Cal and devs, please listen to me

[athos_uo]

I'd like to explain restrictions that EA Japan makes on making use of Custom UI of EC here.

They don't allow us(Japanese UO players) to edit script files in \UserInterface of EC. This is written in this page.

The page is translated from "KR Custom UI, part 1", which was posted on Herald on August 2007 and we can't read now, because Herald is now under reconstruction. But you can read it on this page.

This is a manual made by Jeremy for KR, and you can read as follows:
"Script files can not be edited. This means that you will only be able to change the layout of existing windows. You will not be able to change any functionality or add new windows to the game. Don't change or remove any script includes or the interface will not function properly. ".

At that time, Custom UI of KR didn't have functionality as we can edit script files(.lua files). The functionality to edit script files was introduced after 3 months later, in the client patch 2.48.0.3. Since then we have been able to edit script files in \UserInterface and make new windows in the screen of EC and make use of possible functions of EC at our will.

But now EA Japan sets restrictions based on the old "KR Custom UI, part 1", and prohibits us to edit scripit files in \UserInterface. I think it ridiculous.

I don't know if EA Japan doesn't know that this manual is out of date, or if they prohibit us to edit scripit files, because it is better for them to reign us, with knowing that the manual is out of date. But their policy is obviously different from that of EA US UO team.

We have lost two great creators of Custom UI of EC. One has quitted when he knew this policy of EA Japan. The other made once an entry for official fan site link of EA Japan. He was denied by EA Japan and was told that his Custom UI has too many functions. He stopped developing his Custom UI, deleted all the posts about his own UI, and doesn't update his site since then.

Does EA Japan intend to ruin our culture of Custom UI of EC in Japan?

It is obvious that the policy of EA Japan differs from that of EA US UO team. Japanese players can't use EC as is originally intended, which means that we can't get the same quality of game experiences as players all over the world.

Will EA US UO team let Japanese players get lower game experiences than those of players all over the world?

 

[Dermott of LS]

...

I hear ya athos, I'm not in the least bit happy with the "support" the EC has gotten in the past several months either, and the statement of the lack of support during the Town Hall just cemented it even further (which led to the detailed post I have linked in my sig area).

And it's not just the Japanese UI modders who are leaving either, but people may have noticed that work on the US side has slowed if not stopped as well (I know I'm taking a break myself even though I'm about 80% done with a new UI). It's difficult to support a client and actively work on it in a modding fashion when the devs don't seem to be supporting it either.

It's frustrating, because it's not the client that's failing UO, it's (for whatever reason behind the scenes) the dev's/management/EA/Bioware/Mythic/etc that are failing the attempt at not just a viable new client, but a GOOD new client.

 

[canary]

...

I hear ya athos, I'm not in the least bit happy with the "support" the EC has gotten in the past several months either,

Try years.

 

[ikaikaman]

EA ignore Japan in spite of almost all sales from them.yet recently EM came into JP-shard but getting severely depopulated because TOO LATE!!!!!!!!!!

　"""It is no use crying over spilt milk."""

 

[Old Man of UO]

How would EA even know if you are using a custom UI mod with too many windows or functions? You aren't intercepting or creating any data streams, just modifying the UI for what the game already receives.

 

[Picus at the office]

Classic client FTW


/thread

 

[Ls Jax Ls]

Classic client FTW

After 3 failed clients you think they would learn...

 

[Babble]

I would ignore what they write there and I doubt they would enforce it.

Probably a translation error or some legal necessities to cover their arses.

 

[athos_uo]

Thx, Dermott!

How would EA even know if you are using a custom UI mod with too many windows or functions? You aren't intercepting or creating any data streams, just modifying the UI for what the game already receives.

They prohibit us to open such CustomUIs public. At least they don't add those sites that introduce CustomUIs with too many functions to their official fan site link, which would be a negative pressure for Japanese players. This is the problem. Japanese players won't develop any useful CustomUI. EA Japan allows us only to change the appearance of EC.

I would ignore what they write there and I doubt they would enforce it.

I would do it. But other people can't.

Probably a translation error ....

I thought at first same as you and made a feedback that the manual they translated is out of date, but of course got no reply and nothing was changed.

 

[Cal_Mythic]

Caught. Drop me a PM Athos.

- c

 

[Merion]

Caught. Drop me a PM Athos.

- c

Why?

he wrote everything in fine detail in the OP - looks more like you should send a pm to EA Japan...

 

[athos_uo]

Caught. Drop me a PM Athos.

- c

Why?

he wrote everything in fine detail in the OP - looks more like you should send a pm to EA Japan...

I'm sorry to be late in replying.

Of course he did. He wrote so, just to attract my attention to my PM inbox.

Cal spoke with Japanese producer and they have much of the guide translated, and will be moving forward on getting the manual translated for Japanese players. This is not immediate but they will make sure it done.

Thank you very much, Cal! This is a great progress for us. Japanese players appreciate your effort!

 

[Cear Dallben Dragon]

And uo remains kick ass!!!!!
Goal!

 

[athos_uo]

Cal spoke with Japanese producer and they have much of the guide translated, and will be moving forward on getting the manual translated for Japanese players. This is not immediate but they will make sure it done.

