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| 7 DEC 2009 at 10:58pm |
| Deleted User | As long as you leave the game on your computer, why would you have to get another activation authorization to play it again? I haven’t battled with this yet, but my impression was that three activations meant that after purchase you could download and install the game on three different computers, or for that matter, the same computer if for some reason you needed to uninstall to free up disc space or something. :-? Still though, the whole thing doesn't seem right.
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| 7 DEC 2009 at 11:22pm |
CarolineJA+ Overseer
Posts : 16540
Joined: 28 JAN 2007
Location: AU
Status : Offline | The only way developers will get the message is if we refuse to buy downloaded games and insist on owning our very own disk.... so we can put it onto any computer we jolly well want. Besides, when you upgrade and want to play the game again you might have used up your 3 downloads so what then? It will certainly spell the end of the second hand game market won't it?
I fear that iPod has led the way and this temporary ownership thing will only grow. Already I read that Gen Y don't mind renting instead of buying a house... so the idea is taking currency that small payments and temporary ownership are okay.
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| 7 DEC 2009 at 11:38pm |
AlienBZJourneyman
Posts : 877
Joined: 14 JAN 2008
Status : Offline | Yeah, I was thinking we AG should boycott new game d/l and these that require internet activation so the developers will get the message - shall we? I believe in recycling old games and in the second hand market - that way, our children and grandchildren (although I'm not married and I don't have kids) can enjoy the good things that we once enjoyed, and I believe in passing things on, like outgrown baby clothes, for instance.
Doin' Warp 9 to the Great Kingdom of Adventure Games of Outer Space
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| 8 DEC 2009 at 1:15am |
IviniaGuild Master
Posts : 4459
Joined: 7 JUN 2003
Location: US
Status : Offline | Developers or publishers?
I do think the whole online activation thing stinks. >
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| 8 DEC 2009 at 9:08pm |
AlienBZJourneyman
Posts : 877
Joined: 14 JAN 2008
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By Ivinia (8 DEC 2009 1:15am)
Developers or publishers?
Whoever puts the internet activation into the games - I'm not sure whether the devs do this or if the publishers do it?
Originally Posted By Ivinia (8 DEC 2009 1:15am)
do think the whole online activation thing stinks. >
Yeah - how many of you people here at JA agree on this - raise your hands (or your keyboards and mice!)
Doin' Warp 9 to the Great Kingdom of Adventure Games of Outer Space
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| 9 DEC 2009 at 12:28am |
Mr Innocent.Journeyman
Posts : 1317
Joined: 15 JAN 2008
Location: GR
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By Caroline (7 DEC 2009 11:21pm)
It will certainly spell the end of the second hand game market won't it?
Killing the second hand market is one of the major goals of publishers, Caroline, not an unfortunate side effect.
At any rate, digital distribution is the future. But as long as publishers try to shove intrusive DRM down our throats along with it, I'll remain a boxed copy kind of guy.
I've bought digitally distributed versions of Vigil: Blood Bitterness, and Eschalon: Book 1, both without any DRM restrictions at all. Eschalon at least did well enough commercially for a sequel to be in the works, indeed near completion. Vigil doesn't seem to have fared as well, which is a pity, but somehow I doubt that a DRM scheme would have helped.
Also, GOG has no DRM included in the games they sell, and they seem to be doing very well indeed.
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| 9 DEC 2009 at 2:24am |
AlienBZJourneyman
Posts : 877
Joined: 14 JAN 2008
Status : Offline | Right, Nik. Like you, if these download games require 'net activation, I'm remaining a boxed copy kind of girl. But GOG is an exception to me not d/l games b/c of their cheap prices and the fact that their games don't have to be activated over the internet - once you d/l it, you're allowed to burn it to a disc and keep it.
Doin' Warp 9 to the Great Kingdom of Adventure Games of Outer Space
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| 9 DEC 2009 at 5:17pm |
InlandAZGuild Master
Posts : 5586
Joined: 4 MAY 2007
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By Camaroboy1968 (7 DEC 2009 10:58pm)
As long as you leave the game on your computer, why would you have to get another activation authorization to play it again?
My circumstances may be unique, but I reformat frequently enough for it to be an issue for me (I do quite a bit of development work, beta testing and gaming on my PC's - all of them). Reformatting requires that the game be activated again.
