I’m back. And for those wondering where I was, I went to see a friend at a hospital this weekend. He has cancer, has a 6% chance of survival, and is estimated to have between 6 months to a year left to live. So I’m going to be rather cranky and surly for a bit. Thus, don’t expect me to be talking much, as I’d prefer to not put out flames by dropping small tactical nuclear devices.
Now, pardon while I am going to be snappish at some people, but I think this might be the shirt for people who don’t like the way things are.
My most optimistic interpretation is that this means “one year after the particular day that each particular customer purchases his game.” The assumption being, the patch file is triggered by a software mechanism that begins a timer the first time you log onto V-Mate, then eliminates the logon requirement when that timer reaches one year after your purchase - so the one year period begins not on the same calendar date for everyone but rather a one year period applied to each customer, based on when that customer buys and first uses the game. Is this the case, or am I just causing riotous laughter among people who understand software progamming? (I don’t, which ought to be obvious.)
I think that that is probably what is meant but I am still speculating.
EDIT: Saw Dark_Shikis post on GC and until a statement comes from GC clearing things up I think this idea should be considered
[This message has been edited by MadMooch (edited 10-26-2004).]
Having gone through similiar with family repeatedly over the past few years, my sympathies for the personal life problems.
May you also have as much success in keeping public and private life seperate as those in my family, and myself, have had despite more then a few losses in only a few years time.
Though if their deaths taught me one thing, it’s to fight things I don’t like when I am still alive to fight them and not accept reasons I should not fight when I believe in the fight.
[This message has been edited by SCDawg (edited 10-26-2004).]
quote:Originally posted by MadMooch: EDIT: Saw Dark_Shikis post on GC and until a statement comes from GC clearing things up I think this idea should be considered
A system that requires a network connection or download after the V-Mate server disappears cannot work. What would you do if your hard drive failed a few years from now? If you couldn't install a fully functional game from the CD and VM were unavailable, you would have an expensive coaster.
VM's expiration date may be built into the program. When the system clock indicates it's past the shutdown date, VM allows the game to start without authentication.
… and I said that in my post which you quoted and then neatly removed the part in which I’d said that so you could add it.
Anyway, I mostly feel like there’s not much we can do except wait, gameless, for a full YEAR to see what DOES happen. Because any statements at this point are unreliable.
quote:Originally posted by Nandemonai: It's called stealth marketing, or astroturfing, or a few other 'choice' names. It does happen. I doubt GC can afford to hire astroturfers, but the remote possibility exists.
Or gorilla marketing, or, or ok can't think of another name for it [img]http://princess.cybrmall.net/ubb/tongue.gif[/img] Well in any case I guess I'll be the ginea pig this time and I'll report back as to how well it works or doesn't.
Since wanfu2k1’s posting came before my reply, I’d better put it in context.
quote:Originally posted by papillon: … and I said that in my post which you quoted and then neatly removed the part in which I’d said that so you could add it.
You began by saying
quote:And it would be stupid to have the system turn itself off just by bumping your system clock forward; it will most likely need to ping the VM server and only then turn itself off when the VM server says it’s been a year.
I argued that it’s not stupid. Rather, it’s the only failsafe method since there may no longer be a VM server at some point.
You went on to predict this outcome
quote:Which would still create difficulties for any new installation of the game sometime in the future if the VM server wasn’t around, but there would probably be a crack by then anyway.
But a security system wouldn’t be based on someone creating a crack, so I’m not sure what you’re driving at. A patch maybe?
Finally, you said
quote:It is possible that “year after the end of sale” means “a year after YOUR sale, the date when the copy of the game is purchased and activated on vmate” so each one individually expires after you’ve had it for a year? Don’t know.
I think someone suggested that idea on the other board, but I disagree. GC doesn’t care about locking individual copies for a year from the date of sale, it wants to lock all copies until a year from the date of release (assuming the PP announcement is correct).
There are so many conflicting theories floating around it’s gotten very confusing. Sorry if I mistook your meaning, but I think I disagreed with almost everything you said and didn’t “quote and neatly remove part” so I could take credit for your idea.
[This message has been edited by perigee (edited 10-26-2004).]
quote:Originally posted by SCDawg: I got to go with the latter. They have begged us once to "please try their system" they are so sure "we will enjoy it", and since then nothing but silence.
Their statements are starting to sound suspiciously like "OK, now close your eyes and open your mouth..."
quote:Originally posted by papillon: (conspiracy mode on) Or J-list is LYING to try and sucker people into buying the game! [img]http://princess.cybrmall.net/ubb/smile.gif[/img]
(Plz don't kill me!)
BTW, about Americans using credit cards for porn - Yeah, they do. But I work in net porn, and most of those companies very carefully make up discreet names to bill you under so your credit card statement doesn't look 'dirty'. And also for the checks they mail out to people like me. MOST of my checks are from completely innocuous company names like "Amarose Web Services International" or something (made up example). It's bad for business to have "CHUBBY SLUTS" show up on people's statements. People *are* still paranoid.
I live in my parents' basement. When I buy b-games I address them to "Campus Crusade for Cthulhu" (which is an in-joke among friends of mine) so my dad doesn't accidentally open something with his/my name on it. Same thing.
quote:Originally posted by SCDawg: But paranoid enough not to demand their money back if they feel they have been "screwed over" by this system if they don't have continual internet connection or just don't like they idea of being lied to (misled) by no to little information about this system?
