A suggestion from the MaNGOS founder

[Rivvern]

I think it's a great idea and hopefully this topic will remain bumped enough for admins to see it. However, I also agree with onura here:

But lets make the server running again first before 1m people claims they are nostalrius 2.

Releasing the sources after establishing a new "official" server (it if happens as we all hope) would prevent splitting the community across all the servers and projects waiting to prey on the sources and playerbase.

Thank you for your work and for bringing this to the attention of the players.

[vaylane]

From a legal point of view, it might not be that easy to hand over the database. They got a warning to stop their "activities" as a private unlicensed/illegal server. Simply setting up the server on another country to avoid Blizzs reach, or PASSING over the DB to another brave soul, might be perceived as a move that shows ignorance to the warning "Stop Illegal Activities". A judge might not be very condesending about it...

What they can do LEGALLY, is what theluda says. Upload their work to GitHub. It's GPL. Nobody can say anything about that or hunt them down for it. And thus from this work, a sh1tl0ad of Vanilla servers will spawn and flourish ^^

[Gray9010]

Do Blizzard own the copyright to the database?

Additionally, P2P works fine on small scale, if I remember correctly, retail WoW dungeons use P2P, but having a whole game world P2P would be madness because you're having to constantly upload data into a database for every player all the time. How would you be able to validate that that data is correct? Would everyone have to put a 30gb database in their HDD? What happens if you have connection issues with another player? Would be really duckin' weird.

[Pottu]

Off-topic

[Dithon1]

Do Blizzard own the copyright to the database?

That would depend on what actually makes up that database, I think.

If it's all scripts for abilities/NPC pathing/dialogue/NPC placement/spawn timers then aside from maybe dialogue strings and references to NPC names, I wouldn't think so. MaNGOS is (to my knowledge) all reverse-engineered code that puts out a similar product/effect but isn't copied line-for-line. I'm not even sure if it's in the same language.

Additionally, P2P works fine on small scale, if I remember correctly, retail WoW dungeons use P2P, but having a whole game world P2P would be madness because you're having to constantly upload data into a database for every player all the time. How would you be able to validate that that data is correct? Would everyone have to put a 30gb database in their HDD? What happens if you have connection issues with another player? Would be really duckin' weird.

Would make raiding with 2005 internet interesting, to say the least.

[1337bobbarker]

But I mean, the code was only a portion of what made Nostalrius what it is from everything I've read and seen. They had a legitimately hosted server in a DC that could accommodate the player base and wasn't running out of some dudes basement. Likewise, the support and patching has been compared to what Blizzard provided themselves.

[Dithon1]

But I mean, the code was only a portion of what made Nostalrius what it is from everything I've read and seen. They had a legitimately hosted server in a DC that could accommodate the player base and wasn't running out of some dudes basement. Likewise, the support and patching has been compared to what Blizzard provided themselves.

It was hardly perfect. I can remember quite a few bugs/differences in mechanics that changed the experience. I love Nost, but I won't pretend it was a perfect copy of vanilla.

[vaylane]

But I mean, the code was only a portion of what made Nostalrius what it is from everything I've read and seen. They had a legitimately hosted server in a DC that could accommodate the player base and wasn't running out of some dudes basement. Likewise, the support and patching has been compared to what Blizzard provided themselves.

It was hardly perfect. I can remember quite a few bugs/differences in mechanics that changed the experience. I love Nost, but I won't pretend it was a perfect copy of vanilla.

No it wasn't perfect copy of vanilla. But it was the best darn one out there :]

[Pottu]

Off-topic

[Glader]

I support adhering to the strict GPL license.

Nostalrius should find an 'official' server to take up their data and source, establish itself as the new Nostalrius and then the Nostalrius devs should release their source as you say.

Right now adhering to the license strictly is not in the best interest of the consumers, even if it is legally required, however I would very much frown upon Nostalrius if they didn't merge or publish their changes after finding someone to take the torch.