Starforce protection

[jjk391]

I read somewhere online this week in a review of this game that it ships with Starforce protection on it (I HOPE not). If true, and Matrix also ships with this, I'd suggest buying the digital download only.

[Erik Rutins]

News to me - AFAIK our release will have our usual serial # protection.

[LitFuel]

ORIGINAL: jjk391

I read somewhere online this week in a review of this game that it ships with Starforce protection on it (I HOPE not). If true, and Matrix also ships with this, I'd suggest buying the digital download only.

I haven't heard of this, where did you read it?...maybe you should put a question mark after your subject line. Let's please not start another oh no it has Starforce thread unless we know for sure.

[Da_Junka]

Only in Russia, poor buggers.[:'(]

[Da_Junka]

Come on, come on, get it up for sale, it's gone GOLD already.

I can't wait to give Mr Matrix all my money.

[sage]

ORIGINAL: Da_Junka

Come on, come on, get it up for sale, it's gone GOLD already.

I can't wait to give Mr Matrix all my money.

Ditto.

[evilferretvictim]

ORIGINAL: Erik Rutins

News to me - AFAIK our release will have our usual serial # protection.

I'm just curious.... Do you really see a point in a cd/serial key protection? Something like that is easily cracked... The only reason devs use them these days is to stop pirates from playing on the legit/public multiplayer servers.. Since this game is SP only, I just don't see a point. The only thing it can possibly do is make it harder for your actual customers to start playing ASAP. Worst case scenario would involve customers getting some bad keys, which probably would take a good 12-24hrs to get resolved.

Just curious what somebody in your position thinks about it. Obviously it's impossible to stop piracy, which makes it even more pointless to use an old piracy protection method.

[Erik Rutins]

Just FYI, I confirmed 100% that our release (both download and printed/boxed) will NOT have Starforce or anything other than our normal serial number system, which is mainly for registration and update purposes. I think those of you that are familiar with us know that it's a very customer-friendly system.

Regards,

- Erik

[Erik Rutins]

ORIGINAL: evilferretvictim
The only thing it can possibly do is make it harder for your actual customers to start playing ASAP. Worst case scenario would involve customers getting some bad keys, which probably would take a good 12-24hrs to get resolved. Just curious what somebody in your position thinks about it. Obviously it's impossible to stop piracy, which makes it even more pointless to use an old piracy protection method.

It's mainly for registration purposes, so that legal customers can register their games in the Members Club (where we occasionally post extra content and early beta versions for registered customers) and also so that if someone decides to give out their serial number to some kind of piracy site, we can exclude that serial number from future updates. It's a relatively light form of protection that is pretty much all we think is necessary, given that (as you noted) every form of more intrusive copy protection on the market is easily and quickly cracked and thus fairly pointless.

This is about as hassle-free as it gets and we've had a lot of customers who are turned off by other methods tell us that what we've got works well.

Regards,

- Erik

[David Heath]

Hi Guys
 
Let me give you some updates so you have the lastest news. 
 
1) Matrix's Digital Download, Game On Demand and the Tri Synergy Retail release will not have Starforce security on it.  We use our own serial security only.  
2) The game will at this point be available for download around May 5, 2007.  This is pretty firm now.  We needed a few more days since our Gold Master to us was a few days behind everyone else.
3) The download version of the game will cost $39.99 USD our Game On Demand (Boxed version) will cost $49.99 plus shipping.  Our Game On Demand version will ship with a manual as well.
 
If any one else has any questions please let us know.
 
Thanks
 
 
 

[sage]

Evil Ferret --

I've puchased quite a number of matrix games, and find their copy protection to be extremely easy on the customer. You enter your serial key when you install, and again with updates -- that's it. I believe that it serves Matrix's purpose (avoid easy / casual copying of the game), without being burdensome to the customer.

It has never delayed or prevented me from playing a matrix game. I've been able to install games on two computers (one is a laptop) for when I'm traveling, if needed. All in all, I think it's reasonable for Matrix to want to provide reasonable protections for their property.

Of course, I'm only saying all this because Erik sent me the download link early.

Sage

p.s. just kidding on the last bit; no evil PMs or mail bombs please.
p.s.s. Erik, feel free to actually send me the download link now. Really.

ORIGINAL: evilferretvictim

ORIGINAL: Erik Rutins

News to me - AFAIK our release will have our usual serial # protection.

I'm just curious.... Do you really see a point in a cd/serial key protection? Something like that is easily cracked... The only reason devs use them these days is to stop pirates from playing on the legit/public multiplayer servers.. Since this game is SP only, I just don't see a point. The only thing it can possibly do is make it harder for your actual customers to start playing ASAP. Worst case scenario would involve customers getting some bad keys, which probably would take a good 12-24hrs to get resolved.

Just curious what somebody in your position thinks about it. Obviously it's impossible to stop piracy, which makes it even more pointless to use an old piracy protection method.

[sage]

Nooo... more delay?!

ORIGINAL: David Heath

Hi Guys

Let me give you some updates so you have the lastest news. 

1) Matrix's Digital Download, Game On Demand and the Tri Synergy Retail release will not have Starforce security on it.  We use our own serial security only.  
2) The game will at this point be available for download around May 5, 2007.  This is pretty firm now.  We needed a few more days since our Gold Master to us was a few days behind everyone else.
3) The download version of the game will cost $39.99 USD our Game On Demand (Boxed version) will cost $49.99 plus shipping.  Our Game On Demand version will ship with a manual as well.

If any one else has any questions please let us know.

Thanks