They have to deal with the huge pile of garbage that is Impulse!
"so you are telling me that in order to download your software, i have to download other software, after downloading IE7...."
"then after jumping through those hoops, Impulse wont start up....."
Your forums are filled with paying customers who cant use the product they purchased.
Next time i'll wait for the torrent and skip this epic nightmare.
It doesnt pay to be honest I guess.
Why might I end up Pirating Entrenchment despite having a legal copy of Sins?
It's pretty simple. I want to play with my friends. I don't want to go online, I just want to game with people I know, at their house or mine. Most of them aren't interested enough in the Genre to pay for Sins, (One is into FPS's the other RPG's) so in general while I buy RTS's, they buy only those games they really want to own.
Thus, in order to get them to play Sins, it has to be free to them. If they don't play Sins, I won't buy Sins since I don't have anyone to play with.
Therefore, I'll likely end up buying Entrenchment myself, and pirating it for them if/when the Pirates crack it. Or, if they don't then I probably will never buy Entrenchment. Either way, piracy is the only way Stardock is going to get a sale from me in this case. It sucks, but it's true. If I can't play with friends, I don't want to pay.
Just on a side note, we all have bought copies of Left 4 Dead, Why? Things like Co-Op, having 4 of us be able to play, relatively easily and cheap, (45 dollars on launch day!), and Steam is already fairly integrated with so many of our other games. Impluse isn't annoy per se, but it's something I rarely if ever will use regularly just because there is only one game I have on it (Sins). It's frustrating to have another 'manager' program for a single game.
Thanks for the laugh; get over it and over yourselves and either don't use it or launch it when an update is posted. Thats what I do and i rarely have to do that takes less than 5 min to launch/patch/close most of the time. It really isn't a problem and their support is great if there is one from my experience.
This whole argument is just a waste of your time (which is your big pain right?), in the time of typing your opinions, "facts" etc you could have had it updated and been playing already. The only reason I see people arguing here I'll assume is you're pirates or want to be. Doesn't really matter how "legit" your reason for pirating is, if you want to play something bad enough that's on Impulse then support it because obviously it's worth it. If you're just arguing for arguments sake fine everyone's allowed an opinion, doesn't make it an excuse though.
I'll assume the OP is a troll, any other option would just be rude to say. I've seen other posts like this and it's all flame bait, with no real grounds for arguments. It is entertaining though.
Funny, uselly people who pirate games complain more about this...why because they can't pirate the game. You can't get anything on steam illegally that needs steam to run. You need an acount. haha. suckers. Buy the game, it isn't that expensive for what you get and the work that went into making it. This is why Impulse is a good idea, but you can actually run sins with out it. Which I think isn't a good idea for them if they want it to matter.
Tojka & Goodgimp: I'm glad both of you can read... I said I'll give credit to Ironclad/stardock for delaying the game. However, the game was originally slated for release back then. A lot of companies would have released it like that and tried to patch it later. Also, it was a beta you paid for. Regardless of how you word it, Entrenchment was sold in beta form and unreturnable. I tried. We just lucked out that IC/SD did fix it, hence why I also gave them credit at the end of my post for selling games worth their cost.
Stardock Central was far from problem free. It also couldn't handle installs > 2 GB. Nearly every new game required C++ coding changes to Stardock Central because it was designed so long ago.
Impulse is superior in every respect. Sure, it's had its growing pains but so did Stardock Central.
As for piracy / no piracy I don't tend to sweat about pirates that much. I only care what people who buy stuff want.
Indeed.
I also notice that most warez people seem to have an uncannily bad luck getting Impulse to run even though my 73 year old aunt with her ancient PC had no problem downloading it and getting the program I bought for her yet these same warez people have no problem monkeying around with the latest torrent trackers and P2P software running via Linux.
Too busy to reply to the whole thing - can't tell you what with, that's a secret. Also, you're wrong but I'm not going to go into specifics.
OK OK I'll respond to the one part I read:
You laughed at the fact that porn and games have different distribution... whatever... and therefore my argument was invalid. However you misunderstood me, or I made myself misunderstandable. Kryo and I (or was it you? err...) were debating the financial aspect of the distribution. I think. Something about distributors not wanting to get involved because of the risk.
