Authentication Server

[City Planner 121]

I seem to remember reading that with Cities 2011, they are going to keep the same authentication scheme that they are utilizing now, the authentication server.

So, my question...  What happens when the authentication server can't be reached?  Will the game default to allowing it to be played without reaching the server perhaps in a "base" mode without any addons or gems?  Or will it just stop the player dead in his tracks and tell them tough luck, we can't phone home, so you no play!

With all the rumours and peoples opinions on how MC is doing right now financially, it makes me wonder what plans are in place should the worst happen for MC and they have to shut down the doors.  Have they mentioned what it is that they will do, like transfer the authentication servers to a third party to continue using it, or if they will patch the game before they quit so that nobody's game has to phone home anymore, and if so how would that work with any addons or gems that people purchase?  I assume that people will have to take responsibility for themselves and burn their purchases to a DVD so that they always have them but if they require phoning home to use them and there is no home, then what happens then?

What are the contingency plans that have been documented from MC about such an occassion happening?  I certainly have no objections to them using this type of authentication system, until such a time occurs that I go to play and the authentication server can't be reached.  Perhaps they already have it hosted with a third party reputable organization, but surely somebody has to pay for that and if MC or a Publisher is no longer around to pay, then obviously it goes down.

This just has me curious since my internet went down for a couple hours the other night, so I figured to get in some play time, but it wasn't Cities XL that I was playing because it couldn't reach the internet.

Anybody know information on this subject?

Thanks,

[rsd6000 8]

Originally posted by: City Planner

I seem to remember reading that with Cities 2011, they are going to keep the same authentication scheme that they are utilizing now, the authentication server.

So, my question...  What happens when the authentication server can't be reached?  Will the game default to allowing it to be played without reaching the server perhaps in a "base" mode without any addons or gems?  Or will it just stop the player dead in his tracks and tell them tough luck, we can't phone home, so you no play!

With all the rumours and peoples opinions on how MC is doing right now financially, it makes me wonder what plans are in place should the worst happen for MC and they have to shut down the doors.  Have they mentioned what it is that they will do, like transfer the authentication servers to a third party to continue using it, or if they will patch the game before they quit so that nobody's game has to phone home anymore, and if so how would that work with any addons or gems that people purchase?  I assume that people will have to take responsibility for themselves and burn their purchases to a DVD so that they always have them but if they require phoning home to use them and there is no home, then what happens then?

What are the contingency plans that have been documented from MC about such an occassion happening?  I certainly have no objections to them using this type of authentication system, until such a time occurs that I go to play and the authentication server can't be reached.  Perhaps they already have it hosted with a third party reputable organization, but surely somebody has to pay for that and if MC or a Publisher is no longer around to pay, then obviously it goes down.

This just has me curious since my internet went down for a couple hours the other night, so I figured to get in some play time, but it wasn't Cities XL that I was playing because it couldn't reach the internet.

Anybody know information on this subject?

Thanks,

quote>

normally the solo is not needed to connect  like simcity 4 which require cd key to keep running

but you are right about it because MC should have prepared in emergencies like closing servers

[jeremy12 0]

 the game will work offline, from the FAQ stickey on this forum

 

Q. My internet is down and I want to play solo mode. Is it possible? 

A. Yes - attempt to login and when that fails the game will present a button to play solo mode only., also you can view This Thread on how to create a offline game link

i made that link back when i first made the post and it will works to this day just fine

[City Planner 121]

Thanks I'll try that out, as when I purposely disconnect my internet and try to launch the game, I enter my password and hit the connection button and only get a big red wording that tells me it can't connect so I figured that there is no way to play without internet but I'll check out the thread you listed and see what I have to do to play offline.

EDIT:

Okay with the soloplay resolved to play without needing to be on the internet, my questions boil down to ...

Will we be able to play with any addons or gems that we buy without connecting to the authentication server?  I guess that only MC can answer this one for certain so if they happen to pass by and wish to pass that information on to us that would be great.

And, who is hosting the authentication servers... MC or a third party company (I do NOT want a specific name, as that could be a security risk to their games authentication, just MC or a 3rd party company)  that provides this type of service as their main business.  What happens if MC does (unfortunately) go belly up, will they put out a patch to remove the authentication, or have they made provisions for the authentication servers to live on indefinitely?

I imagine this will influence my decissions on whether or not I would buy gems and addons if I have to be connected to the net everytime that I wish to play as there are times I'd like to play on my laptop which is not connected to the net ever.

Thanks,

[Gregory_C 0]

Yes you can absolutely play disconnected when in solo mode, and that will includes all of your additionnal content.

And, who is hosting the authentication servers... MC or a third party company (I do NOT want a specific name, as that could be a security risk to their games authentication, just MC or a 3rd party company)  that provides this type of service as their main business.  What happens if MC does (unfortunately) go belly up, will they put out a patch to remove the authentication, or have they made provisions for the authentication servers to live on indefinitely?quote>

Auth servers (as well as all other servers) are hosted by an external company. As for the future well, I can't tell the future, but we have no intention of closing the auth servers any soon. Should this happen for some reason, I guess it would be technically possible for us to change the way the game starts.

[LadyKate 0]

Originally posted by: Gregory_C

Yes you can absolutely play disconnected when in solo mode, and that will includes all of your additionnal content.

And, who is hosting the authentication servers... MC or a third party company (I do NOT want a specific name, as that could be a security risk to their games authentication, just MC or a 3rd party company)  that provides this type of service as their main business.  What happens if MC does (unfortunately) go belly up, will they put out a patch to remove the authentication, or have they made provisions for the authentication servers to live on indefinitely?quote>

Auth servers (as well as all other servers) are hosted by an external company. As for the future well, I can't tell the future, but we have no intention of closing the auth servers any soon. Should this happen for some reason, I guess it would be technically possible for us to change the way the game starts.

quote>

And I guess that's what concerns a lot of us...a lot of things have happened that MC had not intentions of happening...and none of them good.

[Gregory_C 0]

This is something we actually have some form of control on.

[LadyKate 0]

I remember chats with MC that happened way before beta even where some of these questions were asked that in the event PO didn't work out, what would happen.  Call it a self fulfilling phophesy or what ever anyone wants, but the reality is still the same.  MC said that PO was the direction they were going, and it would not fail.  That there would be long term support, and they did not even entertain the thought that it would fail.  I understand that there may have been behind the scenes contingencies if it did indeed fail, but they seemed at least publicly, when asked directly what were the plans, that MC had none. 

Here we are again.  PO has failed.  The question is now being asked...what if...and we are basically being told don't worry about it.  We have no intentions of having to take the authentication servers offline.

Does MC have a contingency plan for the event that they have to take them off line?  I know that they have no intentions of them going offline, but then again, they originally had no intentions of having PO failing either.

[mentarman 14]

Well, they just said, it would be possible to change the way game starts. Sounds like their contingency plan.

I suppose they could spend their time setting all that up now, but I'd rather them spend their energies on making it work, not on preparing for it to fail.

[Gregory_C 0]

Originally posted by: mentarman

Well, they just said, it would be possible to change the way game starts. Sounds like their contingency plan.

I suppose they could spend their time setting all that up now, but I'd rather them spend their energies on making it work, not on preparing for it to fail.quote>

Correct on both points.