V1.1 Without Internet

However an update should not be programmed to require technical support immediately after it is installed.

I agree wholeheartedly. I update via Stardock Central and thus I don't have that kind of problem, but I don't understand why the offline update process was made the way it is now (a friend of mine is having the same problem). Wouldn't it be enough to make the user enter his serial code once when installing the game and checking that later somehow when a patch is installed?

I like Stardock's innovative "protection policy", but this doesn't fit in the general scheme and gets a thumb down from me.

I guess they need to be sure you have an account at Stardock and that you bought the game.
Requiring only a valid serial number is not suffiscient, this would widely open the door for all non-purchased copies running around.
Everyone could install the update.
Requiring the user to "register" online again makes sure that this user using this serial has an account and legally purchased the game.

Makes sense for me... we cannot have everything served on a silver plate.

I agree, same promblem I have. I mean a couple of people come on these boards and complain a few times about a feature in game, maybe if we Non Internet users complain enough they will change this. I mean When You have the Dam Retail Disk in your hands and installed from that, this crap should not have to happen. Download version I can undeerstand though.

I whole heartedly agree with Citizen methegrate and e-stab. After waiting so long for the official patch, I have to wait another day just to get an activation file through email for a box that isn't connected to the Internet. Frankly, I'd prefer to type in a key and deal with all the hassles at installation and not be bothered with all this constant back and forth. You have a potentially good product, unfortunately, I wouldn't know since I haven't been able to get it to run properly since I brought it home. I am truly disappointed and frustrrated with your activation process.

Oh another thing, it would be a little different if the process was automated or someting. You send email and instantly get something back, but nope you have to wait for someone to READ it, then do whatever it is they do, then they send it back. So if they are not a stardock when you send the email your screwed. The process really sucks the more I think about it. Of course again if we had internet we wouldn't really give a rats butt. But we don't sooo.

I don't understand why they have to activate a PATCH to an ALREADY ACTIVATED install. Can't it look at the existing status and if it is activated not ask again?

BTW: I am a computer programmer and IT support technician who often deals with commercial software that uses activation of one form or another, and as far as I can remember only new version installs (6.?? to 7 for instance) have ever required re-activation. Sub-versions and patches never do (they would get too many complaints!).

Do any of you guys own a Valve product? Where you simply CAN'T update unless the machine that has the game is connected to the Internet? There's no option to be able to download the patches as separate files. If you don't have the Internet, you simply can't patch the game (and you have to have connectivity to even run the game the first time out).

Granted Stardock's methods aren't perfect, but like with most things in the world, there is worse out there.

-HM

Obviously there are worse out there. The point of this forum is to bring to light issues that the end-users (customers) are having to improve a situation. It would be a simple matter just to throw the game out if it had no potential, but GalCiv2 does have potential. It also has problems that must be addressed. Like Malkuth said above, why can't there be an automated email activation process at the very least.

Also, as brought up on another thread, what happens to the update process if Stardock should go under? How would someone obtain updates for a fresh install to a different system when there is no one around to activate it? These are serious questions and problems.

To be blunt, if I had known the extent of all the activation problems prior to purchasing the game, I defintely would not have wasted my time and money on it. I am also disappointed with all the reviews out there not addressing this problem.

Granted Stardock's methods aren't perfect, but like with most things in the world, there is worse out there.

Stardock does not use StarForce DRM which causes problems for many, they do not require the CD to be in the computer to play the game, they allow you to install the game from the CD without your serial number on multiple computers (as long as you own them all and only play the game on one at a time)! They only enforce their version of copyright protection when you download and install their FREE updates. This encourages players to buy the game rather than pirate it. Through StardockCentral they can monitor how many times you download, where from, and when. If the same user is downloading from the US eastcoast and the U.K. at the same time or the number of downloads is excessive then they know that multiple people are using the same serial number.

Other companies require you to be online and don't provide any alternative. Take a look at Microsoft's Windows Media DRM Link

I agree they should automate their offline authentication but be thankfull there is an offline alternative and all the great options I mentioned above.

I've looked at these threads and I want to point out something that some people seem to forget:

Our system enables users who have purchased a game at retail or from anywhere else to be able to re-download the ENTIRE GAME forever after form us. 

How many times has someone here misplaced (or damaged) a CD to a beloved game years after purchase?

Once you have created an account, you have the ability to redownload the game. Not just the patch, but the ENTIRE game.

I'm going to stick to my guns on this -- far far more people benefit from this system than the people who are playing on a machine with no net connection having to (one time) deal with activation. And once it's been updated, it doesn't have to be activated again. The sig.bin file that is generated will work on that machine permanently.

Case in point:

48 hours ago I sent in a request for an email activation. 20 hours later I receive a response requesting I provide information about my place of purchase. I responded this information was optional according to the directions and I did not wish to provide it. It has been over 24-hours since my response and I have not received any further updates. According to your company posts, response should be about an hour during the work week. It is this fiasco that I have been trying to avoid all along (see my posts on your site). Being dependent on your company to respond now or three years from now is the problem. In any case, I have effectively purchased an overpriced coaster. I am truly disappointed and your lack of response has only proven my point. You can assume I will no longer be supporting your company, its products, or people. Moreover, I will go out of my way to dissuade others from purchasing your products.

