I just bought this, but haven’t had a chance to play yet, as it’s still downloading. I must enjoy train wrecks or something, because I know what will probably greet me when I launch the game, and I don’t care. I just mainly want to see what all the hubbub is about. I have a radeon 4870x2 to boot! No, I will not be asking for a refund. I’m confident it will be patched to playability at some point. I kind of like the “bland” graphics style too. Neener-neener!
THIS JUST IN: Elemental has DRM and another amendment to the Gamers Bill of Rights is repealed!
forums.elementalgame.com/394672
KevinC
4203
What DRM is that?
Also, after the guy squawks and bitches, the support rep asks if he has a pirated copy, to which the OP says “Yea so what, ban me if you’d like”. So what’s your point exactly?
Read further on. It’s also preventing users from (legally) patching the current memory allocation errors out of 1.6. And whether or not the guy pirated it, it is a DRM system, which is the point. Elemental looks for unofficial patches and then refuses to run unless you ‘verify’.
Checking itself for signs of piracy and locking out the game if “evidence” is detected.
Also, after the guy squawks and bitches, the support rep asks if he has a pirated copy, to which the OP says “Yea so what, ban me if you’d like”. So what’s your point exactly?
Learn to read. That wasn’t the OP.
KevinC
4206
Uh…
It’s still really not sounding like DRM to me, sorry.
Reading the whole story is far better than simply slinging around the P word.
The OP was most certainly not complaining about a pirated copy… that came from ANOTHER user further down the thread.
I DID NOT pirate this game, got hit by the same error got banned for it.
So this is most certainly a DRM-ish issue since even MENTIONING might well get you banned.
Kebooo
4208
Wasn’t Sins of a Solar Empire considered DRM free by most people, but required authentication for patches? Or am I remembering wrong?
KevinC
4209
As of (or was it after?) the 1.05 update for Sins, it required Impulse to download additional patches.
It was and it does. However, it doesn’t contain any “logic bombs” designed to deter/prevent piracy (and annoy/punish legitimate users).
An argument could also be made that Stardock never releases finished games and forcing all of their users to link their game to an Impulse account to download mandatory patches is also a form of DRM. Not that it deters real pirates, though.
Pharaoh
4211
This thread has quite possibly become legendary. Insert Fark Kitten Image
I thought it was a joke when they said the game’s art style was inspired by Alphonse Mucha. But then I realized they were serious. If they were that brainwashed on the final art assets, how bad would they be on the game itself.
It’s too bad, from a PR standpoint, you have die-hard fans getting permabanned for interacting/bitching. I believe the more people complain, the more they care. Those are the people who are your beta testers…er customers for this launch.
That’s exactly what I argued with one user but they were adamant the game was DRM free.
Mazuo
4213
I didn’t realize the retail sales figure was that high, KevinC. Thanks for the info.
That does not necessarily mean that sales would be 60% less if it is digital only. At least some of those box purchasers would happily buy digital. Presumably, a digital sale also brings in more profit than given retail sale.
The sticky point is balancing when the costs of retail (and I mean more than dollars, as seen in the case of Elemental) outweigh the benefits of sales that would only be made via retail.
From the thread mentioned above, Kryo (Stardock employee) posted this:
Posting revocations are only being placed if the user also fails a registration check first, to ensure that no legitimate customers are accidentally visitored.
How could I have been in the beta without a valid registration? You had to specifically pre-order, pre-pay and pre-register on Impulse before getting access to it. Obviously their rules and so called ‘gamer bill of rights’ means nothing.
Absolutely correct.
It was great PR for a while, but their true colors are coming to light. They’re basically the same as every other gaming company EXCEPT they feel quite comfortable releasing what amounts to a framework for modders for $50 all the while claiming they’re better than those big ol’ studios.
Sounds like a major load of BS given all that’s happened since Elemental plopped in retail channels.
Incredibly unready release, non-apology apologies from the CEO (“I’m sorry that you’re not happy” vs. “I’m sorry that was screwed up”) and the current forum nonsense.
Time to take down the Gamer’s Bill of Rights as it’s just going to turn into a PR nightmare if this trainwreck continues.
I wouldn’t say the same as every other gaming company. Most seem to be able to launch a playable game for most buyers on day 0. ;)
Thus my caveat at the end of said sentence :)
Bugs are far too common in today’s software… I remember when they helped to speed up the demise of Ashton-Tate (remember dBase IV?) and the poor acceptable of MS-DOS 4.0.
That said, bugs are inevitable in any major release, be they small or gamebreaking.
What is inexcusable is the boatload of promises that Stardock promised, both in the sales pitch for Elemental and also the Gamer’s Bill of Rights, is apparently just happy talk to get my $50.
jfletch
4219
I’m going to try again to get a refund. Hopefully Stardock grants it to me. I plan on revisiting the game in 2011 when I can play it.
I wonder if they will be showing Elemental at PAX?