Anyways, I was talking about costs, not the distribution itself. Yes, games and porn cannot generally be distributed to the same locations, unless you're talking about very unusual games. What I meant though was, in order to manufacture and distribute a game, you must press a disc, print a label, and combine the two with a DVD case. I don't want to go out on a limb too much, but I think this probably costs less than a dollar per item. The same is most certainly true in the exciting world of pornography.
It's not a completely linear scale, since larger orders mean less cost per unit, and someone has to design the label in the first place which is probably something they bleed every penny out of. Regardless, someone must make a label for a porno as well. So the costs to this point of the argument are still identical.
Next you come to advertising - I am unfamiliar with the realm of porn marketing, so I truly cannot argue this point without falling back on my own imagination. But since we're talking about a very small run of Sins (ie, 5000 copies in my example), advertising isn't really a big necessity. How many games are released with little or no advertising? Lots and lots, especially in "less interesting" genres like RTS.
In both cases you must ship a box of the product to a store.
So, so far we've gone through: product design, manufacturing, advertising, and physical distribution, and the costs are still identical. No, I'll be petty and remind you that a porno has actors and actresses that must be paid, as well as some form of editing and direction staff. So at this point, the porno costs more to make and distribute than an already-finished game.
So now we come to stores. Much like you, I have no idea what goes on in order to put a product on the shelf, but I have to guess that if a distributor has managed to find room on my local stores' shelves for some of the crap they sell (or try to), it can't possibly be a colossal expense. Surely there is some cost, but I can't imagine what it is. In any case, a porno must also find a place on a shelf. By the way, "adult entertainment" is a much more lucrative business than PC gaming. So in theory it could actually be more difficult and expensive to get a porno on a store shelf than a PC game.
So my argument in summary is: your claim that porno is a dramatically different thing to sell, per unit, than PC games, financially speaking, is incorrect. If Stardock was unable to find someone to sell their game in Europe, their "finding a european distributor" department is incompetent. This isn't really a surprise, given that this is the one of only a handful of titles they've actually sold.
Now really, I have to stop there. I didn't get into this thing for the sake of actually arguing it, I just wanted some giggles. I'm proud of you for actually making an attempt to prove my rebuttal wrong though, most people just give up after I tear their argument to shreds.
You're an idiot. You can pirate any game on Steam, and play it multiplayer. L4D, Orange Box, TF2, DoW2, even the newest releases are pirated Day 0. (Dawn of War 2 was actually literally out the same time as the retail release)
Doesn't really matter how "legit" your reason for pirating is, if you want to play something bad enough that's on Impulse then support it because obviously it's worth it. If you're just arguing for arguments sake fine everyone's allowed an opinion, doesn't make it an excuse though.
Yes. But what about the friends I want to play with? THey won't buy it. It isn't worth it to them. If they don't, it isn't worth it to me. I'll buy it, but nowadays I won't patch past 1.05 until the pirates crack the game up to then. Then I'll go buy Entrenchment, pirate it for them, and have fun. Until then... Now on that note. I've had no issues with Impulse. There was a brief weird issue where it gave me that Political Campaign game after I did torrent it and then delete it after one play (I realized it wasn't the sort of game I would enjoy); but that was fixed and it has patched/run my game beautifully. So as Frogboy mentioned, it isn't an issue always with the provided service (other than my noted annoyance that extra programs make me sad, but I understand the need.)
Either way I love Sins, am Glad I bought the copy I did, and would very much like to buy Entrenchment. I might even, but having to patch my Sins means until a way is figured out that I can play with my friends, and play my SP Entrenchment, then I am going to hold on. Even if 10 dollars is something I would spend in the blink of an eye; without my friends I'm just not sure I'd play it sadly.
Wow...I've become so tired of BOTH sides of these sorts of arguments, that I'm sincerely hoping some sort of catastrophic incident actually EMPs the entire planet leaving it technologically dead for decades or more.
Much as I like tech, I can get by without it quite easily. Better to not have it at all than listen to a bunch of self-absorbed brats go on about how they themselves or others "on their side" DESERVE this, that, or the other. This seemingly inborn sense of self-entitlement that's so grossly overdeveloped by societies around the world disgusts me in the extreme.
