Forge of Freedom - Invalid serial key when trying to patch

[Malte279]

Hi,
I'm aware that this might not be the section of choice for this question, but I was told that it might be overlooked easily in the section where it belongs and where I posted the following message originally:

Hello,
on September 16th I purchased Forge of Freedom as a download from Metaboli Games. Along with the download file I received an order number and a "multiplayer key".
The later enabled me to install the game properly, but whenever I try to install the newest patch for the game (which according to internet reviews is to fix a couple of bugs I have already encountered in the game) the entering of that "multiplayer key" will just give me a note that the key is invalid and the patch can't be installed.
Ever since I have been exchanging emails with metaboli and playhistory.net
Who suggested that the latest patch might not be working for the downloadable version of the game and promised that there would be a new patch developed by their packaging department that would work with downloadable version of the game. So far nothing has been developed and I doubt it will, the much the more as I haven't seen anyone else with the same problem (so I suppose it might not be the patch itself after all that is causing the problem).
In the last mail I received from a worker at metaboli he suggested me to turn to this forum and ask if I could have my key replaced to see if the newest patch can be used with a different key.

I really think Forge of Freedom would be a truly awesome game for me if it wasn't for those bugs (e.g. Units just mysteriously vanishing from the turn based battlefields even though they were not anywhere near any combat or routed units at all, or even if they were surrounded so they should have surrendered rather than vanishing into thin air) which I hope would be solved by the most recent patch. Please let me know if this problem occurred before and if there is any way to mend it.

PS: I'm using Windows Vista and don't know if this might have anything to do with the problem.

[goodwoodrw]

G'day malte, I not aware of the company u have d\l your copy from, however for the quickest reply u should post in the FOF forum. Someone like Gil will be able to help for sure. I am uncertain if all patches are compatible so I won't make any comment on your problem. a response from developers may take some time due to the Festive season, but hang in there I'm sure your issue can be resolved
Ron

[Lützow]

I suspect that metaboli and matrix version of FoF are not interoperable.

[Hertston]

ORIGINAL: Lützow

I suspect that metaboli and matrix version of FoF are not interoperable.

Sounds that way. Matrix/DR have a particular format for the serial number for all their games (which is required on install, not a 'multiplayer key'); the Metaboli distribution may even have been arranged direct with Western Civilization and have nothing to do with them. This sort of thing is becoming more frequent as games get sold by multiple digital distributors.

[Malte279]

Thank you for your responses,

G'day malte, I not aware of the company u have d\l your copy from, however for the quickest reply u should post in the FOF forum. Someone like Gil will be able to help for sure.

I posted the same message in the FOF Forum before I posted it here. Gil recommended me to post the message in the general discussion as well as it would be more likely to be noticed by members of the Matrix staff in this section.
I had been exchanging mails with a workers of Metaboli ever since I bought the game and they had, in the end, suggested me to post here. The installation of the game was working without any problem. Is there anything that can be done about it?

[Lützow]

Well, I know Metaboli as German publisher/distributor, selling licensed titles by using his own DRM scheme. Guess the only thing you could do is asking if their FoF is identical with the genuine version or hoping that Gil R. finds a solution. If he can't help you, nobody else here can.

Having said that, I'd take it as a lesson for the future to not purchase games from Metaboli anymore.

[KittyHawk]

[font=calibri]Malte279,[/font]
[font=calibri][/font] 
[font=calibri]Give this a try.  Go to your directory for Forage of Freedom it should look something like this[/font]
[font=calibri]C:\Matrix Games\forage of freedom[/font]
[font=calibri]See if you can find a file called “serialreg.txt” and open it with notepad.  You can do this by right clicking on the file name go to OPEN WITH and then select NOTEPAD.[/font]
[font=calibri]Your Matrix serial number should be there.  If it is give that number a try when the update procedure asks for a serial number.[/font]
 
[font=calibri]KHawk[/font]
 

[killroyishere]

I got my Matrixgames serial numbers and order number in email. I quickly copied and pasted them to notepad for easy access to copy and paste when installing the games as well as the patches. I do find it annoyingly strange that one has to re-input the serial numbers everytime one does a patch update though.

[leastonh1]

ORIGINAL: killroyishere

I got my Matrixgames serial numbers and order number in email. I quickly copied and pasted them to notepad for easy access to copy and paste when installing the games as well as the patches. I do find it annoyingly strange that one has to re-input the serial numbers everytime one does a patch update though.

From what I read in another thread somewhere, they do this to prevent people who use pirated copies of the games from patching them. The serial numbers released with the pirated copies get blacklisted and so patching stops working. Makes perfect sense to me. Copying and pasting a serial number is a lot less hassle than 99% DRM on the market and partly why many people support Matrix over other publishers. Try online activation or limited number of installs with some games and you'll change your mind about this method. [;)]

[Phatguy]

ORIGINAL: Jim_H

ORIGINAL: killroyishere

I got my Matrixgames serial numbers and order number in email. I quickly copied and pasted them to notepad for easy access to copy and paste when installing the games as well as the patches. I do find it annoyingly strange that one has to re-input the serial numbers everytime one does a patch update though.

