Can't see servers....

OK, from what I've gathered so far it appears that GameSpy shut support for some titles (not necessarily oldest ones) for few reasons. Some of the reasons are lack of funds supplied by the developers to run the master server yet some developers forced GameSpy to shut the master server down due to that they no longer want to support the franchise in question.

It is likely that SWAT franchise holders, not working on a SWAT 5 force-shut the master server as SWAT 4 increasingly got popular lately (even meme websites started popping up about Swat 4) this in return is harming franchise holders budget. On the other hand it may be that it's simply not enough of a profit for GameSpy.

Either way, this is nothing official, it's just information I was able to gather around. I will see if I can contact some GameSpy employees directly via Xing and let you know.

My advice is, don't raise too much hope on the server comeback.

Understood, Maven.

I hope for the best.

FOLLOWING SERVERS ADDED TO THE MARK MODS SERVER LIST:
PG #4
TG #2
TG #4

TG2: 37.59.81.81:11280 (locked) - joining with xfire doesnt work, use direct IP + pw ingame

TG4: 37.59.81.81:10480 (sasmod), use direct IP + pw ingame

Temp PG: 37.59.81.81:11380, joining with xfire works

Thx DeCapi.

Good work, guys

Great work, thanks guys!

Good to hear, thanks DeCapi!

Woohoo!

Thanks DeCapi and everyone else involved :D.

Regarding GameSpy Tech, I believe it's just as MAVEN said, the publisher most likely decided to cut life support to the game. Considering now we know who said publisher is.

*Drum Roll*

ACTIVISION, as stated by Powered by GameSpy in these self-exculpatory responses on their facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/gamespytech

Hi Terry, We are service providers to game publishers. In the case of SWAT 4 that is Activision, if you are upset that the game is no longer supported I can only suggest that you reach out to them and ask that they re-support it.

Kieran, GameSpy supports the developers and publishers of these games and do not run our services independently of them. If you're upset that the games are no longer supported please reach out to the publisher.

We might as well call it a lost case now, eh? Considering, well, it's Activision... :?

Well, at least we can give them the good fight, who knows what will come out of it.

There are already solutions out there...read above

Different topics there Wiz, one is regarding our servers, the other is about the GameSpy master server list (topic of this thread), which seems to be gone for good.

Hoo-ray!
Thank you!!

Well done!

Was able to join pg 4 without trouble via xfire and direct ip. We're back online!

MM18, sounds like a spot-on on what I've suggested from information gathered, the publisher and server holder broke their ties, but that bit of info, that the publisher suggested to contact GameSpy for server support is interesting, maybe with common effort Swat 4 community can pay for one.

Anyway good to hear servers are back Are they listed on GameTracker? If not, please add server ip's, serverviewer on the saclan.org page uf possible

http://forum.markmods.com/index.php?topic=2898.0
They released the client patch a hour ago.

Everyone needs to install in order to use ingame browser. Just tested, our servers are there. Not many servers listed right now but time will tell.

This is shown in the thread mentioned by walker as known bug, which I find very important to know:

You cannot uninstall the patch, unless you make a copy of your System Directory and manually restore it.

I've managed to find 12 GameSpy employees within my reach. I have asked some of my contacts to help me reach them out, in addition I've sent several invites to some of the employees on several social networking places. Now I just need to wait, it will take some time, a day, two, maybe more, after that I will discuss the GameSpy master server issue and if terms are right check for some Swat 4 community-funded opportunities.

Once again, no promises, nothing is for sure, but what I can do is give it a try and hope for the best

Meanwhile, Markie didn't waste time, he did great job with the patch, however I have questions if anyone can answer - Will it list non-markmods servers and are SAS EVR servers now markmods hosted?

I miss Swat 4 fun already.

It works for every server, no matter of the host. The server only needs the patched version of the admin mod (either Gez or Marksmod).
But I wasn't able to get it running with my SAS-Mod server yet (might be a configuration issue).

EDIT: Nvm, it's running fine also with SAS Mod right now (both client and server).

Hi all.

I've contacted GameSpy employees. It appears that GS is unwilling to talk about this matter and instead the employees I contacted told me they will connect me with someone more responsible about this within GS. So far, nothing happens. If this persists I am willing to give it a one more try before pulling back.

I would say that the master servers shut for all of those games were shut by a request made from developers not by a GameSpy itself, if that's the case then even if GS does contact me back again and will to help out it would be a tough one to achieve and convince the developer.

Meantime I'd suggest you use Xfire, does the work for me so far.

My final update on the server recovery attempt.

GameSpy doesn't wanna talk. I got in contact with some of their employees, all they say is that they can't get the master server up without the publisher and developer agreeing with that, which is very highly unlikely and I don't feel like chasing them to do so. Swat 4 got more popular recently, and since there will be no Swat 5 (probably) the franchise holder wants the SWAT over it seems. They plugged copies from being sold and then the master server went off, it's obvious enough.

So that's it, don't expect a master server back again. I won't try any further. Whoever put a plug off on this one disapointed me.

On a side note, it seems that even without master server S4 community grows, in fact, there are few new CO-OP clans and even more CO-OP servers, that's some great news

I don't see a reason why they need the publisher or developer to agree, but ok.
Markieboy got a new MasterServer online and I'm pretty sure he will receive enough donations to cover his expenses.

I don't see a reason why they need the publisher or developer to agree, but ok.
Markieboy got a new MasterServer online and I'm pretty sure he will receive enough donations to cover his expenses.

GS gets money from publishers, advertisers, etc. They don't really give away master servers for free to big developers. That being said, if S4 franchise holders don't wanna pay for it (which ain't a small sum of money as SWAT series aren't an indie game) GS won't host the master server and related services for S4. They can't host it without a permit either. And for a publisher to fund something that wont be continued is just a revenue loss. If there was to be S5 they surely would continue funding it. When S4 was released the S4 game had live-streaming ads right in the game (wall pictures) that were re-routed via GS if I am not wrong, this service was shut long ago.

Markie did a great job with master server issue and the patch. He gets an opportunity to earn more by attracting new server users while S4 players get a master server in return, it's a win-win. IMHO, Xfire has a great server browser, one even better than the S4's, that does it for me.

Got the following eMail-reply from GS some days ago:

"Hello,

Please contact Activision on this matter as they are the publisher. They stopped supporting the game some time ago and as a service provider to them we needed to delist the game from our master server."

Just installed the In-game Serverlist Fix TSS + ACM Mod but it doesn't seem to work.

When I try to join the servers, I type the pw and hit enter but all that happens is the serverlist refreshes.. Anyone know anything about this?

Me and West had that problem. I reinstalled the game and west replaced his system folder with a backup i guess. No idea what causes this since others who use the serverlist patch without problems.

It's the first time I boot SWAT 4 up since I re-installed my computer with Windows 8...

Hmm.

There are a lot of bugs with this initial patch so I imagine this is just another one of them.

If you're not using Xfire you can use this list to find/join servers: http://www.markmods.com/swat4masterserver/

...you can use this list to find/join servers: http://www.markmods.com/swat4masterserver/

The ProvingGround is not listed there. Someone can ad it please?

Are PG4 and TG4 still down? I hadn't seen them in a few days.

They are, that's why neither are listed on the Mark Mods server list.