If you've tried to log in to your Star Wars: The Old Republic account today, you may find yourself faced with an unpleasant note stating: "There is currently no active subscription on this account." This is followed by, "Activate your account here," which would all be fine and dandy except SWTOR's website itself is currently offline due to the high volume of traffic.
The irony of launching a game in tiers only to have a forced bottleneck at this point isn't lost on us, but BioWare reassures its players that relief is coming soon: "Due to the high volume of new game codes being redeemed on SWTOR.com, some users may currently be seeing a waiting page. We are intentionally controlling the flow of traffic and letting as many people through as possible."
So if you can't play the game because you can't access your account (or read the forums for updates and more info...), you're not alone. As annoying as this may be to players, it's a good problem for BioWare to have.
[Update: BioWare set up more info on its Facebook page since their main site is down.]
Reader Comments (160)
Posted: Dec 22nd 2011 10:34AM Clemalum07 said
I do not feel sorry at all of the procrastinators.
Posted: Dec 22nd 2011 10:37AM Omali said
@Clemalum07
It's similar to the people who will be doing their Christmas shopping today through Saturday who won't find what they're looking for, I have just as little sympathy. I registered my code and subscribed last night, and had no trouble even while the game servers themselves were under a 200+ person queue.
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It's similar to the people who will be doing their Christmas shopping today through Saturday who won't find what they're looking for, I have just as little sympathy. I registered my code and subscribed last night, and had no trouble even while the game servers themselves were under a 200+ person queue.
Posted: Dec 22nd 2011 11:10AM DeadDreamer said
@Clemalum07
I entered my registration code the 16th when I got it. Now i can't play because I have no subscription. Of course Idon't, I have 30 days free and planning on playing them before deciding if it's worth my 15$/month.
So now I can't play my free time because I didn't subscribe? Explain that to me please.
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I entered my registration code the 16th when I got it. Now i can't play because I have no subscription. Of course Idon't, I have 30 days free and planning on playing them before deciding if it's worth my 15$/month.
So now I can't play my free time because I didn't subscribe? Explain that to me please.
Posted: Dec 22nd 2011 11:16AM DeadDreamer said
@(Unverified)
What about those that plan on using gamecard? Sorry no WoW for me.
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What about those that plan on using gamecard? Sorry no WoW for me.
Posted: Dec 22nd 2011 11:22AM DeadDreamer said
@(Unverified)
I find it kind of funny that you tell me to go back to WoW when SW:TOR is like the exact same thing :)
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I find it kind of funny that you tell me to go back to WoW when SW:TOR is like the exact same thing :)
Posted: Dec 22nd 2011 11:26AM freebase said
@Clemalum07
Procrastinators? Why do I even have to set up a subscription when I have 30 days of free game time attached to the purchase of the game? What if I had set up a subscription and then decide to cancel after two weeks. Would I then not be allowed to finish the remainder of my free access period?
And this has nothing to do with their website not being able to handle the traffic that they knew they were going to have.
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Procrastinators? Why do I even have to set up a subscription when I have 30 days of free game time attached to the purchase of the game? What if I had set up a subscription and then decide to cancel after two weeks. Would I then not be allowed to finish the remainder of my free access period?
And this has nothing to do with their website not being able to handle the traffic that they knew they were going to have.
Posted: Dec 22nd 2011 11:32AM BoyoDestiny said
@Omali No sympathy? I (like many others) were not required to enter credit card information for a subscription after registering my already purchased game and free month. Therefore I saw no problem and did not know I was required to in order to play the game.
For BioWare to enforce this on EVERYONE AT THE SAME TIME after having already registered the game they purchased is silly. If this was required, why wasn't it just required when one registered a purchase? Was BioWare catering to the few who were going to stop playing after two days? They wouldn't even be charged.
I know I wouldn't mind submitting a payment method even if I cancelled, I was just never required to do so when I registered -- so when they ask EVERYONE TO DO IT AT ONCE, yea duh there will be problems. Sheesh.
It's just sloppy planning that could have been avoided if they followed standard MMO protocol.
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For BioWare to enforce this on EVERYONE AT THE SAME TIME after having already registered the game they purchased is silly. If this was required, why wasn't it just required when one registered a purchase? Was BioWare catering to the few who were going to stop playing after two days? They wouldn't even be charged.
I know I wouldn't mind submitting a payment method even if I cancelled, I was just never required to do so when I registered -- so when they ask EVERYONE TO DO IT AT ONCE, yea duh there will be problems. Sheesh.
It's just sloppy planning that could have been avoided if they followed standard MMO protocol.
Posted: Dec 22nd 2011 12:17PM Omali said
@BoyoDestiny
Yes you were. When I entered my preorder code on the 15th, the website was already set up telling me I had to fulfill all five parts before I could play once the head start ended. That included my retail code and setting up a subscription.
It isn't Bioware's fault that people didn't read the instructions laid out in very plain text with pictures and everything.
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Yes you were. When I entered my preorder code on the 15th, the website was already set up telling me I had to fulfill all five parts before I could play once the head start ended. That included my retail code and setting up a subscription.
It isn't Bioware's fault that people didn't read the instructions laid out in very plain text with pictures and everything.
Posted: Dec 22nd 2011 12:20PM (Unverified) said
@Omali
Thank you Omali. People can't read and yet they blame Bioware. Those of us who followed instructions are currently playing with no problems.
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Thank you Omali. People can't read and yet they blame Bioware. Those of us who followed instructions are currently playing with no problems.
Posted: Dec 22nd 2011 12:49PM Alex Oglitchkin said
@DeadDreamer It's not hard to put in credit card/debit info or get a gamecard. Granted you won't get money back on the gamecard part, but with the Card you can always take it off before the 30days is up and ta da you don't get charged. I had to do the same thing to subscribe even though I had 30 days free. I don't mind because it's not a big deal.
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Posted: Dec 22nd 2011 12:56PM SmilinGoat said
@Clemalum07
I pre-ordered mine 2 days after they went on pre-order, but did not want to go with Origin so im getting punished for getting a hard copy (even though it has been paid for) now i'll be lucky to get my amazon order before Christmas and i have to just wait for a game that i've been able to play for the bast 5 months. and have entered the "early access code" for. Its also my first day off in 10 days, I did not read closely and was kind of shocked that we got booted at 3am on the 22nd, and not at like midnight or anything, dick move by EA there. news to them, shipping takes more than a day and a half for almost any package, especially this time of year.
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I pre-ordered mine 2 days after they went on pre-order, but did not want to go with Origin so im getting punished for getting a hard copy (even though it has been paid for) now i'll be lucky to get my amazon order before Christmas and i have to just wait for a game that i've been able to play for the bast 5 months. and have entered the "early access code" for. Its also my first day off in 10 days, I did not read closely and was kind of shocked that we got booted at 3am on the 22nd, and not at like midnight or anything, dick move by EA there. news to them, shipping takes more than a day and a half for almost any package, especially this time of year.
Posted: Dec 22nd 2011 12:58PM FrostPaw said
@freebase "Why do I even have to set up a subscription when I have 30 days of free game time attached to the purchase of the game?"
This was what caught me out, I registered the retail key immediately when I recieved it. I assumed proving I paid money for the game was enough to entitle me to 30 days free access.
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This was what caught me out, I registered the retail key immediately when I recieved it. I assumed proving I paid money for the game was enough to entitle me to 30 days free access.
Posted: Dec 22nd 2011 1:07PM DeadDreamer said
@Alex Oglitchkin
Right. I know it's not hard, I should've done it before. Got no one to blame but myself from that, I usually always do. Then again, I don't remember being locked out of a free 30 days off an MMO because I did not setup a subscription. You usually get locked out after the 30 days. Been playing MMOs since EQ1 release. Well, maybe my memory isn't all good anymore ;)
Actually, I think it wouldn't have been a big deal from the start if there weren't a Queue to get into the website that takes hours.
Still, not really a reason for some to go name bashing those who didn't do it before today like we are all retards that don't know how to use a keyboard. Seriously grow up (not you Alex, those above).
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Right. I know it's not hard, I should've done it before. Got no one to blame but myself from that, I usually always do. Then again, I don't remember being locked out of a free 30 days off an MMO because I did not setup a subscription. You usually get locked out after the 30 days. Been playing MMOs since EQ1 release. Well, maybe my memory isn't all good anymore ;)
Actually, I think it wouldn't have been a big deal from the start if there weren't a Queue to get into the website that takes hours.
Still, not really a reason for some to go name bashing those who didn't do it before today like we are all retards that don't know how to use a keyboard. Seriously grow up (not you Alex, those above).
Posted: Dec 22nd 2011 6:32PM (Unverified) said
@Clemalum07
Ah, its refreshing to see an MMO which such a friendly, helpful community.
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Ah, its refreshing to see an MMO which such a friendly, helpful community.
Posted: Dec 22nd 2011 10:34AM (Unverified) said
Anyone affected by this (who pre-ordered!!!) could have avoided it by simply registering their product code. Bioware gave ample notice in multiple ways: the forums, emails to the account you listed when you signed up, on the launcher, and on Facebook. I really have no pity for anyone who says, "I didn't see this coming!"
However, for those who just bought the game today and are trying to get in, my condolences! Have patience, young padawans!
However, for those who just bought the game today and are trying to get in, my condolences! Have patience, young padawans!
Posted: Dec 22nd 2011 10:42AM aurickle said
@(Unverified)
Actually, BioWare did something very odd. They did not require you to set up a subscription when you registered your product code.
I redeemed my code when the box arrived from Amazon on Friday. But nothing was said at the time about setting up your subscription and I didn't think anything of it. Fortunately for me, I saw Massively's report yesterday about the Android authenticator and logged in to add it to my account. Right above the button for that I just happened to notice the grayed-out image for subscriptions and got that taken care of at the same time.
So I can truly understand how many people likely registered their product codes yet still got locked out today.
Reply
Actually, BioWare did something very odd. They did not require you to set up a subscription when you registered your product code.
I redeemed my code when the box arrived from Amazon on Friday. But nothing was said at the time about setting up your subscription and I didn't think anything of it. Fortunately for me, I saw Massively's report yesterday about the Android authenticator and logged in to add it to my account. Right above the button for that I just happened to notice the grayed-out image for subscriptions and got that taken care of at the same time.
So I can truly understand how many people likely registered their product codes yet still got locked out today.










