Digital Download?...maybe

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madgamer2
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Digital Download?...maybe

Post by madgamer2 »

OK here we are in the 21 Century....no more going to the store...no more worry about a game selling out before you get there. Now we just download it. Well the ONLY place I do digital is Matrix.
Let me tell you a little story. I wanted to buy ROTK 11 from Koei for the PC and had two choices. I do not like Direct2drive that much so I tried the other one and when I saw the Download manager they used I got a refund. So with a deep breath i tried direct2drive and the game did download and I paid for it.
Some weeks later I had a new HDD installed and had to reinstall the game. When it finished it wanted to verify I was a real user. It turns out they send a message saying they can't find my order info that I could find by going ton there web site. Finally they say that the new license number is being sent. I wait.....and wait.....and wait....and wait....till I finally email them and they have no solution so I demand a refund and get one.
At this point I have no ROTK 11 game and am not happy. I am lucky however as I get a friend who lives in the UK and is a member of a on line group that I am to buy the cd with case and manual at the amazon UK web site. I wire him the money with a little extra and he sends me the game.
The point of all this is digital download is fine from a proven source such as Matrix. I for one prefer to have a hard copy of a game but it seems like the I want it now mind set is here to stay. If I have to wait a couple of weeks thats fine. I like the digital from Matrix as no disk in drive is needed to play. So beware not all digital download's are the same.

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JudgeDredd
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RE: Digital Download?...maybe

Post by JudgeDredd »

I'll add if I may with an experience I have come across no more than 10 minutes ago.

I bought Armed Assault in December 2006. I bought it as Digital Download through something called SprocketIdea or Softwrap...both have a hand in this and I am not sure of the relevance of either...I do recall having a mare of an installation (3 activations and one of those was used to patch the game!)

Anyway with Armed Assault 2 on the horizon, I thought I would install it again. I got the exe I downloaded and ran it. It installed fine. When I tried to start the game, it gave me an interface to Buy the game or activate a licence. I choose to activate the licence knowing it had already been registered. I was then asked to enter my Purchase IS and Reference ID. I did so from the email I received from the company. It then stated that it didn't recognise the activation code. So I entered the details again and tried again...same thing.

I then choose the option "I forgot my details" and entered my email address. The game then told me my purchase details had been sent to that address. When I looked, sure enough a new mail had arrived. I checked the details and, as I thought, they were identical to what I had just entered. So I tried anyway...why not! Same problem...activation code not recognised.

Unbelievable! I should have known this would happen. I had an activations issue when I first received the game, used one activation on a bogus install, the second on the proper install, the third on the patch install and then promptly found I had ran out of installs. I had also had a problem in 2008 when I tried to install the game and had to re-download using the sprocket downloader...only this time the URL wasn't becoming available...had to contact support again. Now this.

Now, I have been naive in the past, but I have very much had the last straw with limited, online activations. I have managed (and I am very proud of myself for doing so) to steer clear of Theatre of War 2 because of Battlefronts activation policy (and it does hurt me...because I do like Battlefront) and I will do the same with Armed Assault 2 - if it has limited activations or online activations or both, they can kiss my funds goodbye.

It took me a while, but I eventually wised up and thought "You know what...I really don't have to jump through hoops to play a good game".

I have plenty on my hard drive, all great games and most from Matrix. [&o]
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sapper_astro
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RE: Digital Download?...maybe

Post by sapper_astro »

Same story here. Every other place I have downloaded the game, it requires the same old rubbish as when I buy it in the box; online activation/other hurdles. I haven't bought a game that requires this for just over a year now, and I am not going to start again. I want to own the thing now, and into the future.

As a quick example, let us say you wanted to play an old wargame from 1990. Who do we have left? hmm.....SSG! Yes, we have one company left! The rest, soon as you tried to install, would tell you that things do not compute/etc. I have already discussed this with another Matrixer who also plays old games, so it seems things are (slowly) making some headway.