From what I read in another thread somewhere, they do this to prevent people who use pirated copies of the games from patching them. The serial numbers released with the pirated copies get blacklisted and so patching stops working. Makes perfect sense to me. Copying and pasting a serial number is a lot less hassle than 99% DRM on the market and partly why many people support Matrix over other publishers. Try online activation or limited number of installs with some games and you'll change your mind about this method. [;)]

Hell, I find it annoying too but will continue supporting this method as it makes sense for Matrix and the customers..Better this than any limited install DRM poop...

[Erik Rutins]

Who exactly are Metaboli games? Can you send me a link?

When we partner with people (and I don't recall these) we do the installers ourselves.

The only reason I can think of that an update wouldn't install is if your game is a later already updated full installer with an additional serial number that didn't exist when the update was first created. Check the version number in your game and compare it to the update.

Please also e-mail me at erikr@matrixgames.com with a link to Metaboli and your serial number and I'll check it out on our end.

Regards,

- Erik

[Malte279]

I'm sorry about my late response. I did not have internet access for a few days.

Malte279,

Give this a try. Go to your directory for Forage of Freedom it should look something like this
C:\Matrix Games\forage of freedom
See if you can find a file called “serialreg.txt” and open it with notepad. You can do this by right clicking on the file name go to OPEN WITH and then select NOTEPAD.
Your Matrix serial number should be there. If it is give that number a try when the update procedure asks for a serial number.

KHawk

Thank you for your help.
However, the number in the file is identical with the one I recieved from Metaboli. It works fine for the installation of the game, but will open up an "Invalid Serial Number" window if used in the attempt to get the last patch installed.

Who exactly are Metaboli games? Can you send me a link?

Sure, here is their main page: http://www.metaboli.co.uk/

The only reason I can think of that an update wouldn't install is if your game is a later already updated full installer with an additional serial number that didn't exist when the update was first created. Check the version number in your game and compare it to the update.

The version of the game that is running on my computer is version 1.10.5 while the Patch would be version 1.10.10 (this is the latest patch released so far, isn't it?). I also tried installing the older patches 1.2.3 and 1.9.23, but in both cases I got the same window saying "Invalid Serial Number".

Please also e-mail me at erikr@matrixgames.com with a link to Metaboli and your serial number and I'll check it out on our end.

Thank you very much[:)]
I will send you the mail right away.

[Erik Rutins]

Hello,

Unfortunately, that's what I was afraid of. No one has a license to sell download versions of Forge of Freedom other than Matrix Games. You've been conned and what you have is an illegal copy. I admit their site sure looks legitimate, but they are not a partner of ours and _no other company_ worldwide has rights to sell download versions of our games. There are some companies allowed to sell physical boxed versions of a few of our games that went to retail releases and a few trusted resellers like NWS who also have boxed copies, that's it.

The reason the updates won't work on it is that we periodically blacklist serial numbers that are known to have been pirated. We don't support pirated copies, I suggest you purchase a legal copy from our store if you enjoy the game as neither we nor the developers got any money from your prior purchase.

On a side note, thanks for calling our attention to this Metaboli site, we will be contacting them immediately.

Regards,

- Erik

[JudgeDredd]

I cannot see Forge of Freedom on there. I do, however, see Hired Guns JA...are they allowed to sell that?

I cam across this site once when it seemed the only place I could get a game (outside of America)...As soon as I saw the monthly charge, I left!

[Greybriar]

Go after them, Erik! Make them pay!

[Malte279]

They did offer Forge of Freedom back in September (I purchased it there on the 16th).
I'm sure there must be some misunderstanding, for it were members of Metaboli who, after they couldn't solve the problem, recommended me to ask for help here. I doubt they would do that if they were aware of anything illegal about their business. In any case I will contact them as well. Should there be anything illegal about the download they sold this may be a legal case rather than a patch problem.

[Malte279]

I had contacted two workers of Metaboli about the game who should therefore be able to explain to answer questions (just to prevent any false impression I do not WANT a pirated copy and never thought the download I purchased for $49.99 to be anything but perfectly legal). I am going to send you their email addresses Erik.

[Erik Rutins]

Thanks, got your e-mail. I will contact them and find out what's going on. It certainly does seem odd that anyone selling our games illegally would send you to us for support. However, I'm sure that no one else has the rights to sell download versions of our games.

Regards,

- Erik

[Gil R.]

Erik, several months ago there was an Italian company that was in touch with me and then Sean about the possibility of selling FOF. Any chance these are the guys? Last I heard nothing was agreed upon, but maybe...

[madgamer2]

Why oh why did you buy the game from this of the wall place? Was it to save a couple of bucks? I would suggest you order the game from Matrix directly this time. if you just get the download version then copy the download install file to a CD or put it somewhere in a folder. It sound to me like this copy you bought is not the same as Matrix would have sold you.

Madgamer