I want to buy this game but...

where is the search button anyways?

from GalCiv2 Forums
I havent played a good game like this since MOO2, and im hopeing this one will be great.

From what I have read it will be, and I have already made up my mind to buy it pending one thing.

Will this game use star force as the copy protection?
10,122 views 12 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top
From what I have read on these forums, the game uses no copy protection. You will not be able to download updates or extra content with out a valid serial number however.
Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top
That is correct it is mentioned explicitly on the forums somewhere (though i don't know where). Basically the developers don't believe in copy protection. So Starforce is definitely not in the picture.
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Reply #3 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
If you have the CD, you don't even need to enter the serial number to install the game. You only need it to submit scores to the metaverse and download the bonus pack and such. If your computer dies and you lose the CD and you need to re-download the entire game, you'll need to have registered your serial number for that as well.
Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top
So, the Bonus Pack and future updates you won't be able to download without having the Serial # and Stardock Central installed onto your computer. Correct?

Wan't to get it clear as I intend to buy the game and am I a jam (sort of) as I dont' have any interent service atm and don't know how long will it be before I get one, in the meen time I'm using my library's computer to surf the net.
Reply #5 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
So, the Bonus Pack and future updates you won't be able to download without having the Serial # and Stardock Central installed onto your computer. Correct?


Yes
You need a valid serial number to download game updates and bonus pack.

I think that for updates you don't need stardock. In galciv one they wre also available as standalone downloads. But they are less frequent (I mean there was several small updates via stardock, and then they were all put together in one file from time to time).
Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top
I'm not sure if this is true for GC2, but for GC1 it was possible to download updates as a patch without using SDC. Provided you could get the patch from your library computer to your home PC, you could still get updates.
Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top
sweet. I just found out about this game a few days ago.....and its only a few days till release. It doesn't get much better than that.

As to me not having to look for a no-cd crack

Hope my shop has it on release.
Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top
It is stated explicitly in the FAQ (sticky in the galciv II forum) that there will be classic downloadable patches as well as updates through Stardock Central. The classic updates are just like all other games (a new version released once in a while, though most games don't get the king of support stardock gives). If you use stardock central you get the updates much faster, and much more often.
Reply #9 from Stardock Forums Top
Stardock is on record saying that Starforce is not a good idea for them, as they think they'd lose more sales due to hassle then lose due to piracy. Personally, I think the people who are truly hassled just get a crack anyways when it's done- like I did with Civ IV. That being said, Stardock's lack of nuisance causing is a factor in what I buy- I avoid games with excessive copy protection- though most of them are EA games, and I boycott that company due to its lack of respect for its workers and customers.
Reply #10 from Stardock Forums Top
Starforce is a bad idea in general. Im the manager of a Lan Gaming Center in belfast and we cannot run a single starforce protected game, as currently giving CD's to customers wouldn't be exactly wise. We use a program called gamejackal (this way we dont have to crack games or anything illegal), but starforce won't play ball. We did email them and got a resounding "hard luck" back from them. Sucks.
Reply #11 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Well, Stardock policy on piracy is : make it more rewarding to be a customer than a pirate. And your serial Id is the way to identify that you are a customer.

And some adavantages are:
- need only a valid serial Id to download the full game
- no need for CD to play the game

There is also a way to get by e-mail all serial Id you have registered on Stardock servers.
Reply #12 from Stardock Forums Top
StarForce are the Dark Side!

StarForce's policy on copy protection is - If you are having problems with our copy protection, you must be a pirate! Even though its blatantly obvious that only those with the original game would have trouble with the copy protection and that StarForce protected games are cracked within 10 days of release.

Join the StarForce boycott!
http://www.glop.org/starforce/