I have a complaint...

[Meteor_of_War]

I recently started getting the "cd key already in use" error message while playing online in UT2003 although i've never shared or told my cd-key to anyone. I wrote an email to the tech support and got a reply (which is in the link i provided below) saying they cannot do anything about this...needless to say i'm very dissapointed at the fact that the product i have bought from this company doesnt work the way it used to and the reason for that is beyond my control. My deductive logic tells me that this should be the responsibility of the game publisher and i should be reimbursed somehow.

See my thread HERE (http://www.ataricommunity.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=4091595#post4091595).

[Frogger]

I have the exact same problem..This is not an acceptable response.:down:

[_BadAss84]

My post from your thread:

Originally posted by X@L3
Ultimately it comes down to this...

You have purchased a product of a company and can no longer use it for the purpose you brought it for, through no reasons of your own doing. And the company is unprepared to do anything about it.

Agent-X(UK) is right...that is outrageous.

I completely agree.

You call this customer support !?

This is completely outrageous. A paying customer has a problem using a cd-key, through no fault of his own, and the company aren't willing to do **** about it. It's disgusting if you ask me.

This really sucks meteor, and i am honestly shocked at that response, i mean, like others said, they pretty much just said they won't help you, plain and simple.

Not that they can't they just choose not to :down:

I think atari seriously need to buck up their ideas because if this continues they will start to lose customers, and it will be all through their own doing :down:

[{-NmE-}CKY2K]

this is f*ck*ng not possible i heard before the game was released that there was no way you could go online without the original key... ok in this case they use your key BUT they also said that when someone else is using your key that his ip would be banished so that you can play the game... (to be honest... that's the reason i've bought the game so that i was able to playing it online). But what they are doin' is just not right they are ripping us off... you buy a multy-player game and you can't go online...

To atari... what the h*ll should he do now... buy it again..!!! wtf is this for service....

[Meteor_of_War]

Well i just played for about two hours and didnt get the message so that's good.:D And i havent gotten it since Friday (but didnt play much over the weekend). {-NmE-}CKY2K, i never heard of someone else using your key and getting their ip banished but that would be cool, hehe. Anyways, since Atari doesnt want to help me with this i'll just hope it doesnt happen anymore.:(

[Agent-X(UK)]

This is totally unacceptable and a discussing way to treat your customers. If your going to put a CD-Key system in place to help stop warez’ing, then you better make 100% dam sure that the legitimate people who buy the game and keep you business afloat are able to play it at all times.
Basically saying “tough luck” isn’t good enough, if a key gets compromised you better make sure you have measures in place to counteract the people still trying to illegally obtain the game.
I promise you this: If I don’t see this issue resolved I will be writing into all the UK magazines and venting my disgust at you Atari.
Also if this happens to anyone in the UK and you’re unwilling to resolve it, its breaking the law. As part of the purchase of ut2003 you are offering the service of online play for the person who brought the game. If a person is being kicked from your servers, for whatever reason, it’s your responsibility to sort it – provided they have not broke the EULA.

Get it sorted Atari – because the way you have dealt with it so far is nothing more than a joke.

[Frogger]

Originally posted by Meteor_of_War
Anyways, since Atari doesnt want to help me with this i'll just hope it doesnt happen anymore.:(

for me it happens in spurts...i'll go 2 weeks with no incidents...then one weekend it'll happen every 15 minutes...then nothing for a few weeks...almost more aggravating that i dont know when it's going to happen...seems like it's always right in the middle of an amazing match....down by 2.. 4 frags to go...muli-kill..i'm gonna win......"Your key is already in use"...

[RampantBunny]

Absolutely disgusting service, You can easily prove you have the original CD's and that is ALL that matters.

They have to provide you with a service, you paid for...aka to PLAY online with a valid key and atm they are not delivering.

Keep harassing them, make screenshots etc etc.

I hope they make the key protection better in ut2004, you just cannot store keys like that unencrypted in the registry, that is pure incompetance.


@atari: I hope you help this guy, like you are obliged to by law...he is paying for a service you are delivering...or actually not as is the case atm.

if not, rest assured I will let the dutch gaming magazines know how you treat your customers.

cheers

[Meteor_of_War]

HELLO? IS ANYONE AT ATARI EVEN READING THIS!!

Originally posted by frogger187
for me it happens in spurts...i'll go 2 weeks with no incidents...then one weekend it'll happen every 15 minutes...then nothing for a few weeks...almost more aggravating that i dont know when it's going to happen...seems like it's always right in the middle of an amazing match....down by 2.. 4 frags to go...muli-kill..i'm gonna win......"Your key is already in use"...

