Copy protection/DRM & Stardock

[lupi]

lol, what does Brad and his high and mighty sermons on the subject think we're all going to be idiots and blindly bow towards him. PC gamer bill of rights my ass. i just had a fun time reinstalling Galciv 2 and getting the updates for it. A fucking EA shit title would probably have been done easier and in shorter time.

 

[ZzZGuy]

Put down the bottle and start from the beginning.

 

[Kromis]

Who's Brad?

 

[Bateluer]

Its not complicated. You install Impulse. You log in to Impulse. The Updates tab verifies that Impulse is up to date. Impulse checks each game you've purchased under Impulse to see if upgrades are available, then reports the version numbers and patch notes. Next, it prompts for you permission to download and install the updates. Its very simpler and arguably better than the update service found in Steam.

 

[Qbah]

Originally posted by: Bateluer
Its not complicated. You install Impulse. You log in to Impulse. The Updates tab verifies that Impulse is up to date. Impulse checks each game you've purchased under Impulse to see if upgrades are available, then reports the version numbers and patch notes. Next, it prompts for you permission to download and install the updates. Its very simpler and arguably better than the update service found in Steam.

How is it better than Steam?Everything is automated on Steam... Granted, never used this Impulse thingie, however from your description it sounds like more work... not a lot, but still more

 

[zerogear]

No, Impulse just gives you the choice of installing the updates or not, while Steam forces the updates unless you right-click->properties then some tabs then disable it.

 

[Born2bwire]

Originally posted by: zerogear
No, Impulse just gives you the choice of installing the updates or not, while Steam forces the updates unless you right-click->properties then some tabs then disable it.

Meh.

 

[ZzZGuy]

Originally posted by: Qbah

Originally posted by: Bateluer
Its not complicated. You install Impulse. You log in to Impulse. The Updates tab verifies that Impulse is up to date. Impulse checks each game you've purchased under Impulse to see if upgrades are available, then reports the version numbers and patch notes. Next, it prompts for you permission to download and install the updates. Its very simpler and arguably better than the update service found in Steam.

How is it better than Steam?Everything is automated on Steam... Granted, never used this Impulse thingie, however from your description it sounds like more work... not a lot, but still more

Advantage of Impulse is that there -is-no-drm- beyond using your serial number to access updates and (re)download & install or burn off the game. Once you install the game, be it from a CD or impulse itself, you no longer require impulse or a CD. You also don't have to use impulse to active their games.

Steam is more friendly to use though, I've been tempted to send stardock a angry email about how fustrating it is to have to reenter your serial number into impulse when you install it on a new OS/machine.

Now if only steam would stop putting 3rd part DRM into games they host (eg, securom + EA games).

 

[BladeVenom]

EA supports a game for less than a year, then it's fuck you. How's that better than Stardock?

The only benefit with EA is you don't have to install updates because EA never made any updates because EA doesn't give a shit after you buy the game. You can reinstall a Stardock game without the any of the updates and extras if want the EA experience.

 

[lupi]

yeah, go to steam for support of stardock. it's a sure sign of success when you are defending an idiotic drm/restrictive license scheme with the most restrictive drm/license scheme.

 

[ZzZGuy]

Originally posted by: lupi
yeah, go to steam for support of stardock. it's a sure sign of success when you are defending an idiotic drm/restrictive license scheme with the most restrictive drm/license scheme.

Impulse DRM is tied to internet services. If you do not have the internet, it's pointless. When you download a copy of the game to burn off you get the latest up to date verson.

Only problem is they have some bugs to work out and make it a little more user friendly. There are no issues with install limits or online activation, and if you're a idiot if you think we are all up in arms over Steam itself.

 

[Born2bwire]

Originally posted by: lupi
yeah, go to steam for support of stardock. it's a sure sign of success when you are defending an idiotic drm/restrictive license scheme with the most restrictive drm/license scheme.

What are you talking about? What are you trying to say? He's trying to speak to us I just know it.