Thank you very much, Cal! This is a great progress for us. Japanese players appreciate your effort!

Cal let me know that they found the way to have the manual translated, it would take some time but we would be able to have the manual in Japanese in the next month or so.

Oh, thank you very much, Cal! This is a great progress for players who use EC in Japan.

I hope that EA Japan will allow us to use EC as the manual indicates.

 

[Old Man of UO]

...
Oh, thank you very much, Cal! This is a great progress for players who use EC in Japan.

I hope that EA Japan will allow us to use EC as the manual indicates.

Will the Japanese players be willing to share their Mods with other non-Japanese players, or is there a link somewhere to which Mods are available? It would be nice to increase our pool of available Mods.

 

[athos_uo]

Will the Japanese players be willing to share their Mods with other non-Japanese players, or is there a link somewhere to which Mods are available? It would be nice to increase our pool of available Mods.

Oh, I'm sorry, we don't have a modders-community like moddersexchange.

We had two great modders, but they are not now, as I had written already in a former post in this thread, because of the policy of EA Japan.

I personally would like to share information available with modders all over the world, but now I don't have any useful information.

 

[athos_uo]

Cal let me know that they found the way to have the manual translated, it would take some time but we would be able to have the manual in Japanese in the next month or so.

Oh, thank you very much, Cal! This is a great progress for players who use EC in Japan.

I hope that EA Japan will allow us to use EC as the manual indicates.

Cal clarified me that he received a message from his producer in Japan, and they are working on the translation now. And the intent is for us to use it.

Oh, this is really awesome! Then, the world-standard will rule also in Japan, to which we are looking forward to. Now I will make a reference of the manual for the future modders in Japan.

Thank you very much again, Cal, for your clarification and concern!

 

[athos_uo]

Cal clarified me that he received a message from his producer in Japan, and they are working on the translation now. And the intent is for us to use it.

Oh, this is really awesome! Then, the world-standard will rule also in Japan, to which we are looking forward to. Now I will make a reference of the manual for the future modders in Japan.

Thank you very much again, Cal, for your clarification and concern!

Today, EA Japan opened the translation of the EC manual to public, and changed their policy about using Custom UI of EC.

I hope that development of Custom Ui will be more active also in Japan. ... I must learn lua more diligently, hehehe.

Cal, we owe it to you that we can have this successful outcome. *bows deeply* Thank you very much!

 

[Storm]

Congrats!! good news!

 

[Flutter]

Much love Athos! ^_^

 

[Viper09]

After 3 failed clients you think they would learn...

They failed because each of the clients never really got the attention it needed after it reached a certain point.

 

[[JD]]

Caught. Drop me a PM Athos.

- c

Cal, can you address what is going on with development of EC? It has a huge fan base (translation: A bunch of people who think you're on to something) and yet every post about it has gone unanswered. No bueno.

Signed,
The EC using red headed step children of UO

PS. Congrats Athos!

 

[Cogniac]

It looks like EA Japan was just a bunch of flaming idiots. The manual said that you can't edit the scripts in \UserInterface because it was physically impossible, and EA Japan interpreted it to mean that you can't edit the scripts in \UserInterface because it was a bannable offense.

Oh, I'm sorry, we don't have a modders-community like moddersexchange.

As an aside, upon first glance I read this as "Modder Sex Change." I know I'm not the only one.

 

[Lord Chaos]

Yeah, god forbid someone make an interpretation/translation error, especially between two very different languages...that never happens!

*rollseyes*

 

[Dermott of LS]

...

There was a reason why I told Illandril to put the dash in the URL when we initially opened the site.

 

[Viper09]

Oh, I'm sorry, we don't have a modders-community like moddersexchange.

As an aside, upon first glance I read this as "Modder Sex Change." I know I'm not the only one.

Lol, yeah, that was what I first read too.

 

[Fayled Dhreams]

11-17-2010 Cal clarified me that he received a message from his producer in Japan, and they are working on the translation now. And the intent is for us to use it.

Yesterday Feb-15-2011 Today, EA Japan opened the translation of the EC manual to public, and changed their policy about using Custom UI of EC.

OUTSTANDING Athos !!!

Do you know anything about editing videos?

 

[Nimuaq]

In an unrelated note, it seems UO Japan terminated the volunteer program:

Termination of Volunteer Program

 

[athos_uo]

Much love Athos! ^_^

*blushes*

Congrats!! good news!

PS. Congrats Athos!

OUTSTANDING Athos !!!

Thanks a lot! It is thanks to the presence of Stratics as a place for direct communication with devs.

 

[Fayled Dhreams]

*blushes*
Thanks a lot! It is thanks to the presence of Stratics as a place for direct communication with devs.

and humble too! ... no ... it was ALL you Athos.
You working for the GOOD of world wide UO ...
'Tis rare and inspiring.
Direct, polite and well spoken & reasoned (across a language barrier no less).

I would also point out ... it wasn't the "devs" that you got to comply with a reasonable request ...
it was middle management ... two branches of middle management, separated by more than an ocean. Much more.

Just saying ... in a "big picture" veiw of things ...
You may be the only one >this year< (special footnote worthy, gold world class) to Finalize/Realize your mission.

All Hail ATHOS ... ATHOS ... ATHOS !!