Finnek

very disappointed

▼

very disappointed

from Sins Forums

Hi everyone,

i just wanted to tell the developers and even more the publishers how disapointed i am.

I bought a copy of SoaSe via Amazon, and yes, it's a used one. Nonetheless, i OWN a hardware copy of it now, and think i should be able to play the game.

 

Here come the BIG problems. The game crashes 15 secs after i start it, doesn't matter what i do. I am told to update via Impulse. Impulse itself crashes after about 30 secs, no matter what i do.Why am I forced to pull the update via this crappy piece of software? I remember Neverwinter Nights, where Bioware held updates for every former version to the newest one, e.g. from 1.25678 to 1.5, from 1.25689 to 1.5, etc. Must have been hundrets of separate updates, but if the ingame updater didn't work, you were able to download them, no matter what!

You should really think about your policies here.

Although i know the email-adress of the former owner, which is bound to the serial, i can't update the damn game.

This sucks, and i have to admit that i will buy no other game from you in the future.

 

Best regards

79,089 views 63 replies
Reply #51 from Sins Forums Top

How about not double posting in the same thread?

Reply #52 from Sins Forums Top

for a second i thought i was on the eve online forums :O

i love sins :)

because its nice!

oh and my copy works :P

 

 

ObjectDock - Access shortcuts and frequently used applications from an animated dock.
Reply #53 from Sins Forums Top

sorry bout the double post, I had the thread open after posting and hit refresh and it reposted...der der der...:P

Reply #54 from Sins Forums Top

What necessarily is the topic of this thread anyhow?

Pirating?



EULA?



The game working right?



Or flaming the poster?

 

Kind of all of the above with the exception of "game working right" and a smidgeon of class action lawsuit.

 

edited to show who I was responding to

Reply #55 from Sins Forums Top

Back to topic:


Here come the BIG problems. The game crashes 15 secs after i start it, doesn't matter what i do. I am told to update via Impulse. Impulse itself crashes after about 30 secs, no matter what i do.Why am I forced to pull the update via this crappy piece of software? I remember Neverwinter Nights, where Bioware held updates for every former version to the newest one, e.g. from 1.25678 to 1.5, from 1.25689 to 1.5, etc. Must have been hundrets of separate updates, but if the ingame updater didn't work, you were able to download them, no matter what!

I bought a copy of SoaSe via Amazon, and yes, it's a used one. Nonetheless, i OWN a hardware copy of it now, and think i should be able to play the game.

Although i know the email-adress of the former owner, which is bound to the serial, i can't update the damn game.

This sucks, and i have to admit that i will buy no other game from you in the future.

I think there are two points here - SOASE crashing and Impulse crashing. I think that there is likely something wrong with the Windows setup. I do not think that updating to a newer version necessarily helps. If you do wish to update, try updating to 1.05, for which the updater is downloadable without using Impulse. If you have already updated to 1.05 and the problem still persists, then that is more reason to believe (together with the fact that Impulse crashes) that there are other problems in the Windows/PC setup. So I would begin my investigation there - AV Scan, Disk Defrag, drivers update, make sure Window is up-to-date with all relevant patches (eg XP SP3) etc etc.

I think when buying something, a lot of it is caveat emptor buyer beware, especially things like second hand games. Here's a question for you to think about. If it really does not work, and you are unhappy with the update system/quality of after sales support/etc etc, you should take your reciept back to the store and ask for a refund.

Hmm, you bought it from Amazon/Joe Blow.. Better check with them (as opposed to stardock/ironclad) the store return policy..

EDIT: What's up with the quoting system on this forum wrt posts? Keeps messing things up..

EDIT 2: Sorry forgot to add, another thing to check is the HDD - do a proper HDD/FS check. And try cleaning the contacts on your memry chips and/or do a memory chip test. It could be HW related too..

Reply #56 from Sins Forums Top

So to put this whole debate to rest

1) Impulse needs to allow you to view the EULA before you buy the game online.

2) Stores need to have a way for the customers to read the EULA before they buy the game

3) Perhaps there needs to be a central EULA site that all software EULAs can be found at for just this reason... Hmm - these's an idea...

