Some amusing tales from Stardock forums
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Ok, I have a few questions about "activation". I just purchased a copy of
the game (retail copy) and I am not happy in the least. I believe I have
been "bait and switched" by deceptive marketing tactics.
1) Why do I have to "activate it online?". This is the most insidious form
of DRM. It means that if I am in the mountains and my video card dies (did
once), I can't reload, update and play the game because I have no net
access. I would *MUCH PREFER* a copy protected CD as then I can play the
game.
2) I have lots of old games (over 250 of them). A lot of them I occasionally
still play (MOO, MOO2, Imperialism I and II, Close Combat Series, X-Com,
Heroes of Might and Magic, etc.) If Stardock goes under, then my game is now
a useless coaster. I have lots of games from many companies that no longer
exist. My understanding is that if Stardock vanishes tomorrow we can no
longer load, update and play an updated game of GalCiv II due to the
activation. This is exactly the type of marketing decisions I wish NOT to
support. I refuse to purchase Half-life 2 and any of the Steam based games
simply on that reason alone. Once Valve goes under all your games are now
coasters. They may look good now, but so did Microprose one time back. Once
the bean counters figure out that it isn't profitable to support old games,
you loose.
Humourguy - spot on.
I bought a nice shrink wrapped copy of galactic civ II in the UK a few
months back (serial is on CD, so not visible until opened).
Opened it a few months later (yesterday) and tried to register - 'cept
someone has stolen my serial apparently so I can't. So I can't get the
updates I paid for. And support don't want to know about it (they keep
claiming I have bought a second hand copy; e.g. calling me a liar)
In this situation, I thought I WAS buying a brand new copy. But no doubt a
store employee could of used the serial, or one could have been generated
from hacking tools and registered, I don't know.
All I know is I paid for a broken product without realising that's what it
was. And the store isn't going to take it back (I got what I paid for). And
it seems stardock have there boilerplate "sorry your an idiot and thought
you could just simply buy our game at low cost. Now pay us $$ for a serial
number" reply to ignore me with.
A lesson learned, and a fair trade lawsuit waiting to happen. Until then,
I'll buy games I can keep. Forget this DRM...
Am I wrong? I could be. However I was lead to believe that all I needed was
the game and a serial number and I would not have to worry about the CD
(which is true). But what I ended up with (phone home) in my mind is worse,
much. much worse. Since it forces the consumer to depend upon the publisher
to even to play an updated game at some point in the future.
(flame retardant suit on)
This system is still DRM. It may not be on the disk, but it is still DRM. In
effect Stardock is saying 'you can only buy this game new at full price,
because if you see it at a low price in a bargain bin, or $5 less than
retail on ebay or wherever, you cannot be sure you will not get a 'serial
number already exists'. This was exactly the problem Steam had with HL2 and
there was an uproar - why is this any different? You still need to log onto
a site you still need to enter a valid serial and any problem and YOU the
gamer, has to jump through hoops ('got the Italian version, or the gold
version or the special Walmart pack? Oh sorry, you need to do this and this
and this...' And to the previous message. You DO have to register online, or
you don't get the bug fixes and 'improvements' that have come out regularly
since the game came out (Bet they were lined up ready to go to make sure
people would sign up to the DRM system to get them!)
That, my friend is DRM.
All that Stardock have done is taken it off disk and by that one thing
pulling the wool over gamers eyes - genius marketing, but it's still DRM.
Just like with HL2, I cannot sell the game, I cannot buy a second hand copy,
I have to be concerned over any copy in any store that is below RRP. Or any
copy in any store period. Because all Stardock says is 'you'll have to
return it!' In Europe, with PC games, that's not easy in any store! But in
any event, that's not the point! All the same HL2 problems that gamers went
potty over and here they are ignoring!
So well done Stardock, you can obviously fool some of the people most of the
time or most of the people some of the time, but you'll never fool all of
the people all of the time, and you haven't fooled me. You watch this method
of DRM grow until people catch on. Maybe they won't. But in the same way I
wouldn't buy HL2 via Steam I won't buy Gal Civ II.
As time goes on and more and more people that don't know about Stardock's
form of DRM are going to buy this game on ebay or in bargain bins or at boot
sales, and it won't be until they install the game and try and update it
they get the 'serial number in use (without saying 'by a user that last
accessed our site 18 months ago and could be dead!'), please BUY a new
serial number by clicking on this link..' This will slowly, over time, build
a long list of gamers complaining on forums and with their local councillers
and Trading Standards Officers and at some point the poop will hit the fan,
because if Stardock end up selling 100,000 copies of this, that's 80,000
copies in a couple years that will be floating out there waiting for
unsuspecting buyers...
Stardock have produced a system that creates short term gain for them and
long term pain for buyers. Well done Stardock, I congratulate you! Great
marketing! You certainly seem to have the majority on this thread fooled
>> Stay informed about: Theater_of_War_-_über_patch 
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