Sharkypal

Yay, it's back. Very happy to see that :) /gets back in cockpit. S

Yup, like the rest of you I am really starting to lose patience with this. I recently upgraded and I cannot reactivate the game. This really is ridiculous. This draconian protection scheme does nothing except harm legitimate users. A few days I can live with but 2 weeks? What kind of ISP is this? S :mad:

IMHO, one of the best game related video sequences I have EVER seen. Absolutely 1st rate! Must Have Black Shark! /drools S

Did you read my post at all? I never said I wouldn't buy based on the fact you use Starforce. Your attitude is horrific, and calling mine into question is really unprofessional. I never tried to start an "Anti-Starforce campaign". I worded my OP very carefully as to be objective. Let me try again for the cheap seats : People have concerns about SF, do you understand that it may be more effective to help them with said concerns as opposed to saying "No Black Shark for you?". Anyway, Enough of this. S

I was upset in a few posts AGES ago concerning the payment system. Why? because I couldn't buy the game. I also publically and privately apologized for those outbursts. You need to stop worrying about me and start worrying about yourself. Your attitude makes me want to NEVER buy anything from ED again. Just the fact that you reference posts of mine dating back over a year instead of touching on the current issue is a little unsettling. Instead you are trying to invalidate my legitimate commentary using my anger vis a vis the flawed payment system that was implemented when FC was released. We are CUSTOMERS. People have legitimate concerns about Starforce. You need to address them as opposed to being rude and dismissive. Lastly, my OP was neither rude or a rant, it was simply an observation. S PS : As I said, I bought LOMAC and FC and will also be purchasing BS. My point wasn't so much that you use Starforce, it was more that you need to be a little more pragmatic when it comes to the people who buy your products. There are a lot of potential sales that can be salvaged by informing the customers as opposed to berating them.

I hardly think I was nasty and no matter how bad the vitriol is, it is your (the moderators) job to remain professional throughout. You are representing a business after all. I wasn't asking about SF, I bought the game anyway. I've never had an issue with it (apart from the activations) but many people have had legitimate issues with Starforce. I know there are people out there who contend it can launch a pre-emptive nuclear strike and we all know how people love to exaggerate, but the fact is, there are issues with it that make consumers nervous and it may be a better idea to provide a positive and reassuring response as opposed to "You won't be playing Black Shark". I'll leave it there as my intention was not to start an argument. S

Their right to protect their intellectual property is absolute and I would never debate that. I firmly believe LOMAC and its addons are worth every penny of my cash with or without Starforce. If they have some deal that has locked them into Starforce then it would be better to explain that to customers rather than basically saying "no soup for you". People are generally understanding but had I received a response like the one in my OP, it may well have been the straw etc. Elaborating on the situation and reassurance towards clients and their concerns is the key. Treating them like infants (especially people who play these types of games, they are not 14 year olds) is not prudent business etiquette. Cheers S

I just wanted to voice my opinion and concerns about your attitude to your customers concerning Starforce. I have been reading through many of the posts and it seems that anyone who tells you they wont buy because of Starforce gets their thread locked and a response like this Quote: Originally Posted by VVanks Will blackshark use starforce Yes. Quote: But I don't want starforce on my computer. Then you won't be playing Black Shark. - JJ. I dont want to offend anyone who works for ED as I have bought LOMAC and FC despite the Starforce Protection. It is the ONLY Starforce protected game I have or ever will purchase. It is just that good. On the other hand you seem to be perfectly happy to offend and alienate paying customers who have legitimate concerns. Concerns that caused Ubisoft among others to dump this protection scheme in favor of their customer base. Alienating customers in an already niche market seems a little foolish to me. Claims that it is an unbreakable protection are unfounded. I won't go any further than that, as it is not at issue, needless to say LOMAC is readily available on the net. All Starforce seems to do is inconvenience myself and other paying customers with an irksome activation scheme and a potentially damaging copy protection system while pirates get to play without these restrictions. If companies as large as Ubisoft have decided to dump this protection, doesn't that tell you something? Do you think it is wise to respond to potential buyers with comments like "Then you won't be playing Black Shark". It sounds like you are talking to a child. I only mean this in the most constructive way. I don't mean it to be offensive or undermining but this is not BF2142. I would think you would want to keep your customer base happy. I am a paying customer and I will buy Black Shark regardless of Starforce, I don't want to (because of Starforce) but I will .... and I am sure there are likeminded people out there, conversely, I am sure you are losing money because of the attitude displayed above. JM2C S PS : Even if you are going to use Starforce despite the negative implications. Probably better to try and reassure customers it is not as dangerous as some people make it out to be. I've personally never had problems with it but I do find the activations a tad on the annoying side.

