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. :)

The problem isn't necesarily the bandwidth, it's the fact that the hosting websites don't get any add revenue from it.

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.

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.

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. :)

It seems wowmatrix could use some of that ad revenue to pay for hosting and bandwidth. Problem solved? :)

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....

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.

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.

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.