This is a couple years old, but something almost identical happened. Some credit card processing company started running a scam; they got pornographic websites as clients - so they'd be processing the credit cards of people going to pornographic websites.
They'd just start ringing up bogus charges of (say) $9.99 every so often. To hundreds of credit cards. Adds up to a lot of money real fast. Thing is, they were operating porn sites! They were counting on people being too embarrased to contest the charges - and in fact they used the utterly disingenuous lie to the banks of "well we're a porn site, of COURSE he SAYS it's unauthorized" when people actually did question it. (This worked on at least one occasion.)
Unfortunately I don't remember any of the details :( Anyone remember more about this story?
quote:Originally posted by SCDawg:
[quote]
Originally posted by Dark_Shiki: [b] It prevents piracy for a year, during which GC (may) already have gotten most of the sales they'll ever get.
But it still expires in a year, this is a huge hoop to make someone jump through for the chance of slowing piracy for one year and much like other "tricks" if it is not updated by the end of that first year the system is compromised and you don't get a second year to slow pirates.
[/b]
[/quote]
This is less true in b-games than it is elsewhere because of the niche nature of the market, but it is generally true: Sales are furious the first few weeks, then taper off. This is why movies only stay around in the theatres for a few weeks, then go to video. Video games (normal video games) and music work the same way.
The objective with copy protection isn't to win, it's impossible. It's to delay losing until you've gotten most of the profits you'd expect to get (i.e. keep the crack from appearing for a few weeks).
quote:Originally posted by Vaga42Bond: I'm back. And for those wondering where I was, I went to see a friend at a hospital this weekend. He has cancer, has a 6% chance of survival, and is estimated to have between 6 months to a year left to live. So I'm going to be rather cranky and surly for a bit. Thus, don't expect me to be talking much, as I'd prefer to not put out flames by dropping small tactical nuclear devices.
Now, pardon while I am going to be snappish at some people, but I think this might be the shirt for people who don't like the way things are.
quote:Originally posted by perigee: A system that requires a network connection or download after the V-Mate server disappears cannot work. What would you do if your hard drive failed a few years from now? If you couldn't install a fully functional game from the CD and VM were unavailable, you would have an expensive coaster.
VM's expiration date may be built into the program. When the system clock indicates it's past the shutdown date, VM allows the game to start without authentication.
Waiting for the final word...
A downloadable patch is one solution. Download the patch, burn it to a CDR.
Or they will eventually start selling versions without VMate, the way Kana and Chain come with the uncensor patch preapplied (and also Brave Soul is prepatched now). This doesn't help those with the unpatched copies.
Activation disable in a year I believe is based on the disc itself from when one install’s the software. This happens with my copy of Office 2000. After THREE years it no longer requires me to activate. Not sure about the OS since my XP is over three years, but I haven’t reinstall or upgrade in over a year. Not sure how the system actually works.
I just hope its not as bad as my lightwave anti-prirate system where you have CD and hardware lock and you have to contact Newtek for a “final” release code. This is just insane.
I usually don’t care about activation, get code etc. etc. Nothing new really, at least to me, but it seems their lack of response is the key issue to me. Newtek and Microsoft answered all my issues no matter what time day I called to resolve any problems that I may had. But the fact that GC isn’t very clear how their system works bothers me just a bit. I think I will be in the sit and wait camp, either when some lab rat, er I mean customers comment on it or when GC have a FAQ that addresses major questions.
Yeah I haven’t posted here in nearly two years and I have regrister again I moved countries twice and stupid enough to go back university.
I just got my copy of nyan nyan and even if you have the password/user name remembered, it always asks you about connecting or something, is there anyway to disable it? it’s getting very annoying.
btw, do not use dvd jp game save data. it misses up the game very bad
quote:Originally posted by Nandemonai: Their statements are starting to sound suspiciously like "OK, now close your eyes and open your mouth..."
I was actually thinking of parents telling their child "hmmm this is delicious, try it, you'll love it" as they themselves make a point to avoid the same food.
You don't really trust them after you gag on the first piece of food.
[This message has been edited by SCDawg (edited 10-26-2004).]
quote:Originally posted by Teagan: I just got my copy of nyan nyan and even if you have the password/user name remembered, it always asks you about connecting or something, is there anyway to disable it? it's getting very annoying.
btw, do not use dvd jp game save data. it misses up the game very bad
Wait a year, LOL!!!! [img]http://princess.cybrmall.net/ubb/biggrin.gif[/img] [img]http://princess.cybrmall.net/ubb/biggrin.gif[/img] [img]http://princess.cybrmall.net/ubb/biggrin.gif[/img]
quote:Originally posted by Teagan: I just got my copy of nyan nyan and even if you have the password/user name remembered, it always asks you about connecting or something, is there anyway to disable it? it's getting very annoying.
Could you give us the exact message that comes up?
quote:Originally posted by Teagan: I just got my copy of nyan nyan and even if you have the password/user name remembered, it always asks you about connecting or something, is there anyway to disable it? it's getting very annoying.
btw, do not use dvd jp game save data. it misses up the game very bad
Doesn't sound too good. This would be really bad for people who have dial up and have to pay for each call. (we have to pay for each local call here.) This is not a very good system for a single player game.
