Frogboy Frogboy

Galactic Civilizations II, Copy Protection, and Piracy

▼

Galactic Civilizations II, Copy Protection, and Piracy

Setting the record straight

from GalCiv2 Forums

Digg is reporting that a website is implying that we want Galactic Civilizations II to be pirated.  Absolutely not! Of course we DO NOT want our game to be pirated. We're a small company, every lost sale hurts us.

This got started because sales reports on Galactic Civilizations II have been much higher than anticipated. We've now outsold the first Galactic Civilizations in North America in the first 10 days. Last week we were apparently the #1 PC game at Walmart. 

Naturally, some peple have taken the conclusion that because we don't have copy protection on our game, that we invite piracy. That is not the case, we simply think there are other ways to stop piracy than CD checks, strict DRM, etc.

What we do is provide a serial # that users can choose to enter when they install and use that unique serial # to download free and frequent updates.

Our license allows you to install the game onto as many machines that you own that you want as long as only one copy is being used at once.

How many sales are lost because people want to have a game on their laptop and desktop and don't want to drag CDs around so choose not to buy the game?

Our company also makes utility software. We've been around a long time -- 14 years now. Our software gets pirated. We don't like it but piracy is a fact of life. And not every pirated copy means a lost sale.

The question isn't about eliminating piracy, it's about increasing sales. It's about trying to make sure that people who would buy your product buy it instead of steal it. 

Our primary weapon to fight piracy is through rewarding customers through convenient, frequent, free updates.

If you make it easy for users to buy and make full use of your product or service legitimately then we believe that you'll gain more users from that convenience than you'll lose from piracy.

We realize that some people or companies might feel threatened at any evidence that implies that draconian DRM schemes or CD copy protection may not make that big of a difference in sales. 

For example, we were quite disturbed to discover that the company that makes Starforce provided a working URL to a list of pirated GalCiv II torrents. I'm not sure whether what they did was illegal or not, but it's troubling nevertheless and was totally unnecessary.

All software is pirated, there's no way around it. We've been making software for over 10 years.  We don't like our software being pirated.  Like I said, every lost sales has an impact on us.  But there are other ways to reduce it than through draconian copy protection systems.

Incidentally, the site that Starforce's forum admin linked to "prove" how much our software was being pirated we visited, followed the instructions on the site to get our game removed and the links were removed within a couple of hours.  We'll continue to follow-up with them.

Update: Starforce has removed the URL to the illegal files.

Update: View follow-up.

523,831 views 309 replies
Reply #76 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Indeed, that might be illegal. You should consult a lawyer to find out. I'd love to see those jerks get slapped with a "cease and desist". Or worse.


Since Starforce is based in Russia, I'd be curious just how this would happen.

SoundPackager - Customize the Windows sound scheme
Reply #78 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Software pirates are exceptionally clever people. The only games that DON'T get pirated are the ones almost nobody wants to play. All starforce and other protection does is delay things for a month or two. Oh, and annoy us computer users by forcing us LEGITIMATE owners to constantly swap discs despite shelling out 50 bucks or more for the game. Meanwhile the pirates get the game for free and don't have to put up with the inconvenience. Great system!

To behave like the makers of Starforce did...well, let's just say you have yet another person here who will never buy another Starforce protected game. Bit of an own goal for them there?
Reply #79 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Props to you, Stardock. Your license is reasonable, unlike so many others. I think I remember seeing GalCiv at Fry's. Think I'll pick it up.
Reply #80 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
while i havent delved in to Gal Civ .. i do agree with stardocks outlook on piracy. Keep up the good work guys.

see ya back at WC ...


Peace
Reply #82 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Keep up your anti-anti-copying philosophy!
This reminds me of the copy protection on the Sims 2. It was a complete debacle, it was designed to stop the program from running if any cd burning programs were installed, ex. nero, Alchol120, dvd decrypter, etc. I think a working crack was working within a day of its release. The game wasn't very good anyhow.

