You had me, when I read about Elemental's planned features
You had me, when I learned about this "MoM reimagining"
You had me, when I knew about the feedback-driven development
You had me, when I read about the continuous improvements made on released software
You had me, when I saw the result of the art direction choices
And then you LOST me..
when I saw the details about the activation procedure.
Sorry guys, this is just wrong.
I know piracy is a big issue and all, but such requirements only encourage it, imho.
If I buy something, I want to be able to do what I want with it (except reproducing it, of course).
If I have an obsessive relationship with the whole OS-reinizialization thing, I don't want to DEPEND on the company's kindness every time I intend to re-use something I already own.
I still have MoM, and I tell you, years and years later I DO NOT have to contact and BEG some non-existent company to activate it and play it, since I can do as I please with it.
Too bad really. I was on my way to recharge my prepaid card (which is something I don't use very often really).
Then again, if you implement Nightshade as a terrain bonus, I guess I could capitulate, but that doesn't change my point. You were pitch perfect until that last detail, which is utterly unfair to the customer (at least one like me)
What are you talking about?
If you buy it in the retail store you don't have to activate it and there is no DRM on the disk. You only have to activate it through Impulse if you want to patch it; otherwise it'll run without any online activation or anything.
Also I believe if you ordered it through Impulse as a digital download, then it's activated already in your Impulse account and you only have to sign on when you want to patch it after you download it once.
yeah, i seriously think somebody didn't do their homework. lol!
I smell a troll
Seriously. If you get the boxed version of the game there is no activation of any kind. None. Nadda. Zip.
If you want updates, yes, you need Impulse. But as soon as the update is downloaded, you never have to use Impulse again. You can even uninstall Impulse and keep playing the game with no problems whatsoever.
And once your game is registered with Impulse, you can download and install it on your computer at any time. There are no limits to how many times you can do this. Unless you're installing it a couple hundred times a day.
Um, Elemental has no DRM.
If you need another copy, just go to Impulse and download it. You don't even need Impulse open to play the game. The only reason you need to "activate" the game on Impulse is so you can go get it again. Has nothing to do with company kindness. You reinstall your OS? Just reinstall Impulse, log on, get your Elemental again. I know, I had to reformat my drive and I went to Impulse and got my Demigod install again.I didn't have to pay again. Just reinstall Impulse, then get my copy of DG again.
So....I don't see what you're griping about?
this......
ummmmmmmm.......yea......what?
Seriously.
wow....just wow....whatever drug he's on, he's not sharing
He probably thought he was in the Starcraft 2 forums.
He might do better not to even own a computer then, this is easily one of the most open companies out there, make that statement on an EA forum and see how long it takes for the Black Suits to show up!!
Lol, poor guy was just confused between Steam and Stardock
hopefully he takes the time to read the thread he created...
Dear poster: Can you please link the location, web site or other source that stated the "activation procedure." in question.
Fellow forum members: There very well could be some miss-information out there. (The internet is very large) Before we jump on the guy, lets find out what his source is.
Ok, first of all, I'm deeply sorry if I misunderstood the described procedure.
That said, my "source" is simply this one:
https://www.stardock.com/support/activation_info.aspx
It's about "Stardock products" so I took it it includes Elemental.
I basically don't know anything about steam, impulse or whatever, I haven't been much into gaming lately (I mean years lately). I only knew about Stardock because I tried the Demo of GalCiv II but it didn't convince me (two reasons really: the "light" tone of the text and the linearity of the tech tree. Still it had great potential and I appreciated the general company policy towards the customers).
If the boxed version solves my problem, then boxed version it'll be (does it ship to Italy? I guess via Amazon or something?). Yet, my issue can pretty well stand with the patches. The way I (intend to) use software is as follows:
1) Get the package, store it away.
2) Get the latest patch, store it away in the backup-ed external drives.
3) Repeat 2) as time passes
#) Install patched software whenever the whim hits, without having to contact anyone
Will I be able to download and "own" patches too?
If I have to "re-legitimate" the patched version every time I need to re-install the OS then it won't work for me anyway.
Thanx for any clarification and sorry if my post seemed like a rant (well, it was, basing on what I understood).
You will need to log into Impulse to get the patches. That should not be a problem, since you already have an account (the reason you can post here).
If you register your game in Impulse you can at any time redownload the game or patch Elemental, after logging into your account (which you already have).
AFAIK you wont be able to download patches seperatly, which is the only anti piracy measure Stardock has. No other DRM, you dont even need the disc to play after installation.
Edit: Typo
Whenever you register a product with Impulse, whether it was bought in the box or digitally, it becomes available in your Impulse game list. From there you can download the game to any computer you want using Impulse with no disk required as long as you have an internet connection. Impulse is also required to get any new patch that comes out, but if you don't want to use Impulse you can install your game and start it up regularly like any other.
Thanx for the answers.So I guess I was right after all (despite being labelled as a "troll")
See, possible scenario:20 years from now.Stardock has gone bankrupt and disapperead (obviously I hope not!)I get a futuristic supercomputer with a WinXP emulator.Then I find out that I CANNOT install a patched version of game.It's not even a matter of money: it's sheer impossibility.
You may think it's an exagerated concern and it is, but it's always about method and attitude for me: I don't want any dependancy going on with my stuff.It really doesn't strike me as a fair sales model, but hey, it's not my company I can only decide if the product meets my needs, or not.
It seriously is worth registering your product with Impulse just for the patches. Elemental will just get better and better - especially in the moths after release - and having access to the patches will be very beneficial.
---EDIT---
I actually used to share the same concerns as you. If I didn't have hard-copies then I wasn't happy. What swung me around with Stardock and Impulse is that you can essentially archive the game install. So basically you can update via Impulse then save an archive in case something goes sour.
Best of both worlds.
So how did you install Windows XP? Isn't it possible Microsoft will be bankrupt in 20 years time, or simply do not permit activations of the OS? The OS will be 30 years old by then!
I would expect that in the highly unlikely event that Stardock went bankrupt that a patch would be released to remove the activation from the final patch. Plus the original copy on your DVD would function - until 2038 when I expect it will break.
So, you must not play any games these days, right? Almost everything has a one time online activation now.
Luckmann! You filthy...
quoted for truth... if you buy games that are disk only (ie require no online activiation or never have a patch).. your not playing much new... mind you i hate this but its the reality of the situation.
Oh and btw you can still play the disk version with out any activation..
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