[quote]could you elaborate on this. all i really want to be able to keep an archive copy of a patch, is this possible using impulse?[/quote] You can't create an archived copy of a specific patch. But you can make an archive of the current version. It can be useful to create an archiving before updating, especially if if is a beta update ;)
[quote]in selling your retail boxed product without any clear warnings that its not an offline product.[/quote] Well, it is an offline product: - are you required to activate the game with an internet connexion when installing it from the retail DVD? no - are you required to have an internet connexion active for starting the game or playing the game? no - can you install the game on a non connected internet computer and play it? yes So explain m
[quote]What I'm trying to point out is that Impulse, in and of itself, is a customer "lock-in" tool.Evidence for this includes, but is not limited to: 1) a built-in store, which CANNOT BE REMOVED, 2) Impulse-exclusive "deals" (such as exclusive distribution of patches, which forces customers to either get "hooked" to Impulse or lose support for their games), 3) built-in "Impulse community" which cannot be removed (while not intrinsically bad, this is designed to make l
[quote]The fact that you seem to find it acceptable that you dictate what programs I install on my PC in order to use your product for reasons not related to technical functionality makes you equally as evil as DRM.[/quote] Well, Impulse isn't required to PLAY (aka use) SoaSE (aka the product). It is just required for patching the game. And you aren't required to patch the game. And I suppose that allowing your PC to download only the required files to patch your game instead of a wh
[quote]Option A: Increase Market Share) There are multiple ways to increase market share--make an excellent product, advertise to new customers, and/or bankrupt competitors. Seeing as how advertising to new customers will happen regardless (there are many gaming websites/critics that will do this), and Stardock bankrupting comptetitors is extremely unlikely, Stardock is strongly encouraged to make excellent products in order to make money. Or at least that is the case until you consider Optio
[quote]Impulse.exe is akin to a simple redirect. My interpretation of what the EULA says about the updates is based on reasonable expectations relative to my point of view[/quote] Well, I have opened the file EULA.txt (dated from the beginning of february 2008) , and it has the following in it (which is a bit different from the manual): [quote] ACTIVATION FOR UPDATES Updated versions of the SOFTWARE made available after the release will require
[quote]how do I go onto Stardock to re-download SOASE without having to re-purchase it since this is the SAME computer that I did originally download it onto?[/quote] Have you tried to registering in SDC/Impulse your serial key with your e-mail?
[quote]malice+cleansing brilliance wipes a whole fleet if it is clustered in less than 10 seconds[/quote] That won't be true for 1.05 any longer if you read how the malice ability will handled in the 1.05 preview thread.
[quote]So, by going RA and then scuttling the ships that come in, your economy gets a boost for free. This boost can pay for fleet supply upgrades and other research.[/quote] Perharps that part, ability to get free resources from salvaging RA ships, needs some tweakings.
I see that I have overlooked the combo RA + Salvage as a way to get freely credits and ressources.
[quote]I bought the game from ebay! this is a pain in the butt. curse you stardock[/quote] If it is a second hand copy, with an already registred serial id, I fear that you won't be able to register your game. If you have read the EULA, you will know that the serial Id can't be sold to another user.
[quote]the better question may be: how does one defeat RA in full swing?[/quote] Well, for defeating Ra, one must first idenitify the RA weakness. The RA requires lots of fleet logistics to be really useful which translate into high maintenance costs, and as stated, phase jumps. So deafeating RA in full swing will surely requires targeting specifically the phase jumps and the various ressources extractors to cripple its economy: you can't win a direct confrontation with
[quote]I fail to understand how the mini expansion packs have any relevance to this thread, though.[/quote] I guess it is linked with the fact that consumers, if they are vocal enough, can change what developpers/publishers are ready to do. When they want to put an horrible DRM scheme, it is a good thing. But it may not be a good thing if they prevent some developments that others customers may want. I think frogboy has the following articles in mind <A href="http://draginol.joe
[quote]I did put the whole fleet on "All-auto-attacking", but they still dont follow.[/quote] Probably a stupid question, but what is the fleet grouping option for jumping?
[quote]If I've paid for a product, I expect to be able to use it whenever and wherever I wish without having to jump through hoops. Can someone please hurry up and come up with a genius copy protection scheme that lets me do that![/quote] GC2 activation, maybe ?
[quote]but I also believe that pirates cost a company a lot less than they make it out to be.[/quote] I am wondering about the costs associated with a copy protection scheme: How many copys must be sold to break even the costs of licensing/installing/supporting a specific protection scheme.
[quote]its not doubtful, im in negotiations with the Manager of Kalypso.[/quote] He might be interested to know that there is an unofficial french version made by people at http://trans-galactique.forum2jeux.com/
Is Kalypso correctly aware that the anti piracy protection consists in lots of updates? Given the european release date, I guess there won't be any localized version for that date.
[quote]Are you sure those aren't integrated versions? I bought a copy of GC2 at a local games store, then later GC2:DA but my copy of Dark Avatar was a complete one... I've never seen just the expansion on the shelves personally.[/quote] GC2:gold containt GC2:DL (the base game) and GC2:DA (the first expansion). The only versions available in retail stores are GC2:DL and GC2:gold. And you can't play DA if you don't have GC2:DL.
[quote]I've never played GCII but am interested in the latest expansion of it. Do I need the base GCII before I can install the expansion, or is it standalone?I'm guessing it's standalone because Stardock is too smart to do something like that wrong based on how they released Sins, but I wanted to ask before I purchased it.[/quote] Well, if you look here, http://totalgaming.stardock.com/games/?id=gc2ta , you will see
Well, the article on gamasutra http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=18124 is very interesting
[quote]@Novaburst: "the 4x MoMish spiritual successor"really? Stardock are working on one? Oh my oh my oh my oh my.[/quote] Well, take a look here http://draginol.joeuser.com/article/301358/The_Hot_Project_List_at_Stardock at the end of the "my games" section.
[quote]Is there a way to roll back to 1.02?[/quote] Only if you have configured SDC to archive before updating ....
If you have a good broadband connexion, you could use the serial id/cd Key to download and install the whole game with Stardock Central.
[quote]does the download work ok? is it just a straight download or do i need more software? this is for the uk./quote] Buying the download version from Stardock is the same for all countries. You must install Stardock Central to download the game you have purchased.
