An Open Letter to the Community

[RedTiger]

Id disagree with that, lots of simers like Soviet aircraft. Look at the success of IL-2, SU-27, LOMAC etc. Tell me any sim pilot that looks at the pic of a KA-50 and doesnt say to themselves "Hell ya I wanna fly that"

 

There are many Western simmers who prefer to fly Western aircraft. There are several, not to name any names, who post on this very board. I can guarantee you that a well-advertised game in the US where you fly an F-16 and bomb the crap out of an Easter-block opponent is going to sell hand over fist compared to a well-advertised game where you fly a MiG-29SM and bomb the crap out of a Western or even a fellow Eastern-block armed opponent.

 

This is doubly so if you're trying to approach casual players too. Why do you think in the 90s during the golden age of sims, you saw so few Russian aircraft sims vs. gobs and gobs and GOBS of the same US planes over and over again? There was that Novalogic MiG-29 sim, the Fulcrum addition for Falcon 3.0, and the Flanker series. That's about all I can think of. There might be more, but they're no where near in number compared to all the US ones.

 

How many here who are Westerners knew what the Su-25 was before playing Flanker? I sure as hell didn't. But I DID know what the A-10 was. Had anyone heard of the IL2 before IL2? Not me.

 

By all rights if we were being fair we should have more Western European planes, but I have no clue how available info is on those. Info is readily available for US and Russian stuff, so thats what we get.

Edited October 28, 2008 by RedTiger

[RedTiger]

Where is everyone getting the whole "limited installs on the cd" from? because i havent seen ED say that. :disgust:

 

Gonna quote this for emphasis...has this been state anywhere? I have not seen it. Can we not discuss limited activations unless this is actually the case?

[SUBS17]

I remember a sim from the 80s that required a quite tricky copy protection setup it had a plastic card that had a lens to decode symbols on the screen after booting up the program. You then had to enter a counter code from a card that was in red with black lettering to prevent photo copying.( Lenslok security system)It was quite a good chopper sim called Tomahawk.

http://www.crashonline.org.uk/23/tomahawk.htm

Edited October 28, 2008 by SUBS17

[EvilBivol-1]

Good point, Grinix. There is a lot of incorrect use of "limited installs" going around and we should correct this. The limitation, as implemented on the Russian retail (DVD) version, is on activations and deactivations (3 and 10 respectively, according to the original release). Activations are tied to your OS and hardware. There is no limitation on installs, as long as there is not a significant hardware change or new OS.

 

Very important to note that this scheme may or may not be retained as ED makes adjustments to CP.

[RedTiger]

Good point, Grinix. There is a lot of incorrect use of "limited installs" going around and we should correct this. The limitation, as implemented on the Russian retail (DVD) version, is on activations and deactivations (3 and 10 respectively, according to the original release). Activations are tied to your OS and hardware. There is no limitation on installs, as long as there is not a significant hardware change or new OS.

 

Very important to note that this scheme may or may not be retained as ED makes adjustments to CP.

 

Thanks for that honest update. This is similar to some other CP methods. My copy of Far Cry 2 works in a similar way.

 

In my honest opinion, I don't really like this and I'm worried about these things becoming more strict. I wonder at what point it will be when we no longer really own software, at least not in the way we used to, and it becomes more like "leasing" it. Sadly, I can only see piracy become MORE common if the trend continues, just out of either resentment or not wanting the hassle of this.

 

OTOH, I did buy Far Cry 2 knowing full well that that I was limited in activations. This didn't bother me because I don't think I'll be playing it for years to come. Flight sims are a different matter. I'll see how this works out, I still intend to buy BS.

[Grinix]

Gonna quote this for emphasis...has this been state anywhere? I have not seen it. Can we not discuss limited activations unless this is actually the case?

 

You sure as hell can (at least in my opinion) but some users are acting as if it were already stated by ED, although now with the recent post of evilbivol it has been confirmed.

[EvilBivol-1]

Again, this was the scheme used on the Russian DVD version. I don't know anything yet about the download version and either of the western versions.

 

It's not a question of honesty. ED has a big sticky thread dedicated to the CP scheme on the Russian forum. The only reason it has not been duplicated here is because we don't know if it's applicable, especially now.

