Hi Adam,
I'm confused. I used 8x8 yesterday to hide while building stealth... Any explanation?
Steven

Me to, as far as i'm aware, 8x8 was "fixed" a few publishes back

I have heared of programs called XXXXXXX and XXXX and other things that let you play on custom made shards. Are these Illegal Programs? And if so, would PB be looking for it?

Thanks,
-Drayvock

Just checked with Draconi.

They are illegal, yes
As for whether Punkbuster would search for them, I don't know
But if you're playing on a EA shard, you wouldn't have those programs open anyways....?

(I edited out the names..it's against the rules here i'm afraid)

heh, ok, I put them back in before you posted... Sorry...

No problemo

I honestly don't know, i've asked EA for a comment on it, but they won't say.

PLEASE READ the agreements that we all agreed to with EA/UO in order to play Ultima Online ...
IT IS ILLEGAL! "custom made" = player run & grey shards. As for PB looking for it ... please read the UOForums FAQ about Punk Buster it might help answer your question about running illegal programs with Punk Buster.

ULTIMA ONLINE SERVICE RULES OF CONDUCT
It states:
16) You will not attempt to play Ultima Online on any service that is not controlled or authorized by Origin Systems.

17 ) You will not create, use or provide any server emulator or other site where Ultima Online may be played, and you will not post or distribute any utilities, emulators or other software tools related to Ultima Online without the express written permission of Origin.

Not enough to convince us? It is the same at ULTIMA ONLINE LICENSE AGREEMENT Which states:

5. Rights and Responsibilities.
(c) Official Service. Ultima Online has been designed by Origin Systems for play only on the Service. The Software is licensed to you for play on the Service only. Origin does not grant you a license to use the Software for any other purpose. You agree to play Ultima Online only on the Service and not through any other means. You further agree not to create or provide any other means through which others may play Ultima Online, for example, through server emulators. You may not reverse engineer, decompile or disassemble the Software, including any proprietary communications protocol used by the Software. You acknowledge that you do not have the right to create, publish, distribute, create derivative works from or use any graphics, audiovisual display, software programs, utilities, applications, emulators or tools derived from or created for Ultima Online unless specifically authorized in writing by Origin Systems.

And if we want to bring up the symantic of 'Origin Systems no longer exists' ... NO PROBLEM .... According to EA ONLINE TERMS OF SERVICE You will violate the Terms of Service if you (or others using your Account) do any of the following:

• You will not attempt to play your EA game on or through any service that is not controlled or authorized by Electronic Arts. You will not participate in any online service that provides online features or game play for your EA game that is not authorized by Electronic Arts.

And if thats STILL not self explanatory enough for us then ... EA Customer Support also helps to clarify it ...

Can I set up my own UO server? Can I play on a UO server not run by OSI?

• Question Can I set up my own UO server? Can I play on a UO server not run by OSI?

Answer:
As per the UO Service Rules of Conduct:
16) You will not attempt to play Ultima Online on any service that is not controlled or authorized by Origin Systems.

17) You will not create, use or provide any server emulator or other site where Ultima Online may be played, and you will not post or distribute any utilities, emulators or other software tools related to Ultima Online without the express written permission of Origin.

Violating these policies will result in action against your accounts.

What is a UO Gray shard?

• Question What is a UO Gray shard?

Answer:
Gray Shards are sometimes referred to as "splinter" or "sphere" shards. A UO Gray Shard is a computer game server that is not owned or operated by Electronic Arts Inc., but which allows people to play Ultima Online -- an Electronic Arts Inc. game. Many times, these Gray Shards also use the Ultima Online game code or allow players to download the Ultima Online client software. Anyone who operates a Gray Shard that uses the UO game code or who distributes the UO client software is in violation of U.S. and International copyright and other laws. Also, anyone who uses a Gray Shard that utilizes the UO game code or distributes the UO client software is also in violation of U.S. and International copyright and other laws.

Any UO customer who participates in one of these game servers is in violation of the Ultima Online Rules of Conduct at http://www.uo.com/conduct.html, which states:

16) You will not attempt to play Ultima Online on any service that is not controlled or authorized by Origin Systems.

17) You will not create, use or provide any server emulator or other site where Ultima Online may be played, and you will not post or distribute any utilities, emulators or other software tools related to Ultima Online without the express written permission of Origin.

________________
Until they change the rules in their documentation, we must and should abide by them or we are subject to the consequences set forth in these agreements!

I hope that this clarifies the record about player run shards and illegal programs ... as for UOForums stand on discussing/promoting them ... That is simple ... we are an official UO Fan site and we will abide by the rules agreed to in order to maintain our affliation-partnership. Which by the way we are EXTREMELY proud of!

As of PUBLISH 39 it was stated in the Other Bug Fixes found here in Publish 39 Additions, Changes, and Fixes UO.COM HOme Site

"“Streakiness” in the random number generator should be improved. As a side effect “8x8” will no longer work."

___________
Hope that helps answer when it was changed (or suppose to be)

Will this Punkbuster take away XXXXXXX