Zaisha

Reply to Welcome to agony: AKA a Stardock BETA! in Elemental Dev Journals Elemental Forums

[quote who="Dash5" reply="49" id="2339115"]to participate in the beta do you need to sign an NDA? [/quote] Alpha, yes. Beta, no.

Reply to Welcome to agony: AKA a Stardock BETA! in Elemental Dev Journals Elemental Forums

[quote who="Annatar11" reply="7" id="2338006"]Frogboy, even though you speak the truth about the Stardock betas - good lord, man, you're scaring the children! Won't somebody please think of the children? [/quote] I thought the alpha players ate them all? The ones that went homicidally insane instead of catatonic that is. Also: Brad is neglecting to mention that Stardock NDAs don't actually contain "thou shalt not speak of the alpha/beta" clauses. It's just that p

Reply to Elemental Alpha: Invites going out in Elemental Dev Journals Elemental Forums

[quote who="Ron Lugge" reply="154" id="2336992"] It would only seem fair to assume that Stardock employees are eligible for an Alpha slot. Although I don't think they would have to sign a NDA. More like, 'they already signed an NDA'! [/quote] Brad doesn't need an NDA to control what Stardock employees say, he has bees .[e digicons]8C[/e] But seriously, there are lots of professions that have a built-in NDA. For instance, translators tend to sign on

Reply to Could the beta program be an experience unto itself? in Elemental Dev Journals Elemental Forums

[quote who="onomastikon" reply="208" id="2336714"]Of course, I am in the minority, because I am not on the beta team (I simply wont have the time to dedicate, then, sadly) -- I think the majority of people who wrote "YES" many times are on the beta team -- quite obviously, they have nothing to lose and everytihng to gain. I think, however, that this is not fair primarily to YOU, the members of Stardock. So I would plead for: Early release, early first expansion -- for which of course the beta

Reply to Elemental Alpha: Invites going out in Elemental Dev Journals Elemental Forums

[quote who="Wintersong" reply="147" id="2335164"] Less than the number of situations it can get you in. [/quote] [quote who="GW Swicord" reply="146" id="2335115"] A perjury trial? [/quote] Hey, if you're getting cought, you're not doing it right. [e digicons]}:)[/e] (All silliness aside: I'm not a fan of lying, but it can be nessesary in a social context. ie. Not violating NDAs and still maintaining a conversation. Also, that new

Reply to Elemental Alpha: Invites going out in Elemental Dev Journals Elemental Forums

[quote who="ZehDon" reply="141" id="2334871"]I think asking something indirect through which the information can be gained doesn't violate the NDA. Something vague, yet helpful, like "Would you like a free Alpha pass?". Answering 'No thank you', or not answering at all, is clearly the mark of someone under the influence of an evil, all-binding document created by the Lawyers of Lucifer himself as no mortal man, woman or child could decline. [/quote] Ehm, standard operating proced

Reply to Elemental Alpha: Invites going out in Elemental Dev Journals Elemental Forums

Anyone in on the alpha would basically have 3 choices 1. not post here anymore 2. lie about being in the alpha if asked/pretending not to have inside knowledge

Reply to Elemental Alpha: Invites going out in Elemental Dev Journals Elemental Forums

[quote who="Ragnar1" reply="10" id="2328160"] I remember that one MOM bug where if you used a certain flying demon to attack in tactical combat -> crash to desktop every time. I wasn't up to speed on patches and such, so I remember just avoiding using those guys or if I fought them, I would skip tactical as a work around. [/quote] The one I remember most was that any magic-immune unit was immune to the attacks of all magical creatures as well. One unit of High Men P

Reply to Elemental Alpha: Invites going out in Elemental Dev Journals Elemental Forums

[quote who="Annatar11" reply="7" id="2328078"] So has Annatar... I never posted too much on the Elemental boards, mostly just responses to journals [/quote] Lies! He's just trying to cover up the fact he's hogging the Alpha to himself![e digicons]XO[/e]

Reply to What was the Magic of MoM? in War of Magic Elemental Forums

[quote who="KellenDunk" reply="9" id="2327341"] Quoting Tim4fun, reply 3 b. some way to get more spellbooks; if you didn't get lucky you could sometimes not get high levels of spells. I'd prefer that you could buy one, or use mana to buy one (maybe 10,000) I seem to remember finding spellbooks in caves and whatnot. [/quote] Mainly in high powered/heavily defended Nodes IIRC. I used to save before launching an at

Reply to Sovereign – king, sorcerer King or God King in War of Magic Elemental Forums

[quote who="econundrum1" reply="4" id="2327387"] True that is the classic DnD style distinction and I agree since the sovereign gives them the power an elemental channeler is more like a classic priest. However in the wider fantasy genre sense what if a magic user believed his power derived from a God, while infact it was something intrinsic? Would they be priest or magic user. If they believed in and preached about a God they'd still be a priest in my book. Of course a

Reply to Elemental Alpha: Invites going out in Elemental Dev Journals Elemental Forums

[quote who="Ron Lugge" reply="2" id="2327037"] Also, I doubt there is anything in the NDA banning you from lying to deny being selected The NDA probably doesn't prevent you from lying, no... but honesty and honor does [/quote] What are these strange and incomprehensable concepts you speak of?[e digicons]^_^[/e] [quote who="Istari" reply="9" id="2327148"]As Brad would say, Stardock betas are explicitly designed NOT to be fun in order to ensure the fi