Edited October 28, 2008 by EvilBivol-1

[RedTiger]

You sure as hell can (at least in my opinion) but some users are acting as if it were already stated by ED, although now with the recent post of evilbivol it has been confirmed.

 

I think you misunderstand. What I meant was "Lets not discuss this like its a fact if we do not know for certain that it is".

[Koriel]

Good point, Grinix. There is a lot of incorrect use of "limited installs" going around and we should correct this. The limitation, as implemented on the Russian retail (DVD) version, is on activations and deactivations (3 and 10 respectively, according to the original release). Activations are tied to your OS and hardware. There is no limitation on installs, as long as there is not a significant hardware change or new OS.

 

Very important to note that this scheme may or may not be retained as ED makes adjustments to CP.

 

Good to hear EB, because when I installed and activated my russian DVD I had no idea what I was clicking, just saw the "2 activations" remaining message.

 

Just to easy my mind a few questions :) :

When I reinstall, and enter my serial on the same PC, I will retain my 2 remaining activations?

What is the relation between de-activations and activations?

 

// Reminder, Need to install russian language on Vista and take a crash course!!!

[swepain]

OTOH, I did buy Far Cry 2 knowing full well that that I was limited in activations. This didn't bother me because I don't think I'll be playing it for years to come. Flight sims are a different matter. I'll see how this works out, I still intend to buy BS. .

 

 

i bought Farcry2 its a gr8 game ..

Edited October 28, 2008 by swepain

[ESA_MistrL]

Good point, Grinix. There is a lot of incorrect use of "limited installs" going around and we should correct this. The limitation, as implemented on the Russian retail (DVD) version, is on activations and deactivations (3 and 10 respectively, according to the original release). Activations are tied to your OS and hardware. There is no limitation on installs, as long as there is not a significant hardware change or new OS.

 

Very important to note that this scheme may or may not be retained as ED makes adjustments to CP.

 

Evil, may I ask you a simple question? May be it´s already been asked but I couldn´t find an answer in this vast ocean. You can say I will be one of the proud owners of legal downloaded western BS version (if developed) and later one of the owner of a legal DVD copy of your amazing sim. I have read a lot of things about activations and deactivations. My question is simple. Is it possible in the future if a change my hardware a lot of times that I simply cannot use my sim anymore because of activations are dead? or you will provide me more activations for ever as a legal owner of your sim?

I knindly request a simple answer to this simple question. Will I loose my sim due to lack of activations because I used all availabe?

Thx a lot for your help. I´ll buy it anayway as many times as necessary but please, deal me as a customer not as a slave.

[mckee14]

i bought Farcry2 and THEN i cracked it! i dont want the hazle with stupid CP diktating what i can or can't do with my computor.. :huh:

 

read the OS (windows) license - the hardware is yours, but not "the computor"... exept you use linux, but then you will have some problems with BS :)

[159th_Viper]

.....is on activations and deactivations (3 and 10 respectively, according to the original release). Activations are tied to your OS and hardware. There is no limitation on installs, as long as there is not a significant hardware change or new OS...

 

Can one assume that the status quo re requesting and obtaining of further activations is going to be maintained?

 

Personally the 3 activations will in all probability do me for 3 years or even less, taking into account the first install, an Upgrade to my PC shortly thereafter and then subsequent upgrades at approximate 3-year intervals (or even less) as hardware dictates........and that is not even considering complete reformats to hard drives due to space requirements/Virus Issues/Installation of new operating systems etc etc..........

 

And the above only relates to the current DVD release - how would a telephonic/internet activation be run? Would further activations over and above your first three be 'credited' to your 'account' upon request?

 

Which brings up another question: Without a secure and reliable Internet connection - assuming even that the customer has one in the first place - should it be possible to obtain said extra activations, how would a customer go about requesting the said activations? Yet another International Telephone Call?

