Spring secretly force people to be illegal!

[zwzsg]

I made an installer for my mod, so I didn't include otacontent.sdz, tacontent_v2.sdz, nor tatextures_v062.sdz.

Works very fine.

But if I run TASClient, SpringDownloader.exe is automatically launched and goes covertly downloading these three files.

It means that even if I want to stay perfectly legal, I cannot. Spring forces me to download and copy on my hard drive illegaly stolen properties of Atari.

I find this morally unacceptable.

Also, whoever made SpringDownloader.exe should be told that LuaUI is not enabled with a registery key anymore

[smoth]

that is pretty gay man. Those mods need to start including the shit with them.

[Ashnal]

I believe recently CA did integrate OTA content. It helps keep track of what still needs to be replaced, and also has the benefit of not requiring OTA content. The downside is larger mod size of course.

[Peet]

I believe recently CA did integrate OTA content. It helps keep track of what still needs to be replaced, and also has the benefit of not requiring OTA content. The downside is larger mod size of course.

Nope, it's still required separately

[lurker]

Part was integrated.

[Ashnal]

Well I did find a commit.
Apparently otacontent.sdz is no longer needed, someone just never changed the modinfo. tatextures.sdz is still needed though.

http://trac.caspring.org/changeset/3565

[zwzsg]

Whether *A mods should include all their TA data, or depends on those files, is another issue.

What I'm complaining about is that SpringDownloader downloaded into my hard drive those files of dubous legality, without asking me, without informing me, and while they were not even needed.

Then I don't like having tons of popups and warning either. So ideally, SpringDownloader should not download those three base files until it detects there is a mod requiring them.

Basically, I want to be able to say to people all over the internet that my KP installer is free of any stolen commercial asset, that it is all GPL, CC, freeware. Which would not be really true if the minute they connect to the lobby they get those three files transparently & forcibly installed. For now I workarounded the issue by just disabling SpringDownloader, but meh, this is just because I couldn't think of anything else.

[lurker]

Springlobby.

[Peet]

Tasclient is the lobby installed by default in windows, so the point stands.

[zwzsg]

Actually, it's just that I prefer the look and feel of TASClient.

[1v0ry_k1ng]

spring has been running for years and years

evidently nobody givesashit that we use content files from a game released when my gramps was a hip partygoer

[zwzsg]

Spring has been running undercover for years and years, because it's never listed in free & open source games list because everybody still considers it as a mod to play TA in 3D, and because of the muddy status of abandoware it isn't advertised like it should.

I am trying to make a TA-free Spring installer, but that little thing with the downloader goes in the way.

[smoth]

it will not be long until non-ta projects start gathering following and spring becomes well known.

[Licho]

SpringDownloader auto-gets and installs otacontent since its no1 issue with all *A players.

[smoth]

that is a problem with the *a mods. they need to include their content like the rest of us. Their users having no understanding should not be shoved on any of the players.

[insaneinside]

So players should not be made aware that the mod contains copyrighted content for which use the copyright holders have not given permission? In other words, users shouldn't be concerned that this program is downloading infringing content onto their computer?

Given the information and discussion in forum topic Infogrames' latest strategy statement, I don't think that's a wise judgement.

[KDR_11k]

The downloading isn't much of an issue in many countries but SD also uploads by default and thus makes the user guilty of copyright infringement even there. Additionally many countries are trying to implement some ISP-level anti-piracy measures.

[lurker]

It only uploads mods, not the base content...

[AF]

Only download the 3 files if they're actually needed!!!!

If a mod requires the files and they're not found by springdownloader tell the user about it and stick a big download button in the dialog with "fix this for me"

[Neddie]

Good points all.

Look, the *A mods should include the content themselves. Stop discussing it and convince the mod maintainers to get to it. This problem will be solved along the way.