Curse, WoW Interface band together to block WoWMatrix
by Eliah Hecht 
Apr 14th 2009 at 9:30AM
WoWMatrix is a program of dubious morality. It sucks down bandwidth from sites like Curse and WoWInterface like crazy, and displays its own ads while doing so. It does, however, work like a charm. So it is with mixed feelings that I report that Curse and WoW Interface have gotten their heads together and figured out a way to keep WoWMatrix from accessing their files, which means WoWMatrix is of little use going forward.
The idea is that we will now use the official tools provided by those sites: Curse Client from Curse, and an updater that is still in the works for WoW Interface. Unfortunately, the Curse Client for Mac is a work of pure evil uses a lot of obtrusive and non-standard interface elements, as well as being pretty unstable, so I'm not a huge fan of it; I'm not sure how the Windows version stacks up. It also didn't find about half of my addons, including some that I know are on the Curse site, like ClearFont2.
Furthermore, the WoW Interface updater, the only other game in town as far as I can see, appears to have been in limbo for quite some time. So although I recognize that WoWMatrix was putting a drain on the sites, I'm sad that there is no longer a pleasant way for me to update all of my addons, and at best (when the WI updater is released) I'll need to run two separate programs to do the work that WoWMatrix used to do on its own. But if that's what had to happen for Curse and WI to keep their doors open, that's what had to happen.
Filed under: News items, Add-Ons
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 27)
AltairAntares Apr 14th 2009 9:35AM
Personally I had no idea wowmatrix was doing this, but I'm fairly new to this whole thing.
I used to use curse, but I really don't like installing clients that are always running unless I absolutely have to.
Is this already in effect?
AJ Apr 14th 2009 10:26AM
It uses more bandwidth? Seriously? They must think we're dumb!
Firstly the Curse client uses far more bandwidth than WoWMatrix, and secondly WoWMatrix keeps it's own cache, so that lowers Curses bandwidth/CPU time even more.
The real reason is they realized WoWMatrix is a million times better than the Curse client, and instead of trying to compete with it, they've just blocked it, so $$$ is the real reason; especially with the future premium service....which I hope Blizzard stops; it's just the same as charging for individual addons. :)
AltairAntares Apr 14th 2009 10:52AM
The problem isn't necesarily the bandwidth, it's the fact that the hosting websites don't get any add revenue from it.
PeeWee Apr 14th 2009 11:05AM
AJ:
I believe UI policy #1 covers this: "Developers may not ... charge money to download an add-on [or] require some form of monetary compensation to download or access an add-on".
This would mean that no addons may be restricted to premium users. What, in more detail, would the "Premium" service offer? A priority in download queues, like some download sites offer when you download patches and demos and stuff? That I don't think the policies cover.
Do note a small detail here, though. The policy says that "DEVELOPERS may not..." (caps by me). This doesn't prevent Curse from doing it, does it? Or is the developer violating this by uploading the addon to a site with premium services?
This policy change has created a lot of questions, and I don't have any answers. There's a lot to take into consideration.
Kalerender Apr 14th 2009 12:20PM
To PeeWee
The UI policy applies to developers of UI's. Premium service in the (now) past pretty much just referred to mods like carbonite (and a compilation, I think nUI or something) where they offered a free base, but paying got you extras.
If curse.com as a business wants to charge people for their service of hosting mods and providing a convenient way of downloading in the future, that is their prerogative. The content is not being charged for, just their web site/hosting.
artifex Apr 14th 2009 4:14PM
Always running? I don't have the Windows version, but on my Mac I just run it when I update, then close it. Sure, there is a profiler plugin, but it never updates my info back to Curse, so I might as well disable it. :)
Rollo Apr 14th 2009 6:52PM
It seems wowmatrix could use some of that ad revenue to pay for hosting and bandwidth. Problem solved? :)
Nathalie Apr 15th 2009 1:02PM
Ermm ok, so places such Yahoo, MSN, Google can co-operate and create cross-communication and business amongst themselves so why not sites like these... instead of competing why don't they get together and work together to make one global top notch addon site and client - the current economic client says they should do that instead of working against each other...
I just hope "loyal developers" who develop for "the wow player" will see the benefit of wowmatrix(.com) and go direct to them to give them updated info.
When I run (ermm ran it until yesterday when it still worked) wowmatrix was scanning for like 15-20 seconds only. Any person who know databases, knows that data mining is not bandwidth intensive (as claimed) or else NONE of the companies like Yahoo/MSN/Google would use it for their billions of records. Lets see, wowmatrix got 1800 entries so how much bandwidth can scanning for updates taking just 15-20 seconds take up. Please tell the real facts and not just make idle claims of bandwidth guzzling.
Also I've used Curse before. And the numerous times it 1) downloads wrong version, 2) doesn't update an addon (which caused problems at raids), 3) slowed my internet down so much that my ISP would disconnect me from the internet (YES! This was Curse that did this to me - - NEVER had that happen with Wowmatrix), 4) Curse website is a mess as you can never find any addons properly (I think the people doing that site had an original concept, then it grew and then outgrew them which means it doesn't work anymore in the current format as it is now - - and YES! I have used Curse site for a year before I was introduced to the easy to use Wowmatrix), 5) don't even start me on the Curse Client - - first off: trying to download it (the site won't let me download it for over a month eventho I am registered) - secondly: I install it and it gets flags as being FULL of spyware by Spybot!!! I do not know if this is the case but if you're going to offer an addon download client DO NOT stick it full of code that can be read by spyware software as spyware - thirdly: it had problems with recognising my firewall! (not just the current one I use but about 7 other ones I have had installed too).
