auto update issue. just bought the game. Help!!!

i cannot figure this one out! ?!

from Stardock Forums
hello.

i just purchaced the political machine a few hours ago through a local dept store.(amazing to find it there i thought)

my problem is after installation and registering it ect, ect. i open my stardock to see if any updates exist and it tells me "your political machine registration information is invalid. please check email addy and serial # are entered correctly within the register products dialog."

now... i assumed it was me and triple checked my information at the site it sent me to to register. all accurate. still same issue. so i decide to peel the game off and start over. this time i installe dthe game in the stardock/totalgaming folder(thinking it may solve the problem). same dialog box pops up.
i try going to the games site(politicalmachine.com) to download the update there. i get and install the update(1.02) no sweat. but it still wont allow me to get the 1.02.021 from stardock.

now when it warns me that my information may be inaccurate, i.e. serial/email, i relize it never asked for a serial. in addition, no serial was with the boxed game at all. no where in the box of on the jewelcase was there any number of any kind. i sit and ponder where i went wrong. then it dawns on me to look at the cd. on it(and the box) it has UbiSoft logos on it. i play freelancer and community i play at had some recent talk about some users purchasing ubisoft copies of Freelancer(a microsoft game). these said copies of freelancer wont work with the server admins mod installer. the owners of these apperently pirated copies of freelancer are s.o.l. when using our servers mod as the admin likes a nice legit server. my long winded point or question rather is; Is my copy of the political machine a knockoff??? i was under the assumption that it was a stardock game. and this ubisoft logo all over makes me feel like i got the shaft, and i assume its the reason i cannot download the recent updates.

any light shed on this situation is greatly appreciated!!!!
i have a reciept from the store and the total package it came in for what its worth.

suppose next time ill just buy the game here. lol

---j


oh, did i mention that GalCiv2 is the greatest game ever!! ever!
9,524 views 10 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top
ok, im an arse. i see ubisoft all over political machines site, TG.net, ect ect.

sooo, if its not a bootleg copy like the aformentioned freelacer copiers. why can i not download the games update??





double post of doom!
Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top
For some reason which I can't recall, no serials were made or sent for the retail copies published by Ubisoft. As such, retail PM cannot be registered with SDC.

AFAIK though, the .021 build on SDC is either an insignificant update or the same as the standalone patch, as the release notes on SDC are identical to the ones for the standalone patch. So you're not losing anything in the end aside from the ability to download the entire game (and you have the disc, so moot that problem).
Sins of a Solar Empire II
Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top

I really want the patch. I like having my software up to date, and I have just installed Impulse, which is telling me that there is an update available. How do I get it?

Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top

This post is for TPM2004  :)

But if Impluse is saying that there is an update for TPM2008, click on the update tab, click on TPM2008, click on the update button in teh lower right.

Reply #6 from PolMach Forums Top

RobotHive,

The game you bought is Political Machine, which was developed by Stardock and published by Ubisoft.  It came out in 2004.  Since UbiSoft was the publisher, they determined how people got updates.

Our newest game is called Political Machine 2008.  We developed and published it ourselves this time and all updates for it can be obtained by using Impulse (our replacement for Stardock Central).

I just wanted to point that out, in case you weren't aware.  I'd hate for you to think that you were playing our latest political game when in fact you are playing the 2004 version.

Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top

CrazyC0330
End of quote
the origianl poster is a bit . . well . . dated. 

jbbdude, let us know how your update went with TPM2008

Reply #8 from PolMach Forums Top

Ahh.

Reply #9 from PolMach Forums Top

I know quite well that this is for the 2k4 version. I'm still using it.

I was disappointed by "Express" and don't plan to pay for an updated version of something I paid for. I recognize that Multiplayer and graphics are far superior, but I don't really need those. I play because it's a challenge in political strategy, and it was then just as well.

I am looking for the 1.0.2.021 patch to the old one. It was released via Impulse, but you are requiring a serial, which didn't come with my Ubisoft store copy.

Again, I hope you don't plan to stop supporting a game that is still being sold through your own online store.

I really love the game. I'm even considering downloading Corporate Machine.

Reply #10 from Stardock Forums Top

https://www.politicalmachine.com/article/323635/Bought_CD_back_in_2004_cant_do_update