ATF: Huh?

Rich · #1 October 30th, 2003, 08:26 PM

Hadn't played this in a while so I thought I'd re-install and get back.

I installed the game. No problem. Then I installed the 1.03 patch. After that if I accessed the game it would try to dial up the internet. Weirdest thing I ever saw. I tried uninstalling the whole thing and starting over. Same problem. I went into the windows explorer and double clicking the executable instead of a shortcut and had the same problem. There is something in the 1.03 executable file that tries to dial up the internet. Any ideas?

Patrick Proctor · #2 October 31st, 2003, 06:15 AM

There is nothing sinister here. The game is checking for updates. It should only check if you are logged in, though. I will take a look and see what the problem is.

kbluck · #3 November 13th, 2003, 02:02 AM

Quote:

There is nothing sinister here. The game is checking for updates.

I'd just like to point out that although your intentions may not be sinister, a not insignificant number of people will nevertheless regard software that silently and without permission contacts the publisher (for any reason) every time you start it as exactly that: sinister. If Microsoft tried to do this (and believe me, they'd love to) somebody would sue them immediately. Come to think of it, they did try it, and somebody did sue them.

Besides, its just plain annoying if you don't have an always-on connection. The dialog pops every time you start the game, and not infrequently the whole mess crashes.

My suggestion is to hold off on the network activity until the player explicitly asks for it, either to check updates or to initiate network play.

--- Kevin

Rich · #4 November 14th, 2003, 04:36 AM

And here I thought I was the only one having a problem. It's been almost two weeks since the cpt said he'd look into it. Maybe he's out in the field or something. In the meantime, I have a game that I paid for that sits there, not even on my hard drive.

Patrick Proctor · #5 November 14th, 2003, 06:04 AM

Rich,

I am sorry for the inconvenience. However, this is going to require a programing change, that will require some time.

In the meantime, you should just be able to cancel the request to log in and continue to run the game normally. Are you experiencing some problem do this (besides it being a nuisance, which I know it is)?

Again, I am sorry for the problems.

kbluck · #6 November 14th, 2003, 10:51 PM

To get the game to start neatly in this situation, the best thing to do is to log onto your internet connection *before* you attempt to start ATF. Once the main screen is up, you can then drop the connection safely.

Something of a hassle, but attempting to cancel the connection dialog is chancy. Sometimes it works after a certain delay, sometimes it crashes.

--- Kevin