Pirates relent on galciv!

from GalCiv2 Forums
I dont want to post any linkage, but a lot of the popular torrent sites that still host galciv2 are being flooded on the forums and comments by pleas from other pirates to NOT d/l this game, this is pretty much unprecedented afaik. Looks like starforce just opened a big ugly can of worms. Who would think that people would not take something for free just to annoy a company!
Well done brad and stardock, if only others were so approachable, responsive and personable.
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49,247 views 36 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
As I said in another post crackers and pirates have better ethics than Starfarce. A sad message a publisher sends by associating with these types...
Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
That - or else they know they're being tracked.

I'd like to think that 'pir8s' have great ethics, but then that would be a farce to even believe that - people d/l games that are quality and have so many benefits.. geez.
Siege of Centauri
Reply #3 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Actually he said they have better ethics than Starfarce, not that they have great ethics per se.

Just better than StarForce, which is a pretty low bar to pass.
Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Hopefully many that illegally downloaded the game will like it and buy the game for the updates. Some of the downloaders may just want to check out the game before deciding to buy but there is not yet a demo available. The downloading may in the end help Stardock. Let's hope so!
Reply #5 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Actually he said they have better ethics than Starfarce, not that they have great ethics per se.

Just better than StarForce, which is a pretty low bar to pass.


I'd venture to say that a random mugging is better then the premedidiated mugging starfarce gives
Reply #6 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Someone should go post some links to pirated Starforce games on their forum. See how they like that.
Reply #7 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Now, now, pokerface, even if you win, a pissing contest just ends with a whole bunch of piss everywhere. No need for that
Reply #8 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Please don't do that. Whatever their original intentions, they've apologised for their mistake. Let's leave it at that.

As for the people who wish to try it out - GalCiv II progrmmaer CariElf is working hard on getting the demo out as soon as possible. Hopefully this will sufficient for those thinking of buying it to make a decision.
Reply #9 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
No, that would be bad. Besides, you can typically find the unprotected copies anyway once you own the game.
Reply #10 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I'm not going to do it....though it would be kind of funny. Besides they would remove the link the minute they saw it.
Reply #11 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I'd just like to chime in and say that I downloaded the game without paying for it, and then after playing it for a few hours, I went and bought the game and downloaded it again legitimately.

Factors in the decision to actually pay for it were: It's a great game, I wanted to get the updates (I could've found them on my own, but this is easier), and I like the company's stance on copy-protection. So there you go -- a single anecdotal case.
Reply #12 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I did not download this game but purchased based on the strength of GalCiv itself as well as the fact that Stardock has, for as long as I can remember, actively and continually supported their products.

I admit that I have pirated games in the past and my justification is simple; I am tired of getting shafted out of 49.99 plus tax for a game that is crap. Reviews are most often always purchased and demos are highly polished so that they don't reveal what a steaming turd the full release is.

I am pleased to say that this is not the case with any Stardock product.
Reply #13 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Totally with Caelistis on that last post.

Also: I've had several games that I bought legitimately not work and had to subsequently crack them. That really ticked me off. And a note about piracy -- I've pirated my fair share of software in the past (not Gal Civ II, though), and I've found that I tend to buy the games I like anyhow. Especially if they have the kind of support Stardock has. Demos, good (unpurchased--you can tell) reviews, and good support are what sell a game the best IMO.
Reply #15 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I downloaded GalCiv2 through the use of a torrent a friend sent to me. After a couple very enjoyable days playing, I wanted in on the Metaverse experience and the updates. The interesting thing is that their system of online purchase and software manager makes it easier to buy if you already have the game through some other means. When purchasing, I entered my stardock account info in an available field. After downloading the manager and logging in, it automatically had registered the copy of GalCiv2 on my machine and began downloading the recent update. If anything, it worked out to be a kind of honour-system "try before you buy". Having an illegal copy and already being a forum member made it easier to purchase afterwards.
Reply #16 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I admit I did the same thing with Homeworld, tried a ripped copy, went "Oh cool", and bought the full copy so I could get the movies and updates.

I think most people who download games from warez never have any intention of purchasing them, so as Stardock has said, they didn't lose anything anyway. While those that do try it as a less than legal version of a demo, and do buy it are probably the minority, but still exist (obviously).

You can't really defend piracy, nor can you really stop it. And I think it is probably equating to some lost sales, but not nearly the huge numbers that the pro-copy protection groups cite.

I think Stardock has a much better, and more progressive, method of ensuring sales than annoying garbage like StarForce or SecureROM, or whatever. And as download sales become more common, more software will go this route (or similar), and disk based protection will die the death it deserves.
Reply #17 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I'll either apply for beta testing or download demo's to games I'm interested in... Personally I think its wrong to basically steal games by downloading them for free... but this is just my opinion. Its my view no other gaming company out there has done as much to make their consumers happy than Star force... I'm totally impressed with their honesty and hard work and feel they deserve my full support as far as buying the game... I haven't been fortunate enough to play it yet because my local EB store hasn't received it... But I feel if a company deserves $39.99 its definitely Star force.
Reply #18 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I think you mean Stardock, not Starforce.
Reply #19 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Let's hope so Green. Otherwise it's proof that you really can fool some of the people all of the time
Reply #20 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
But I feel if a company deserves $39.99 its definitely Star force.


I was drinking some very hot coffee when I read that.

Now I think I have third degree burns inside my nose and I trashed a good shirt and keyboard with the resulting spray!!!
Reply #21 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
But I feel if a company deserves $39.99 its definitely Star force.



Yeah, no company in history has done more to prevent obsessive gaming...
Reply #22 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
You can't really defend piracy...


I can absolutely defend piracy until the day that I am able to return software products that are broken/incomplete and/or publishers stop shoveling out broken/incomplete games.

Is it theft? No more than jacking my wallet for 49.99 plus tax for an unworking, non-returnable product.
Reply #23 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
But I feel if a company deserves $39.99 its definitely Star force.

Yeah, no company in history has done more to prevent obsessive gaming...


That's not a bad thing per se but I seriously disagree with their methods!
Reply #24 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Mmm. Caelistis' commentary reminds me that I wish somebody would come up with a feasible way to legally try out the full version of software for a short period of time, the same way you can rent DVDs and console games. That would help ameliorate that reason for piracy.

Peace & Luv, Liz
Reply #25 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
somebody would come up with a feasible way to legally try out the full version of software for a short period of time

basically, that's what Stardock did: nobody had to reverse engineer the software to make it work w/o a copy protection. People could download and try it from certain unofficial sources. That's how I got ahold of the game, and then I bought it (it's worth every cent!). In fact it would not be a bad idea to release "trial versions" to P2P networks - companies could save a lot of bandwidth this way.