PBEM++ suddenly ends saying 'Side XY wins' (Full Version)

All Forums >> [New Releases from Matrix Games] >> Strategic Command Series >> Strategic Command: World War I



Message

R4ngerArea -> PBEM++ suddenly ends saying 'Side XY wins' (4/8/2020 8:26:51 AM)

Good day Sirs and Ma'ams,


I am writing here, in hope to get some solution to a very special problem:


Background:

Currently I am playing an ongoing Let's Play with another YouTuber (DerHobbygeneral), we both are publishing new videos nearly everyday in 'real time'. Due to some work, we had to take a break of roundabout 4 weeks not playing (Videos recorded in advance).
Today we wanted to go back to the PBEM and video production.


Problem:

As soon as we entered the PBEM Lobby the game itself was 'greyed out', saying 'Side XY wins'. The problem there is, we had been in the middle of the game, neither there was a winner nor even an advanced side. Through this we aren't able to continue our PBEM and our Let's Play will end in the middle of the game, without any decision (Currently between 150 to 600 viewers per episode).
The currently acting side, can join the game for one last 'replay round' of the opponent and afterwards sees the whole map and can't act anymore.


Addition:

The thing is, this problems also affects other PBEM games, so my second PBEM LP in SCWW2WiE vs Let's Play History got the exact same problem.


Don't get me wrong, I love Strategic Command, especially SCWWI. So it would be a shame, if the LPs end like this. I hope you got a solution for this problem. I also hope, that there is no hidden "time limit", like "you didn't play a round for 4 weeks, so the game ends now", because that wouldn't be a good idea for a wargame.


Thanks in advance and best regards!



Hubert Cater -> RE: PBEM++ suddenly ends saying 'Side XY wins' (4/8/2020 1:56:26 PM)

Sorry to hear about the inconvenience.

Strategic Command, much like all the other Matrix and Slitherine games use the PBEM++ server provided by Slitherine/Matrix and as such we are limited to the rules and limitations of the server.

Currently I believe games that have not been played in over 3 weeks are set to abandoned/finished and then after 4 weeks removed from the server. Something like that and unfortunately this is beyond our control as developers.

What I can suggest is to perhaps open a support help ticket with Matrix Games, as they control this aspect of the server, to see if anything can be done to salvage your games that have recently been marked as finished on the server.

https://www.matrixgames.com/contacts

Hope this helps,
Hubert



AbeMuc -> RE: PBEM++ suddenly ends saying 'Side XY wins' (4/8/2020 3:41:58 PM)

I can understand that the problem lies within Matrix PBEM-System. I personally think not only the customers should take care of the problem over there at Matrix. The developers should also address this HUGE problem.
You have more leverage as a regular customer and in the the end you will unfortunately get the "punishment" from the customers. Your game is not working in PBEM as it should and lots of people are going to find out in my good performing LP at YT. These people (alone nearly 10000 viewers for the first episode) will be very annoyed that we have to abandon the LP after they invested nearly 20 hours in watching. Let alone my personal 60 hours invested in this project...

Don`t get me wrong I love your games but after this desaster I definitely can`t recommend this game anymore as the MP-Part is broken. Not your fault, but it is in your responsibility to get that fixed. Why broken? Because having a 3-4 weeks downtime in a PBEM is not unusual. This happens all the time and is standard for MP games like this. 3 weeks vacation? Not possible. 4 week ill? Not possible....

So please help us getting this resolved or at least let your customer know in advance that there are these very harsh restrictions on PBEM.



niki_belucci -> RE: PBEM++ suddenly ends saying 'Side XY wins' (4/8/2020 5:45:43 PM)

+1 to AbeMuc

Being affected by the same timeout/deletion (link here) I can also just strongly advocate that you also please take up this matter with Matrix Games/Slitherine in order to get a more robust PBEM system.




Fafnir -> RE: PBEM++ suddenly ends saying 'Side XY wins' (4/8/2020 9:28:06 PM)

Maybe it would be possible to store a local copy of the turn on the computer.
In case the game is deleted due to inactivity or due to an error there should be a option to re-send the turn to the server to restore the game.
The server would have to accept such a save file which could inclued the infomation that is needed for setting up the game again.
This would also help if the gameturn is corrupted on the server or if the server is temporaryly unavailable.



Hubert Cater -> RE: PBEM++ suddenly ends saying 'Side XY wins' (4/10/2020 2:31:56 PM)

It's unfortunately not an option to do this, from what I understand, due to the potential for cheating as some players will edit/hack files etc. The way I understand the system it ensures integrity if things are sent directly to, and downloaded from, the server with full CRC checks and so on.



niki_belucci -> RE: PBEM++ suddenly ends saying 'Side XY wins' (4/10/2020 5:55:26 PM)

@Hubert Cater: we do have the .dat file from our local PBEM folder in My Games. We tried to load the .dat file as a new Hotseat challenge (by copying the .dat file from PBEM to hotseat savegame folder) but to no avail. Looks like the savegames also require a .sav file in order to be loaded correctly.

Hence --> Is there maybe a possibility from your side/the game to make the available .dat file loadable as a Hotseat Challenge? That way we could continue manually with our original PBEM.

Edit: looks like the .sav file is the important one and .dat just gets generated when loading a .sav. However unfortunately the simple renaming of the PBEM .dat file to .sav and attempt to load it ingame did not work (File Read Error).

P.S.: understood that PBEM is out of your direct control. Just trying to not give up yet our valuable/time invested project



Hubert Cater -> RE: PBEM++ suddenly ends saying 'Side XY wins' (4/11/2020 9:28:47 PM)

If the game is still on the server send me the ChallengeID and I'll see what I can do.



Page: [1]

Valid CSS!




Forum Software © ASPPlayground.NET Advanced Edition 2.4.5 ANSI
0.703125