Flash Issue

[vigabrand]

No HTML5 version of the game is planned.

However, we do not ignore the Flash situation and are working on solutions. Even if the browsers stop running Flash, the standalone game client (the so-called Slim Browser) will still work and it will be possible to play.

I've seen this reply more than once and personally I don't appreciate being treated like an idiot. Could you please clarify this comment?

The slim browser DOES NOT WORK for most of us. Please bare in mind when this was released I was an IT manager and even I got bored trying to make it work and gave up. Today it suggests I try downloading and installing Chrome. Guess what I am using right now! When Flash has gone what's going to happen when I update other software or re-install windows?

So, is the slim browser your solution, a possible temporary fix (you could call it an event with new features), or are you really looking for viable alternatives and if so how is this progressing?

[BB_Torkav]

We're definitely working on solutions for the Flash problem. The standalone game client (more or less similar to the current "slim browser") is just one of the ideas we're considering.

No HTML5 version of the game is planned.

That's all I can say at the moment.

[halv12]

Adobe Air was mentioned as maybe possible solution here :

forum.tsotesting.com/threads/22628-Flash-EOL-2020

[Jim_B]

We're definitely working on solutions for the Flash problem. The standalone game client (more or less similar to the current "slim browser") is just one of the ideas we're considering.

No HTML5 version of the game is planned.

That's all I can say at the moment.

And can you assure Mac users that any standalone client will be available for them also? I cannot use the Slim Browser even if it did work.

[Dorotheus]

We're definitely working on solutions for the Flash problem. The standalone game client (more or less similar to the current "slim browser") is just one of the ideas we're considering.

No HTML5 version of the game is planned.

That's all I can say at the moment.

The slim client stinks of desperation, you need to stand back and see where the market is actually going as opposed to where your wishful thinking leads you to have this unfounded belief that is not reflected by reality.

[Soupssss]

Talking about Flash : Think about Windows Update !

=> https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4489907/security-update-for-adobe-flash-player-march-12-2019

[Nogbad]

Even Royal games are switching to HTML5 and that site's been dying the death for years.
Please wake up and smell the coffee.

[Nogbad]

Not sure about the author's career history, or any vested interests, but this may be useful.

https://turbofuture.com/computers/The-End-of-Flash-in-2020-Converting-From-Flash-to-HTML5

Although, I also read a number of worrying articles about html5's insecurity.

[vigabrand]

a stand alone game client sounds good, but i'm sure you'll understand our apprehension considering the current "slim browser"

i guess the fact that bb are definitely working on solutions will have to suffice

[cliff60]

HTML5 is dying as well. but most browser games r now switching to HTML5 but webassembly came out a few years ago to replace flash and HTML5. All the main browsers now use webassembly. Its not a plug in like flash its programed into the browser itself. Its not compatable with flash which is why so many probs with flash. Its JAVA based so it wil have security issues as well. Flash HTML5 and JAVA all have security issues which webassembly is attempting to sort out.

So the games switching to HTML5 will only have to switch to webassembly in the next few years anyway so why not switch to it now?

So far chrome, firefox and edge have switched to using webassembly and windows will be doing the same. So even HTML5 is not a long term solution.

Travian games have been reprograming their games to HTML5 for the last 2 years and will be ready to start switching this month. they call it porting to HTML5. 1 small team of uni students converted their game to HTML5 in a month.

So if they can do it why cant a big company like BB do it? Simple they r going to let TSO die so they dont have to hire programmers that know how to write in HTML5 or webassembly.

[Mannerheim]

HTML5 is dying as well. but most browser games r now switching to HTML5 but webassembly came out a few years ago to replace flash and HTML5. All the main browsers now use webassembly. Its not a plug in like flash its programed into the browser itself. Its not compatable with flash which is why so many probs with flash. Its JAVA based so it wil have security issues as well. Flash HTML5 and JAVA all have security issues which webassembly is attempting to sort out.

So the games switching to HTML5 will only have to switch to webassembly in the next few years anyway so why not switch to it now?

So far chrome, firefox and edge have switched to using webassembly and windows will be doing the same. So even HTML5 is not a long term solution.