Actually, there is one other place. Good old Games. I have been fine with them, and (at least there wasn't a few months ago!) online activation. The game is yours after download.
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Lützow
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RE: Digital Download?...maybe

Post by Lützow »

GamersGate doesn't require online activations either. But they don't let you make installation disks from downloaded files.
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RE: Digital Download?...maybe

Post by Arsan »

I really like the direct download for buying games.
But the "no hassles, no activations no download managers, no restrictions" way of DD.
You pay for your game, and you download your "full" game ready to install and play when and where you want and that allow you to make backups of it... As its "your" game after all [;)]

Of these "no hassle" DD options i know...
- Matrixgames shop
- Ageod games shop
- Gog.com shop (Good old Games)

Three excellent places to buy! [&o]

I try to don't buy in any other kind of DD places. The only exception i have made (and i'm not proud of it [:D]) is Stardock and his Impulse thing for the Galactic Civilization 2 games.
For now it seems to work Ok, but i'm sure that if they go out of business sometime in the future my games will be lost forever [:-]
Instead, i know my Matrix, AGEOD and Gog games are safelly stored with two backups (DVD-R and removable hard disk) for me to play and install when i want to [:)]

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Perturabo
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RE: Digital Download?...maybe

Post by Perturabo »

Does anyone know if Gog games can be played on win98?
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RE: Digital Download?...maybe

Post by Yogi the Great »

1)  I'm old fashioned, so I prefer the "hard" copy of games.  I do like the ability to download updates and "fixes" over the Internet once you have purchased a game.  One gripe I have (again old fashioned) I think too many games are rushed out with too many bugs.  The original version (hard copy or download) should be a fnal product in playable condition, the companies seem to almost feel that they can just issue the fixes and/or enhancements later and not worry about it.
 
2)  Another reason I like hard copies:  I'm still on dial up at home.  Download can be near impossible and even if it can be done the time required is prohibitive.
 
3)  I don't like a new "Trend?" such as the new Empire Total War where you have to activate and use online systems to even play the game.  I am a guarenteed no purchase customer for games such as this, even though I have the rest of the series and this would have been a must buy for me otherwise.
 
 
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RE: Digital Download?...maybe

Post by Perturabo »

ORIGINAL: Yogi the Great

1) I'm old fashioned, so I prefer the "hard" copy of games.
Yeah, somehow buying "hard" copies is more satisfying. Especially if they have a big pretty box and a few hundred page manual *drools*.
Though, I prefer digital download when there's no good box and manual in physical version.
It would be nice if there were full re-editions of games like Fallout and Baldur's Gate with a full box, manual and other bonus stuff.
ORIGINAL: Yogi the Great

One gripe I have (again old fashioned) I think too many games are rushed out with too many bugs. The original version (hard copy or download) should be a fnal product in playable condition, the companies seem to almost feel that they can just issue the fixes and/or enhancements later and not worry about it.
I don't think it's old fashioned, especially taking in account that it's not a new problem. Personally, I wonder how they get away with it legally as it breaks customer's rights.
I guess it's a time for a gamers lobby against selling faulty products without informing customer about it.
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RE: Digital Download?...maybe

Post by decaro »

ORIGINAL: Yogi the Great

1)  I'm old fashioned, so I prefer the "hard" copy of games.  I do like the ability to download updates and "fixes" over the Internet once you have purchased a game ...

2)  Another reason I like hard copies:  I'm still on dial up at home.  Download can be near impossible and even if it can be done the time required is prohibitive.

3)  I don't like a new "Trend?" such as the new Empire Total War where you have to activate and use online systems to even play the game ...

Ditto: same here re points #1 and 2: I also prefer to both edit and read HC.
However, on-line activation isn't a deal-breaker; it's more of an annoyance.
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RE: Digital Download?...maybe

Post by Perturabo »

Annoyances are deal breakers to me. What's the point of buying an entertainment product if it has annoying features which have nothing to do with it's function?
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RE: Digital Download?...maybe

Post by Greybriar »

ORIGINAL: Yogi the Great

1)  I'm old fashioned, so I prefer the "hard" copy of games.  I do like the ability to download updates and "fixes" over the Internet once you have purchased a game.  One gripe I have (again old fashioned) I think too many games are rushed out with too many bugs.  The original version (hard copy or download) should be a fnal product in playable condition, the companies seem to almost feel that they can just issue the fixes and/or enhancements later and not worry about it.

2)  Another reason I like hard copies:  I'm still on dial up at home.  Download can be near impossible and even if it can be done the time required is prohibitive.

