do not contain payment information and are hosted separately from the game's servers. They do, however, contain the email addresses and passwords of forum users. The passwords are encrypted, though OP notes that many members "use weak passwords that could be guessed using brute force."

The company was unable to find "definitive proof" that game accounts were accessed in any way. In other words, it appears that payment information was not compromised. Any players who use the same password for both the game and the forums are advised to change them, along with any unrelated accounts or services that use the same email address and password.

OP has installed new security measures on both its forums database and The War Z's game servers.

JoystiqThe War Z hack accessed login info, not game accounts originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 15 Apr 2013 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hammerpoint-interactiveop-productionspcthe-war-zMon, 15 Apr 2013 15:45:00 EST<![CDATA[The War Z forums and databases hacked, taken offline for investigation]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/03/the-war-z-forums-and-databases-hacked-taken-offline-for-investi/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/03/the-war-z-forums-and-databases-hacked-taken-offline-for-investi/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/03/the-war-z-forums-and-databases-hacked-taken-offline-for-investi/#comments The War Z has been taken offline due to the compromise of its databases and official forums, publisher OP Productions has announced. "We have discovered that hackers gained access to our forum and game databases and the player data in those databases," the statement reads. "We have launched a thorough investigation covering our entire system to determine the scope of the intrusion. This investigation is ongoing and is our top priority."

The user information obtained during the break in includes log-in e-mail addresses for the official forums and the game itself, along with the encrypted passwords associated with those addresses. No user payment information was compromised, however, as payments are handled by a third party company that operates outside of OP Production's ecosystem.

Despite the fact that "there was absolutely no exposure of your payment or billing information of any kind," according to the statement, the possibility still exists for the stolen encrypted passwords to be decrypted, which could obviously be an issue for anyone that used the same email address and password for The War Z as they did for other, more vital internet accounts. As such, OP Productions recommends that its users change up their passwords.

Beyond the promise of future updates, no further timeline was given with respect to when the game may come back online.

JoystiqThe War Z forums and databases hacked, taken offline for investigation originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 03 Apr 2013 03:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>compromisedforumshackhackedhammerpoint-interactiveofflineOP-Productionspcthe-war-zWed, 03 Apr 2013 03:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The War Z returns from the dead on Steam]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/26/the-war-z-returns-from-the-dead-on-steam/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/26/the-war-z-returns-from-the-dead-on-steam/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/26/the-war-z-returns-from-the-dead-on-steam/#comments Back in December, The War Z was pulled from Steam amidst allegations of false advertising and inaccuracies on the game's Steam page - well, these were less allegations and more total lies right there on the page for everyone to see. After a few months of downtime, developer Hammerpoint Interactive's The War Z has returned to Steam.

On top of the corrected Steam page for The War Z, there's also a new update available today for existing owners that brings the game up to release-quality status. If you wanted to get in on Valve's apology (see: refund) for selling the game prematurely, that window has now closed.

The War Z can be purchased through Steam for $15 on its own right now - or in two more expensive bundles that each toss in varying levels of in-game currency, for $25 and $50.

JoystiqThe War Z returns from the dead on Steam originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 26 Feb 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hammerpoint-interactivepcsteamthe-war-zvalveTue, 26 Feb 2013 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The War Z removed from Steam]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/19/the-war-z-removed-from-steam/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/19/the-war-z-removed-from-steam/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/19/the-war-z-removed-from-steam/#comments The War Z removed from SteamHammerpoint Interactive's The War Z has been removed from Steam amid allegations of false advertising from its community, which claims that the developer knowingly listed inaccurate information on The War Z's Steam profile.

Originally, the game's profile touted multiple areas ranging in size from 100 to 400 kilometers and servers capable of handling up to 100 players, according to this screenshot obtained by Gamespy. The profile also stated that The War Z was a "Single Purchase, Downloadable Client with the ability to play the full game without subscriptions or requiring in-game transactions," and failed to mention that this is a "Foundation Release," meaning that the game is still under development, with some areas even marked with alpha testing information.

In actuality, the game only has one zone, and servers were initially capped at a maximum of 50 players, though that issue at least appears to have been corrected. Moreover, The War Z features a microtransactional-based in-game economy, somewhat contradicting its claim of being a "single purchase" game. The profile has since been rejiggered and no longer makes mention of the multiple zones, nor does it make any mention of in-game transactions. It does, however, still neglect information about the game's somewhat early developmental stage.