Travian games have been reprograming their games to HTML5 for the last 2 years and will be ready to start switching this month. they call it porting to HTML5. 1 small team of uni students converted their game to HTML5 in a month.

So if they can do it why cant a big company like BB do it? Simple they r going to let TSO die so they dont have to hire programmers that know how to write in HTML5 or webassembly.

Stop posting this nonsense in every Flash related thread. HTML5 is not dying at all and you made this up yourself without any source. WebAssembly is a completely different thing and for a different purpose. Its not a replacement for HTML5 and its not a java based thing. Do not mix java and javascript. Read this site (overview and faq) 10 times and come back https://webassembly.org/

[Kotugo]

They probably can't move to HTML5 or anything else because it basically requires programming the whole game from scratch, not really worth it given the age of the game. They would have to replace all their actionscript developers.

The only option I see is adobe air. Most the code could be copied+pasted from flash to air. Air would also no longer require a browser.

[Kelza]

They probably can't move to HTML5 or anything else because it basically requires programming the whole game from scratch, not really worth it given the age of the game. They would have to replace all their actionscript developers.

The only option I see is adobe air. Most the code could be copied+pasted from flash to air. Air would also no longer require a browser.

Well, even though it wont happen, rewriting from scratch would be imho the sole correct choice, in regards to the poor condition of the game, riddled with bugs that programmers have no idea where they originate and need saddening long times to correct - if and when they do get corrected. Too much approximative copy/paste has been done in that code already, I'm afraid.

[Nogbad]

Just wish there had been a decent client/server option included from the start, said back in 2011 I would have happily paid a premium/subscription for this.
Flash was an awful choice even in 2010 and this chicken is really coming home to roost now.
Pity that the original devs are spread far and wide now, a rewrite would kill 2 birds with 1 stone, ie: a platform change and bug removal.
If the worst came to the worst, wonder if some enlightened soul would follow the lead set by Origin and donate the game for a strong fan base to host and run themselves. Wouldn't like it in its current state though, would love a stable version like the closed beta became.

[sparkz]

poor condition of the game, riddled with bugs that programmers have no idea where they originate and need saddening long times to correct - if and when they do get corrected. Too much approximative copy/paste has been done in that code already, I'm afraid.

The nature of some of the bugs shows that copy-pasting is probably the least of their issues. Plus you can only assume the bugs would be corrected during rewriting if you also assume that whoever is doing the rewriting actually does a better job than people doing it now.

[lady-lucy]

Will the option with slim browser also work for ppl who play using steam?

[Mannerheim]

Will the option with slim browser also work for ppl who play using steam?

Steam version is pretty much the same thing already

[Kaeli]

I've tried downloading hte slim version, can't get it to work though

[evilgreenie]

The nature of some of the bugs shows that copy-pasting is probably the least of their issues. Plus you can only assume the bugs would be corrected during rewriting if you also assume that whoever is doing the rewriting actually does a better job than people doing it now.
This 1000x! I'm guessing that there's no-one left at BB that fully understands the existing game implementation. What we probably have is bodged base code under many layers of cruft as the game has been hacked about by several generations of designers. With the best will in the world you can't "translate" something like that to HTML5. Standard practice would be to identify and rewrite problematic areas of code. But that would take a year or so and there's no evidence BB has done that..

[qawpaw]

game is fine so is stand alone client if one know how to do it

[Elco]

game is fine so is stand alone client if one know how to do it

And as usual, you're trolling by making a statement without a single proof of what you claim...

[Mannerheim]

game is fine so is stand alone client if one know how to do it

If you mean the slim browser then its not fine. The plugin system in it is a mess and it's not been possible to login to the game at all using the new Ubisoft login for over 6 months meaning a lot of who transitioned to that login as BB suggested. Even BB has acknowledged this issue but has done nothing to resolve it.

[Elco]

If you mean the slim browser then its not fine.

Mannerheim, every serious and helpful player is aware of that indeed but wait for the claim something has been lost in translation and he edits his original post...

[sparkies2013]

The 'Slim Browser' wont work on an Apple Mac :-(

[BB_Trafffer]

Since we've done an update on Flash (here (https://forum.thesettlersonline.com/threads/37849)), I'll close this topic.

We encourage you to continue the discussion in the feedback thread.