Question about seriels

They may get to play the game, but they will not be able to submit those games to the Metaverse as the MV keeps. You can also put the game that you buy on all you computers at home as long as only one is being used at a time. Stardock is pretty friendly about this. But, it does leave them open to abuse.

But wont the warez groups just buy one copy get that seriel of that game and then the warez groups would just release the updates themselves.

Well the handling of update is simple with SDC but can be tricky if you want to put them on acomputer that won't access directely to Stardock through SDC. Basically SDC will look the files on you GC2 directory, look at the list of files stocked on Stardock Server and download only the needed files. Then you must identified which files have changed to create a light update.

Sure, from time to time Stardock will make available a patch for those who can't use SDC. But it will be less frequent than the updates that will appear on SDC.

BTW, Stardock policy on piracy is: make it more convenient and more rewarding to be a customer than a pirate

Sure, from time to time Stardock will make available a patch for those who can't use SDC. But it will be less frequent than the updates that will appear on SDC.

I know that was the policy with GalCiv 1 - has that been said in the case of GalCiv 2, as well? I don't have a problem using SDC, but the FAQ posted somewhere around this forum says that you'll be able to update GalCiv 2 without the use of SDC, and makes no mention of such updates being less frequent.

I could see quite a few people being quite annoyed if they suddenly find out down the road that they're getting slower service because they don't want to use a non-essential proprietary piece of software.

Stardock might want to update that FAQ to give some forewarning, if this is indeed the case.

EDIT> Here's the full comment on the subject from Frogboy's FAQ:

Q: I don't want to use Stardock Central to get updates. Do I have to use it? A: NO. You will also be able to get updates via the website using the traditional "patch" method other games use. You will still need your serial # though.

The firmness of that "NO" would definitely have me expecting to receive updates on an equal basis to those other people get through SDC.

- Ash

I know that was the policy with GalCiv 1 - has that been said in the case of GalCiv 2, as well? I don't have a problem using SDC, but the FAQ posted somewhere around this forum says that you'll be able to update GalCiv 2 without the use of SDC, and makes no mention of such updates being less frequent.

Well, I am pretty sure that some updates on SDC will be beta updates I expect updates to be released through the traditionnal method to be stable updates, contrary to beta updates that can appear through SDC.

You are also counting on the fact of pirates to be proactive.

Thats not how it works, they crack the game, release it and then go on their merry way to the next one.

There is no fame in updating a game and sending out the updates, especially one that runs without a CD already (eliminating the need for a new crack to disable the updates)

Well... There's another method.


As the serial number has to be registered, it should be possible for Stardock to encode the serial into the download somehow and check the warez sites to figure out what serial is being used to distribute and disable it....

That, or they can wait for a bunch of stupid pirates to attempt to download patches directly, and disable serial numbers that are overused... or give them "special" patches

I prefer Fruit Loops over Special K.

coco crispies