 

[quadomatic]

Originally posted by: Bateluer

Now if only steam would stop putting 3rd part DRM into games they host (eg, securom + EA games).

Unfortunately, that's really not up to Steam. Luckily EA has been pretty cool and dropped 3rd party DRM from games like Spore.

 

[Bateluer]

Originally posted by: quadomatic

Originally posted by: Bateluer

Now if only steam would stop putting 3rd part DRM into games they host (eg, securom + EA games).

Unfortunately, that's really not up to Steam. Luckily EA has been pretty cool and dropped 3rd party DRM from games like Spore.

While still forcing it into Clear Sky, RA3, and FarCry 2.

Steam often has better sales than Impulse does as well, plus a bigger selection. I like Stardock and Impulse, and I will buy products through it, but their selection and pricing needs to grow. Unfortunately, given Stardock's stances, I don't think they are going to be as large as Steam.

 

[zerogear]

Originally posted by: ZzZGuy

Originally posted by: Qbah

Originally posted by: Bateluer
Its not complicated. You install Impulse. You log in to Impulse. The Updates tab verifies that Impulse is up to date. Impulse checks each game you've purchased under Impulse to see if upgrades are available, then reports the version numbers and patch notes. Next, it prompts for you permission to download and install the updates. Its very simpler and arguably better than the update service found in Steam.

How is it better than Steam?Everything is automated on Steam... Granted, never used this Impulse thingie, however from your description it sounds like more work... not a lot, but still more

Advantage of Impulse is that there -is-no-drm- beyond using your serial number to access updates and (re)download & install or burn off the game. Once you install the game, be it from a CD or impulse itself, you no longer require impulse or a CD. You also don't have to use impulse to active their games.

Steam is more friendly to use though, I've been tempted to send stardock a angry email about how fustrating it is to have to reenter your serial number into impulse when you install it on a new OS/machine.

Now if only steam would stop putting 3rd part DRM into games they host (eg, securom + EA games).

I thought Impulse registered the CD Key with your account so you don't have to enter the serial#?

 

[Martimus]

Originally posted by: zerogear

Originally posted by: ZzZGuy

Originally posted by: Qbah

Originally posted by: Bateluer
Its not complicated. You install Impulse. You log in to Impulse. The Updates tab verifies that Impulse is up to date. Impulse checks each game you've purchased under Impulse to see if upgrades are available, then reports the version numbers and patch notes. Next, it prompts for you permission to download and install the updates. Its very simpler and arguably better than the update service found in Steam.

How is it better than Steam?Everything is automated on Steam... Granted, never used this Impulse thingie, however from your description it sounds like more work... not a lot, but still more

Advantage of Impulse is that there -is-no-drm- beyond using your serial number to access updates and (re)download & install or burn off the game. Once you install the game, be it from a CD or impulse itself, you no longer require impulse or a CD. You also don't have to use impulse to active their games.

Steam is more friendly to use though, I've been tempted to send stardock a angry email about how fustrating it is to have to reenter your serial number into impulse when you install it on a new OS/machine.

Now if only steam would stop putting 3rd part DRM into games they host (eg, securom + EA games).

I thought Impulse registered the CD Key with your account so you don't have to enter the serial#?

They register it with your e-mail address, so if you buy the game with a different e-mail address than your Impulse/Stardock Central account, you will have to manually enter it.

I have done this a bunch of times, because I always seem to forget which e-mail address I used for my SDC/Impulse account.

 

[zerogear]

Ahh, thats what it is.

 

[Timorous]

Strange. I just went from XP to Vista on a new rig downloaded/installed Impulse. I open Impulse and in the games tab all the games I have purchased from Stardock are there waiting for me to install.

If its GalCiv II you are having issues with then its probably something you did wrong because I have never had an issue reinstalling that game after I wipe my HDD's. If your Impusle account is linked to a different email address than your stardock account then as others have said you need to enter the CD-Key to get the game to show up in Impulse.

If you contact their customer support you can probably get Impulse linked to a new email address and the games that are tied to the old email address can be linked to the new one too. Worth asking anyway.

