UPDATE:
Looks as if everything is working again… 
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I’m having trouble accessing the Totem websites tonight… So if you also have this problem you’re not alone. I’ll be back with a new review tomorrow, hopefully the sites will be back online by then.
Keep Safe and Let the Girls Dance!
//CivXL
UPDATE!
The Totem websites are slowly coming back online again…
This morning their server facilities experienced a major power failure that knocked out all Totem’s servers. The team is currently working on getting all the servers up and running again… should be all ok later this afternoon (Paris time).
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Looks like the Totem websites are down at the moment and it’s not possible to sync the software with the servers either.
I know the team planned to updated the website design in the upcoming days. Maybe something went wrong there.
I’ll try to keep you updated during the day.
//CivXL
The VirtuaGirl team just released a new version fixing two small bugs from last weeks release. If you haven’t updated yet make sure to do so soon…
This new version feature lots of new functions to control the cards and interact with the bonus content.
Click the image to download the New Software Version!
//CivXL
Post Update 19:30 Saturday Paris Time:
Looks like my predictions about trouble this weekend has come true. Have been trying to access the sites on and off this evening but had no luck. All I get is an error message stating “An error occured, an email has been sent to the administrator. Sorry for the inconvenience.”
My guess this that this will continue all weekend due to the heavy stress on the servers following the release of the new version.
Not much to do about it…
//CivXL
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Wednesday under much commotion Totem released a new version of the integrated software that govern DeskBabes, VirutaGirl and VirtuaGuy. Initially this version looked very suspicious and problematic and there was no real solid info given by the Team. Now the smoke have settled and more information has been given.
I still caution everyone to be aware of a couple of things before installing this new version but it seams as if this IS the setup we have to live with and in the near future you will have no choice but to accept the new setup or see your heard earned money invested goto waste.
The one big issue, in the end, is the fact that Totem in this new version have moved the program files from the Windows default program folder to the Document and Settings area. This to make it possible to install the software without having administration rights on the computer. The official reason for this move is to allow multiple users on one computer.
Personally I don’t like this change for security reasons. Installing programs in the Document and Settings area is a big no no when programming for Windows. Since you don’t need admin rights to change the install you open up for additional risks potentially making it easier for someone to take control of your computer or plant malicious software. That said there’s not much anyone can do about it so either you accept this new setup or you choose to not use the software. Personally I will go ahead and install the update even though I rather would have seen the software located in the Windows program area.
The second aspect you should be aware of is that the old version isn’t completely removed from the computer as you install the new version. This is one reason why there was so much confusion about the update. By design the old version is simply abandoned in the Windows program area and left unused.
Personally I find this attitude toward programming to be objectionable since it leaves trash behind. Serious programmers clean up after themselves to avoid even the potential for problems in the future. This is how one of the lead programmers at Totem responds to my critique in this matter:
the only thing which will remain is the c:\programs files\vghd directory which is less than 1MB. if that’s a problem, you can safely delete it, and once again be sure to remove/update any shortcut to vghd.exe if ever you created one on your desktop. this little problem won’t be fixed even in futur releases, it would force us to use again the administrator’s right.
One last word of advice concern the stress on the servers as this new version is being implemented. If possible try installing “off hours” when traffic to the site is low. That minimize the risk for connection problems resulting in a faulty install. The initial server problems will probably return during the weekend so if possible I’d still advice waiting and install after the weekend.
Keep Safe and Enjoy the Girls Dancing!
//CivXL
PS. 17.00 Paris time Friday. Looks like the server problems are back… like clockwork when the US awakens and EU goes online after coming home from work. Expect these problems to stick around all weekend resulting in problems on and off accessing the site, buying and downloading cards.
Post updated: http://civxl.net/2011/02/04/new-software-version/
The Totem websites are currently experiencing major problems after a new version of the integrated software was released yesterday. On and off none of the Totem websites are accessible and even if you manage to connect there are wide spread problems throughout the sites.
At this point I caution anyone trying to download or installing the software. My advice is to wait until after this upcoming weekend before attempting to download or install any of the Totem software or cards.
Since the servers are crawling I also recommend not to buy or download any new cards from any of the Totem sites at this time.
As I understand it the new version is mainly intended to add new features to the DeskBabes part of the software, among them a new demo calendar. This calendar turned out to require more content download than the Team expected and this is why the servers are crawling under the stress.
One last word of caution about this new version. For some reason it was rushed through the beta testing stage and this latest update was even released without ANY beta testing at all! This makes me expect that there will be more trouble ahead and most likely another software update in the near future. Thus, if you have a working version of the software installed, at this time, don’t start messing around trying to update to the new version!
Serious Regards
//CivXL
