Master server shutting down on Jan 24th

[YEAAAHHHHHHHHHH]

Hey, the on-screen notifications might not be super effective. Perhaps we could do a quick mod of one of our most popular maps (masterbath?) and literally write the message on the wall of the map? Like huge letters along the side of the main room?

[4Doors]

Just had the below link posted to the BMS clan server (thanks Miauz)

https://ut2004serverlist.com/

Seems like a possibility to at least guarantee OMNI stays alive. Wouldn't solve the issue of new/less frequent players likely not coming back tho.

Maybe we blast this on the front page of the forum + make ppl aware of it as much as possible before 1/24?

[Enyo]

And, I did some testings without MasterServerUplink (simulate no master server).

I think even if you have it favorited -- you won't see in the "Join Game"/ServerBrowser whether its up / down, players, ping etc.
Which means any players that don't know this is happening will start UT think server is down and go play fortnite or browse porn.

Why would the master server being down remove your favorites? It’s been down recently and the favorites still showed. So, then how do you connect? Add as a favorite again and paste in the IP address?

[captainsnarf]

I'm pretty sure master server is not required for favorites.

When you open your favorites, your game will contact each IP address in the list and query what's going on. When I debug mods locally I always connect to my other box via favorites. "Player" can see snarf is playing on ONS-RedPlanet... etc.

The master server is just the list of IPs. It's up to your game instance to contact each one to see how many players, what map, game mode, etc is happening. I don't believe the master server keeps track of most of that stuff. It would never be able to know your ping for example.

[reshred]

a few years back i stopped being able to reload from my multiple disc original game, and so just loaded from Steam, i guess I am gonna be SOL jan 24?

[pooty]

Why would the master server being down remove your favorites? It’s been down recently and the favorites still showed. So, then how do you connect? Add as a favorite again and paste in the IP address?

Sorry should have been more clear.
It won't remove your favorites...those are stored locally in User.ini or UT2004.ini files.
However, when the favorites list is displayed it will show "offline", if you click on it you can still connect, but you won't see that its online, you won't see map/num players/ping/whosplaying etc.

There seems to be something in the works for a crowd sourced replacement, I believe open spy was mentioned, 4Doors linked it below. It will be interesting to see how this affects Gametracker (if at all).

and so just loaded from Steam,

Not sure, but I'd check. Probably can still buy it from GOG.

[pooty]

Seems like a possibility to at least guarantee OMNI stays alive.

We don't NEED the master server. We are Omnipotent. Seriously our server will continue operating, its only the master (listing) server that is turning off. Fear not Mino lovers its not going away.

[captainsnarf]

"Have a kick in the nuts! Merry Christmas!" -Tim Sweeney

Also thank you for fixing the forum pooty!

[Xexx]

So uh, how will CD-key authorization and banning work?

[pooty]

So banning is done locally on our server, not dependent on Epic servers.
Not sure on CD key auth, but I haven't used a CD in years.. as long as you have a valid key in your windows registry you're fine.