BSN is shutting down; files there could be lost.

[moho25]

As promised, here's the reply I received from BioWare in response to my query about archiving the BSN Projects:

 

Sent Yesterday, 1:31 PM

 

We're looking into what we will be able to do to help saving projects. I'm afraid I don't have any more information at this time, but we will update you when we know more.

 

So... at least they acknowledge the need to do something. That's a good sign, yes?! :geek:

 

A good sign would have been them laying out the plan for BSN non-forum content in their original announcement.

 

This behavior on the other hand just reeks of them not knowing... and not caring. :wallbash:

 

Appreciate the update, though.

Edited August 9, 2016 by moho25

[moho25]

@Thandal -- Quick question totally unrelated to the contents of this thread.

 

I noticed a little while back that searching ME3 Nexus with my username in the author field brings up no results. If I search other people's usernames their mods come up fine. "AVPen", "Fob", etc. Searching "moho" or "moho25" results in "No results". Tested logged in and out on different PCs, so it seems like some weird technical glitch.

 

Is this something I should submit a support ticket for, or make a post in a forum? If the latter, which forum? I thought there was a technical help board at some point (maybe I'm on crack) but it doesn't seem to be present anymore.

[Thandal]

@moho25;

 

(a) Don't hijhack someone else's topic. Start your own.

 

(b) Weird. If I put your username in the "uploaded by" field, they all show up: ME3Explorer, ThaneMOD, BackOff, ME3Recalibrated, Better Cabin Music, Urz on the Normandy. But in the author field they don't.

 

It's a problem and you should use the Report feature to ermmm... Report it. :cool:

[moho25]

@Thandal -- Got it. Thanks.

[Tarshana]

Just a quick update- Fexetralife has several forums now integrated into the website. If you look under Bioware you see some sections have tonnes of posts and those are all ported over.

I'm pretty exhausted right now. I've been waking up an extra hour early to work on bundling everything and I'm on call right now. (I need a coffee IV stat!) but I should have the database packed tomorrow or Friday. I had to make sure my personal info didn't get logged somewhere.

[moho25]

@Tarshana -- A couple follow up questions:

 

1. Does this then mean that you have copies of the entire BSN site, the entire new BioWare site, and the entire original Mass Effect site? Who else has copies of all 3 sites? Creeper? Shades?

 

2. Can this content be viewed? If so, how? How are project files and the metadata associated with them accessed?

 

3. I think you mentioned something about contacting project authors as part of this process? Approximately what percentage have you contacted? The next step after archiving all this content is to get all the projects back up and available here on Nexus. Once BW closes everything in 2 weeks, it will be near impossible to get a whole of any authors for permissions, as folks don't necessarily use the same handles on different sites. Especially for authors of lesser known mods.

[Tarshana]

1. Does this then mean that you have copies of the entire BSN site, the entire new BioWare site, and the entire original Mass Effect site? Who else has copies of all 3 sites? Creeper? Shades?

 

 

 

Well, I haven't done much with the BW forums except download small chunks of it. Fexelea has two of the forums ported on her website. But what I have is BSN legacy and ME Original. No one else has copies yet, I need to make sure my login info is wiped out of the files and that the files could be read after I delete info. The link to download it will only be shared with the original team working on this project- I'm giving Creeper the first download so she can view if I have fubared.

2. Can this content be viewed? If so, how? How are project files and the metadata associated with them accessed?

 

 

 

If I can figure it out, I wanted to add it to Fexelea as a "View Only" content. No links to the mod downloads would be available, but links directing them to Nexusmods would be (if their mods are on nexus), or their personal website. The files are mostly css so I do not think it will be problem copy pasting tweaking them.

 

3. I think you mentioned something about contacting project authors as part of this process? Approximately what percentage have you contacted? The next step after archiving all this content is to get all the projects back up and available here on Nexus. Once BW closes everything in 2 weeks, it will be near impossible to get a whole of any authors for permissions, as folks don't necessarily use the same handles on different sites. Especially for authors of lesser known mods.

 

 

There are two authors who said "No do not host on Nexus (I will share those name privately), we cannot find tmp7704, I've contacted a few others (sorry I forget their names, I have 2 hours of sleep right now). I will send you my list of contacted, contacted with response, contacted with no response and my cannot contact. I am going to crash first before I fall over; my pillow is calling my name like the devil siren it is.

[moho25]

@Tarshana -- I think it's time we talk a bit further with Nexus about some of this. I've made a new post in our PM.

[addictinsane9]

I'm sorry for being slightly off-topic on this, but as I recall the only way to get patch 1.05 of DA:O without steam or whatever the other steam is called is from the BSN. Will you be backing this up too or do I have to do my own back up ASAP???

[Thandal]

Do your own backup, stat!

 

BioWare are like any other rights holder. Unless/until they give permission, no one can distribute their materials. If they want people to use their content distro platform exclusively for their stuff, (it's called "Origin") that's their call.