Starforce Activation Blight

[AstralWanderer]

Having played (and enjoyed) both King's Bounty and Armored Princess, I was both surprised and angry to find Crossworlds requiring online activation.

Given that 1C are offering the original King's Bounty DRM-free on GOG (retail version used a media check) and released a DRM-free DVD of Armored Princess, I can only assume that their release manager is a manic-depressive sociopath on probation from a Moscow asylum.

I have never knowingly purchased software using this obnoxious form of user-control since, as a paying customer, I insist on being able to use/install my purchases as and when I please - including on a system that never has been (and never will be) connected to the Internet. This also includes boycotting all digital distributors (Steam, GamersGate, Impulse) aside from GOG and a few indies, since they inflict similar restrictions (or worse in Steam's case). Anyone unfamiliar with the problems inherent in such systems should review Shamus Young's Authorization Servers article.

My response? I'm returning my copy (unactivated and unplayed) to Amazon for a refund (since their webpage didn't mention activation) and have left a negative review to warn others.

[cobranvidia]

It's unfortunate that they went this route - one of my reasons for buying this game was that Armored Princess did not have online DRM the requires me to rely on a company staying in business. I will not make the same mistake again.

I'll probably hold onto the game (it cost me less than 20 bucks) but if I will not buy from them again unless they remove the DRM (including removing it for this game).

[Csimbi]

I did not buy the game yet for this very reason.
I might when I see a patch that fixes the open issues (reported in other threads but not fixed) and removes the copy protection.
Until then, I play at the neighbor as I always do. He is a rich kid, he does not mind - his pocket money is four figures, unlike mine...

Eventually support is going to end because at some point it's going to cost more to maintain the online activation database/service than the possible losses due to piracy.
This is especially true when piracy is a factor during the first 3-6 months during the entire lifetime of the product - which is the case most of the time.
Why? Because game-junkies can't even wait 1 month when it comes to a new game - they have to brag about their achievements, they must have tried the newest titles, etc. Lacking the money, they download it from a shady web site, or, just buy it on the street from a shady character.
If they can keep their game protected for 6 months, the copy protection did its job and can be removed (patched out). Problem is, most copy protections fail on day 1 already, and as such, the game makers "forget" to remove it because they assume everyone is using the cracked software.
I've been nagging to another company's support about this. Guess what. They told me to use the cracked software. They cannot give it to me, they cannot officially recommend it to me, they cannot post it in their forums but still, they tell me to use it anyway.
Even if you try doing the right thing, you need a crack to make it work. What's up with that? I'll tell you what. You already paid for the game, and that's where your contribution ends. If you ask for support, you cost money for the company. So, instead of investigating and fixing your problem, they refer you to a cracked software. There you are, lots of money saved - which you already paid BTW as the price of the game includes support. Which, ultimately means that they rob you of your right to have the problems fixed with the product. They can do this only in the software business. In all other industries the company would be prosecuted... Such is the capitalist legal system. Give me your money, and I won't sue you for using the cracked software... Sad, but true.