View Full Version : What about Activation?
The buzz on this title is that it will be chained to a server somewhere, and the user will have to activate to play. And re-activate via telephone when changing machines or hardware. And be in-activated at the point the designer goes out of business.
That's a huge "no sale" in my book. I don't do Steam, activation, Starforce, or any other paranoid copy-protection scheme.
John R.
timetraveller
17 Feb 06, 11:47
The buzz on this title is that it will be chained to a server somewhere, and the user will have to activate to play. And re-activate via telephone when changing machines or hardware. And be in-activated at the point the designer goes out of business.
That's a huge "no sale" in my book. I don't do Steam, activation, Starforce, or any other paranoid copy-protection scheme.
John R.
Where have you seen this buzz? It's news to me. Got a link?
timetraveller
Where have you seen this buzz? It's news to me. Got a link?
A lot of discussion took place/is taking place on the comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.war-historical newsgroup. This is an excerpt: http://tinyurl.com/dtgy4
You will find more by doing a search using Google Groups. The copy-protection issue has been debated a lot.
timetraveller
17 Feb 06, 14:15
A lot of discussion took place/is taking place on the comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.war-historical newsgroup. This is an excerpt: http://tinyurl.com/dtgy4
You will find more by doing a search using Google Groups. The copy-protection issue has been debated a lot.
Thanks Reckall. Interesting read. Yes, I am aware of most of the various copy protection schemes. I just don't visit USENET that often. Starforce I'll probably live with. Online verification each time I play the game I probably won't.
hehe When the revolution comes, there ain't gonna be any Internet connection.
-timetraveller
Where have you seen this buzz? It's news to me. Got a link?
timetraveller
From the Storm Eagle home page:
"Server based software allows sales, support, and intellectual property protection options previously unavailable."
(http://www.stormeaglestudios.com/public/home.html)
Sounds like activation to me. Or something a lot worse - like Steam. But I eagerly await the developers rushing to tell us the rumor is untrue.
Think they will?
John R.
NormKoger
17 Feb 06, 19:16
Hello guys,
Registering the game requires a one-time connection to the internet. Since we plan to sell over the internet, there has to be some kind of internet authorization scheme. We don't see any way around that. After that, if you don't mind passing up on automatic updates you never need an internet connection again.
Speculation that the game will become unusable if we ever go out of business is incorrect. The game includes a utility that allows you to move it from one computer to another with _no_ on-line interaction. The current implementation does require that both machines have some form of removable media (floppy, cdrw, whatever), but we may at some point set it up so that even that is not required as long as the two machines can "talk" to each other in some way.
In fact, you could register the game on a third party computer then move it to yours via the utility. Everything would work just fine on your stealth machine, we would have no record of it, and our guys in the black helicopter would never be able to find you.
By the way, I once pretty skeptical about Steam too. But I eventually broke down to play Half Life 2. Turns out I never had any problem with it, and I came to appreciate the way it worked every time I did not have to find some stupid key disk to launch the game. These days I very much prefer copy protection that involves some form of registration over anything that involves key disks.
What's to stop me from using the CD from the initial activation to activate a dozen machines? If you're describing the situation accurately, how does this bother a pirate? And if it doesn't bother a pirate, why inflict it on your customers?
John R.
Neutrino 123
17 Feb 06, 20:16
What's to stop me from using the CD from the initial activation to activate a dozen machines? If you're describing the situation accurately, how does this bother a pirate? And if it doesn't bother a pirate, why inflict it on your customers?
John R.
Well, since the game is initially activated, I assume that a CD (assuming it even will be sold by CD) would have nothing to do with activation unless the license was transfered to the CD. Basically (if I understand correctly), the license will be like a file, capable of being transfered around but obviously not able to be duplicated. Thus, activating one copy would require transfering the license away from whereever it was before (floppy, CD, etc).
Basically (if I understand correctly), the license will be like a file, capable of being transfered around but obviously not able to be duplicated. Thus, activating one copy would require transfering the license away from whereever it was before (floppy, CD, etc).