I have no doubt it will be available again ... I'd just like to know when! Regards S

Buddy, You need to get off your high horse! You speak as if you are never wrong. You couldn't offend me if you tried; I just find your pompous attitude and your severly inflated sense of self importance inappropriate. Cheers S

What I have seen of you on SimHQ is that you're a sarcastic apologist. I won't be "getting used" to the way you behave because as far as I know, you don't work for anyone involved here and your inciteful posts do nothing to help ED or THEIR customers. All we asked for was some fairly regular updates on what was going on with regards to the online purchase of Flaming Cliffs. I am a little frustrated with waiting for the game, and in that frustration I may have been a little pushy, but that doesn't give you the right to come here and put down anyone who doesnt happen to share your point of view! Something I have seen you do numerous times on SimHQ. There, you see, I can say what I want as well!! Oh, and I never suggested shutting down the forums. Regards S

Rofl ... your attitude (and EDs) will get you sooooooo many customers! Sharky

Quiet Stormin! Stormin, your apologist attitude isnt helping anything! We all know you from SIMHQ. If you are not providing a constructive answer then perhaps it is time to stop answering!!! Cheers Sharky

I had originally posted in another thread, and I had kept my posts fairly timid as I always try to be polite but I feel I have to be vocal here as this is beyond a joke. There is NO way that ED, as a company cannot have resolved the online purchasing issue as of yet. The last excuse I heard was that they couldn't use Verisign because you must have a US bank account! This after 2 weeks of saying you are switching to Verisign? If you are not going to offer LO : FC for online purchase again, the best thing to do is to say that is the case and say it now. Don't be like Ubisoft who let dedicated PC gamers believe that Ghost Recon 2 was coming out for over a year before admitting there was to be no GR 2 for the PC. (I know you are releasing a boxed version, I use this example only because of it's relevance to the lack of available information). I am not trying to be rude or inciteful, I simply wish you guys would start giving straight answers and not silence or weak excuses. You are very lucky in a certain sense because Sim gamers tend to be very loyal and forgiving but we can only wait so long. Regards Sharky :cool:

No problem m8 .... take care Sharky

How am I behaving like a pratt? I simply stated that it is easy to setup online payments! I love the game and would like to buy a copy, I just don't see how it takes 2 weeks ++ to set it up. I hate Paypal and understand that you have had problems with them, God knows I have had my share of problems with them. Settle down JJ, I am not the enemy! Sharky

Rofl, so basically having any opinion other than one that praises ED is not acceptable here? Buddy, I am a PAYING customer, if you want me to go elsewhere .... no problem. I paid for LOMAC, but I won't be buying your add-on. Learn about customer service mate. Sharky OUT!!

No offense ED, but setting up online payment takes about 20 minutes. If you are very slow, it may take you an hour! I won't even bother listing them. S PS : I do have some empathy for you with regards to Paypal, they are total and complete W**KERS!

Lame ... but at least now we know! S

I hate to say it but this is not being handled professionally at all. The lack of information about what is going on and the fact that ED doesn't participate in these forums with regards to the online buying issue has made me very reluctant to buy anything from them. The fact that they are using StarFarce is also disturbing. This particular form of protection is for all extents and purposes illegal as it prohibits legitimate software from operating and interferes with hardware! Whats going on ED? G :icon_evil :icon_evil :icon_evil :confused: :confused: :icon_evil :icon_evil :icon_evil