CTD

[norb]

It's our activation dll. It causes issues because it's encrypted and virus scanners don't like it. We actually got them to do a version that's a little less bad to most detectors just for us. Less false positives, glad your playing now.

[Franciscus]

Thanks norb. I already reported the issue on F-secure board; I feel it's mainly their responsability (job) to avoid this things. Although, of course, for security reasons it's better to have false positives than false negatives.
Nevertheless, norb, now that more than a year passed, do you really think your activation scheme was a good idea ? If I was a new customer that had just downloaded the demo and got a CTD, I would not buy your game. I know a lot of players, namely on the AACW Ageod forum, that although enthusiastic ACW buffs, have decided to not touch SOW just because of it (although I have tried many times to tell them it's no big deal).
I fear this "activation" has made you lose many buyers...

Regards

[JC Edwards]

Thanks norb. I already reported the issue on F-secure board; I feel it's mainly their responsability (job) to avoid this things. Although, of course, for security reasons it's better to have false positives than false negatives.
Nevertheless, norb, now that more than a year passed, do you really think your activation scheme was a good idea ? If I was a new customer that had just downloaded the demo and got a CTD, I would not buy your game. I know a lot of players, namely on the AACW Ageod forum, that although enthusiastic ACW buffs, have decided to not touch SOW just because of it (although I have tried many times to tell me it's no big deal).
I fear this "activation" has made you lose many buyers...

Regares

My response to this would be "NOTHING is Perfect" - and please, no disrespect to you Franciscus -
The "virtual" world as we know it is a tricky one. There's always going to be "something".

I would like to believe that the players you know, would know this. I've seen the AGEOD games and they cannot even compare to this one (or TC2M for that matter).....especially in terms of game-play.
Yet, as I stated, NOTHING is Perfect....all one (or a Team) can do is create something "the best as possible".....and I feel that's all anyone can, or could, really ask for.

kindest regards

The Mad One

[Franciscus]

Nothing is perfect but anything can be improved..
Bottom line is: I am sure Norb wants to sell games. I am pretty sure no one bought the game because of the activation scheme, but I know people that did NOT buy the game because of it.

[norb]

Nothing is perfect but anything can be improved..
Bottom line is: I am sure Norb wants to sell games. I am pretty sure no one bought the game because of the activation scheme, but I know people that did NOT buy the game because of it.

Most games are protected. I do think it's a very good idea to protect your work in some manner. I've never seen any person that puts years of their free time into development of a game, complain about the concept of DRM. It's just a small loud minority that complains very loudly, but you can play very few games without using some form of DRM today. We have made it as easy as possible. Easier than most. You lose customers for all types of things and IMO, those people are just looking for an excuse not to buy. If it wasn't the DRM, it would be something else.

We are independent, so we run it like we want to run it. It's our work, our time, and our decision. We discuss every issue, it's a group decision. When we are done messing with it or supporting it, we'll remove the drm as we have stated in the past. But as long as the entire team is out here on the boards, trying to make sure to answer every question and research every bug, we would like a minor bit of assurance that most of our time is spent supporting paying customers.

[Franciscus]

I am a paying customer. In fact I bought the game on day 1.
I only wish there were more like me. Not for my personal benefit - I am not even a multiplayer - but because I wish you the best sucess.
If you are happy with the results of your DRM, fine by me.
I just hope you continue to make great games, for our pleasure.

Regards