Well something must of happened Mundo, I had to do this twice so far. The first time (release day) I recieved my Response in less the 15 mins.

The 2nd time (just this week) by reading the email (I didnt get back to night time to check email) It again took less then 15 mins. I send the email at 6:38 AM or so Recieved the Bin File at 6:49 AM..

So something must be wrong.. Did you make sure you copied all the info down right? Did you put the 28 Digit Code in right?

Yes, something did happen. They dropped the ball as expected. Their email stated:

Please be sure to fill out ALL fields of the activation dialog.
You had not entered place of purchase.

As I mentioned before, the dialog said the place of purchase is optional. I opted not to provide it. Their response says nothing about incorrect code or anything else that may be the problem. 27 hours and counting, still no response. Thanks for nothing Stardock... All you've managed to do is prove my point. No wonder the gaming industry is tanking and sales are way down. Keep up the work and you'll all be looking for a new job.

I have never been asked that.. When You try to start the game a pop up comes up and ask tells you about not having an Internet Connection do you want to email it. Then Another box pops up that Asks for you Emailaddress and the 28 Digit code. After you enter this info another box pops up giving you all the info of What to write in the Topic, the Address to send the info too. And the actual Info you have to cut and paste into the Email Message area.

Never seen anything about where I bought the game. Never asked.. Never given the option.

Strange that they asked you this.

I am having the same problem. As far as I understand optional means optional not mandatory. We are no longer able to play Galactic Civilizations 2 because if the computer is not connected to the internet to activate you are out of luck. So you figure out the optional way to activate and send in the info only to get a reply stating it does not state where you purchased the game from. We did not include that info because it said it was optional. If it is mandatory then state that it is mandatory and the information would have been provided in the first place.

So now we have to wait perhaps another day before the game is playable because the info had to be sent in again including the important information of what store sold the game. Knew it was either FutureShop or EB Games but didn't know for sure till we found the receipt. We would rather have copy protection then having to go through this frustration to get a game that was playable to be playable again.

Now it looks like we won't get the file needed to be able to play the game till after the weekend. Keep up the great work StarDock! This is just great....not!

Well, not a very good answer for you.... But you can try to bring you pc to wherever you are using the internet to talk on this message board. That way you won't have to wait the whole weekend.

Just a thought.

That's not the point Malkuth. Some of us have dedicated systems that for one reason or another cannot connect to the Internet. All this jumping through hoops just to activate a patched game simply is not worth it. Copy protection and leaving the CD in is far better than going through this mess they call a better way. What's more is the process is not automated. If it were we'd get a response much sooner rather than waiting for someone to return from their lunch, smoke, coffee, restroom breaks, meetings, the weekend, and whatever else they are doing instead of their job!!! Come on Stardock!!! It's been over 30 hours and still no response. I know you guys are pissed at me, but I stand by my complaints because they are legit. Grow up and do your jobs. You have a real prolblem here, suck it up, fix it, and admit it needs improveming. I paid hard earned money for your product, do you or don't you stand by it?

WARNING..... Do not read the following if you don't want to get lectured.

BTW, Frogboy, I could care less if I could download the entire game if need be. If I can't get the patched game to activate in the first place it does me no damn good to download it. I was brought up to take care of my own and take responsibility for my actions. If I don't have the common sense to care for my belongings then I don't deserve to have them. Come on people, have you become so lazy and irresponsible and irrespectful of yourself that you need to have someone watch your back and do what you should be doing? Wake up!!! The rest of the world is coming up fast and strong and all we Americans can do is bitch and complaining about it. It's time to grow up, take responsibilty for yourself. Have pride in yourself and your work. Live with high conviction and morales. Expect better of everyone and take no less. If America is to remain a world power, Americans need to open their eyes to the reality. We as a nation have become fat and lazy and always looking to blame others for the sorry state we've created for ourselves. Don't live in the short term and sacrifice the future for the quick buck. Rise up and work harder, be better, and expect better.

Fed up and frustrated...

We are currently working on fixing the activation for non-internet connected PCs, but it is taking time to work out all the glitches.  If you have an internet connection, then activation is pretty painless.  We structured the system for internet connected computers (as is stated as a requirement in the documentation that shipped with the game) so we are working on retro-fitting a solution for non-connected computers.

We are aware of the issues, and we are working on them.

 

It's been 65-hours since my original request for an email activation file. I still have not received any updates. Thanks for the great cutomer service, NOT!!!

BTW, thanks for finally admitting there is a problem with your activation system. Unfortunately, what is blatantly missing from the outside of the retail box is 'Internet Connection Required'. You don't find this out until you open the box and read the manual; which by that time is too late to return the game to the retailer. Being x-ray vision impaired, I would think there are many others out there who suffer from the same deficit. On top of all that, I challenge anyone to truthfully admit to reading through the manual before ripping open the CD packaging for install just to see what the game looks like.

The activation is only for updates.  The original game does not require them.

Gookamundo, I looked in our support system, and there are no open tickets under the email address or name that you registered here with. 

Gookamundo: We've tracked the source of the bug, which was a mis-print of your email address in the activation request. A team member has sent you a file that should get the game running for you