Copy protection/DRM

[PBI]

What copy protection/DRM software does Matrix use on its games?

[EagleMountainDK]

Serial number....

You use it when installing the game and patches.

[sterckxe]

ORIGINAL: Cougar_DK

Serial number....

You use it when installing the game and patches.

Yup - no calling home on installation, no Securom, no Starforce, no nothing - just a series of digits you have to enter.

Put the serial number you get upon purchase in a file along with the installation exe, burn them to a disk and you can re-install your game at infinitum.

Greetz,

Eddy Sterckx

[sabre100]

In other words:  "THE BEST IN THE BUSINESS"  another reason why I buy Matrix games.  They rock and treat their customers with respect and as loyal customers and do not use whacky and intrusive DRM like many developers do.

[Hertston]

What he said. To be honest, though, I'm starting to come around regarding some forms of protection when they are actually designed to make life convenient for the customer as well. The Stardock system is pretty good in that regard, and was very handy when I was populating a new PC recently. Just name and password and a few button clicks, no fannying about with disks and patches.

[Grell]

Matrix is amazing.

Regards,

Greg

[sterckxe]

ORIGINAL: Hertston
What he said. To be honest, though, I'm starting to come around regarding some forms of protection when they are actually designed to make life convenient for the customer as well. The Stardock system is pretty good in that regard, and was very handy when I was populating a new PC recently. Just name and password and a few button clicks, no fannying about with disks and patches.

Yup - and then Stardock folds, the server will be shut down and you'll be left with ?

I'm very wary of any system I can't totally control myself. Right now I'm pretty sure that in 2030 I will still be able to install Conquest of the Aegean on WindozeSuperDeluxe2028 in Vista compatibility mode irrespective of the fact if Matrix Games is by then still around or not.

Nothing lasts forever, not even companies like Avalon Hill, 360 Pacific, Talonsoft - or more recently MadMinuteGames.

Greetz,

Eddy Sterckx

[PBI]

So Matrix is still using a CD-Key and that's it?  Awesome.  Is it required for disk in drive?  The only game I have is EiA as a digital download and I'm assuming those work a little differently than actual disks.

In case anyone is wondering, this question is prompted by the ongoing debate on the Bioware forums regarding their DRM schemes and a current thread asking for suggestions on how to "do things better".  I realize the target audiences are different, but, still, nice to see how other companies do things.

[HansBolter]

and here I thought Die Roll Modifiers varied from game to game!!

[Perturabo]

The gaming market got pretty weird lately. I mean, it was always weird with constant forcing gamers to buy new hardware, etc. but that internet/telephone activation stuff, intrusive DRM and weird DRM that can activate because someone has a DVD drive from a "wrong" manufacturer, etc. only prove that most of gamers will accept anything just to get their newest drug.

It's nice to know that some companies still have respect for their customers.

ORIGINAL:  sterckxe

ORIGINAL:  Hertston
What he said.   To be honest, though, I'm starting to come around regarding some forms of protection when they are actually designed to make life convenient for the customer as well.   The Stardock system is pretty good in that regard, and was very handy when I was populating a new PC recently.  Just name and password and a few button clicks, no fannying about with disks and patches.

Yup - and then Stardock folds, the server will be shut down and you'll be left with ?

I'm very wary of any system I can't totally control myself. Right now I'm pretty sure that in 2030 I will still be able to install Conquest of the Aegean on WindozeSuperDeluxe2028 in Vista compatibility mode irrespective of the fact if Matrix Games is by then still around or not.

Nothing lasts forever, not even companies like Avalon Hill, 360 Pacific, Talonsoft - or more recently MadMinuteGames.

Exactly. Also, there's a question of forced patches - sometimes there are patches that make a game less playable/less realistic or even more buggy.

[sterckxe]

ORIGINAL: PBI
So Matrix is still using a CD-Key and that's it? 

Yup - you just need to input a serial number upon installation - that's it.

ORIGINAL: PBI
Awesome.  Is it required for disk in drive? 

The only game I have is EiA as a digital download and I'm assuming those work a little differently than actual disks.

Nope - when you buy the disk version of a game you're actually getting the same installation exe as the digital download version, but burned on a cd and put in a dvd-box. The only real difference is that the disk version comes with a printed manual on top of the pdf-version which is part of the game.