Same here, in spurts. And it does seem to always happen during a kick ass intense match.:mad::down:

Originally posted by RampantBunny
I hope they make the key protection better in ut2004

That is what i'm hoping for more than anything. I want them to improve this cd key system that they have now because if they even have the message "cd key already in use" in the game's code, then their system isnt perfect. I'm going to email links from my two threads regarding this to the rep who replied to my email.

[Zalgaddas]

This is a Self help forum guys, The mods just make sure no one gets out of line. If you want official help your going to need to click the link at the top of the page and contact them via one of the ways they mentioned.

Your crys will most likely continue to go unanswered as this is a Self Help forum, meaning its ment for End-users like you and I to help each other solve problems we're having with games.

[Meteor_of_War]

Originally posted by Zalgaddas
This is a Self help forum guys, The mods just make sure no one gets out of line. If you want official help your going to need to click the link at the top of the page and contact them via one of the ways they mentioned.

Your crys will most likely continue to go unanswered as this is a Self Help forum, meaning its ment for End-users like you and I to help each other solve problems we're having with games.

That sucks.:down:

Ya think they'd be cool enough to answer questions on the company's official forum.

[AirWing_00]

outrage! it's like buying your stereo with a 1 year warranty, then the day before the warranty expires it breaks mysteriously, but then they don't do anythign about because they "receive the message on the day the warranty expires".... that never happened to me actually, and there really was no warranty with ut2k3 in the first place, but you can get what i'm saying.. it sucks like that. :(

[Frogger]

this is not a warranty issue...it is simply a faulty system they have in place. Legitimate customers are prevented from using the software they purchased...it's not something that should need to be warrentied..it should be assumed that the software you buy won't suddenly expire.:down: :( :mad:

[Spyder-F16]

It could be possible a hacker hacked into your computer and found your key file, and decided to Hijack it. It's happened many times to unsuspecting people.


If you use a P2p Program, get rid of it, because it could turn into people hacking you often.

[Meteor_of_War]

Originally posted by Spyder-F16
If you use a P2p Program, get rid of it, because it could turn into people hacking you often.

P2p program? I'm not sure but i think you mean filesharing programs like KaZaa or WinMX? I have WinMX installed but i hardly ever use it and i have it set so it nevers runs in the background. I also have it setup so i dont share any folders.

[Zalgaddas]

Actually you dont need to....

You download a file you think is say...The Matrix, You go to unzip it and the unzip idoesn't do anything....that your aware of. Youfigure it was a bad d/l so you delete it and don't think twice about it.

What it actually happens is it sets your file sharing to allow access to all files either in the P2P program or in windows via network. Its a nasty little thing called a trojan horse file. And many people are hit by them without realizing it. Next time you go onto kazaa or winmx or whatever P2P program you use, somone out there pokes into your system and takes what they want, or they can just take what they want when they want when your online, i'd invest in a firewall or router.

[Agent-X(UK)]

Originally posted by Zalgaddas
Actually you dont need to....

You download a file you think is say...The Matrix, You go to unzip it and the unzip idoesn't do anything....that your aware of. Youfigure it was a bad d/l so you delete it and don't think twice about it.

What it actually happens is it sets your file sharing to allow access to all files either in the P2P program or in windows via network. Its a nasty little thing called a trojan horse file. And many people are hit by them without realizing it. Next time you go onto kazaa or winmx or whatever P2P program you use, somone out there pokes into your system and takes what they want, or they can just take what they want when they want when your online, i'd invest in a firewall or router.

1) you cant get infected by unzipping a file, it needs to be an executable that you execute.
2) a router wont stop a trojan, depending on the firewall, that should if configured correctly.

[Zalgaddas]

You ever hear of a Self Extracting Zip file? hmm?
Its a Zip file that extracts it self when opened.

Routers usually have a built in firewall. ALthough it won't stop a trojan from doing its business, it may help prevent others from just walking right in to your system.

[Edit] sp

[Agent-X(UK)]

Originally posted by Zalgaddas
You ever hear of a Self Extracting Zip file? hmm?
Its a Zip file that extracts it self when opened.


Thats an executable file with a zip file embedded which just opens when you click open it. If you don't believe me, take a look at the extension of a self extracting one (it will be .exe) compared to a normal zip file of .zip. So in short, its not a zip, its still an executable.

Originally posted by Zalgaddas
Routers usually have a built in firewall. Although it won't stop a trojan from doing its business, it may help prevent others from just walking right in to your system.

