big problem with origins

mewp · Post by **mewp** » Fri Apr 08, 2011 2:51 pm

I am down to the battle with the arch demon but when I try to start the game it shows me a list of downloads and says I must log into them. As I am already logged I went to bioware and logged in again. I still get the list of DLCs and it twill not let me play the game. I do not know why this has happened as it worked fine last night.Any help would be greatly appreciated.

swcarter · Post by **swcarter** » Fri Apr 08, 2011 3:12 pm

Sometimes it takes a couple minutes to authenticate your DLCs. Something the authentication server is down. I'd just say wait a bit and then try starting up the game again. You might also try logging out and then back in (in the game).

SWC

GoldDragon · Post by **GoldDragon** » Fri Apr 08, 2011 3:18 pm

Most typical reason: the DLC/Mods got accidentaly disabled. The game WILL complain about it.

Check your ACTIVACTED Content. (Downloadable Content > Installed Content Tab).

Also, the Purchased Content (such as Warden's Keep/ Stone Prisoner) sometimes goes unauthorized for No apparent reason (this can also cause the game to not run, especially if SHale was/is a member of the Active Party). Which just happened to me. I think there were a few threads about it over on Bioware's Social Network.

mewp · Post by **mewp** » Fri Apr 08, 2011 3:18 pm

thanks, I will wait and try again.

GoldDragon · Post by **GoldDragon** » Fri Apr 08, 2011 3:31 pm

UPDATE: Bioware is currently having Trouble with their DAO Servers. Will be fixed soon (sic). Post saying that was 3 hours old, so....

vio · Post by **vio** » Fri Apr 08, 2011 3:55 pm

this is another reason I hate when single player games require an internet connection. it's supposed to stop piracy but since the pirates just use cracks to get around it, they're the only ones not affected by it

GoldDragon · Post by **GoldDragon** » Fri Apr 08, 2011 5:10 pm

Found a post on Bioware Social Forums that got around this (and was posted several Months ago) This post, 4th post on second page. Using Wordpad worked for me.

Official Notice: The above thread/post doesn't come from a Bioware/EA employee, and also invovles editing files, save before editting (and in a different location, especially if you are uncertain about anything), and no complaining if doing the above proves Hazardous to your health, deletes your C: drive, or any other such malicious action.

Normally, I do NOT condon this sort of thing, and do always agree with a company (such as Bioware and EA) protecting their income, but the EULA DOES allow for me to be able to play lawfully purchased content (such as Dragon Age: Origins and Witch Hunt) at ANY time of Day or Night, With or Without an Internet Connection*, regardless of any Server Difficulty that is on their end, unless the Game that I wish to play is designed to be played as such (IE: World or Warcraft). This inability to play lawfully purchased content because BIOWARE or EA is having server dificulties is rediculous.

* From the Dragon Age: Ultimate Edition Box as Regards Intenet connectivity:
Acceptance of End User License Agreement required to play. Access to online Features and/or Services requires an EA Online Account with the Enclosed Serial Code. EA Online privacy policy and Terms of Service can be found at EA Video Games - Electronic Arts. You Must be 13+ to Register for an EA Account. EA may Retire online features after 30 days notice posted on http://http://www.ea.com/2/service-updates.

System Requirements:
Windows XP SP3, Vista SP1, Windows 7
Intel Core 2 Single 1.6 GHz Processor or Equivalent
AMD Athlon 64 2.0 GHZ equivalent or faster
1.0 GB (1.5 GB Vista and Windows 7) RAM
DVD-Rom Drive Required
24 GB HD space
Video: XP: ATI Radeon X850 256MB or Greater
................NVidia GeForce 6600 GT 128 MB or greater
Vista & Windows 7: ATI Radeon X1550 256 MB or Greater
...........................NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GT 256 MB or Greater
DirectX 9.0c compatible Sound Card

Where does it say that Internet Connection required to play? Forcing that without proper notice is also a breach of the EULA.........

EDIT: I should also add that the Bioware Servers are going down for awhile on April 12. Upgrading.

Xandax · Post by **Xandax** » Fri Apr 08, 2011 11:08 pm

I had problems with the game saying my DLC was unauthorized.
This seemed to help me out - specifically the section about editing the XML file:
Answer

However whether coincidence or not - I can't say, but after I edited the XML file I was no longer unauthorized.

# Close out of the game. Go to My Documents/Bioware/Dragon Age/Settings.
# Find the Addins.xml file and open it with Word Pad, Notepad, or any XML editor.
# Press Ctrl. A to select all, then Ctrl. C to copy.
# Paste the copied text into a new Notepad, Word Pad, or Word document and save the file. This will be your back-up.
# Go back to the Addins.xml file and replace all entries that read RequiresAuthorization="1" with RequiresAuthorization="0".

Of course, I did not do any backup up - and wasn't careful. I just search n' replaced

Xandax · Post by **Xandax** » Fri Apr 08, 2011 11:11 pm

vio wrote:this is another reason I hate when single player games require an internet connection. it's supposed to stop piracy but since the pirates just use cracks to get around it, they're the only ones not affected by it

While no protection at all might be better, I must admit I prefer the internet verification to play to all the other crap companies have put on discs/games to try and slow down piracy.