Frogboy - contact me if you are interested in setting up this business idea with me :)

Reply #57 from Sins Forums Top

Quoting Hack78, reply 6
So to put this whole debate to rest

1) Impulse needs to allow you to view the EULA before you buy the game online.

2) Stores need to have a way for the customers to read the EULA before they buy the game

3) Perhaps there needs to be a central EULA site that all software EULAs can be found at for just this reason... Hmm - these's an idea...

Frogboy - contact me if you are interested in setting up this business idea with me

 

LOL a central site with nothing but you EULAs, oh man. Have you ever read fully through an EULA Hack78?

I tried once, the first third made sense, then it turned into legal jarble and I couldn't force myelf to read anymore aftwerwards. My eyes began to bleed, my internal organs started to hemmorrage, and my brain almost fried and I just couldn't read anymore without the risk of death. It was however the microsoft office EULA, which was probably written by a team of spec foce lawyers anyhow.

From a legal stand point would be a good idea though.

Reply #58 from Sins Forums Top

Still not good enough from a legal standpoint, I don't think. The EULA must be available at the point of sale. You cannot expect that someone who is buying a game at a store is going to go home first to check the EULA on the internet. Now, if you're talking for DD only, then you may be onto something.

Reply #59 from Sins Forums Top

Yeah, but the only reasonable way for stores to do that is if there's a generic EULA for all the publishers.. which will never happen. I suppose per-publisher it might not be too big either, but if they put up EULAs per-title, well... :P

Reply #60 from Sins Forums Top

I have read through a EULA - as painful as it was.

If there was a central online list of them, then you could look at it before you go to the store, or got a second hand copy. Someone could even put a link to the EULA on their ebay item so the person knew they couldn't play online etc... from the EULA...

And of course, stores could have a console for people to read the EULA before they buy it.....

It doesn't fix all the issues, but it would give you more options. And you could track the history as it is updated... and maybe even have a section where people explain it in english... i.e.

"Sins of a Solar Empire uses a serial tied to a centeral online account for multi-player and patching. This serial is not transferable. As such you will not be able to update second hand versions"... etc... etc...

And one more idea - it could also mention if there is any DRM crap as well, such as securerom etc.... This way customers are fully informed. BTW, is anyone aware of any legal issues with posting a EULA online? (I guess some of the EULAs themselves would not allow it :D )

Reply #61 from Sins Forums Top

An Idea would be to transfer the serial to a diff account for a fee of course.  Stardock makes money on it. and they are still supporting the Serial number / license that was purchased originally. To make it legit both users would have to agree to the switcch so you don't have people stealing your license.

Reply #62 from Sins Forums Top

An Idea would be to transfer the serial to a diff account for a fee of course. Stardock makes money on it. and they are still supporting the Serial number / license that was purchased originally. To make it legit both users would have to agree to the switcch so you don't have people stealing your license.

 

You have to pay a customer service person to be available to make these kind of transactions.  Not only do you pay their salary, but you rent the space they work in, and pay for their desk, chair, computer, phone, and office supplies, etc.  So all of the sudden, this service to switch the account costs $20.   The guy probably paid $20 on Amazon for the used copy.  Add the two together, and he could have just bought it from Stardock to begin with.

The fellow did not get what he expected to get, and it is a problem he should take up with Amazon / the seller since he bought it from them.

Reply #63 from Sins Forums Top

First, Hack 78 you read an entire EULA, I think I am going to have a plaque made for you and hang it on my wall, "The man who read an entire EULA".

Second I agree with the part about stating whether or not software uses the the securerom and similar security software for the disc. I remember the whole thing with (I don't remember the name "star-something") security software that messed up peoples O/S and even broke some peoples cd rom drivers. It ended preventing the sales of the game when people found out about it, and actually led to people getting cracked pirated versions so it wouldn't mess up their PC.

 

I also agree with Cykur, the problem of not getting what he was expecting should be taken up with Amazon or the seller as they are the ones that made money on the transation and thus in my eyes responsible for misrepresentation of what the customer was getting.