Oh...and no, I don't give a rat's a** about people whose very lives are dependent upon technology...not even my own family members. That's life in the jungle for ya.
Also, I would bet that many people who've had issues with Impulse are running pirated copies of Windows in the first place.
Pirated copies of Windows often don't have the latest updates and in many cases have been entirely "modified" and stripped of things which may someday be required by a program they're trying to install/run.
Karma is a beautiful thing!
They can't use FireFox, unlike IE it isn't designed to be 'imbedded' into other programs. I'm not conversent with the technical details, I just remember something about it not having the right hooks.
I think you should perhaps re-read what I wrote. My mention of porn was in the direction of a jab at your habit of writing absolutist statements, not the primary argument. I had my computer science labwork stuck in my head or I wouldn't have even done that (the 'thought process' behind mathematical proofs / disproofs was interfering with 'real world' proofs / disproofs). To a degree I knew it even then, hence why I basicaly said you can ignore that bit because it was a deliberate bit of straw-man used simply to point out to you how badly you phrased yourself. The rest of that section is completly untouched by your counter argument.
It doesn't matter how cheaply / expensive it is to distribute the game! If the distrubtors decided it wasn't going to be profitable, they aren't going to be interested in 'facts'! You can argue that they're wrong all you like, but 'belief is reality' -- their very belief that they couldn't make money off Sins turned into self-fullfilling prophecy. And, alas, Stardock just doesn't have the commercial 'clout' to try and get retail space in European shelving, hence why they needed a european developer.
For us forums regulars it was a well known fact that it wouldn't be released last month, but IIRC it was accidentaly sold as finished for a while, which led to some confusion. It was never called finished until last wednesday.
All it takes is an unusually powerfull solar flare, it'll happen sooner or later.[/Doomsayer]
Probably just another absurd 'rationalization' justifying their stupid behavior.
"It's not MY fault I pirated this software, it's the developer's fault for not providing fuctional software/catering to my every whim/whateverthehellicanthinkof."
Yeesh! Though, the_Monk maybe on to something;
EMP here you come... When DPRK starts sending out SCBM (Space Capable Ballistic Missles) we can all cheer as those bloody, leechy pirates lives die out.
I heard in China there is actually a military boot camp for those addicted to video games. Pirating is the most extreme obsession, after all, why do you need so many games!?
But still, I will despise the concept of Impulse. Games shouldn't need this huge updater program. With a webstore built in (unless if you want to just sell these updates?).
But then, companies have already thought this through, so stop bitching about how you cannot live because Impulse is shiveling your (nonexistent) manhood.
Stop downloading. Start getting a life.
Actually there are programs that use Firefox. At least two of which are media players. I can't think of anyone that actually uses IE for anything and I think that the commentary Brad made about his 73 year old aunt amply illustrates that there are several types of people that use Impulse. Folks that have a general knowledge of computing typically just don't use IE, novices tend to use it though. However since there is a certain percentage of a "captive audience" there I can understand using it. It just isn't optimal imo.
Maybe I'm the only one, but I've been finding Impulse convenient and a rather refreshing change from the norm. I rarely care to keep track of my discs besides putting them in a shelf or box somewhere, and launching from Impulse lets me know immediately when an update is available. I can launch the games either with or without Impulse, and any other game I'd have to go find the update executable myself to update it. It was pretty easy to load Impulse up on both our home PC's. It's better than my experience with Steam, as I don't have to stay logged in or keep it running. It seems has just as many advantages/disadvantages as a disc would appear to have, and is a much better option than DRM and the "KEEP YOUR CD IN THE TRAY YOU NASTY CONSUMER YOU", IMO.
I'd probably change my tune if Impulse had problems for me, but so far it has worked flawlessly. Because of that, any problems that do crop up I will probably try to solve on the basis that they're on my end before blaming Impulse.
