C-G's Virtual-Mate?

Visual Novel Community Archive, 2000-2009
#641
quote:
Originally posted by Effect:
Just read the update in the questions about formating. When it says hardware doesn't change, I've been upgrading my machine a lot in recent months. More ram, new graphics card, sound card, modem, etc. Haven't changed my harddrive yet. I wonder what it will recognize. Then, what if you change your operating system.

I hope its setup so that when you do change something important on the computer it can match up with personal information. I hope they don't do it based on Ip address since those are suppose to be random on dialup. Maybe match it so that, you have a username and password, that also matches up the cd key would be the best way to go I think. The way some online games due. That way if you log on from different locations or ip address once in a while it isn't that strange unless you have several people logging from different locations not to long after another then that could show that something is up. And that more then one person might be using the same key or copies of it. I think if the VM would setup like that then it might not be as complicated or give people problems since other games do things like that.

[This message has been edited by Effect (edited 10-24-2004).]

This is another issue that's problematic. I think the hardware recognition would be linked to your win system profile. By this I mean the information on System Properties--General tab in Control Panel on your computer. If VM makes a record of that information (which includes the hardware configuration, your user name, version of window OS, and the unique number for your copy of windows), then it would be quite easy to keep track of the number of times your particular copy of LMM is installed.

The problem is that if you need to reformat your computer, and reinstall windows, the second time you install LMM onto your reformatted computer may count against the 3x installation limit. I don't know if this is actually the case or not, but it's certainly a possibility.

#642

Why would reinstalling Windows change your system identity? It wouldn’t change your hardware configuration, your version of Windows, or the unique number for your copy of Windows. G-collections hasn’t made a specific statement on the matter, but I still feel confident that reinstalling Windows won’t count against the installation limit. Upgrading Windows would be a different matter.

@Effect: I assume the hardware recognition works similar to Windows XP. I don’t know the details on that, however.

#643
quote:
Originally posted by Ecchifan:
The problem is that if you need to reformat your computer, and reinstall windows, the second time you install LMM onto your reformatted computer may count against the 3x installation limit. I don't know if this is actually the case or not, but it's certainly a possibility.

Speculation : It would if I am interpertating their statement about 'major changes counting against the 3 limit' correctly. At least to me having to reformat the computer and reinstalling everything seems like something many would consider to be a "major change" especially if you reinstall new programs at the same time, and thus would likely count against the number limit.

Once again though the lack of news or clarification from G-Collections (a whole other issue about how they are dealing with this) leaves all of this as speculation.

[This message has been edited by SCDawg (edited 10-24-2004).]

#644

I would consider that a major change as well. The formating wipes out everything on that drive. Not granted I install all my games on my D drive but the system registry is still on the C drive and games do have to be reinstalled since that registry information is gone.

See with Windows XP I know you have to activate it online making installing in on another number of computers trouble. There isn’t much of a problem with Windows 98. I have 98SE and several computers in my house. So I’ve installed 98SE on each computer using the same cd key. After all, the OS systems software cost to much money to buy a copy for each computer and is the very reason why I’ve stayed with Windows 98SE all this time and havent upgraded. So for other family members that happen to have several computers in their house. They kept their Windows98SE. So I hope it isn’t linked to the OS system or its cd key.

#645

One Comment About G-Collections Virtual Mate? How long do you think this Virtual Mate will last before some cracker cracks this futile protection scheme?

Hint #1: If it has 0’s and 1’s, it’s crackable.

Hint #2: Have you ever comed across a game that has never been cracked one way or another?

Hint #3: Who wouldn’t want to be known as the first cracker to crack G-Collections’s Virtual Mate Protection Scheme? (They be totally famous among their peers, and loved by all… They’d be like as Robin Hood, The Prince Of Thieves. Steel from the rich, give to the poor. Yes, they’d be loved by all!)

Hint #4: G-Collection just advertised themselves for the whole world to see… They’ve just stuck a big “Hit Me!” sign on their backs for all the crackers to see.

