[nearmiss]

Oleg

Alliances with hardware manufacturers is a start, but it would require some research and talking directly with many manufacturers to determine what they need and what you need from hardware/software dependence. Hardware dependence has many ideas that can be worked out with manufacturer.

Suggest to talk with nVidia or AMD about future of VC and PC gaming. Nvidia and AMD have capacity to produce computer type interface. You know they are losing business to console for sure, since they are PC cards.

All distribution your software should be through direct download hereon. EB and other retailers for most part are caring only gamer type games. It is nice to have your game on shelf, but only you know how much that is worth to you.

Every update, patch or addon should be direct download. It would be important to develop this delivery method. All of your COD orders would be in now, and be on computers all over the world. You could be working on paid for addon now.

Piracy is terrible. I do not think there is anyway to protect from piracy without creating hardware dependency.

There may be a way to send something like a "physical" plastic card upon purchase, which could be used at logon/download site for your software. The number and logon information on the card could be very cryptic and unique. Download site might have to harvest IP information, mac address or something, but there is plenty of information that is very unique that has possibility for use. Unique requirement for activation of software would have to be tied to some method to create unique characters created from the individual computer and the "physical" plastic card you sent.

If you used a "physical" plastic card you send directly to buyer to initialize download you would be also creating a valuable data base of all purchasers of your product, and you could plan very effective marketing to users with Email and other information. You get some information at registration, but if you aren't marketing direct email you are missing many opportunities. There are many software companies that now sell their products at retailers and rebate all money back, just to harvest buyer information. They then promote all their products regularly with email.

You should NOT think to do everything over internet, as some hacker guru can always defeat software only.

Hardware dependence you should also make sure manufacturer will promote and advertise your products with his, for mutual benefit.

People will complain and whine about anything you do. That is natural. You must look at your business future and you will make best decisions, because you are best qualified person. You care about users, you care about product, and you care about company. You are best qualified person in the world for your company.

Best to you, we appreciate very much your care for making a great sim we will enjoy very much.