I didnt say otherwise ;)

[Zalgaddas]

I spos I shoulda have clearified that then, but assumed you knew what I ment inmy original statement...my bad.

I guess I also must have misread your (2)...
somehow I got that you ment they didn't have one...

[CyclonesWorld]

Hmm
I wonder if it's possible that they could have used the same key on multiple copies of the game? I'm sure they could make that mistake. Atari is the king at making mistakes and messing stuff up ^_^

[Frogger]

Keygen.

[HOOIE]

More than likely some h@x0r used a keygen to get a CD key and that just so happens to be your CD key. I kind of see how it would be Atari's fault for not cracking down on this kind of thing. But hacks and keygens are more than likely responsible for problems you are having.

If this was happening to me, I would be trying to track down the retard that generated my CD key and make sure he gets a nasty in his inbox. I would also start a server and keep it running when I was not playing. I think that would tie up your CD key so HE gets the error not you. Then he might just re-run the keygen so some poor other sucker has the problem. If this happens to said h@x0r enough might just buy the game like a good human being.

If everyone played by the rules and bought the game this wouldn't happen... That doesn't mean Atari shouldn't crack down or come up with a way to weed out the keygen h@x0r punk asses.

[Zalgaddas]

How do they weed the hax from the legits though? how can you tell who is using the original.... whoever used the key first? thats not a very solid idea... hmm...whoever has the disc in the dirve? possible... if it can tell a burn from a real cd... It would be interesting to see what they could do to track which folks hav a genuine key.... I know... Register EVERY KEY to ANYONE who purchases the game.
You don't REGISTER..you don't play. Simple as that, and thats the only way I can see that this wil work using the current method. Of corse all the folk out there that freak out because they don't want some company out there t know who they are...well...thats and easy solution as well..in my eyes... DONT BUY THE GAME.

[Meteor_of_War]

Thanks for the replies.

Originally posted by Zalgaddas
Actually you dont need to....

You download a file you think is say...The Matrix, You go to unzip it and the unzip idoesn't do anything....that your aware of. Youfigure it was a bad d/l so you delete it and don't think twice about it.

What it actually happens is it sets your file sharing to allow access to all files either in the P2P program or in windows via network. Its a nasty little thing called a trojan horse file. And many people are hit by them without realizing it. Next time you go onto kazaa or winmx or whatever P2P program you use, somone out there pokes into your system and takes what they want, or they can just take what they want when they want when your online, i'd invest in a firewall or router.

I've got a Linksys Firewall router.

And i only D/L mp3 files when i use WinMX, they cant put Trojans in those right?

[Zalgaddas]

Yah so far I havn't seen any one figure out a way to do that yet.

[Agent-X(UK)]

Its impossible as a MP3 is just a collection of data with no executable properties or code :)

[Zalgaddas]

Nothing is impossible... it's just that no one has invented what makes it possible yet.

[Agent-X(UK)]

Originally posted by Zalgaddas
Nothing is impossible... it's just that no one has invented what makes it possible yet.

For the love of god, go and read how a OS kernal works before you reply with your cocky comments.

A program would ALLWAYS be needed to play the MP3, as like i said, you cant execute it. It has no executable properties.
If you were to try and manipulate it in anyway, it would have to be to take advantage of the program reading the file, and exploit that.
An MP3, standalone, CAN NOT be made into a virus. Period.

[Meteor_of_War]

Originally posted by Agent-X(UK)
An MP3, standalone, CAN NOT be made into a virus. Period.

Yes, i believe this to be true.

I have read many times that mp3 files cannot hold virus' of any kind.

[Zalgaddas]

For the love of god, go and read how a OS kernal works before you reply with your cocky comments.

I know how the windows os work thanks.
I'm just suggesting perhaps there may be a way someone hasn't thought of yet. I realize virii must be an .exe but... I didn't specify how it could be used, in another program or whatnot. You say it like i was talking about an an absolute, I generally don't believe in absolutes, because it's the unknown that we havn't figured out yet. I like to leave a possibilty open for anything. Don't take that to mean I'm gullible either, I would follow up on info with some sources before actually believing something like that.

If a way was figured out how to exploit a player using a music file why not the possibilty that more could be done? Someone's obviously working on something similar.

http://www.mp3newswire.net/stories/2002/MP3virus.html
http://vil.mcafee.com/dispVirus.asp?virus_k=99422
http://erin.clerico.com/riaa_virus.html

And as far as making cocky comments go... at least I dont sound like an arogant ******* (insert obscene word) that thinks they are all knowledgeable.

Even if something does sound preposterous, I like to keep an open mind.

[Edit] Sp