I don't have time to go thrawling thru Curse website to check that the Curse client IS downloading the correct addon update. I had times with it where I got say version 1.5 of something installed and checking for addons results in Curse client updating it to version 1.2 (Helllooo!!! what's this all about).
Anyway, unblock Wowmatrix as I don't think you are in any position to warrant your claims and all you do is alienate WoW players from your own sites, and even worse you may alienate the DEVELOPERS who used Wowmatrix AS WELL to reach a wider audience!!!!!!!!
Nuff said....
raven5190 Apr 16th 2009 4:48AM
I tried Curse and had problems with it. I then downloaded wowmatrix and I have not had any problems with it. I have been using wowmatrix for over 12 months and they have been keeping it up todate real good to date. When WOW does a patch it takes 1 or 2 days for them to get it updated. so I just farm till they do so I dont get bored. But as far as the fight between addon companies gos. Oh well a little compatition does not hurt. You all have fun playing WOW and have a great day.
Chias Apr 16th 2009 11:44AM
Who voted AJ down? He is right - of course it is about $$$, you have to be naive to think it isn't.
What you see here is the first shot to be followed by "friendly negotiations" for Wowmatrix ( a kickass addon client, I'll add) to pay off Curse et al (who at best make half-decent addon clients).
If you think this isn't about Curse & Co. being sour over lost ad revenue, brand recognition value, and of course being a secondary choice when it comes to addon maintenance. then you really need to switch your primary income from your weekly allowance to an actual day job, and find out how the real world works.
DonCorneo Apr 25th 2009 2:39AM
WoWI and Curse are only working together to block WoWM. They are developing two separate updaters. Were WI will be a free updater with modules that any site can add to it for downloading, Curse is moving towards a pay type service. Curse client will allow the user to update each AddOn one at a time for free, or an automatic update of AddOns which will be as much as $2.99 per month. Curse has stated that it will display ads in the free version and no ads in the Premium Membership version (it sounds as if it'll be a single client with "unlocking" for payment), and they state they are moving away from ads altogether (since a large portion of users block the ads anyway).
Where WI seems to have blocked WM for more legitimate reasons, Curse boils down to their wanting to make money.
Even at Curse's proposed reduced Premium Membership cost of $19.99 per year, Curse stands to make its owners several hundred thousand dollars per year in profits. To say this is not a motivation to knock out any updater like WM, well let's say the are outright lying. Very little if any of this will be passed on to the Authors that will be the reason Curse is able to make money.
The good news is: 1). WI is making an updater that will be able to access multiple sites, if the sites choose to make a module; and 2). that many Authors are requesting WM to update their AddOns, so WM may still be able to meet our needs.
Given the direction Curse (who started out much like WM, possibly worse) is heading, it will not be a loss if they closed up. Curse's current thinking is profit only, with no regard for the gaming community. If OpenOffice.org can survive without charging all its customers for the products it produces and huge bandwidth use, then surely Curse can survive without charging for products it doesn't even create and the average of once a month spike in bandwidth.
ScottyD Apr 14th 2009 9:35AM
Ridiculous. Now I have to go back to having it be a pain in the ass to update my numerous addons. Argh.
Ne0nguy Apr 14th 2009 10:18AM
It isn't hard to keep up with the updates.
Both Curse and WoWInterface allow you to mark addons as 'Favorites' and they will email you whenever they are updated.
Slayblaze Apr 14th 2009 10:58AM
The Curse email system is terribly buggy (sending you emails days late for addons that are not even on your list) and is not a competent solution at this point. Maybe in the future it will be.
Joshua Ochs Apr 14th 2009 12:07PM
@Ne0nguy
Yeah, that scales to 60+ addons really well. Especially on patch day.
VSUReaper Apr 14th 2009 12:47PM
@ Josh
Yup, Josh said it. My issue was I was using mods that Curse didnt carry, meaning that before I used WOWMatrix, I was spening an hour or 2 updating mods or looking for the updated mods (meta-hud comes to mind - no one had it, and its the mod that made me try WOWMatrix).
There is also the issue that before Curse started paying more attention, I used to get viruses via thier downloads. Now I'm leery of going back to thier site....
Kakistocracy Apr 14th 2009 1:13PM
Sometimes you have to end a regime you disagree with, even if you don't have the capacity to put up a stable infrastructure to replace the one you over threw. Whether the users are better off with no functional updater than with one you deem evil, doesn't even enter into the consideration...
:D
Phantom1219 Apr 15th 2009 12:30PM
@Kakistocracy
Wtf are you talking about evil regimes? You know this website is called WoW Insider right? You know that we are all talking about an addon updater right? I'm all for debating politics, but keep that on a political website, or even a political blog.
Kakistocracy Apr 15th 2009 2:40PM
Phantom1219, I'm all for debating what is within the scope of a blog, but let's keep that to metablogs.
SarahTheGnome Apr 14th 2009 9:35AM
... seriously? So when I download the patch tomorrow, I will not be able to use wowmatrix to update addons? Really?
Also, I do not know if this is true of course, but two people I know updated their addons with curse, WoW went down, they had to reinstall everything. The only thing they had in common was updating via curse at the same time, ever since then, I have been kind of happy that I was not using that. And now I will have to?
This kind of sucks.