SOLUTION: How to play Raven Shield online now that UBISoft has shut it down

[.Twi]

I have created a patch for the game called "OpenRVS", which fixes many issues now that UBISoft has decided to shut down the multiplayer.

1. CD keys and UBI IDs are no longer needed to get online.
2. Connection issues are fixed, so many servers will no longer experience the dreaded "server not responding" error.
3. Your server list will once again have some options to connect to in it.
4. Server owners can ban players via IP address instead of the now-useless cd key id.
5. And more fixes as well, details in the readme.

The patch is easy to install. You can get it here:
http://www.rvsgaming.org

[Asys]

Hi Twi! Great job with the patch! I have problem connecting to servers after i added the files to my system folder. I get the error message: Game server could not recevie your authorization form the CD key server. Any idea?

[The Bruce is Loose]

Great job, very well done. Is there Athena Sword support or is that a whole other can of worms?

[Mr_Parfaiit]

try for athena sword and you we yours at the news but for raven shield all works be well now lack more knowledge how created a server if a solution is the I'm interested cordially. for which spineless play raven shield with me add me as a friend deatmatch and team deatmatch

[SAS_LCpl_MM18]

The server list doesn't work for me, every time I try to join a server through it by selecting it and clicking "join", it does the typical "Please wait" window with the green check box (instead of the red cross box) for an instant of a second, then it disappears. Nothing happens afterwards (usually the same window would appear with the red cross box instead, which meant that it was really connecting to the server), and the user interface stops working (can move the cursor, but everything is unresponsive). I can, however, bring the console up, so it means that the whole program didn't crash.

Joining via IP produced mixed results, attempting to join any of the following servers produced these results.

• Obsolete Superstars - After "Waiting for Server Response..." the server connection failed with a generic "Connection Failed" message. Could be a temporary issue, since I got "The server is full" when joining through the "open" console command.
  
• Shadow Squad Coop - After "Waiting for Server Response..." the server connection failed with a "Game server could not receive authorization from CD key server" message.
  
• Xanatos Coop - After "Waiting for Server Response..." the server connection failed with a "Game server could not receive authorization from CD key server" message.
  
• SMC Silenced Tactical - Connection Successful!
  
• Tequila - "Server did not Respond". It probably wasn't up at the specified server IP.

[.Twi]

The problem with Obsolete Superstars/Xanatos/ShadowSquad servers are that they have not installed the patch, so there will be errors when joining. I am trying to convince them to install it.

[Chriswak]

In addition, I have created an R6GameService Auto-Patcher program to fix the server-side "try again time" issue (where the "try again time NNN" message repeatedly spams your server's console and log files).

After automatically making a backup of the file, the R6GameService Patcher seeks out the offending bytes in the R6GameService.dll and replaces them with the proper re-written code, changing the logic so that this message will not constantly spam a dedicated server's console or log files anymore.

The R6GameService Patcher will only need to be executed one time on the server-side - clients do not need this patch.

Details/dolwnload available at Obsolete Superstars forums:
http://obsoletesuperstars.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=776&p=5961#p5961

Enjoy,
Chriswak

[PhanTom(FETT)]

Your awesome! keep up the good work!

[Chriswak]

Originally posted by Chriswak:

In addition, I have created an R6GameService Auto-Patcher program to fix the server-side "try again time" issue (where the "try again time NNN" message repeatedly spams your server's console and log files).

After automatically making a backup of the file, the R6GameService Patcher seeks out the offending bytes in the R6GameService.dll and replaces them with the proper re-written code, changing the logic so that this message will not constantly spam a dedicated server's console or log files anymore.

The R6GameService Patcher will only need to be executed one time on the server-side - clients do not need this patch.

Details/dolwnload available at Obsolete Superstars forums:
http://obsoletesuperstars.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=776&p=5961#p5961

Enjoy,
Chriswak

The R6GameService Patcher also reduces server lag post-ubi-shutdown - this is likely due to disk i/o required when writing the log data and/or processing required to evaluate for the "try again time" message/state in the first place. It is highly recommended that you run the Patcher on any public dedicated server to avoid lag issues (you only need to run it once).

-Chris

[Legacy | Tactical-Gaming.net]

So far just seeing two servers on the list, but JOIN IP works for some more listed on the RvSGaming page. I might start up a server as well running old R6 1, Rogue Spear, Black Thorn etc maps too. The classics!

Good job guys!

[.Twi]

Fix coming soon for the only two servers listed. It's an issue with how my code retrieves data from our community hub at Rvsgaming.org.

[Legacy | Tactical-Gaming.net]

Sounds good. Join IP is working for most servers. I am attempting to run one now just using the basic Create option from menu. It works for me so far. If anyone wants to play message me and I'll msg you IP. Just want to try it out. I'm running a lot of classic older maps!

[KomradeKaz]

Thanks so much, man. This game will never die thanks to people like you.

[.Twi]

Next version (0.6 beta) released. For players, the internet server list bugs are fixed, and for server owners the mod will log the IP address of joining players. Get it at rvsgaming.org !

[Legacy | Tactical-Gaming.net]

How can I go about adding my server to the list also it seems some folks are having connectivity issues. I myself added
ServerList=(ServerName="Actions Speak - Old School Maps +",IP="184.175.32.14:7777",Locked=false,GameMode="coop")

To the Server.List but no luck. I can Create one using the Create button in the menu and run it fine on my own and could when UBI was online still. Join IP not working. Port 7777. Ideas?

I run a lot of Rogue Spear and original Rainbow Six maps as well as other classics most servers do not have.

ps. I followed your instructions in the Read Me exactly
Should I maybe forward some ports in my router etc?

Add as a friend guys so we can play together when we're on!

ps cheers Twi we are both Canadian! I'm in Toronto

[.Twi]

You will definitely need to set some port forwarding in the router. It can also help to put your host computer into your router's DMZ.

If you are running the server frequently, you can get it to appear in the server list by contacting Tony at the rvsgaming.org website. He curates the list of currently running servers that gets downloaded by the OpenRVS patch.