3)  I don't like a new "Trend?" such as the new Empire Total War where you have to activate and use online systems to even play the game.  I am a guarenteed no purchase customer for games such as this, even though I have the rest of the series and this would have been a must buy for me otherwise.

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RE: Digital Download?...maybe

Post by Arctic Blast »

For me, the only 'deal breakers' are something like SecuROM installing folders all over the place that stay after I delete the game they came with, registry keys I need extra software to get rid of and the like...and activation limits, which are just inherently stupid. Aside from that, I'm fine.
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RE: Digital Download?...maybe

Post by V22 Osprey »

ORIGINAL: Arctic Blast

For me, the only 'deal breakers' are something like SecuROM installing folders all over the place that stay after I delete the game they came with, registry keys I need extra software to get rid of and the like...and activation limits, which are just inherently stupid. Aside from that, I'm fine.

I remember cleaning out my registry folders from programs that would leave files and folders and when I was done I got nearly a Gig of Hard drive space![X(]
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RE: Digital Download?...maybe

Post by leastonh1 »

The absolute last time I got my fingers burned with online activation was when I bought an addon module for Neverwinter Nights. The module insists on authenticating against the Bioware server BEFORE it will even run. Every single time I run the module to play, I have to wait for it to authenticate. If the Internet is down, the game won't play at all. It's the last time I buy any product with a feature like this. As JD said, this is also the primary reason I won't be buying ToW2 or any other game from Battlefront.
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RE: Digital Download?...maybe

Post by Hertston »

ORIGINAL: Jim_H
The absolute last time I got my fingers burned with online activation was when I bought an addon module for Neverwinter Nights. The module insists on authenticating against the Bioware server BEFORE it will even run. Every single time I run the module to play, I have to wait for it to authenticate. If the Internet is down, the game won't play at all. It's the last time I buy any product with a feature like this. As JD said, this is also the primary reason I won't be buying ToW2 or any other game from Battlefront.

The Battlefront system doesn't have 'a feature like that'. You register online once and that's it unless you need to re-install.
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RE: Digital Download?...maybe

Post by Lützow »

ORIGINAL: Jim_H

As JD said, this is also the primary reason I won't be buying ToW2 or any other game from Battlefront.

Did you try the demo? I ran out of time while still setting up my troops and afterwards deleted this crap from my hard disk. When I hate one thing in strategy games, it's time pressure.

Battlefront is just another publisher who jumped the bandwagon and their last decent title was CM 3.
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RE: Digital Download?...maybe

Post by SS Hauptsturmfuhrer »

Yes time pressure does not make fun in wargames.  What is a ROTK 11?  Rotting Kangaroo?  Eleven rotting kangaroos??   
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RE: Digital Download?...maybe

Post by leastonh1 »

ORIGINAL: Hertston
The Battlefront system doesn't have 'a feature like that'. You register online once and that's it unless you need to re-install.
Sorry, I meant to mention that bit. I know it only connects to register unlike NWN, but even so, if Battlefront decided to drop the game after a few years or disappeared for some reason, the game is unplayable. As a player who still loads very old games from time to time, this isn't acceptable. Some people aren't bothered by it and that's fair enough.

Lützow - I got the demo and was enjoying it to begin with. Then troops began to completely and consistantly ignore orders. Like the infantry squad who ran out of the cover of buildings to take on a tank in the open. They did this several times, against specific orders to stay put and I uninstalled immediately.
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RE: Digital Download?...maybe

Post by JudgeDredd »

ORIGINAL: Jim_H
...Then troops began to completely and consistantly ignore orders. Like the infantry squad who ran out of the cover of buildings to take on a tank in the open. They did this several times, against specific orders to stay put and I uninstalled immediately.
Yep...put me right off too
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RE: Digital Download?...maybe

Post by Arctic Blast »

ORIGINAL: V22 Osprey

ORIGINAL: Arctic Blast

For me, the only 'deal breakers' are something like SecuROM installing folders all over the place that stay after I delete the game they came with, registry keys I need extra software to get rid of and the like...and activation limits, which are just inherently stupid. Aside from that, I'm fine.

I remember cleaning out my registry folders from programs that would leave files and folders and when I was done I got nearly a Gig of Hard drive space![X(]

Good grief, man! That's...that's just sick! [:D]
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