Having some problems with the Forum
 

In the past two weeks, I have often not been able to load this forum page. Sometimes it loaded, but I have not been able to call up any posts.
Then, a couple of hours later, everything is fine again. Rinse, repeat.
This happens from two different computers in two cities; in Hannover, I use win2000 as a client on our server with a DSL connection and a router; havent had any problems with that. In Berlin, I have a win98SE laptop connected to a DSL modem (D. Telekom), and when I have problems with this forum I have none elsewhere. In Berlin, under Win98, I have a little icon in my task manager thingy at the bottom right of my screen, two little green monitor-looking thingies, and they light up when they are transfering information, and when I wait for one of these forum pages to load they are dark.
Is this a problem with me or a problem with the forum, and can I do anything about it?
Thanks much

Re: Having some problems with the Forum
 

We have the same problem. So I i magine it is either Shrapnels server or connection that is the problem.

Re: Having some problems with the Forum
 

The forum is virtually offline for a couple of hours every day, between 1100 and 1300 my time (I think you live in Germany, so that would be the same time; it is between 4 am and 6 am EST). Could it be the reason for your problems? I think it may begin at 1000 (it was around 1015 this morning), and the length of this backup varies depending on the day.

Re: Having some problems with the Forum
 

It is earlier too, or at least sometimes it is. I notice it anywhere from between 0800 and 1300 in Middle Europe Time.

Does Shrapnel know this? (I am guessing they are seated in the US?)

Re: Having some problems with the Forum
 

It used to start at 0800, but it should no longer be the case (they moved their backups at a later moment, though it is less convenient for us in Europe). Have you seen it start at 0800 in the last few days?

If it is linked to the backups, they are aware of this. Here is the thread where Mindi spokes of this matter (on the SEIV forum).

Re: Having some problems with the Forum
 

Hm ... still having problems, but now I have this ... "facelifted" banner thingy on the left side of the screen, which does sort of distract from the forum. Is there a way to remove this^?

Re: Having some problems with the Forum
 

Not that I can find. This new "feature", ostensibly "news", is implemented as HTML table code rather than as a more traditional frame. Thus you cannot use browser add-ons like Firefox's Adblock extension to strip the side pane away. I guess we're stuck with losing roughly 140 pixels (at 1280 res.) of our browser window's width to advertising. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/Sick.gif

Re: Having some problems with the Forum
 

This 'facelift'-new sidebar is really annoying if you're stuck with a low resolution laptop display like I am! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif

Re: Having some problems with the Forum
 

Probably this new "improvement" is in some transitional state. Just this page alone contains 270 errors. Hopefully, when the errors are fixed everything will be ok http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: Having some problems with the Forum
 

It is extremely annoying . And i don't think that the ingenious sidebar will net in additional sales anyways http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...es/biggrin.gif . It is so annoying that you rather boycott shrapnel then buy another game from them http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/smirk.gif .

Hopefully it is away in a few hours http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif .