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Forge of Freedom - Invalid serial key when trying to patch

 
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Forge of Freedom - Invalid serial key when trying to patch - 1/3/2009 10:25:50 AM   
Malte279

 

Posts: 9
Joined: 9/16/2008
Status: offline 		Hi,
I'm aware that this might not be the section of choice for this question, but I was told that it might be overlooked easily in the section where it belongs and where I posted the following message originally:

Hello,
on September 16th I purchased Forge of Freedom as a download from Metaboli Games. Along with the download file I received an order number and a "multiplayer key".
The later enabled me to install the game properly, but whenever I try to install the newest patch for the game (which according to internet reviews is to fix a couple of bugs I have already encountered in the game) the entering of that "multiplayer key" will just give me a note that the key is invalid and the patch can't be installed.
Ever since I have been exchanging emails with metaboli and playhistory.net
Who suggested that the latest patch might not be working for the downloadable version of the game and promised that there would be a new patch developed by their packaging department that would work with downloadable version of the game. So far nothing has been developed and I doubt it will, the much the more as I haven't seen anyone else with the same problem (so I suppose it might not be the patch itself after all that is causing the problem).
In the last mail I received from a worker at metaboli he suggested me to turn to this forum and ask if I could have my key replaced to see if the newest patch can be used with a different key.

I really think Forge of Freedom would be a truly awesome game for me if it wasn't for those bugs (e.g. Units just mysteriously vanishing from the turn based battlefields even though they were not anywhere near any combat or routed units at all, or even if they were surrounded so they should have surrendered rather than vanishing into thin air) which I hope would be solved by the most recent patch. Please let me know if this problem occurred before and if there is any way to mend it.

PS: I'm using Windows Vista and don't know if this might have anything to do with the problem.
Post #: 1
RE: Forge of Freedom - Invalid serial key when trying t... - 1/3/2009 10:49:30 AM   
BASB


Posts: 1178
Joined: 2/14/2005
Status: offline 		G'day malte, I not aware of the company u have d\l your copy from, however for the quickest reply u should post in the FOF forum. Someone like Gil will be able to help for sure. I am uncertain if all patches are compatible so I won't make any comment on your problem. a response from developers may take some time due to the Festive season, but hang in there I'm sure your issue can be resolved
Ron


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(in reply to Malte279)
Post #: 2
RE: Forge of Freedom - Invalid serial key when trying t... - 1/3/2009 3:02:56 PM   
Lützow


Posts: 1414
Joined: 7/22/2008
From: Germany
Status: offline 		I suspect that metaboli and matrix version of FoF are not interoperable.

(in reply to BASB)
Post #: 3
RE: Forge of Freedom - Invalid serial key when trying t... - 1/3/2009 4:53:41 PM   
Hertston


Posts: 3296
Joined: 8/17/2002
From: Cornwall, UK
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Lützow

I suspect that metaboli and matrix version of FoF are not interoperable.


Sounds that way. Matrix/DR have a particular format for the serial number for all their games (which is required on install, not a 'multiplayer key'); the Metaboli distribution may even have been arranged direct with Western Civilization and have nothing to do with them. This sort of thing is becoming more frequent as games get sold by multiple digital distributors.

< Message edited by Hertston -- 1/3/2009 4:54:50 PM >

(in reply to Lützow)
Post #: 4
RE: Forge of Freedom - Invalid serial key when trying t... - 1/3/2009 6:09:20 PM   
Malte279

 

Posts: 9
Joined: 9/16/2008
Status: offline 		Thank you for your responses,
quote:

G'day malte, I not aware of the company u have d\l your copy from, however for the quickest reply u should post in the FOF forum. Someone like Gil will be able to help for sure.
I posted the same message in the FOF Forum before I posted it here. Gil recommended me to post the message in the general discussion as well as it would be more likely to be noticed by members of the Matrix staff in this section.
I had been exchanging mails with a workers of Metaboli ever since I bought the game and they had, in the end, suggested me to post here. The installation of the game was working without any problem. Is there anything that can be done about it?

(in reply to Hertston)
Post #: 5
RE: Forge of Freedom - Invalid serial key when trying t... - 1/3/2009 6:38:14 PM   
Lützow


Posts: 1414
Joined: 7/22/2008
From: Germany
Status: offline 		Well, I know Metaboli as German publisher/distributor, selling licensed titles by using his own DRM scheme. Guess the only thing you could do is asking if their FoF is identical with the genuine version or hoping that Gil R. finds a solution. If he can't help you, nobody else here can.

Having said that, I'd take it as a lesson for the future to not purchase games from Metaboli anymore.

(in reply to Malte279)
Post #: 6
RE: Forge of Freedom - Invalid serial key when trying t... - 1/3/2009 7:14:06 PM   
KHawk

 

Posts: 50
Joined: 7/3/2004
Status: offline 		Malte279,
 
Give this a try.  Go to your directory for Forage of Freedom it should look something like this
C:\Matrix Games\forage of freedom
See if you can find a file called “serialreg.txt” and open it with notepad.  You can do this by right clicking on the file name go to OPEN WITH and then select NOTEPAD.
Your Matrix serial number should be there.  If it is give that number a try when the update procedure asks for a serial number.

KHawk

(in reply to Lützow)
Post #: 7
RE: Forge of Freedom - Invalid serial key when trying t... - 1/6/2009 8:40:17 AM   
killroyishere

 

Posts: 639
Joined: 4/23/2008
Status: offline 		I got my Matrixgames serial numbers and order number in email. I quickly copied and pasted them to notepad for easy access to copy and paste when installing the games as well as the patches. I do find it annoyingly strange that one has to re-input the serial numbers everytime one does a patch update though.

(in reply to KHawk)
Post #: 8
RE: Forge of Freedom - Invalid serial key when trying t... - 1/6/2009 9:35:09 AM   
Jim_H


Posts: 875
Joined: 2/12/2005
From: West Yorkshire, England
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: killroyishere

I got my Matrixgames serial numbers and order number in email. I quickly copied and pasted them to notepad for easy access to copy and paste when installing the games as well as the patches. I do find it annoyingly strange that one has to re-input the serial numbers everytime one does a patch update though.


From what I read in another thread somewhere, they do this to prevent people who use pirated copies of the games from patching them. The serial numbers released with the pirated copies get blacklisted and so patching stops working. Makes perfect sense to me. Copying and pasting a serial number is a lot less hassle than 99% DRM on the market and partly why many people support Matrix over other publishers. Try online activation or limited number of installs with some games and you'll change your mind about this method.

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Post #: 9
RE: Forge of Freedom - Invalid serial key when trying t... - 1/6/2009 12:25:47 PM   
apathetic lurker

 

Posts: 1342
Joined: 3/1/2006
From: Buffalo,ny
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Jim_H


quote:

ORIGINAL: killroyishere

I got my Matrixgames serial numbers and order number in email. I quickly copied and pasted them to notepad for easy access to copy and paste when installing the games as well as the patches. I do find it annoyingly strange that one has to re-input the serial numbers everytime one does a patch update though.


From what I read in another thread somewhere, they do this to prevent people who use pirated copies of the games from patching them. The serial numbers released with the pirated copies get blacklisted and so patching stops working. Makes perfect sense to me. Copying and pasting a serial number is a lot less hassle than 99% DRM on the market and partly why many people support Matrix over other publishers. Try online activation or limited number of installs with some games and you'll change your mind about this method.


Hell, I find it annoying too but will continue supporting this method as it makes sense for Matrix and the customers..Better this than any limited install DRM poop...

(in reply to Jim_H)
Post #: 10
RE: Forge of Freedom - Invalid serial key when trying t... - 1/6/2009 12:49:54 PM   
Erik Rutins

 

Posts: 31232
Joined: 3/28/2000
From: Vermont, USA
Status: offline 		Who exactly are Metaboli games? Can you send me a link?

When we partner with people (and I don't recall these) we do the installers ourselves.

The only reason I can think of that an update wouldn't install is if your game is a later already updated full installer with an additional serial number that didn't exist when the update was first created. Check the version number in your game and compare it to the update.

Please also e-mail me at erikr@matrixgames.com with a link to Metaboli and your serial number and I'll check it out on our end.

Regards,

- Erik

_____________________________

Erik Rutins
Director of Product Development and Business Relations


For official support, please use our Help Desk: http://www.matrixgames.com/helpdesk/

Freedom is not Free.

(in reply to apathetic lurker)
Post #: 11
RE: Forge of Freedom - Invalid serial key when trying t... - 1/11/2009 2:37:33 PM   
Malte279

 

Posts: 9
Joined: 9/16/2008
Status: offline 		I'm sorry about my late response. I did not have internet access for a few days.
quote:

Malte279,

Give this a try. Go to your directory for Forage of Freedom it should look something like this
C:\Matrix Games\forage of freedom
See if you can find a file called “serialreg.txt” and open it with notepad. You can do this by right clicking on the file name go to OPEN WITH and then select NOTEPAD.
Your Matrix serial number should be there. If it is give that number a try when the update procedure asks for a serial number.

KHawk

Thank you for your help.
However, the number in the file is identical with the one I recieved from Metaboli. It works fine for the installation of the game, but will open up an "Invalid Serial Number" window if used in the attempt to get the last patch installed.
quote:

Who exactly are Metaboli games? Can you send me a link?

Sure, here is their main page: http://www.metaboli.co.uk/
quote:


The only reason I can think of that an update wouldn't install is if your game is a later already updated full installer with an additional serial number that didn't exist when the update was first created. Check the version number in your game and compare it to the update.
The version of the game that is running on my computer is version 1.10.5 while the Patch would be version 1.10.10 (this is the latest patch released so far, isn't it?). I also tried installing the older patches 1.2.3 and 1.9.23, but in both cases I got the same window saying "Invalid Serial Number".
quote:

Please also e-mail me at erikr@matrixgames.com with a link to Metaboli and your serial number and I'll check it out on our end.
Thank you very much
I will send you the mail right away.

(in reply to Erik Rutins)
Post #: 12
RE: Forge of Freedom - Invalid serial key when trying t... - 1/11/2009 3:12:15 PM   
Erik Rutins

 

Posts: 31232
Joined: 3/28/2000
From: Vermont, USA
Status: offline 		Hello,

Unfortunately, that's what I was afraid of. No one has a license to sell download versions of Forge of Freedom other than Matrix Games. You've been conned and what you have is an illegal copy. I admit their site sure looks legitimate, but they are not a partner of ours and _no other company_ worldwide has rights to sell download versions of our games. There are some companies allowed to sell physical boxed versions of a few of our games that went to retail releases and a few trusted resellers like NWS who also have boxed copies, that's it.

The reason the updates won't work on it is that we periodically blacklist serial numbers that are known to have been pirated. We don't support pirated copies, I suggest you purchase a legal copy from our store if you enjoy the game as neither we nor the developers got any money from your prior purchase.

On a side note, thanks for calling our attention to this Metaboli site, we will be contacting them immediately.

Regards,

- Erik

< Message edited by Erik Rutins -- 1/11/2009 3:16:14 PM >

_____________________________

Erik Rutins
Director of Product Development and Business Relations


For official support, please use our Help Desk: http://www.matrixgames.com/helpdesk/

Freedom is not Free.

(in reply to Malte279)
Post #: 13
RE: Forge of Freedom - Invalid serial key when trying t... - 1/11/2009 3:56:40 PM   
JudgeDredd


Posts: 8341
Joined: 11/14/2003
From: Scotland
Status: offline 		I cannot see Forge of Freedom on there. I do, however, see Hired Guns JA...are they allowed to sell that?

I cam across this site once when it seemed the only place I could get a game (outside of America)...As soon as I saw the monthly charge, I left!

(in reply to Erik Rutins)
Post #: 14
RE: Forge of Freedom - Invalid serial key when trying t... - 1/11/2009 4:39:05 PM   
Greybriar


Posts: 527
Joined: 2/9/2007
Status: offline 		Go after them, Erik! Make them pay!

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(in reply to Malte279)
Post #: 15
RE: Forge of Freedom - Invalid serial key when trying t... - 1/11/2009 4:42:01 PM   
Malte279

 

Posts: 9
Joined: 9/16/2008
Status: offline 		They did offer Forge of Freedom back in September (I purchased it there on the 16th).
I'm sure there must be some misunderstanding, for it were members of Metaboli who, after they couldn't solve the problem, recommended me to ask for help here. I doubt they would do that if they were aware of anything illegal about their business. In any case I will contact them as well. Should there be anything illegal about the download they sold this may be a legal case rather than a patch problem.

(in reply to JudgeDredd)
Post #: 16
RE: Forge of Freedom - Invalid serial key when trying t... - 1/11/2009 5:11:04 PM   
Malte279

 

Posts: 9
Joined: 9/16/2008
Status: offline 		I had contacted two workers of Metaboli about the game who should therefore be able to explain to answer questions (just to prevent any false impression I do not WANT a pirated copy and never thought the download I purchased for $49.99 to be anything but perfectly legal). I am going to send you their email addresses Erik.

(in reply to Malte279)
Post #: 17
RE: Forge of Freedom - Invalid serial key when trying t... - 1/11/2009 5:28:04 PM   
Erik Rutins

 

Posts: 31232
Joined: 3/28/2000
From: Vermont, USA
Status: offline 		Thanks, got your e-mail. I will contact them and find out what's going on. It certainly does seem odd that anyone selling our games illegally would send you to us for support. However, I'm sure that no one else has the rights to sell download versions of our games.

Regards,

- Erik

_____________________________

Erik Rutins
Director of Product Development and Business Relations


For official support, please use our Help Desk: http://www.matrixgames.com/helpdesk/

Freedom is not Free.

(in reply to Malte279)
Post #: 18
RE: Forge of Freedom - Invalid serial key when trying t... - 1/12/2009 2:25:00 AM   
Gil R.


Posts: 9560
Joined: 4/1/2005
Status: offline 		Erik, several months ago there was an Italian company that was in touch with me and then Sean about the possibility of selling FOF. Any chance these are the guys? Last I heard nothing was agreed upon, but maybe...

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Post #: 19
RE: Forge of Freedom - Invalid serial key when trying t... - 1/13/2009 4:04:15 AM   
madgamer2

 

Posts: 1235
Joined: 11/24/2004
Status: offline 		Why oh why did you buy the game from this of the wall place? Was it to save a couple of bucks? I would suggest you order the game from Matrix directly this time. if you just get the download version then copy the download install file to a CD or put it somewhere in a folder. It sound to me like this copy you bought is not the same as Matrix would have sold you.

Madgamer

(in reply to Malte279)
Post #: 20
RE: Forge of Freedom - Invalid serial key when trying t... - 1/13/2009 9:21:43 AM   
Malte279

 

Posts: 9
Joined: 9/16/2008
Status: offline
quote:

Why oh why did you buy the game from this of the wall place? Was it to save a couple of bucks?
Now please don't act like I had been doing anything stupid or penny-pinching or the like.
The page just showed up when I googled Forge of Freedom and their page sure does legitimate (Erik's words). I don't know, but I don't think the download would have been considerably more expensive than $49.99 elsewhere, or would it?
When I asked there for support when I realized the patch wasn't working I got immediate responses and by the whole sound of it it seemed to be a normal decent company. They actually sent me here after they didn't figure anything out about why the patch didn't work (not too likely for a crook to tell the one who is unaware of having been hoodwinked where to go to discover that he has been hoodwinked).
I'm still waiting for their response to a mail I sent them asking for explanation.

< Message edited by Malte279 -- 1/13/2009 9:22:41 AM >

(in reply to madgamer2)
Post #: 21
RE: Forge of Freedom - Invalid serial key when trying t... - 1/13/2009 12:18:58 PM   
apathetic lurker

 

Posts: 1342
Joined: 3/1/2006
From: Buffalo,ny
Status: offline 		I think its possible that they(Metaboli) were hoodwinked by someone using them  as middlemen to sell bad copies of FoF... That said, use only Matrix or NWS for your purchases..Keeps trouble like this at arm's length......

(in reply to Malte279)
Post #: 22
RE: Forge of Freedom - Invalid serial key when trying t... - 1/13/2009 12:21:23 PM   
sterckxe


Posts: 4593
Joined: 3/30/2004
From: Flanders
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: apathetic lurker
I think its possible that they(Metaboli) were hoodwinked by someone using them  as middlemen to sell bad copies of FoF... That said, use only Matrix or NWS for your purchases..Keeps trouble like this at arm's length......


It would be helpful if Matrix had a list of approved re-sellers on their website somewhere.

Greetz,

Eddy Sterckx

(in reply to apathetic lurker)
Post #: 23
RE: Forge of Freedom - Invalid serial key when trying t... - 1/13/2009 5:04:13 PM   
madgamer2

 

Posts: 1235
Joined: 11/24/2004
Status: offline 		If I had a dime for every time I did something that messed up my computer and did not have a clue as to what I did.......well I would have tons of money. The whole situation you describe is unreal. I mean they tell you to contact Matrix for help? I did not mean to imply you did something stupid because I am one of the biggest impulse buyers of the 21st. century.
One idea is you could send the game and/or copies of the order to Matrix which might help determine if the CD and game are the real thing. It must be a big frustration spending the bucks and then having this happen to you.
Maybe Eric will be able to shed some light on this. It was the right thing to do when you contacted this forum and I wish you luck in getting a solution.

Madgamer

(in reply to Malte279)
Post #: 24
RE: Forge of Freedom - Invalid serial key when trying t... - 1/13/2009 5:10:23 PM   
Malte279

 

Posts: 9
Joined: 9/16/2008
Status: offline 		Hello,
I received two emails from two Metaboli workers whom I contacted about the whole matter I'm quoting the first mail:
quote:

Hi Malte,



First of all we want to reassure you that we are a real company, well known in Europe and that you were not conned. Mr. Eric Rutins will be shortly contacted by our VP content - Co-founder to clarify the whole matter, as this is obviously getting uncomfortable for everyone.

