L4D2 MOTD Blank on lobby connect, fine on direct?

Knappy · **Author**

This is an interesting problem I am currently having with the MOTD for my L4D2 Server. When I connect directly to the server, "connect IP:PORT" the MOTD displays perfectly fine. However when I connect via the lobby, "mm_dedicated_force_servers IP:PORT" the MOTD is just a blank screen.

Here is the MOTD in question. I don't think the format is the problem, but I have never had this issue before. Rather peculiar problem too...

Any ideas?

sheo · 06-11-2014 , 01:17 Re: L4D2 MOTD Blank on lobby connect, fine on direct?

Same for me, occurred recently. I guess it`s a Valve issue

Knappy · 06-11-2014 , 10:39 Re: L4D2 MOTD Blank on lobby connect, fine on direct?

Quote:

Originally Posted by sheo

Same for me, occurred recently. I guess it`s a Valve issue

At least I am not the only one with this problem...

delirium_trigger · *Last edited by delirium_trigger; 06-11-2014 at 14:21.*

A temporary work around is edit the html of your motd and in the coding have it auto refresh almost instantly or 1 second after the page loads. It might be annoying but it might trigger it to load all throughout. (I have not tested this but its just a suggestion for a temporary fix)

Knappy · 06-12-2014 , 17:39 Re: L4D2 MOTD Blank on lobby connect, fine on direct?

Quote:

Originally Posted by delirium_trigger

A temporary work around is edit the html of your motd and in the coding have it auto refresh almost instantly or 1 second after the page loads. It might be annoying but it might trigger it to load all throughout. (I have not tested this but its just a suggestion for a temporary fix)

I tried that and this:

HTML Code:

<html>
<meta http-equiv="refresh" content="0; url=http://64.79.106.140:81/gamemotd.html">
</html>

...still have a blank motd. I did manage to see it once but I was unable to scroll the page.

Knappy · 06-12-2014 , 21:58 Re: L4D2 MOTD Blank on lobby connect, fine on direct?

Ok I have tried just about everything, and the motd fails to show at all. Tried .jpg, just the url links, nearly every html code I could find. I guess this must be a valve issue...

delirium_trigger · 06-18-2014 , 00:46 Re: L4D2 MOTD Blank on lobby connect, fine on direct?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Knappy

Ok I have tried just about everything, and the motd fails to show at all. Tried .jpg, just the url links, nearly every html code I could find. I guess this must be a valve issue...

Have you tried having the entire motd into picture a jpg, or png and use this code with minimal html elements:

<html>
<head><title>Knappy Do Da Server</title></head>
<body style=”margin:0px;padding:1px;background:#000 000;”>
<img src=WebsiteOfJpgorPng.com” style=”width:100%;height:100%;” />
</body>
</html>

sheo · 06-18-2014 , 02:35 Re: L4D2 MOTD Blank on lobby connect, fine on direct?

Stop it please, this is not a motd code issue, but Valve`s one. Reopening/refreshing won`t solve the problem.

delirium_trigger · *Last edited by delirium_trigger; 06-20-2014 at 03:28.*

Quote:

Originally Posted by sheo

Stop it please, this is not a motd code issue, but Valve`s one. Reopening/refreshing won`t solve the problem.

Righhhhhhtttt....and that's why I see plenty of 3rd party servers with working MOTDs. It has to be both ends or on the server owner's side only not just Valve. If that was the case most / all 3rd party server MOTDs would be affected

Knappy · 06-20-2014 , 20:05 Re: L4D2 MOTD Blank on lobby connect, fine on direct?

Quote:

Originally Posted by delirium_trigger

Have you tried having the entire motd into picture a jpg, or png and use this code with minimal html elements:

<html>
<head><title>Knappy Do Da Server</title></head>
<body style=”margin:0px;padding:1px;background:#000 000;”>
<img src=WebsiteOfJpgorPng.com” style=”width:100%;height:100%;” />
</body>
</html>

Yup, tried that among all other methods I can think of. For now I have resorted to just entering the motd as text into the motd.txt, it's ugly but clients need to know the server commands and options.

I agree, it must be something not on my end, the motd in question was working perfectly fine, then all of a sudden it's blank screen...