Uh, what kind of magic file is "obviously not able to be duplicated?" Or, to put it another way, if Mr. Koger has developed such a miraculous, uncopiable file, why bother with activation?
John R.
Neutrino 123
17 Feb 06, 20:47
Uh, what kind of magic file is "obviously not able to be duplicated?" Or, to put it another way, if Mr. Koger has developed such a miraculous, uncopiable file, why bother with activation?
John R.
I don't know of any file that cannot be duplicated (in my relatively limited computer experiance), which is why I said "like a file" describing its transferability, and then clarified with a "but" describing its ability to not be replicated. The activation is, of course, necessary to obtain this file-like thing in the first place, as I would not expect full copies of the game to be downloadable for free.:cheeky:
I really think that the discussion about the activation / copy protection scheme should take place only after the game is published. I don't see any reason to spoil another forum with endless speculations about copy protection.
I really think that the discussion about the activation / copy protection scheme should take place only after the game is published. I don't see any reason to spoil another forum with endless speculations about copy protection.
This is like saying we shouldn't discuss the status of the barn door until some of our horses go missing.
Obviously, the time to discuss a copy protection system that seems likely to alienate a good many paying customers is BEFORE the publisher is foolish enough to implement it. And a good many paying customers have already made their opinions clear, they're not interested in activation or this crazy "license transfer" nonsense.
"Distant Guns" was #1 on my wish list, until it became clear that the designers considered me a crook and were going to hammer on me as though I were.
John R.
Ok. So make your opinion clear. That's enough. Above I can see the beginning of a pointless debate over how the activation scheme would work.
I'll also make myself clear - I don't care about activation, copy protection ect, and no, I don't think that the company consider me a crook by implementing such a scheme.
Chetnikk, you need to relax. No one is accusing you of being a thief, or suggesting that you would steal a game that is clearly a labor of love created by one of the few true legends in the industry. No one except me that is. It is painfully obvious to me that not only are you planning on stealing this game, but I believe you have illegally copied many other games as well. It would not surprise me if this is not the chief way you sustain yourself and your undoubtedly filthy habits. I am not sure what the nature of the copy protection system will be (although Neutrino 123 suggested a very reasonable possibility which you lashed out at as I believe you do about most everything), but I for one will have no problem with it, and with supporting this superior developer. As for you Mr. Chetnikk, if that is your REAL name, why don't you crawl back into that dank subterranean chamber you call home, open a window, and LET SOME TRUTH IN!
Bloodstar
23 Feb 06, 07:07
Chetnikk, you need to relax. No one is accusing you of being a thief, or suggesting that you would steal a game that is clearly a labor of love created by one of the few true legends in the industry. No one except me that is. It is painfully obvious to me that not only are you planning on stealing this game, but I believe you have illegally copied many other games as well. It would not surprise me if this is not the chief way you sustain yourself and your undoubtedly filthy habits. I am not sure what the nature of the copy protection system will be (although Neutrino 123 suggested a very reasonable possibility which you lashed out at as I believe you do about most everything), but I for one will have no problem with it, and with supporting this superior developer. As for you Mr. Chetnikk, if that is your REAL name, why don't you crawl back into that dank subterranean chamber you call home, open a window, and LET SOME TRUTH IN! Bravo Kadeen! I also suggest that people who can buy two copies of the game do so, just for the support of these two great developers. That will offset losses taken by prima donna's irritated by this copy protection. I am seriously thinking of buying two copies of the game. Mario
So How would a LAN work. Do I need to buy 3 copies as I have three machines. Will there be the option to play with just one copy and the other two could only play multipler games?
Cheers
Lempereur1
24 Feb 06, 19:02
ETF:
Each machine participating in the lan game would have to have it own copy.
Thanks.
Neutrino 123
25 Feb 06, 02:53
Many of the arguements related to the benefits of copy protection revolve around preventing pirates from downloading the software, but there is another important aspect we may have overlooked. Without good copy-protection, it is easier for owners of the game to give copies of it to their friends. They would perhaps have an even greater detrimental impact on sales then pirating, since if gamers want their friends to have the game, they would probably recommend it. Thus, having efficient copy-protection converts many no-buys into recommendations, which have a high probability of leading to a buy.
