Support Policy Change: Playerworld backups and old project data
 

Playerworld data will no longer be released to the public from GraalOnline's backup systems.

There are several reasons for this change:

1) Stefan must personally see to each request for a data retrieval. This is not a quick task, and requires sifting through backups, finding a server to upload it for the player, etc.

2) Permissions for data usage are reserved by GraalOnline, however we have two long-standing policies: Firstly, data usage rights are granted on a first-come first-serve basis. This means that, generally, whatever server a file is uploaded or created on may use that file - and any other servers wishing to use that file must ask the server of origin.

The second policy is that players who want to revive a past project need the permission of the last owner, plus the permission of the Playerworld Administration to revive it. Before giving out playerworld backups, we try our best to establish permission being granted from the last manager of the project. However, this is increasingly done simply by trusting the word of the requester, because there is no good way to ask permission from people who have left the game - either by the PWA or the by player wanting to revive a project.

3) This greatly reduces the originality and stability of new worlds. Ideas are recycled over and over, and old scripts are not re-created for the new scripting engine which can make the server performance suffer.

4) Player satisfaction with the support center's effectiveness has been suffering from these requests. Due to the amount of time required to fulfill a request for a backup to be restored, tickets for this kind of work frequently run over 2 weeks without being resolved. It clouds up the list of support tickets that can be addressed in the present, and frustrates players who are excited but can't get the data they need for the revival.

Thank you for your understanding in this matter, it will help us provide better support and help Graal evolve into new and original forms :)

-GraalOnline Management

This is a good idea, several servers have requested the Sands of Glory files and said they had permission when they didn't AND we were still developing it.

Hopefully this'll put an end to Jigga's constant revival attempts. Hopefully it's strictly enforced because Jigga has access to old playerworld content which has not officially been released to him.

I really like this. DoomsDay has been subject of an survival attempt without Tifa's knowing and I find it horrid.
So this is good :)

I kinda disagree, I think managers have too many rights over the stuff that was made by the staffs (especially big things that took a lot of time/effort) :p

We were talking about owners, not managers

Aye, I reckon developers should be able to claim back work.

I disagree. They should expect that if the server goes down, it will be lost.

However, if they have a backup, I think that's fine.

Rules haven't changed regarding content in the sense that if you develop something for a server, it belongs to the server. cbk is right though, if that person has kept a backup of scripts he's made himself and the server it was used on no longer exists, he is free to use them elsewhere.

This rules changed is in regards to Graalonline providing backups only. All other rules still apply. Its still illegal to steal content guys. :D

When you work for a server you work for the server, not for yourself. Ya it sucks to lose hard work but that's just the way it is. You should back up your stuff and ask the old owners of the server if you can use the stuff YOU made. This of course doesn't apply to UC servers as they come and go so fast and none of your work would probably ever see the light of day.

Is that an implication that playerworld owners will not receive backups either, such as if a server crashes/is deleted/whatever? I've seen a few servers go down (especially Atrius) because of players like KuJi deleting everything, and I just wanted to clarify for everyone whether we should start working under the assumption that we don't get backups :X

I didn't think UC worlds got backed up all that much...

That's exactly what I meant. Say if I made a tileset for a playerworld and it fails and flops, I should be allowed to use those tiles elsewhere. I mean, is it really fair for owners to give away my work to someone like Jigga? An owner who didn't really contribute much, either way.

Personally, I back up my server for myself every other day.

If you are the owner of your playerworld, you should take the initiative to backup your work in case of crazy players like this KuJi throwing away all your work.

An owner who doesnt contribute shouldnt be owning the project.