Lupi what DRM are you talking about? GalCiv has no DRM at all. It does not phone home, it does not require activation, it does not do any cd checks, there are no install limits just a CD-Key which is only required to get updates to the game. How is that restrictive DRM, infact how is it DRM at all?

 

[lupi]

Why don't you post a link to the page for their patch downloads.

Better yet, why don't you go and buy a used copy of one of their games.

 

[Martimus]

Originally posted by: lupi
Why don't you post a link to the page for their patch downloads.

Better yet, why don't you go and buy a used copy of one of their games.

You patch through Stardock Central or Impulse. Although, they did post patches for GC1 and 2 on their website.

You can have them e-mail you the patches if you request it as well. I can give you the e-mail address to contact them about getting the patch you need if you can't find it. (I don't have it handy, but I have contacted them a few times before.)

I can sell you my old copy of GC1 if you want, but I still play GC2, so I don't want to sell it. What used game do you wish to purchase? Those are the only two that I have a physical copy of.

 

[ZzZGuy]

Originally posted by: quadomatic

Originally posted by: Bateluer

Now if only steam would stop putting 3rd part DRM into games they host (eg, securom + EA games).

Unfortunately, that's really not up to Steam. Luckily EA has been pretty cool and dropped 3rd party DRM from games like Spore.

It is up to steam to allow them to do it. They could just refuse to put it onto steam until they removed the DRM.

 

[ZzZGuy]

Originally posted by: zerogear

Originally posted by: ZzZGuy

Originally posted by: Qbah

Originally posted by: Bateluer
Its not complicated. You install Impulse. You log in to Impulse. The Updates tab verifies that Impulse is up to date. Impulse checks each game you've purchased under Impulse to see if upgrades are available, then reports the version numbers and patch notes. Next, it prompts for you permission to download and install the updates. Its very simpler and arguably better than the update service found in Steam.

How is it better than Steam?Everything is automated on Steam... Granted, never used this Impulse thingie, however from your description it sounds like more work... not a lot, but still more

Advantage of Impulse is that there -is-no-drm- beyond using your serial number to access updates and (re)download & install or burn off the game. Once you install the game, be it from a CD or impulse itself, you no longer require impulse or a CD. You also don't have to use impulse to active their games.

Steam is more friendly to use though, I've been tempted to send stardock a angry email about how fustrating it is to have to reenter your serial number into impulse when you install it on a new OS/machine.

Now if only steam would stop putting 3rd part DRM into games they host (eg, securom + EA games).

I thought Impulse registered the CD Key with your account so you don't have to enter the serial#?

IC

 

[Timorous]

Originally posted by: lupi
Why don't you post a link to the page for their patch downloads.

Better yet, why don't you go and buy a used copy of one of their games.

As Martimus said you patch their games through Impulse/Stardock Central. This is so that only legitmate customers get patches through there servers.

As for buying one of their games second hand, its no different to most other games. Just buy it and install it, if you want to update it through Impulse you enter the cdkey the 1st time and it gets tied to your account. Again if you email customer service they can probably transfer it so that its associated to your account (would probably imagine they need a photo of the game/cdkey or something to confirm that you own it)

Better than trying to buy a used copy of Half-Life 2.

 

[Timorous]

Sorry DP

 

[lupi]

Originally posted by: Timorous

Originally posted by: lupi
Why don't you post a link to the page for their patch downloads.

Better yet, why don't you go and buy a used copy of one of their games.

As Martimus said you patch their games through Impulse/Stardock Central. This is so that only legitmate customers get patches through there servers.

As for buying one of their games second hand, its no different to most other games. Just buy it and install it, if you want to update it through Impulse you enter the cdkey the 1st time and it gets tied to your account. Again if you email customer service they can probably transfer it so that its associated to your account (would probably imagine they need a photo of the game/cdkey or something to confirm that you own it)

Better than trying to buy a used copy of Half-Life 2.

ah the naiveness here is so refreshing.