Ded server, retrieving chat

[NedFox TZW 0]

Hi all,

Fairly new to this forum, but not to OFP and online gaming :-)

I'm a skilled Delhpi-programmer, I've written DEM, a remote administration tool for all DF-series, and my biggest hobbies are writing client-server programs for gamers to make their lives more comfortable or pleasant.

I've seen 1 message about this topic, which was answered with "IMHO this is not possible" .

So I want to ask very specifically towards the programmers:

I want to retreive the gamechat from a dedicated OFP-server (and resistance), so I can use this in a buddy-tool for OFP-gamers.

I know servers hidden from gamespy, and users reluctant to use it too, but still want some kind of tool to see who's playing on their favorite server, and receive alerts and game-status change.

All those things I've tackled, thx to the reportingIP, the heartbeat messages, and the statuschanged messages.

After looking into to game, I must say you did a decent job in hiding game-details, or at least make it hard to find them in a consistant way.

I've seen 'random' locations for the chat etc.. I can handle all net- and memory related code, something I've done a lot for DeltaForce.

My Question : Is there a 'heardbeat' query-message which generates the chat, or is there another way of getting it from the game?

A plain *no* is OK, as long it's from one of the guys who *really* know it ;-))

If there is a possibility, but the details are to difficult or irrelivant to this forum, I don't mind being pm-ed about it.

NedFox =TZW=

[Lt_Dan_Sweden 0]

Here here!

Can't help on the question, but I hope u get an anser. I can help with beta-testing the tool if needed. We run a linux server called IM SWEC.

[NedFox TZW 0]

After hours of investigating I think I found it.

There's just one memory-position where the chat is inserted. If you program it neatly, you can keep up with the messages, and forget all about the history..

And I found the (fixed) pointer to that location too :-)

Some extra info goes there. When a player joins, I see a referral to the custom face etc.. Need to filter those messages out.

BtW, to reply to you : For now it's a dedicated tool, running on the ofp-server itself. It allows clients to connect, and provides some gamestats (and chat now). This is run however on windows-platform, don'r know if you can run any indy-driven delhpi-program on Linux....

[NedFox TZW 0]

Reply to self :

Chat works on all screens, except when playing.

In briefing, mp setup, debriefing etc the chat is trackable, but when playing, other things happen. Have spent another few hours on it, and it seems I'm stuck, so I still need any info there is..

[NedFox TZW 0]

Too bad there's no response..

I really would like to see *some* kind of reaction. When it's official policy to keep all ASE-related stuff secret I can live with that, but now I don't have any response at all...

I just want to be able to 'catch' the chat from a dedicated server....

[Lt_Dan_Sweden 0]

Hey BIS!

A short response isn't too much to ask?

[NedFox TZW 0]

I'm very, very, VERY disappointed.

Guess all of BIS is playing BHD atm ?

Forgive me my sarcasm, but IMHO at least you could reply on my simple question.

[suma 8]

Here is the simple answer to you simple question:

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">My Question : Is there a 'heardbeat' query-message which generates the chat, or is there another way of getting it from the game?

<span id='postcolor'>

There is no specific message for chat, chat is sent together with all other game information and there is no easy and reliable way how to get it from the network trafiic.

[Guest jacobaby]

BTW all,

I have used Nedfox's app on my server and it is very helpful.

Especially seeing as you can set it to ping you when the game status changes, so you dont have to sit like a nerd wasting time staring at the screen or asking "how long left guys?"

TJ

[-A-V-Trekkie 0]

Nice one!

Can´t wait for a (beta)-release

[benu 1]

As we are in TS2 always i just surf, read, play other games (whoops) or do other things while i wait for my homies to shout for me when the new game starts...

Nevertheless this sounds like a great app... except it does not work with linux servers iirc, so it's a great app for OTHER people

[Guest jacobaby]

You can have a list of server s that run the app, and then see who is playing on which server etc, also send chat messages to them through the app,

[benu 1]

That is nice for the "serverhopper" type of player but i only play on my own server. I mean, what's the point in paying for one server and playing on other. And that happens to be a linux server.

And with the other games i've played it was the same, after a time you know cool guys and want to play with them and so you happen to play play on 2 or 3 servers at the max.

[NedFox TZW 0]

Many times the server is locked, and I have to wait for the MP Setup to get in.

But I don't want to stare at a ..playing... screen for 30 mins.

So, the buddy pings me when a game ends, and I can chat with all the guys connected.

I hoped I could use the ingame chat, to be able to see what's happening in the game, without really being joined to it (locked, so you can't get in).

For as far as MP setup, briefing etc, I was able to find the chat, but the most important bit, when playing, was hard..

It's too bad the gamespy-stuff doesn't support this.. Now I had to peek into game-memory, and that's unreliable..

I'm still working on it..

[NedFox TZW 0]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Suma @ April 09 2003,11:49)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">There is no specific message for chat, chat is sent together with all other game information and there is no easy and reliable way how to get it from the network trafiic.<span id='postcolor'>

Thx Suma..

I'll put some extra time in searching for it in memory then..

Getting it from the network-traffic puts too much load on performance..

We've used the program for some weeks now, and it's great :-) Since I have 2 monitors, I can see guys join and chat, while playing.. Normally I alt-tab to buddy, to say we know they are there...