8 years ago

Playing SWOTR in China

I recently decided to give SWOTR a go but am hesitant to buy out right and subscribe if I am going to have connectivity issues. While British I do live in China and often have these kinds of issues. I want to see what the lag is like but I cannot even get passed the launcher. I keep getting a login service is unavailable message. Now this was a fresh install (way too quick to be the full game and appears to just be the launcher) and I think I am supposed to be downloading a patch but nothing happens.

I use Astrill as my VPN and have tried connecting from the US, New Zealand, Aus and Hong Kong but the same issue persists. I have tried running the launcherrepaire exe and it seem to make no difference. I am stuck in a weird position because I don't want to subscribe until I am sure that it will work but I can't open a support ticket until I subscribe. Could anyone please advise what the next step should be. I have seen online where people have got it to work here but most of those instances don't seem to be fresh installs.

15 Replies

proxos666
Hero+
8 years ago
@Bannoy

CS will not provide support to play in china , due to the block

The only recommendation I have is switch to non streaming launcher per this link , then it is if you can find a VPN that works not all will.
Bannoy
8 years ago
Quick update. Decided to bite the bullet and pay even though I am not sure it will work and I cannot even by a subscription from the SWTOR store. It says: We're sorry, there are no payment options available for the offer you selected. Please select another offer or try again later.
The hell EA?
Bannoy
8 years ago
Astrill VPN works great with everything else. I tried the fix for the launcher and it had no effect sadly.
proxos666
Hero+
8 years ago
@Bannoy

You do not need a subscription to play between level 1 - 50

Your issue is IP blocking , either by China themselves or EA , it doesn't matter which it is as the affect is the same.

I believe Biowares official stance is that they do not GEO restrict their game, however it may not mean that China ISPs haven't been banned.

Stands to reason if you try to purchase from a blocked IP it will fail to allow it.
proxos666
Hero+
8 years ago
@Bannoy

Have a read of this thread , may be a year old but may help.

EA/Bioware can offer no assistance with getting the game to work via a 3rd party program.
Bannoy
8 years ago
I am running it through a VPN, my IP in China should not matter. I changed my account and IP to UK and was able to buy a subscription but now I realize that the only live chat they offer is in-gam which I cannot access. Is there anyway apart from calling them that I can communicate with customer service? I am a subscriber now.
Bannoy
8 years ago
It doesn't work without the VPN either. Perhaps they coud explain to just get it working in China?
proxos666
Hero+
8 years ago
@Bannoy

I can see if swtor CS can respond here when they come online later on ... but I do not understand why you would purchase a subscription when you cant even login to the game.

You do not need a subscription to see if you can play the game.

Google China Swtor Ban this is not new and has been occurring since 2011.
Bannoy
8 years ago
Thank you for your help,
I paid because it would give me access to customer service which I should have read more clearly was in-game. What kind of company only uses phone and ingame these days> Wouldn't a chat function like everyone else be better?
I know about the SWTOR china issues but generally it works wit VPNs. I just need to get passed the damn launcher it seems which does not connect at all.
proxos666
Hero+
8 years ago
@Bannoy

Swtor CS are available here, but i do not think they can assist with this, but I will mention this thread for you when they are online.