It just goes to show that, great games with no copy protection > average games with copy protection. I don't think EA has ever released a game without some multi-level copy protection.

BTW, Gal Civ II Rocks!!
Reply #83 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Keep up your anti-anti-copying philosophy!
This reminds me of the copy protection on the Sims 2. It was a complete debacle, it was designed to stop the program from running if any cd burning programs were installed, ex. nero, Alchol120, dvd decrypter, etc. I think a working crack was working within a day of its release. The game wasn't very good anyhow.

It just goes to show that, great games with no copy protection > average games with copy protection. I don't think EA has ever released a game without some multi-level copy protection.

BTW, Gal Civ II Rocks!!
Reply #84 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
quote: "I believe that software piracy must come to an end and that StarForce and the likes are necessary. And if you're wary of StarForce then you don't even want to think about TCPA.... " :end quote


Actually people do want to be VERY concerned with the TCPA, even companies like stardock or other small developers out there. The TCPA may have started with some good intentions but it's a horribly flawed and freedom crushing act. Way to many possible negatives than positives for the TCPA. It should be banned. Only the biggest and greediest of companies stand to gain something positive from it.

And just as people should be very concerned with the TCPA they should be concerned with anything like it, such as starforce. The whole drm scheme is a pathway to doom for economics, freedom, and innovation. It's like a select few out there are trying to usher in a digital new orwellian regime or something.
Reply #85 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
About the StarForce admin posting a link to a torrentsite that's something that most people can find anyway....if he had said: "well, GalCiv II doesn't have our protection and is getting pirated" then people would probably tell him to show some hard evidence. Now he did, and he gets blamed for it....


Is this a serious post? Are you really someone who speaks for StarForce? If so, please do your company a favor and submit your resignation. Wow. Just ... wow.
Reply #86 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
You guys are complete legends. Finally a software company that understands its customers!!! I'm so sick of being treated like a criminal when I buy games, and having to have the bloody CD/DVD in the drive all the time.

As plenty of people here have said, I refuse outright to buy a game with StarForce protection. Plus, if there is a pirate version, I loose all morality, and will have no problem ripping off a company like Ubisoft and the dickheads who make Trackmania. If I'm being treated like a criminal.. why not be one.

In short, thank you for trusting your customers, sounds like it is working for you! (S#$%, if the game is even half good, I will buy it just on principle!)
Reply #87 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
"And lo, The Internet was set aflame..."

Slashdotiticus 1 - 23:26

*cough*

It looks like Stardock has masses of support..

And that Starforce is looking more and more like the copy protection Mafia in the eyes of the forumites..
Reply #88 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I've never heard of this digg thingamajing before in my whole life...

On a more related note, Im a bit disturbed on whats has being said around like it was an axiom...
I've read more then a dozen of times things like "People are buying GC2 because it does not have any sort of protection, thus the company cares about us/is not idiotic"

Now, does that really make sense? I think the game sells well because its such a fine game, and because the company shows that it cares by reading feedback and responding to it.
It does well because it was priced fairly and made avaible worldwide (im from Brazil, hi! payed with Paypal, wouldnt be able to get it easily otherwise, could even have to pirate), and because it didnt pay attention to the "media hype" regarding multiplayer, as well as optimizing the graphics for lower end machines.

That said, its not that lack of protection increases the demand for the game, instead, its the presence of intrusive protection that diminishes it.
Reply #89 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
http://www.theesa.com/piracy/index.php - report the piracy by StarForce here. What they are doing is essentially racketeering. And even though they're based in Russia, I'm pretty sure they signed that Copyright convention, so yes, it is very illegal.

The incident has also been slashdotted. http://games.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=06/03/11/2049230
Reply #90 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Is StarForce run by a bunch of jerks?

Here you go, to prove the point (ripped from Starforce's forum post about this).

If you think that something is illegal in my posts, go and bring an action.

