Forgotten Hope 2.5 is up and running on the JDRGaming BF2 server. Please let me know if you run into any issues.

Forgotten Hope 2, version 2.5 is now available.

I originally planned to spend some time evaluating the new version before upgrading the JDRGaming BF2 server, to make sure that co-op play was possible with the new version's maps. Unfortunately, the master server that was used by FH 2.48 is now permanently offline due to recent Denial of Service (DoS) attacks.

The FH 2.5 launcher and client, as well as the FH 2.5 server files, use a different master server. In order to play Forgotten Hope 2 online, everyone will need to upgrade to version 2.5.

The JDRGaming BF2 server is offline while I upgrade the server. I'll post here when the server is back online.

According to the dedicated folks who work on making FH2 maps work in single player (and co-op) mode, none of the new maps (including the western front maps) work in co-op mode. I'm hoping they find the time to knock those maps into shape, because they look interesting: Arad, Dukla Pass, Pegasus, Sammatus, and Seelow Heights.

Meanwhile, several long-standing, global issues with FH2 co-op have been fixed or limited in the new version. For instance, crashes related to deployed emplacements have been fixed. The release notes have additional details.

You can (and should) download and install the new FH2 client files. Note that the new master server is apparently having some issues and you may have trouble getting it to show any servers. If that happens, try using the FH2 web site's server browser to find and join a server.

In the long, sad history of DRM (Digital Rights Management), also known as copy protection, there are countless examples that demonstrate its futility. The latest is courtesy of Bandai-Namco, producers of the console game 'Tales of Symphonia', originally released for Nintendo Gamecube in 2004.

The PC port of this old console game is a complete mess. But rather than spend some money to fix bugs, Bandai-Namco decided to waste money adding copy protection to the game. Because that's the default position of the corporate drones and lawyers who run most game companies these days. If they had stopped to consider this for a few microseconds, they would have realized that any potential profit they might lose to piracy is vastly outweighed by the bad reviews and angry customers with which they are now faced.

What's that definition of insanity? Doing the same thing over and over again, expecting a different outcome but never getting it? Bandai-Namco, you are insane.

The stats for TPU have been reset for the new year. You can still access the stats for 2015 by clicking '2015' in the TPU Stuff box in the sidebar.

A new version of Minecraft was released on December 9 by Mojang. Version 1.8.9 fixes a few minor bugs and improves support for Realms. The JDRGaming Minecraft server is now running version 1.8.9, and the Minecraft page on this site has been updated with the latest information.

Ever wonder why more games don't have mini-games in their otherwise boring loading screens? It's because of a stupid patent. That patent - held by Bandai Namco - is finally expiring. Expect to see much more fun and interesting loading screens in the coming months.

There's finally a proper server list at the Minecraft forum site. I've added the JDRGaming Minecraft server to the server list.

The main router has been replaced. Connections to the JDRGaming game servers should now be much more reliable.

The IP address for all JDRGaming servers has also changed. The new IP address is 96.49.178.198. The previous address was 96.49.181.168.

The router between the JDRGaming game servers and the Internet is acting up. It started rebooting itself frequently about a week ago. When it reboots, any active connections to the game servers are dropped.

I've been unable to find the source of the problem, so I'm planning to replace it later today.

I apologize for any inconvenience.

Microsoft has always had a great attitude about backward compatibility. They know people are more likely to upgrade to a newer version of Windows if they can still run their old software, especially games. Contrast that to Apple's attitude.

Anyway, there's bad news for anyone wants to run (or is already running) certain older games on Windows Vista, XP, 7, 8 and 10. A recent Windows security update effectively disabled the (already much-reviled) Safedisc DRM software.

Anyone who wants to run the affected games (which include Battlefield 1942) can try a clunky workaround provided by Microsoft, or they can look for a 'no-CD' patch from one of the game copying sites on the web. If you choose to do the latter, be very careful, because some of those sites and the files they host are loaded with malware.