The internet connection to verify is at least rather transparent most of the time to many of us and doesn't need to install rootkits or stuff like that on your computer which are also a security risk.

vio · Post by **vio** » Sat Apr 09, 2011 2:24 am

yeah it's less intrusive than some copy protection I'll admit (ever tried getting an old game with starforce working in Windows 7?) but it's annoying to, for example, not be able to play a Starcraft 2 skirmish against the computer because battle.net is down or because my ISP is having trouble
in danger of veering off topic here though so I will add that at least Origins is worth the occasional hassle, and thankfully it is only occasional

childofbhaal · Post by **childofbhaal** » Sat Apr 09, 2011 11:37 am

Aye,DRM exists just to punish paying customers.I dont know who makes these decisions but I doubt that they are so blind(probably the guy gets a good amount of money from the DRM manufacturer).

Sophos Anti Rootkit GUI(sargui) is a reliable rootkit removal tool btw(and free),just google it if you want to get rid of rootkits.

flix · Post by **flix** » Sat Apr 09, 2011 12:39 pm

This is a major problem across the board right now and there are a flood of complaints on the BSN. The usual solutions probably aren't going to work because it's a problem on their end. Don't bother messing with your .xml file. Once this gets fixed and your DLC is authorized again the best preventative measure is to play DAO logged out and with internet disconnected.

GoldDragon · Post by **GoldDragon** » Sat Apr 09, 2011 5:41 pm

"And with internet disconnected."

No need. Simply logging out, and not allowing it to log in again, and you are just fine. Logging in once to authenticate Downloadable Content packs is great!

What bothers me is that it's needed EVERY time. Nowhere that I found did it say that an Internet connection was required to play the DLCs... Even when you have physical copies (a la Ultimate Ed.). Still, these problems aren't exactly common enough, but my brother just got his copy of the Ultimate Edition, and can't even get the first authentication.

Also, I found out on BSN forums that the editting of the XML file first was suggested by an EA Rep. IF (and I do mean IF) that is the case, it's slightly better thatn I originally thought, but it rates down there with what another Customer Service Rep finally told someone to do when presented with a problem: Said customer was told to go find a Hacked EXE file. That's just poor business/support.

flix · Post by **flix** » Sun Apr 10, 2011 12:39 am

No need. Simply logging out, and not allowing it to log in again, and you are just fine. Logging in once to authenticate Downloadable Content packs is great!

Well, I wasn't able to get the problem to go away until I started up the game with the modem unplugged today. I spent all last night and today logging in and out, and nothing changed - DLC remained unauthorized. But no internet connection=immediate fix. Something tells me DA still communicates with the net regardless of whether or not you're logged in.

GoldDragon · Post by **GoldDragon** » Wed Apr 13, 2011 12:10 am

Well, the never logging in has been working for me for some time.

Also, the Servers seem to be back on-line. At least, according to the BSN postings.

Update:[url="http://social.bioware.com/forum/1/topic/58/index/7036701/52#7058914"]Link[/url] to a Developer's post explaining the problem.

Fljotsdale · Post by **Fljotsdale** » Sat May 21, 2011 5:55 am

Hm. I just bought Dragon Age Ultimate Edition (disc, from Amazon, not downloads) which has all the DA2 and downloadable content on it. I had no problems with it at all. Did the password things, logged on when game started as supposed to do, and all fine. Not had to log on since, and no problems apart from a minor audio problem at start of character creation - every time I create new char.
(I have been trying out the 6 different starts - so far done 3 and found the elven magi the trickiest up to now. Not from difficulty, but deciding what to do about the other apprentice!)

GoldDragon · Post by **GoldDragon** » Sun May 22, 2011 12:37 pm

For the DLCs, logging in once is all that is needed. Best not to log in again.

As for the Magi Origin (Human or Elven), I simply tattle to Irving. Then do as he says, since Greagoir's reaction is almost priceless.

Human Noble I think is best as female (can anyone say Queen?), and I think that City Elf plays best as Female. I hate the Dwarves of Origins, so I don't do those starts.

Fljotsdale · Post by **Fljotsdale** » Thu May 26, 2011 12:25 pm

GoldDragon wrote:For the DLCs, logging in once is all that is needed. Best not to log in again.

As for the Magi Origin (Human or Elven), I simply tattle to Irving. Then do as he says, since Greagoir's reaction is almost priceless.

Human Noble I think is best as female (can anyone say Queen?), and I think that City Elf plays best as Female. I hate the Dwarves of Origins, so I don't do those starts.

Yeah, I tattled as well! But I wonder what would have happened if I didn't, ya know?

Ive done all the starts, now, and found 'em all interesting. I am currently running a female dwarven Rogue, and she's not bad. I like her face.

Not struck with her legs, but hey... :laugh: She's pretty good, actually - so far, anyway - because she has a bit more muscle and higher constitution. Got as far as the first village after she and Alistair were rescued, and doing stuff there. I'm feeling a bit... hassled... with all the ruddy minor quests we keep landing. I suppose I could ignore them...

Er... sorry for off-topicing!