You must have internet in order to update this game...keep reading!!!

from GalCiv2 Forums
OK, so I tested the archiving of patches using stardock central. I was able to archive just fine. So I moved the archived folders over to my computer without internet access. No problem there.

I installed stardock central on the non internet computer and guess what??? You have to have internet access to even install stardock central. Even if you choose the option to fill out the stardock.net info later, it still trys to connect, and if it can't, it will fail to install completely. This is bad, because if you have no internet, then you cannot update at all.

Stardock!!! you need to include stand alone patches!!!!! Period!!
10,137 views 13 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Stardock!!! you need to include stand alone patches!!!!! Period!!


You have heard the saying that no one can hear your screams in space right? Seriously though, I hope they do something for you, but I doubt it. Internet access was always at the top of my bitch list with this game and updates, but alas, I finally gave in and went for the cheapest price plan AOL has that still allows me unlimited DIAL UP hours for only 9.99 a month. High speed is still too much money in my area (after all is said and done, it would cost roughly 60.00 a month between the phone plan and service pricing).
Face it, those who don't have internet are going to be passed by so your only options are either to take the game as it is and never, ever hope to update or patch it, or spring for the cheapest internet you can get if you only need it for this game's sake. Or, if you think you can get away with it, use the 'try AOL free' discs. You will usually get roughly three months of FREE service at which time you can cancel, wait a few weeks, and then start the process all over again. I do know that AOL has somewhat caught on to this sort of thing so be warned... you may only get to do it once. After that, they will charge you and you will have to pay.
Pretty shitty, huh?
Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
High speed is still too much money in my area (after all is said and done, it would cost roughly 60.00 a month between the phone plan and service pricing).


HOLY CRAP! i pay $25 or so for cable internet.
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Reply #3 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Someone correct me if I am wrong but it is my understanding that the main reason for this is to prevent copywrite infringement/piracy.

You are able to download and play the version 1.0 with no restrictions on the game itself. It is only if you want updates that you are forced into the situation you are talking about.

Since Stardock allows you to pretty much play the game for free it is left up to you as a consumer to make an informed choice about paying for updated version and buy into their concept of copy protection. Since you have already purchased the product (assuming this) then you have already made the choice to abide by the restrictions.

It was this concept that sold me on buying the origional GC2 as it is not to often that you are allowed to play an uncrippled game for as long as you want without paying. That in itself is showing confidence in the product.


Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
HOLY CRAP! i pay $25 or so for cable internet.


Right. Verizon will gladly rent me the equipment for about 4.99 a month, or I could buy my own. Then I have to change my phone plan to include whatever crap they say I need to include, which would bump the general phone bill (before calls that is)from around 14.00 I believe to the easy inflated price of roughly 32.00 or so. Then, pending who I wish to be my ISP, the usual price plan is roughly 15.00 in addition to what I've already spent with Verizon. Trust me, if I could have true high speed for 25.00 or less with no other charges, I would have done it in a New York minute.
Remember people, things aren't always as cut and dry as some of you make it sound. My area, West freaking Virginia, is just now catching up to things that most of you probably had available oh, I don't know, maybe TWO YEARS ago! Let me tell you another one. We have Dish network. Dish offers local programming for what, an additional 5.00 a month. Doable, so I checked into it. Since the 'local' affiliate of NBC, ABC, etc. absolutely WILL NOT allow Dish to carry their programming (because Dish wants to charge them a fee for putting their programming on the air, something they simply will not listen to), therefore, I cannot get local news. Now my mother who lives in Pittsburgh (which is literally 33 miles away from me) also has Dish and also has local programming available to her. Why? Because the 'big' networks in Pittsburgh don't mind spending whatever they have to spend to get their programming into as many homes as they can. So does it make sense? Using SATELLITE, I cannot get programming that other people using the same system get some 30 miles away from me. Tell me I don't have a black cloud hanging over my town.
Reply #5 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
It was this concept that sold me on buying the origional GC2 as it is not to often that you are allowed to play an uncrippled game for as long as you want without paying. That in itself is showing confidence in the product.


Again, running to the defense. I myself saw the game at an Electronics Boutique, thought the concept was interesting, and bought it. I didn't see anything related to copy protection, or lack thereof. I bought the game because it looked good, which is probably how a good number of those who own it got it. I've said elsewhere, what is the difficulty of punching a few numbers to install a game? What is so hard about putting a CD into the tray? Is this taxing our physical being somehow? Are we too lazy? And the whole pirating thing... where there's a will there's a way so if someone wants something bad enough, they will eventually get it.
And what exactly do you mean 'uncrippled'? Don't even make me relive the nightmare of trying to get this game to run, not crash, display proper graphics, etc... Warhammer 40K has given me no issues, nor Starcraft, Civ IV, Sim City IV, The Sims 2, do you really want me to continue? This has been THE FIRST GAME I have ever bought that has asked so much of the end user just to run right. I've changed my tune over time, but people like you with comments like you make push me right back to the beginning.
Reply #6 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
It was this concept that sold me on buying the origional GC2 as it is not to often that you are allowed to play an uncrippled game for as long as you want without paying. That in itself is showing confidence in the product.