ORIGINAL: PBI
... ongoing debate on the Bioware forums regarding their DRM schemes and a current thread asking for suggestions on how to "do things better".  I realize the target audiences are different, but, still, nice to see how other companies do things.

Yeah, different target audience, but when you buy a game from Matrix, you buy it, you don't rent it until the publisher decides to pull the plug on the activation server.

A nice example is the last game released by Matrix : World War 2 - Road to Victory. It's also available from GamersGate for 1 dollar less than here. Wouldn't you gladly pay the extra dollar if it made sure that you could re-install your game in the future without having to ask permission from some server, which may still be up or not, first ?

In the long run Matrix is making a lot more money because of returning, satisfied customers and to be fair : they're not the only wargame publisher who does it this way. Shrapnel, AGEod and HPS also have comparable copy protection schemes which allow you to own a game you buy, not rent it.

Greetz,

Eddy Sterckx

[hermanhum]

ORIGINAL: Perturabo

Also, there's a question of forced patches - sometimes there are patches that make a game less playable/less realistic or even more buggy.

Sounds like you're a Harpoon ANW player...

It's good to know that we don't suffer this problem alone. [;)]

[Lützow]

/edit: wrong thread

[NefariousKoel]

ORIGINAL: Hertston

What he said. To be honest, though, I'm starting to come around regarding some forms of protection when they are actually designed to make life convenient for the customer as well. The Stardock system is pretty good in that regard, and was very handy when I was populating a new PC recently. Just name and password and a few button clicks, no fannying about with disks and patches.

Unfortunately, that still qualifies as a "phone home" kind of setup. At least for updates.

I recently had a bout with SecuROM's shell extension making my Windows crash. I think this is one of the few forums I didn't complain about it in.

[Terl]

ORIGINAL: NefariousKoel

ORIGINAL: Hertston

What he said. To be honest, though, I'm starting to come around regarding some forms of protection when they are actually designed to make life convenient for the customer as well. The Stardock system is pretty good in that regard, and was very handy when I was populating a new PC recently. Just name and password and a few button clicks, no fannying about with disks and patches.

Unfortunately, that still qualifies as a "phone home" kind of setup. At least for updates.

I recently had a bout with SecuROM's shell extension making my Windows crash. I think this is one of the few forums I didn't complain about it in.

Actually Stardock is quite nice to use. The Impulse program (used to be Stardock Central) downloads the program. It tracks your serial as well. Yes, it "phones home" one time. It is not like Steam though in that Impulse need not be opened nor is any other check made when you start the game to play it. I like that and I like GamersGate as well. Steam however has to open every time you want to play one of their games.

I have been using Stardock for years now with WindowBlinds and GalCiv and more. Never had a problem. I never had an issue with GamersGate either. I find them not all that intrusive. Steam on the other hand I don't like as much. I still like the Matrix method the best though, don't get me wrong [:)]

[Zakhal]

Im starting to have trouble with som of the license system games. I have over ten of them allready and they all have different licences and I have to keep in mind the rules of each. If I forget them the developer will punish me by taking the game away from me. Ive written detailed notes that cover all the games but its getting kinda confusing allready. Also if my computer dies I might still loose everything.

Its good that matrix doesnt put up any of this crap.

[Lützow]

I have a quite simple approach on license policies. In case I'm interested in a title, I usually rent it from my local videostore. That goes for the majority of games but for those few I want to put on my shelf. Should the developer use Starforce or an activation system like Bioware recent did with Mass Effect, I'm going to skip it rather than paying 50,- bucks for something which is just good for 40 hours of gameplay.

[NefariousKoel]

ORIGINAL: Lützow

I have a quite simple approach on license policies. In case I'm interested in a title, I usually rent it from my local videostore. That goes for the majority of games but for those few I want to put on my shelf. Should the developer use Starforce or an activation system like Bioware recent did with Mass Effect, I'm going to skip it rather than paying 50,- bucks for something which is just good for 40 hours of gameplay.

Yep, I was thinking of buying Mass Effect recently and didn't for the activation system on it. Lost sale there, guys.

[Zakhal]

Its not just big game companies but small ones have started to use licensing too. I.E all battlefront games are licenced. I dont think you can rent them from anywhere.

[Zakhal]

ORIGINAL: NefariousKoel
Yep, I was thinking of buying Mass Effect recently and didn't for the activation system on it. Lost sale there, guys.

The recent mass effect patch broke the game entirely btw. FPS drop to 10. Many gamers are reporting the whole game unplayable.