We suggest sending Mr. Rutins this link, where you have probably purchased the game (please correct me if I am mistaken): http://www.playhistory.net/product.php?id_product=50

This is the proof we have a legitimate partnership and we are selling a legitimate copy of this game.

We will not debate further the statements of Mr. Rutins for the moment, we hope this might help to shed some light on this issue.



Please excuse us for the delay of our answer.



Regards,


It is true that the page the link of which was in this mail was really the actual page from where I ordered the game (Playhistory etc.).
This sure doesn't sound like any kind of fraud to me; I suppose this is more likely to be some kind of misunderstanding.
The second email I received reads:
quote:

Hi Malte,



I just read all the forum and the e-mail. I can ensure you that we are allowed to sell digital copies of matrix games. I send this e-mail to our company director, in order to have more exhaustive explanations about this issue.



Regards,

Andrea

(in reply to sterckxe)
Post #: 25
RE: Forge of Freedom - Invalid serial key when trying t... - 1/13/2009 5:15:03 PM   
Malte279

 

Posts: 9
Joined: 9/16/2008
Status: offline
quote:

One idea is you could send the game and/or copies of the order to Matrix which might help determine if the CD and game are the real thing. It must be a big frustration spending the bucks and then having this happen to you.
Maybe Eric will be able to shed some light on this. It was the right thing to do when you contacted this forum and I wish you luck in getting a solution.
Thank you.
As for the CD, I never received any. It was a download only purchase. I did send the key to Erik already. If this is of any help at all I also have the mail with the download link.

(in reply to Malte279)
Post #: 26
RE: Forge of Freedom - Invalid serial key when trying t... - 1/13/2009 6:15:05 PM   
madgamer2

 

Posts: 1235
Joined: 11/24/2004
Status: offline 		I have been following this thread and I still have a hard time in believing something like this can happen. I mean I have read many different things that have happened to folks and Matrix has always gone that extra mile for there customers.
This is by far the strangest thing I have read here. Perhaps the good thing is that if it has a legal right to sell Matrix games then there must be some kind of computer mix up or something that is real bizarre. I can't wait to see the resolution of this mess. Keep us posted.

Madgamer

(in reply to Malte279)
Post #: 27
RE: Forge of Freedom - Invalid serial key when trying t... - 1/13/2009 6:46:33 PM   
Joram

 

Posts: 3193
Joined: 7/15/2005
Status: offline 		Yup, while this thread is specific to FoF, it does seem they have a wide dearth of Matrix products. Obviously some connection was lost somewhere!

(in reply to madgamer2)
Post #: 28
RE: Forge of Freedom - Invalid serial key when trying t... - 1/13/2009 7:21:52 PM   
Erik Rutins

 

Posts: 31232
Joined: 3/28/2000
From: Vermont, USA
Status: offline 		Locking this thread as there's no point to debating this publicly. I'm sure there's some kind of mix-up. Slitherine are good partners of ours, but I still have no idea who Metaboli is. I've handed this off to Dave at this point as the serial number came from a group that was created while I was away from Matrix due to my son being born. My assumption is there was some kind of deal I'm not aware of, suggest you let us work this out though it may take a few more days, then we'll contact you with more info.

Regards,

- Erik

_____________________________

Erik Rutins
Director of Product Development and Business Relations


For official support, please use our Help Desk: http://www.matrixgames.com/helpdesk/

Freedom is not Free.

(in reply to Joram)
Post #: 29
RE: Forge of Freedom - Invalid serial key when trying t... - 1/15/2009 1:26:32 PM   
Erik Rutins

 

Posts: 31232
Joined: 3/28/2000
From: Vermont, USA
Status: offline 		Well, this seems to have been some kind of simple misunderstanding. I was out for several months after my son was born and apparently I was out of the loop on one arrangement that was made with PlayHistory for FOF and a few other games. I'm having this all explained to me know, but the upshot is that you do not have an illegal copy, my apologies for any distress I caused by my earlier certainty (based on what I knew then, I was right, but actually I was wrong, sorry!). As soon as I'm fully briefed, I'll post a more full explanation.

In the meantime, we're working to add your serial number and the others from that pool to the latest update so that we can reupload that for your use.

_____________________________

Erik Rutins
Director of Product Development and Business Relations


For official support, please use our Help Desk: http://www.matrixgames.com/helpdesk/

Freedom is not Free.

(in reply to Erik Rutins)
Post #: 30
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