HAH! Do it to it, Stardock!
Reply #91 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Oh it's also on DailyTech as well now. http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=1209
Reply #92 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Starfags.. whoops Starforce. Universal Translator slips from time to time.. anyways. Starforce is opening up another can of garbage they are going to wish they hadn't. It's one thing to make "Protection" as bad or worse than a virus and put it on a game/software product. It's entirely a different matter to encourage pirating software of software developers (Stardock) that are more effective vs. pirates (Don't treat their customers like criminals. ). I see this as a deliberate attack because as we all know, IF other companies and developers followed suit piracy may be on the decline and Starforce as a product wouldn't be needed and the people who made that would be looking for another job.

Until I am proven otherwise, I see Starforce as EVIL and will fight them every step I can.
Reply #93 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I say you guys use this to your advantage. Send this article of news to some gaming sites - Free publicity.
Reply #94 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
That is just unbelieveable. I'm now a bit less of a DRM noob, and will never buy a game with starforce on it, no matter how much I am otherwise interested in the game. In fact, if I find out a game I'm interested in is going to have starforce on the disc, I'll create an account on the game's official forums just to tell them why they've lost my sale. That sort of behavior is reprehensible. You'd think there would be some sort of legal action Stardock can take, they were providing a link to something people could use to pirate the game.

We, the consumers, have the power. We're proving it in the sales figures for GalCiv 2. Its time we prove it again. Friends don't let friends buy games with starforce on them.
Reply #95 from Stardock Forums Top
I posted about this on Pennyarcade and my blog as well.
Reply #96 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
The last game I bought with Starforce protection was X3. It will be the last game I ever buy that uses Starforce.

I paid for GalCiv II, and I do not regret it in the slightest. Starforce is a site that is supposedly about protecting software, it is a sick, underhanded and disgusting way to behave. I'm absolutely appalled
Reply #97 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
SmackleFunky, you really are a jerk, you know that? Using your little "satire". What did Stardock ever do wrong? It's not really their "uber master plan
Reply #98 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I've been an avid supporter of Stardock ever since purchasing the previous GalCiv. The untold hours that that game provided to me, and those I have already spent on Galciv 2 have ensured that I will remain a Stardock customer for life.

I have watched the hullabaloo surrounding Starforce for about a year now. I stood on the fence concerning the situation of DRM; I've installed a couple Starforce-protected demos without thought. However, the arrogance demonstrated by StarForce employees is astounding as well as thorougly unprofessional. Furthermore, their posting of a torrent of GC2 is inexcusable...amounting to little more than outright extortion and quite a slap in the face. I will NEVER purchase a StarForce-protected game. I sincerely hope that this whole thing doesn't fall by the wayside. I wholeheartedly trust Brad, StarDock and the rest of the gaming community ensures that SF sees their day in court.
Reply #99 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Further proving that StarForce people are in their whole own category of asshatness...
Reply #100 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
SmackleFunky, you really are a jerk, you know that? Using your little "satire". What did Stardock ever do wrong?


Umm, I think you missed the point of my satire. It was in no way intended to be against stardock.

My point was that stardock had inadvertently (and I stress inadvertently) caused a huge uproar by being different.. This, if anything, was supposed to be a good thing.

The rest of the sattire was about how this could possibly end, being that there is a major change in how games are protected in the future, all because of one small company...

I hope no one else thought that I was accusing stardock of anything...

And, in general, I agree with everything you said GreatMirror. Except for:

(no wonder my system is grinding to a halt and all those errors occur after installing a few Starforce protected games, now that I think about it)


And only because this is the mistake most people make. They hear that starforce ruins your system, and therefore decide it is starforces fault that their system is grinding to a halt. Now I am not saying that it isn't starforces fault, I am just saying that windows (in general) has a habit of slowly grinding to a halt regardless of what is installed, and that jumping to a conclusion like that is a bad mistake. (a mistake, some would say, worth of starforce themself). I wouldn't be surprised if you find it is starforce's fault, but I wouldn't be impressed if you start blaming starforce without solid proof.