I've just updated the BF2 server to Forgotten Hope 2.45 Coop Patch C. This new version is not compatible with any previous version of FH 2.45, including Coop Patch B. You will not be able to join the JDRGaming BF2 server unless you are also running Coop Patch C: your BF2 client will crash when you try to join.

You can find a download link for Coop Patch C in the Files and Links section of this site, but here's a direct link. Install Patch C on top of your existing FH2 mod folder (but see the warning below first!)

WARNING: If you want to be able to join non-coop FH2 servers, you should make a copy of your original FH 2.45 mod folder, so that you can switch back to it when the need arises. For instance, I have the following folders in my main Battlefield 2 folder: mods\fh2, mods\fh2a, mods\fh2b, mods\fh2c. Normally, mods\fh2 is the same as mods\fh2c, but if I want to join a PvP server, I copy mods\fh2a to mods\fh2.

Coop Patch C fixes numerous general and map-specific co-op problems in FH 2.45, so coop gameplay should be noticeably improved. There are two changes of particular importance: improved AI aiming and navmeshes with blank areas.

AI/bot aiming was improved in an attempt to reduce friendly fire. You may have noticed that friendly bots previously had a tendency to kill you if you were in their line of fire. Apparently the bot aim improvements have made battlefield survival even more difficult. I will be monitoring this, and I will lower the overall AI difficulty setting if that is warranted.

Navmeshes are map overlays that determine where bots are allowed to travel. Before Patch C, bots tended to drive vehicles into rough, narrow, and steeply-sloping terrain, and then get stuck. The navmeshes on several maps have been modified to prevent bots from entering these areas. However, this also means that if a human drives a vehicle into one of these difficult areas, then abandons it, and then a bot enters the vehicle, the server will crash. If this turns out to be a big problem, I will consider reverting to Patch B.

The site will be down for about an hour this morning while I perform a software upgrade.

Update: the software upgrade is finished. Let me know if you see any weird or unexpected behaviour on the site.

In the long, sad history of DRM (aka copy protection), there have been a lot of bad ideas. Eidos may have come up with the worst one yet. Anyone with a 'jail broken' (i.e. arbitrary Apple-imposed restrictions removed) iPhone who legitimately purchases the new Eidos Deus Ex game will find that firearms mysteriously fail to work. There is no warning about this in the game, or during the purchase process. Eidos' motivation for this senseless DRM remains unclear. Possibly Apple is offering monetary rewards to developers who are willing to be Apple police. Regardless, any possible benefit to be gained by Apple and/or Eidos is going to pale in comparison to the backlash. When will they ever learn?

With the usual lack of a proper announcement, Minecraft 1.6.2 was made available on July 8, 2013. The new version fixes a large number of bugs, many of which were introduced in version 1.6.1. The related Minecraft News post lists notable changes in 1.6.2, while the (unofficial) version history in the Minecraft Wiki goes into a lot more detail. Version 1.6.2 of the client requires the new launcher.

The JDRGaming Minecraft server has been updated to version 1.6.2.

I just received the email below from Ubisoft. This is, of course, yet another in the long list of reasons why forcing users to connect to online services to play offline games is idiotic. I'm talking about Ubisoft's UPlay service, which you must use in order to play any newer Ubisoft games. Anyone using this service should change their UPlay password as soon as possible.

We recently found that one of our Web sites was exploited to
gain unauthorized access to some of our online systems. We
instantly took steps to close off this access, investigate the 
incident and begin restoring the integrity of any compromised 
systems. 

During this process, we learned that data had been illegally 
accessed from our account database, including user names, 
email addresses and encrypted passwords. Please note that 
no personal payment information is stored with Ubisoft, meaning 
your debit/credit card information was safe from this intrusion. 

As a result, we are recommending that you change the 
password for your account: xxxxxxxx 

Out of an abundance of caution, we also recommend that you 
change your password on any other Web site or service where 
you use the same or a similar password.  

We sincerely apologize to all of you for the inconvenience. 
Please rest assured that your security remains our priority. 

The Ubisoft team 

Update: I followed the instructions in the email to change my password. I can log in on the web site, but when I go to the Account settings, it tells me I need to change my password again. I can play Far Cry 3 in Offline mode, but when I try to go online, it tells me my password is wrong. When I enter the new one, it still doesn't work. Way to go, Ubisoft. Looks like UPlay is working out really well for you.

Version 1.6.1 of Minecraft was released today. The JDRGaming Minecraft server has been upgraded to the new version. The Minecraft page on this site has been updated to include download links and update notes for the new version.

Note that this version includes a new launcher that is incompatible with older versions of Minecraft.

More about the new version:

• Minecraft News posting
• Mojang Blog post
• Post on Mojang support site about the new launcher

Surprise, surprise. Microsoft has already started backtracking on some of its less enlightened policies for the XBox One.

The changes are:

• An Internet connection will not be required to play any disc-based game. As with the XBox 360, disc-based games can only be played with the disc in the console.
• There will not be a requirement to connect to the Internet every 24 hours.
• There will be no limitations on how games can be shared, loaned, resold or traded, except that you cannot do any of those things with downloaded games.
• You will be able to play downloaded games offline.
• There will be no regional restrictions limiting where games can be played.

Never underestimate the power of the Internet.

Over at Techdirt, Tim Cushing has an excellent rebuttal to Gears of War designer Cliff Bleszinski's clueless rant against the used games market.

If the game business is really being hurt by used game sales, why is that the customer's fault? If it's getting too expensive to make games, find ways to reduce costs or increase profits that don't make enemies of your customers. Here's a hint: try lowering prices.

If you can stand to hear more XBox One criticism, check out this Forbes article covering recent revelations that Microsoft's baffling policies for the new console include one that requires all games to be produced by a major publisher. That policy will exclude games like the independently-produced Oddworld: New 'n' Tasty from the XBox One lineup.

This is yet another easy victory for Sony, since that company already encourages independent game development for its consoles and has no plans to change that with the PS4.

I'm continually amazed at the ongoing uselessness of the main Minecraft web site, minecraft.net. I run a Minecraft server, so I need to be aware of changes to the game. That means I have to dig through existing resources and sort through redundant and outdated information every time there's an update. I figured since I'm doing that work anyway, I might as well share it with other people who may find it useful.

You can get to the Minecraft page by clicking the link in the 'Site Features' section in the left sidebar, or by clicking 'Minecraft' in the top-most line of the site.