However an update should not be programmed to require technical support immediately after it is installed.

I agree wholeheartedly. I update via Stardock Central and thus I don't have that kind of problem, but I don't understand why the offline update process was made the way it is now (a friend of mine is having the same problem). Wouldn't it be enough to make the user enter his serial code once when installing the game and checking that later somehow when a patch is installed?

I like Stardock's innovative "protection policy", but this doesn't fit in the general scheme and gets a thumb down from me.

I agree, same promblem I have. I mean a couple of people come on these boards and complain a few times about a feature in game, maybe if we Non Internet users complain enough they will change this. I mean When You have the Dam Retail Disk in your hands and installed from that, this crap should not have to happen. Download version I can undeerstand though.

Oh another thing, it would be a little different if the process was automated or someting. You send email and instantly get something back, but nope you have to wait for someone to READ it, then do whatever it is they do, then they send it back. So if they are not a stardock when you send the email your screwed. The process really sucks the more I think about it. Of course again if we had internet we wouldn't really give a rats butt. But we don't sooo.

Do any of you guys own a Valve product? Where you simply CAN'T update unless the machine that has the game is connected to the Internet? There's no option to be able to download the patches as separate files. If you don't have the Internet, you simply can't patch the game (and you have to have connectivity to even run the game the first time out).

Granted Stardock's methods aren't perfect, but like with most things in the world, there is worse out there.

-HM

Granted Stardock's methods aren't perfect, but like with most things in the world, there is worse out there.

Stardock does not use StarForce DRM which causes problems for many, they do not require the CD to be in the computer to play the game, they allow you to install the game from the CD without your serial number on multiple computers (as long as you own them all and only play the game on one at a time)! They only enforce their version of copyright protection when you download and install their FREE updates. This encourages players to buy the game rather than pirate it. Through StardockCentral they can monitor how many times you download, where from, and when. If the same user is downloading from the US eastcoast and the U.K. at the same time or the number of downloads is excessive then they know that multiple people are using the same serial number.

Other companies require you to be online and don't provide any alternative. Take a look at Microsoft's Windows Media DRM Link

I agree they should automate their offline authentication but be thankfull there is an offline alternative and all the great options I mentioned above.

Case in point:

48 hours ago I sent in a request for an email activation. 20 hours later I receive a response requesting I provide information about my place of purchase. I responded this information was optional according to the directions and I did not wish to provide it. It has been over 24-hours since my response and I have not received any further updates. According to your company posts, response should be about an hour during the work week. It is this fiasco that I have been trying to avoid all along (see my posts on your site). Being dependent on your company to respond now or three years from now is the problem. In any case, I have effectively purchased an overpriced coaster. I am truly disappointed and your lack of response has only proven my point. You can assume I will no longer be supporting your company, its products, or people. Moreover, I will go out of my way to dissuade others from purchasing your products.

Yes, something did happen. They dropped the ball as expected. Their email stated:

Please be sure to fill out ALL fields of the activation dialog.
You had not entered place of purchase.

As I mentioned before, the dialog said the place of purchase is optional. I opted not to provide it. Their response says nothing about incorrect code or anything else that may be the problem. 27 hours and counting, still no response. Thanks for nothing Stardock... All you've managed to do is prove my point. No wonder the gaming industry is tanking and sales are way down. Keep up the work and you'll all be looking for a new job.

I am having the same problem. As far as I understand optional means optional not mandatory. We are no longer able to play Galactic Civilizations 2 because if the computer is not connected to the internet to activate you are out of luck. So you figure out the optional way to activate and send in the info only to get a reply stating it does not state where you purchased the game from. We did not include that info because it said it was optional. If it is mandatory then state that it is mandatory and the information would have been provided in the first place.

So now we have to wait perhaps another day before the game is playable because the info had to be sent in again including the important information of what store sold the game. Knew it was either FutureShop or EB Games but didn't know for sure till we found the receipt. We would rather have copy protection then having to go through this frustration to get a game that was playable to be playable again.

Now it looks like we won't get the file needed to be able to play the game till after the weekend. Keep up the great work StarDock! This is just great....not!

That's not the point Malkuth. Some of us have dedicated systems that for one reason or another cannot connect to the Internet. All this jumping through hoops just to activate a patched game simply is not worth it. Copy protection and leaving the CD in is far better than going through this mess they call a better way. What's more is the process is not automated. If it were we'd get a response much sooner rather than waiting for someone to return from their lunch, smoke, coffee, restroom breaks, meetings, the weekend, and whatever else they are doing instead of their job!!! Come on Stardock!!! It's been over 30 hours and still no response. I know you guys are pissed at me, but I stand by my complaints because they are legit. Grow up and do your jobs. You have a real prolblem here, suck it up, fix it, and admit it needs improveming. I paid hard earned money for your product, do you or don't you stand by it?

WARNING..... Do not read the following if you don't want to get lectured.

BTW, Frogboy, I could care less if I could download the entire game if need be. If I can't get the patched game to activate in the first place it does me no damn good to download it. I was brought up to take care of my own and take responsibility for my actions. If I don't have the common sense to care for my belongings then I don't deserve to have them. Come on people, have you become so lazy and irresponsible and irrespectful of yourself that you need to have someone watch your back and do what you should be doing? Wake up!!! The rest of the world is coming up fast and strong and all we Americans can do is bitch and complaining about it. It's time to grow up, take responsibilty for yourself. Have pride in yourself and your work. Live with high conviction and morales. Expect better of everyone and take no less. If America is to remain a world power, Americans need to open their eyes to the reality. We as a nation have become fat and lazy and always looking to blame others for the sorry state we've created for ourselves. Don't live in the short term and sacrifice the future for the quick buck. Rise up and work harder, be better, and expect better.

Fed up and frustrated...

It's been 65-hours since my original request for an email activation file. I still have not received any updates. Thanks for the great cutomer service, NOT!!!

BTW, thanks for finally admitting there is a problem with your activation system. Unfortunately, what is blatantly missing from the outside of the retail box is 'Internet Connection Required'. You don't find this out until you open the box and read the manual; which by that time is too late to return the game to the retailer. Being x-ray vision impaired, I would think there are many others out there who suffer from the same deficit. On top of all that, I challenge anyone to truthfully admit to reading through the manual before ripping open the CD packaging for install just to see what the game looks like.

Gookamundo: We've tracked the source of the bug, which was a mis-print of your email address in the activation request. A team member has sent you a file that should get the game running for you