Chetnikk, you need to relax. No one is accusing you of being a thief, or suggesting that you would steal a game that is clearly a labor of love created by one of the few true legends in the industry. No one except me that is. It is painfully obvious to me that not only are you planning on stealing this game, but I believe you have illegally copied many other games as well. It would not surprise me if this is not the chief way you sustain yourself and your undoubtedly filthy habits. I am not sure what the nature of the copy protection system will be (although Neutrino 123 suggested a very reasonable possibility which you lashed out at as I believe you do about most everything), but I for one will have no problem with it, and with supporting this superior developer. As for you Mr. Chetnikk, if that is your REAL name, why don't you crawl back into that dank subterranean chamber you call home, open a window, and LET SOME TRUTH IN!
Wipe the spittle off your chin, and listen carefully:
If I really wanted to steal this game, I would simply download a warez version. Or are you the sort of simpleton who actually believes that copy protection prevents such things? They don't. Bill Gates can't protect a billion dollars worth of development efforts in Windows, and a couple of bozos building a game aren't going to fare any better.
If you're keeping up (which may be a stretch), you'll have figured out that someone using pirated software doesn't need the developers to release an unprotected version - he just obtains the unprotected version for free.
In other words, people who use pirated software /never/ complain about copy protection, because they never see any.
John R.
Bravo Kadeen! I also suggest that people who can buy two copies of the game do so, just for the support of these two great developers. That will offset losses taken by prima donna's irritated by this copy protection. I am seriously thinking of buying two copies of the game. Mario
I'm not sure "multiple sales to fanboys" is the sort of marketing strategy that's likely to stave off the impending flop.
John R.
Bloodstar
25 Feb 06, 08:29
I'm not sure "multiple sales to fanboys" is the sort of marketing strategy that's likely to stave off the impending flop.
John R. You bought a ticket for banning on this forum I think if you continue this way... No game company tolerates behavious like yours... Go to Paradox forum and slap developers (Johan) and you will be banned in second... It's not fanboyism but game would be great I think, and Norm is very brave for making a game of such an obscure conflict... I very much like the idea. He didn't followed suit of sure bet - Ah, I will make first Normandy game, and the Bulge, and then of course Market Garden. Trio fantasticus of wargame design. And maps that were left to designers by their grandfather who served in 101st Airborne... hehehe. So calm down a bit... Mario
You bought a ticket for banning on this forum I think if you continue this way... No game company tolerates behavious like yours...
Any forum that would ban someone for expressing an on-topic sentiment in a polite and well-founded manner is of dubious utility in any event. So far as I can see, the only people in these forums who are accusing people of being criminals and calling them "trolls" are the developers themselves and their supporters.
John R.
Bloodstar
25 Feb 06, 11:17
Any forum that would ban someone for expressing an on-topic sentiment in a polite and well-founded manner is of dubious utility in any event. So far as I can see, the only people in these forums who are accusing people of being criminals and calling them "trolls" are the developers themselves and their supporters.
John R. No, read clearly - all debate is now pointless. Did you read what Jim Rose said? Copy protection is SET IN STONE. I hope that you are as well running some company and would you in the end of development process, ie. making a game, would you at the last moment change the way the copy protection is implemented. No, Mister, you wouldn't. The developers said that all is set in stone and that they would not change it. I also have said all on this topic. Game is near release and if you want anything about game industry - developers, like it or not must also make some money and repay the investment. I don't find it smart that they now retrace the milestone and delay the game because of copy protection. Businesswise - not very good. Mario
Don Maddox
25 Feb 06, 11:20
Any forum that would ban someone for expressing an on-topic sentiment in a polite and well-founded manner is of dubious utility in any event. So far as I can see, the only people in these forums who are accusing people of being criminals and calling them "trolls" are the developers themselves and their supporters.
You began your illustrious posting career here with this little gem:
Careful, you're getting spittle in his butt-crack.
John R.That was posted prior to Norm or Jim ever replying to anyone. You may want to rethink lecturing the rest of us about being polite.
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