The only time I'll 'pirate' a game is if I've already purchased and the DRM is giving me fits or I've lost the disk (or had the disk break). Homeworld 2 I bought when it came out for $50... I lost the disk... I downloaded HW2 off a torrent site... POP:TT has Starforce on it... Starforce killed 2 DVD writers back when they were $200 a pop... hacked version downloaded... Microsoft:Best of Games pack (best version of Tetris EVER!)... came on floppies... floppy gets corrupted... downloaded. Bioshock... 5 install limit... YEAH RIGHT! Sorry but I'm not going to pay twice for something I already own and I'm not going to deal with cruddy DRM that can destroy my computer or tries to screw with me in other ways.
Most of my games I buy when they are re-re-re-rereleased by Valusoft... A kickass game from 2005 is still great and it's only $6.99...
I have no problem for paying something... in the last 24 hours, i have ride a lot of kilometer, visit several game computershop... seeking for Sins of Solar Empire... i need one more boxed version for a gift... it was mission impossible... 5 shop on 10 don't know the game, 4 shop on 10 don't have it anymore... they call it a old game, and don't know about all the award win end 2008... 1 shop is ready to order it but they are not sure that they can have it...
I wish something, i have the money for pay it but i can't find it... for a gift, a box is always better that a printed e-mail with a serial and download link !!!
For online buy, a method who work for 700 and more million people is not used... why do i need to use a system who is not fully secure for please a game producent...
It have nothing to make with morality but with frustration of potential customer... next week-end, i will again seek several computer shop in my country... but if i don't find Sins, only one solution... by for my friend a other game...
I was very happy with Stardock central... of course, install have never be over the 2 gb...
Impulse is not bad... my main complain was that when it was released, it was far to be ready... a lot of huge problem was resolved... more work need to be done and i am confident that in the futur, it will be done...
Problem is that we, customer, are impulsive... it mean that we wish something today, now... we have not the patience to wait long delay, specially when it is related to something we like...
blah, blah , blah
I have order it ( again ) ... have found it on one of my online shop ( http://www.ldlc.be/fiche/PB00075868.html )... was added recently ( the only Kalypso game there )... seem that the end 2008 award have push several online shop to add sins to their product... and i have already pay it via bank ( if some don't believe me, i can post here the bank paper who show it ) ...
But sorry, until i can buy Entrenchment in a similar way ( or in shop ), i will have a pirated version... yes, i know, i am a bad guy...but soon of later, you will have my money !!!
One question... Is it planned a Collector Edition via Kalypso ( or any other distributor )? Collector Edition is a better gift that the standart edition ! Poster and music cd is really a plus for the younger people ( i am almost the only old guy from my familly who use computer game )
Is that so?
I don't know the details, I'm just repeating what I was told.
I don't have Firefox. I use Google Chrome. Of course, I have IE7 on my XP boxes since my XP box isn't a pirated version of Windows and it got installed automatically through Windows updates something like a million years ago.
But I do agree, for the guy who pirates Windows and thus has to turn off Windows updates which also means not having the various security features installed either then Impulse, which assumes these things, is going to be a problem.
Unfortunately, the warez crowd isn't our target market. I said this elsewhere - I don't lose sleep about piracy, I just don't count pirates in business decisions one way or the other.
Personally, I can't wait until Internet connectivity is a 24/7 non-issue for people so that I can start making games that require always-on net connections because then I can make all kinds of cool stuff (like having extremely advanced computer AI that plays the games via a dedicated server cluster). Of course, that would pretty much be the end of piracy on those games too. Pity.
Not a bad idea... but people will only trust big game business... Stardock is growing fast but is enough new in the game sector... Who know what will happen with Stardock tomorrow... I don't wish a game today with Stardock being dead tomorrow and not be able to use a game that i have pay for... More, can you certify that the server will always be running in 10 year when i wish game again ?
If you use so method, i think that the game need to be free ( gratis ) but you ask a monthly subscription for game with it... or maybe a fee for each hours of game... so, if you are dead tomorrow, i will not have pay a big amount of money for nothing... but if you survive, and that i use your game during 20 continous year, i will pay a lot more ( normal since you need to pay monthly server expense )... hey... we can call this "rent a online game"...
About internet 24/7, it will not always be possible... have buy a laptop last month for be a sins portable game platform... but only in a few place and in big city, i can connect wireless to the internet... more, the wireless system don't work very good with the actual online game system ( sync problem due to a lot of packet drop )... who know, maybe in a few year !!!
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