Reply to What was the Magic of MoM? in War of Magic Elemental Forums

Chalk me up too for variety in races spell lists etc. I also loved that you could rule an empire with a huge variety of races and their units, not just "your" race that you started with. Alternatively you could genocide all other races away, if that took your fancy. (As it so often did with my death magic wielding Wizard and his ravenous swarm of Halflings.[e digicons]}:)[/e] ) What really took it above a fantasy version of Civilization though, was the personal

Reply to Elemental Alpha: Invites going out in Elemental Dev Journals Elemental Forums

[quote who="katabroc" reply="20" id="2326875"]Do you guys think Stardock will tell us how they chose that few 100 people? There´s a simple way to detect people who are under the NDA. You just ask then if they are! If they dont answer, you can be sure the NDA is under effect! Cheers, Katabroc [/quote] From earlier posts: AFIK they based it on a random number generator lottery (for people who indicated interest), with the numb

Reply to Elemental Alpha: Invites going out in Elemental Dev Journals Elemental Forums

[quote who="BoogieBac" reply="25" id="2326383"]Sorry for anyone that didn't get in...'Damn you, random number generator!!!!!' [/quote] Spare some pity for the poor guy at Stardock who gets to check and countersign 100 contracts all at once. (contracts like these need to be signed by both parties to be valid under US law too, right?) Bets on the odds of employees having been extra nice to Brad over the last couple of weeks to avoid being handed a case-specific power

Reply to Dragon Age: Origins in PC Gaming Sins Forums

[quote who="Bingjack" reply="2" id="2323355"] No companies think that any DRM will "prevent all piracy", and few opponents try to make that argument anymore, for fear of not being taken at all seriously. In even the most severe situations, it is only intended to be a speedbump. [/quote] Which is why they patch out the DRM after the first month or so, because then even the toughest DRM will be cracked, the game plastered all over the internet and there is no further pur

Reply to Dragon Age: Origins in PC Gaming Sins Forums

[quote who="Crassmaster" reply="22" id="2323192"]Quite frankly, I find the ad hoc "EA is the Devil!" stuff a little tiresome. Look at all the crap Activision and Ubisoft have been pulling the last while without anyone uttering a word of complaint, yet if EA tried some of the same stuff there'd practically be geek riots. The hypocrisy of it is rather annoying. [/quote] You're forgetting THQ in that list. Dawn of War 2 requires you register your copy with a Steam account, even if y

Reply to Dragon Age: Origins in PC Gaming Sins Forums

[quote who="Bingjack" reply="18" id="2322885"] Bioware has said that the only DRM on the Box Dragon Age game will be the traditional simple disk check. No activations or anything. [/quote] Things have changed suddenly prior to release before. Bioware changed it's mind on a number of things soon after becoming part of EA. (ex: PC only -> console version later -> delay PC version for simultanious release with console) Also, EA seems quite happy claiming that C&am

Reply to Could the beta program be an experience unto itself? in Elemental Dev Journals Elemental Forums

Most games these days would benefit from a longer testing/beta phase, so if you can handle that financially: Chalk me up in the "Definately yes" camp.

Reply to Dragon Age: Origins in PC Gaming Sins Forums

Excited, but cautious. (given EA's involvement)

Reply to C&C4 to require internet connection for singleplayer in PC Gaming Sins Forums

[quote who="Dargoon999" reply="14" id="2316940"] ehhhh, You do know I was joking, right? [/quote] Sadly, there are way too many people on the internet who either: A. Truly believe it when they make a similar statement. or B. Use it as a generic Ad Hominem flame. To be honest, I assumed you were pulling a type B. Blame my not knowing you personally or by reputation and the general failure of the internet to convey sarcasm/humour.

Reply to C&C4 to require internet connection for singleplayer in PC Gaming Sins Forums

[quote who="Dargoon999" reply="12" id="2316917"] I'm seriously starting to believe that Savyg is an employe of EA, member of the board of direction??? [/quote] Eh, the odds of an EA member of the board actually interacting with the "great unwashed" that is their circle of customers is somewhere between zero and negative 100. (even covertly) You don't have to be a company employee to agree with them. There are enough gamers in the world that sheer probability dictates

Reply to Sacred 2 - Better then Diablo II? in PC Gaming Sins Forums

[quote who="UncleanXuch" reply="7" id="2312581"]I am very curious about this title, hows the Mp? [/quote] It's not. One major complaint on the official forums is that the multiplayer servers are a barren desert. And many of the the players that do play online prefer to do so solo/not in groups. As for PvP, forget it, it's possible but it's just not the right game for it. Also, the American an European servers are strictly seperate, Americans can only go to Americ

Reply to C&C4 to require internet connection for singleplayer in PC Gaming Sins Forums

[quote who="Savyg" reply="13" id="2306654"]I'm with you, but on the other hand unlocked doors and a lack of security cameras would invite people to steal or break stuff...even if they usually don't. DRM may not keep US from much of anything, but not everyone knows where to get cracks or whatnot. [/quote] True, but to stop the casual/un-tech-savvy pirate you don't need a lot of DRM, a simple cd-key on install/multiplayer account or disc check will do it. Sure, you'd <em

Reply to C&C4 to require internet connection for singleplayer in PC Gaming Elemental Forums

[quote who="GenBlood" reply="2" id="2304563"]it stops pirates from using it I'm all for it. [/quote] It won't. If they're very creative it might take the pirates a week or so to crack it, (as opposed to days, or near instantly even), but I doubt they'll have even that much succes. Mind you, I should probably thank EA for saving me some money, as I was interested in buying it up till now.