Continue reading The War Z removed from Steam

JoystiqThe War Z removed from Steam originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 19 Dec 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arktos-entertainmentfalse-advertisinghammerpoint-interactivepcrefundremovedsteamthe-war-zvalveWed, 19 Dec 2012 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The War Z terms of use has link to League of Legends agreement]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/17/the-war-z-terms-of-use-has-link-to-league-of-legends-agreement/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/17/the-war-z-terms-of-use-has-link-to-league-of-legends-agreement/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/17/the-war-z-terms-of-use-has-link-to-league-of-legends-agreement/#comments The War Z terms of use has link to League of Legends agreementThe War Z user agreement has a link to the terms of use for League of Legends, with the URL typed out in full, in the middle of section two, "Requirements." The War Z terms read:

"In installing and using the Software and playing the Game, you acknowledge that you have read, understand and agree with the terms of this License Agreement. You must also: (i) read, understand and agree to the OP Productions Terms of Use http://www.leagueoflegends.com/legal/termsofuse (the 'Terms of Use')."

Someone who actually read the terms of use before accepting noticed this mistake and posted a thread in The War Z's subreddit, where another user uploaded the above photo (larger image here). The War Z already gets flak for being a "cash-in rip-off" of wildly successful Arma 2 mod Day Z, and now it's getting heat for apparently taking League of Legends' terms of use, copy-pasta.

JoystiqThe War Z terms of use has link to League of Legends agreement originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 17 Oct 2012 01:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hammerpoint-interactiveleague-of-legendspcriot-gamesterms-of-usethe-war-zuser-agreementWed, 17 Oct 2012 01:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The War Z closed beta starts on Halloween, pre-orders get in early]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/04/the-war-z-closed-beta-starts-on-halloween-pre-orders-get-in-ear/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/04/the-war-z-closed-beta-starts-on-halloween-pre-orders-get-in-ear/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/04/the-war-z-closed-beta-starts-on-halloween-pre-orders-get-in-ear/#comments The War Z, the upcoming zombie-themed PC MMO, will go into closed beta on October 31, publisher Arktos Entertainment has announced. The game is also now available for pre-order. Three packages are available, each granting access to the beta and offered at a discount until October 20*.

The Survivor package is available for $19.49 and grants access to the beta when it begins on October 31. Meanwhile, the Pioneer package is $29.99, grants access to the beta on October 15, $15 of in-game currency, a special forum badge, one month of map server hosting and 3 guest keys. Finally, there's the Legend package for $49.99, featuring October 15 access, $30 of currency, a forum badge, 6 months of server hosting, 3 guest keys. Legend purchasers will also have their survivor names highlighted on leaderboards and in the game's chat.

After October 20, the pre-order prices jump to $29.99 and $49.99, respectively. The game can be pre-ordered on The War Z website.

*The War Z website states that the discounts only apply until October 17, but Arktos informs Joystiq that the correct date is indeed October 20. The website is being corrected.

JoystiqThe War Z closed beta starts on Halloween, pre-orders get in early originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 04 Oct 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arktos-entertainmentbetahammerpoint-interactivemmopcPresident2008the-war-zThu, 04 Oct 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The War Z makes it easy to tell your own story]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/24/the-war-z-makes-it-easy-to-tell-your-own-story/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/24/the-war-z-makes-it-easy-to-tell-your-own-story/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/24/the-war-z-makes-it-easy-to-tell-your-own-story/#comments
The War Z will not generate any quests for you. Any quests you wish to participate in will come directly from the community. Maybe somebody will need a bodyguard while they look to scrounge up supplies in a deadly metropolitan center. Maybe someone will pay you to fight to the death in their gladiator pit, set up on a remote farm. Maybe somebody just wants to pay you for a sniper rifle scope.

There are a lot of opportunities for players to come up with their own narrative in The War Z - and that's exactly what developer Hammerpoint Interactive hopes players will do.

Gallery: The War Z

Continue reading The War Z makes it easy to tell your own story

JoystiqThe War Z makes it easy to tell your own story originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 24 Sep 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arktos-entertainmenthammerpoint-interactivemmopcsergey-titovthe-war-zMon, 24 Sep 2012 14:00:00 EST