Again, running to the defense. I myself saw the game at an Electronics Boutique, thought the concept was interesting, and bought it. I didn't see anything related to copy protection, or lack thereof. I bought the game because it looked good, which is probably how a good number of those who own it got it. I've said elsewhere, what is the difficulty of punching a few numbers to install a game? What is so hard about putting a CD into the tray? Is this taxing our physical being somehow? Are we too lazy? And the whole pirating thing... where there's a will there's a way so if someone wants something bad enough, they will eventually get it.
And what exactly do you mean 'uncrippled'? Don't even make me relive the nightmare of trying to get this game to run, not crash, display proper graphics, etc... Warhammer 40K has given me no issues, nor Starcraft, Civ IV, Sim City IV, The Sims 2, do you really want me to continue? This has been THE FIRST GAME I have ever bought that has asked so much of the end user just to run right. I've changed my tune over time, but people like you with comments like you make push me right back to the beginning.


Bah! Some games are just gonna give some machines trouble.

I run this game and 5 others just fine at max settings but BF2 never ran well at all.

Reply #7 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
West freaking Virginia, is just now catching up


just to put some perspective on things, i'm currently hunting for a house to rent (in san diego). 2 bedroom/ 2 bathroom rentals are usually about $1600/month, $1200 on the low end and $2000 on the high end. modest 1-bed condos start around $300k, and many houses start in the low million range. no idea what housing is like in WV, but i imagine it's not this pricey. affordable high-speed internet is a small token.

as for stardock, i remember reading somewhere that patches may be released stand-alone, but it's lower priority than fixing the current bugs.
Reply #8 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I live in San Diego too, where did you find a 1 bedroom that starts around $300k? The ones I've been looking at start at around $425k and climb to the low 700s if you want a decent view or space. Are they in like North Park or something to be that cheap?

Anyway, there are pluses and minuses to every region. Internet access as a requirement to be able to install patches was a business decision stardock made. Maybe that information should have been included on the store packaging, but you won't get my support if you are looking to set up a class action. You can always play the unpatched game without the internet.
Reply #9 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I live in San Diego too, where did you find a 1 bedroom that starts around $300k? The ones I've been looking at start at around $425k and climb to the low 700s if you want a decent view or space. Are they in like North Park or something to be that cheap?


a few new condo developments i've seen in University Heights, Hillcrest and even Mission Hills have advertized units starting in the low 300s; now that i think about it, they're probably sleeper studios with no view (possibly no window), not anything decent.
Reply #10 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
what gets me is that I beleive the patches used to be stand alone. I never had to get SDC until DA (to download DA) and I had an updated game for about a year now.

I understand that SDC is Stardock's form of ant-piracy, but the problem is that its not easily identified prior to buying. My box (original Galciv2 - Collectors) says internet is only required for metaverse. Now I can understand the argument: "Well if you wanted to update your game you'd need internet in the first place!", but that arguement doesn't take into account people who use public internet from libraries, cafes, etc.

Reply #11 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
what gets me is that I beleive the patches used to be stand alone. I never had to get SDC until DA (to download DA) and I had an updated game for about a year now.

I understand that SDC is Stardock's form of ant-piracy, but the problem is that its not easily identified prior to buying. My box (original Galciv2 - Collectors) says internet is only required for metaverse. Now I can understand the argument: "Well if you wanted to update your game you'd need internet in the first place!", but that arguement doesn't take into account people who use public internet from libraries, cafes, etc.



And that is exactly my point, I live up in the boonies and my only internet access is at work. That is fine and dandy as I can download patches and the sig.bin to activate the game, but I am SOL at home due to the fact that SDC can only be installed when an active connection exists.

Maybe stardock can make an offline only version of SDC that would only use archives, then we would be in business, of course stand alone patches would be just as good.
Reply #12 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
elcid11; keep trying. I don't have an internet connection at home either, but by perseverance, I was able to install SDC then DA and its recent patch. Unfortunately, it's a while back so I can't remember how I did it. I know it took me a couple of times but it did work. The patch was easier, its installing SDC that's the hard bit. I know that when you install SDC you have to ignore a lot of the prompts (about no connection) just click on "next" or "do it later", something like that. Anyway, sorry I can't be more specific but it can be done. Good Luck. If I can remember how I did it I'll let you know.
Reply #13 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
elcid11; keep trying. I don't have an internet connection at home either, but by perseverance, I was able to install SDC then DA and its recent patch. Unfortunately, it's a while back so I can't remember how I did it. I know it took me a couple of times but it did work. The patch was easier, its installing SDC that's the hard bit. I know that when you install SDC you have to ignore a lot of the prompts (about no connection) just click on "next" or "do it later", something like that. Anyway, sorry I can't be more specific but it can be done. Good Luck. If I can remember how I did it I'll let you know.


YOU ARE A GENIOUS, I did what you said and tried again. Bam, got it all to work now. OH yeah.

This thread can now be deleted as there is no need for stand alone patches. WOOT WOOT.