My guess: The Virtual Mate won’t last 1 week. My best guess 72 hours max.

If I pissed someone off, I’ve done my job. If I’d made some laugh at me, I’ve done my job. If I’ve pissed off the one person in particular (who I don’t give A about), I’ve won. Thanks for nothing… paid $50 bucks for some many games… turns out, I wasted my money… newbies beware… they all suck big time…!!

Here’s a site I found, you can check it for yourselves… it’s a few months old, maybe some of you have seen in, and some have not. It might be interesting for some, and then again it might not. Go figure.

http://www.wired.com/news/games/0,2101,63678,00.html?tw=wn_story_related

[This message has been edited by eejeejee (edited 10-25-2004).]

#646

Yeah, I figured I’d try to post a little bit more positively on this subject and balance it all out with all that negativity that’s been going for the past few days.

@SCDawg

quote:
How would you get the game back though? Or what if the theif is someone you sold a game to in the past and someone that already has your id and password as a result?

Guess that you’d have to settle for the satisfaction of knowing that the thief won’t be able to play the game either.

Now if the thief does have your id and password… then you’re on your own.

@Nandemonai

quote:
Aaand you still have to buy a new copy.

Somehow, I get the feeling that some company exec isn’t going to be losing any sleep over something like that- not when there’s pirates and used-game sellers to be feared.

#647

Wow!
One weekend of absence and this thread gained 6 more pages…

As for one amusing thing:

quote:
Originally quoted from an EULA:
It is unlawful to sell this product.

So, after you accepted this EULA, you could simply sue G-Collections for selling their game to you, right?
After all, this regulation doesn’t contain a limitation that it doesn’t apply to the first sale of this game as well…

[This message has been edited by Unicorn (edited 10-25-2004).]

#648
quote:
Originally posted by Unicorn:
So, after you accepted this EULA, you could simply sue G-Collections for selling their game to you, right?
After all, this regulation doesn't contain a limitation that it doesn't apply to the first sale of this game as well...
Ah, but there's also an article that claims
quote:
It is prohibited to show or distribute the whole or part of this product without permission.
So you'd have to sue yourself for looking at the game after you bought it - maybe even while it was still in the shrink-wrap! [img]http://princess.cybrmall.net/ubb/tongue.gif[/img]

#649

We’ve had 200 views on the Megatokyo forums in 1 day. Not too shabby. It seems we also have a new member from the Animetric board. Welcome to the PP board, Effect.

[This message has been edited by Dark_Shiki (edited 10-25-2004).]

#650
quote:
Originally posted by Effect:
See with Windows XP I know you have to activate it online making installing in on another number of computers trouble. There isn't much of a problem with Windows 98. I have 98SE and several computers in my house. So I've installed 98SE on each computer using the same cd key. After all, the OS systems software cost to much money to buy a copy for each computer and is the very reason why I've stayed with Windows 98SE all this time and havent upgraded. So for other family members that happen to have several computers in their house. They kept their Windows98SE. So I hope it isn't linked to the OS system or its cd key.

Yet if it is linked to the OS system wouldn't that mean it reads each of those computers as the same one? Or am I missing something?

#651
quote:
Originally posted by OleGoatweed:
Somehow, I get the feeling that some company exec isn't going to be losing any sleep over something like that- not when there's pirates and used-game sellers to be feared.
Fearing used-game sellers? I would imagine they are an excellent way to get your products more publicity. For example I may not pay 50 dollars for Kana new but instead pay 30 dollars when it is used and suddenly see how wonderful these games are and now be willing to spend the 50 for these games new from now on so I have them when they first come out. Yeah I know probably preaching to the choir on this right?