 

Granted - all the above is just my attempt at reasoning the logistics atm armed with the limited amount of info at my disposal......although I have to say that said reasoning does not leave me feeling all warm and Fuzzy inside.........:noexpression:

[Cosmonaut]

I hope that ED change their minds or come up with a better solution. IMO activations will only serve one purpose and that is to decrease the appeal of DCS: BS to those that wouldn't normally buy a flightsim. I mean most of us here on the forums are already supper fans creating mods, tutorials and keeping the community alive on the boards but When ED make a sim as scalable as BS then I assume they want to increase their share of the flighsim market. However If someone picks up BS off the shelves and reads about registrations, activations, reg utilities, phone activations etc are they really going to be motivated to do anything other than just put it back down and pick up Ace combat.

 

I understand those that say "I have no problems with activations" or "I don't upgrade my hardware much".. etc but shouldn't we be looking at expanding flightsims beyond those of us that would most likely put up with anything no matter how restrictive or intrusive the procedure would be to play our favorite flightsim.

[rapid]

I cant see why they dont go the Steam route. you can bet you last dollar bill that console owners dont have this issue.

[deviletk]

But thats the thing. Im one of those who dont mind activating the product if it makes ED feels safer. I do format my computer a lot so im also one of those that will need to get reactivations sooner or later. So far i feel that this is what im going to get from ED so thats why i dont worry.

 

Now if i was given only 3 installs and had to buy a new copy, then that would be the end of BS for me probably since i wont buy something i dont know if i can use after a while. That even sounds stupid honestly. It cant go down like that, not when we can prove that we own the box. I dont think that ED would do that anyway. I will have faith until its released. No idea discuss it further until i see how it will be. :)

 

Regards

Alex

[Groove]

Rapid, could you elaborate why you prefer STEAM ?

[rapid]

Steam is used by Valve. You must first have an account with Steam that is passworded lets take Half life you buy the game but it wont run or unpack untill you log onto your Steam account.

that copy of Halflife cannot be played by say 40 other people because it is linked to your Steam account in which case Valve would block your account. you can also download games and upgrade your game via your steam account.

Other games makers now use Steam. If we would have to buy a new copy of BS after a few reinstalls then this will make us feel that we are only renting the game in which case the game should only cost $1.50c.

 

I build and modify my computer when ever i see the need, I also reformat my Pc on a regular basis this is a must for any one who owns a computer as after the reformatit runs a lot better.

Edited October 28, 2008 by rapid

[Grinix]

I think you misunderstand. What I meant was "Lets not discuss this like its a fact if we do not know for certain that it is".

 

I did misunderstand sorry for any hard feelings buddy. :thumbup:

 

I dont like this whole thing about limited activations with the DVD copy, as i will most likely want to install it on the many computers that i have, but then again i dont know for sure if there will be such limitations for the western release and i doubt no one will until ED makes their minds up which really makes my post a little pointless other than it being used as feedback for ED.

But i guess that in an effort to support ED and relieve myself of the hassel i could buy a copy for each computer but i hope ED dosent count on it always.

[Ratel]

Wait. DE-activations? What, do you de-activate and get back an activation or....?

 

O and if steam means its only available as download, that is a c**p idea.

[Rikus]

Other way, ED regularly every week, or 2 weeks, has a new patch for BS, also if the patch doesn´t has nothing new, just a little modification of the .exe for those who have ilegal, can´t play any more.

 

Another user that formats pc once per 2 months, and test lot of hardware.

 

Greetings

[Groove]

Maybe we should start with getting rid of they myth about formatting your PC will cost you activations. With FC we already have the possibility to safe the activation key from the registry and re-inject it after a complete OS reinstall/format without using a new activation. Activations are triggered with change of hardware.

[rapid]

 

O and if steam means its only available as download, that is a c**p idea.

 

you know not of what you speak..............you can buy a game as in a hard copy or download it if you wish, Steam unpacks the game to your account.

before saying something is c---p please check your facts first.

I own hard copies of halflife but need steam to authenticate my copy and account because they are linked.

 

Dont get me wrong i am for BS been protected and i will support it all the way. but i just want hassle free installs and game play.

Edited October 28, 2008 by rapid

[Ratel]

I apologize, but please note the IF.

 

As long as it doesn't take my bandwidth I am happy.

[d0ppler]

I totaly agree with Rapid. A distribution via Steam would be great. It's convenient and user friendly, and it also eliminates some piracy issues.