I also port games from one rig to another, start it on the desktop, take a trip and port it to the laptop, each of those actions requires an activation - bad, bad, bad.
I've lost "every" downloaded game for the same issue: Activations exceeded. Funny thing is, I can still run all the oldies no matter how many PC's and how many times they’ve been installed. The last time In I attempted to have an activation count reset I was told that I was pirating the game and no resets would be granted (this was from a company that I’ve Beta Tested for, and have had nothing but good things to say about). BTW it’s not the developer I have issues with, they continue to produce fantastic games, it’s their deployment system – specifically Activation Servers…
For those that collect games and still drag them out from time to time – just consider this… when the publisher goes belly up (and they do), do you really believe they’re going to keep activation servers up and running just so you can replay the game, say 10 years from now ? Don’t think too hard on it, the answer is hell no.
Downloads may work for some - but I'll never purchase another.
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| 9 DEC 2009 at 6:24pm |
| Deleted User | Originally Posted By InlandAZ (9 DEC 2009 5:17pm)
Originally Posted By Camaroboy1968 (7 DEC 2009 10:58pm)
As long as you leave the game on your computer, why would you have to get another activation authorization to play it again?
My circumstances may be unique, but I reformat frequently enough for it to be an issue for me (I do quite a bit of development work, beta testing and gaming on my PC's - all of them). Reformatting requires that the game be activated again.
I also port games from one rig to another, start it on the desktop, take a trip and port it to the laptop, each of those actions requires an activation - bad, bad, bad.
I've lost "every" downloaded game for the same issue: Activations exceeded. Funny thing is, I can still run all the oldies no matter how many PC's and how many times they’ve been installed. The last time In I attempted to have an activation count reset I was told that I was pirating the game and no resets would be granted (this was from a company that I’ve Beta Tested for, and have had nothing but good things to say about). BTW it’s not the developer I have issues with, they continue to produce fantastic games, it’s their deployment system – specifically Activation Servers…
For those that collect games and still drag them out from time to time – just consider this… when the publisher goes belly up (and they do), do you really believe they’re going to keep activation servers up and running just so you can replay the game, say 10 years from now ? Don’t think too hard on it, the answer is hell no.
Downloads may work for some - but I'll never purchase another.
I'm 100% with Inland there. I too, like to spread my games over a few computers, and I'm sorry, 3 activations simply does not cut it with me.
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| 12 DEC 2009 at 1:47pm |
shadow9d9Sorcerer Apprentice
Posts : 295
Joined: 17 JUN 2006
Status : Offline | I don't buy games with DRM, which is why I had to pass on this game.
Disclaimer:&&&&Please do not take my opinions personally. I have strong opinions that may differ harshly with other popular opinions. I also have a rather direct way of expressing them. Keep this in mind when reading and do not get upset!
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| 13 DEC 2009 at 4:08pm |
Jenny100Guild Master
Posts : 3510
Joined: 12 OCT 2002
Status : Offline | This thread confuses me.
DRM is a separate thing from download versions.
As someone mentioned, GOG downloads have no DRM.
And boxed versions can have DRM which is restrictive enough to keep some people from being able to play the game at all. Buying a boxed game does not ensure that you have a DRM-free game -- and the DRM can be bad enough that it causes game bugs even if it does play.
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| 13 DEC 2009 at 4:53pm |
AlienBZJourneyman
Posts : 877
Joined: 14 JAN 2008
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By Jenny100 (13 DEC 2009 4:08pm)
And boxed versions can have DRM which is restrictive enough to keep some people from being able to play the game at all. Buying a boxed game does not ensure that you have a DRM-free game -- and the DRM can be bad enough that it causes game bugs even if it does play.
I didn't know this - I thought all boxed copies were DRM free.
Originally Posted By TheTraveler (9 DEC 2009 6:24pm)
I'm 100% with Inland there. I too, like to spread my games over a few computers, and I'm sorry, 3 activations simply does not cut it with me.
I agree with both you, Traveler and you, Inland - shall we boycott games like Yoomurjak's Ring?
Happily, on a final note, I've just checked a review for London CITY 2000 (which Jenny100 found for me on ebay in late Oct. '09 which I bought) that London CITY 2000 is a FMV game, it's an AG, so this will replace Yoomurjak's Ring in my life
Doin' Warp 9 to the Great Kingdom of Adventure Games of Outer Space
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