#652
quote:
Originally posted by perigee:
So you'd have to sue yourself for looking at the game after you bought it - maybe even while it was still in the shrink-wrap! [img]http://princess.cybrmall.net/ubb/tongue.gif[/img]
I still love that rule too, how many of us have shown these to friends, girlfriends, wives, etc. If they choose to enforce that they would probably have to jail most of the regular customers. [img]http://princess.cybrmall.net/ubb/biggrin.gif[/img]

#653
quote:
Originally posted by SCDawg:
If they choose to enforce that they would probably have to jail most of the regular customers. [img]http://princess.cybrmall.net/ubb/biggrin.gif[/img]

... giving us plenty of time to play through our backlogs of games?
Hmmm... that doesn't sound too bad... [img]http://princess.cybrmall.net/ubb/tongue.gif[/img]

[This message has been edited by Unicorn (edited 10-25-2004).]

#654
quote:
Originally posted by Italicus:
Still, my main concern is the patch issue. A year or more to wait is too much for me.

Yeah if they had actually meant "within a few months" as in under 6 to 7 months that would not be too bad, within a year is okay, sometime after a year slightly passable, and sometime after a year after the game is no longer sold ridiculously outrageous, and this is also one of my major concerns with this system.

That said even if they come back tomorrow promising a patch I will wait to order (if I ever order) until the patch is out and I have downloaded it first just in case they change their mind about it.

quote:
Originally posted by Unicorn:
. giving us plenty of time to play through our backlogs of games?
Hmmm... that doesn't sound too bad...
Well that would be one positive ability to play the backlog, and who knows that might work to their advantage, when playing that backlog a new "love for their games" might increase and we would be more willing to buy once released.

Kidding of course, I for one would at least just crack more jokes about customer service being their first priority, which it might actually be under normal circumstances, but it's these abnormal ones that count.

-------

It's also interesting to read the responses on the Megatokyo board, the general feel seems to be this system will not work, and will be compromised in next to no time. From that I guess they do not support this system since even if they like they idea few of them think it will work as advertised.

[This message has been edited by SCDawg (edited 10-25-2004).]

#655

Thanks for the welcome.

#656
quote:
Originally posted by SCDawg:
That said even if they come back tomorrow promising a patch I will wait to order (if I ever order) until the patch is out and I have downloaded it first just in case they change their mind about it.

* Nods *
Exactly!
Maybe I'd even delay the purchase until another one on the BBS has already tested the patch and proven that it REALLY works...

Having faith in a company who already kicked me as a customer in the back without a warning is an outright ridiculous demand.
Even if those kicks PERHAPS weren't on purpose but mere clumsiness...

#657
quote:
Originally posted by Unicorn:
* Nods *
Exactly!
Maybe I'd even delay the purchase until another one on the BBS has already tested the patch and proven that it REALLY works...

Having faith in a company who already kicked me as a customer in the back without a warning is an outright ridiculous demand.
Even if those kicks PERHAPS weren't on purpose but mere clumsiness...

I don't know which would be worse if they kicked us on purpose by doing what they have without warning, or if it were just clumsiness on their part. Either way the customer seems to have been forgotten, at least so far.

Also I'll join the wait (if there is a patch) to see it tested by someone else before I believe it works, that's actually a much better idea then trusting it will work without flaws when first released or if it is flawed if they replace it. At this point I am not sure I trust them either, rightly or wrongly, their fault or someone else's, they did already misinform us (thus far) about the patch.

[This message has been edited by SCDawg (edited 10-25-2004).]

#658

One of the CD replicators anonymously provided this exclusive photo of the actual Let’s Meow Meow game disc. It’s thought that the minor surface blemishes represent missing data to be supplied by the V-Mate server or the product download patch.

#659
quote:
Originally posted by SCDawg:
Yeah if they had actually meant "within a few months" as in under 6 to 7 months that would not be too bad, within a year is okay, sometime after a year slightly passable, and sometime after a year after the game is no longer sold ridiculously outrageous, and this is also one of my major concerns with this system.

[This message has been edited by SCDawg (edited 10-25-2004).]

I had to wait three months here in Italy before purchasing from a reseller. I just ifind a way to purchase directly from US and... voil‡!!! Now they tell me i have to wait a year? NO WAY.

#660

Fine then. That means war. I’ll turn my back to G-Coll untill they’ll use this V-Mate.