I Resent...

from GalCiv2 Forums
I find myself resenting the (IMO) inconvenient way in which I have to access the patch for this product. There are plenty of other games where the patch is a simple point and click download from an easily navigated website. I have, and will continue to make, a habit of avoiding future purchases from companies who force me to download unnecessary executables just to update a game to a playable state. One would think that after the Rootkit fiasco with Sony that companies would catch on that its not something many consumers feel entirely comfortable with. I stopped playing Valve Entertainment games for just the same reason - their invasive, time consuming, inconvenient, and unnecessary verification system left me with such a bad taste in my mouth I haven't purchased another of their products and don't anticipate doing so ever again.

Its not the idea of authentication I'm complaining about mind you, its having to download an entire program and being forced to spend time scanning its advertisement cluttered and poorly laid out interface just to download a patch that would have taken 5 seconds for me to find for most other games. Maybe I'm overreacting but this kind of thing makes me feel hassled as a consumer and that makes it a deal breaker for me. I hope Stardock changes this feature in future titles since I do enjoy GC2 and would like to be able to continue being a customer.
2,799 views 5 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I understand your position entirely. However, I am forced to say that the SDC interface is clean and fast. My experience with the downloads all through the 1.5x minor versions and multiple downloads during 1.6 beta testing was that it was about the simplest and quickest online updating I have ever encountered.

On a couple of weekends during the 1.6 beta, a quick "replace these files" posting of a beta stage was posted, before substantially the same material was scripted for the SDC in the following week. The SDC download was simpler to manage and quicker.

And of course, in large part because Stardock uses account-and-password-controlled updates, I don't have to deal with disk-based verification of every session at my machine(s), a BIG plus.

drrider
Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Year, SDC is great,,, when your not spending hours trying to convince the stupid thing that your serial codes are not invalid!!!!!!!
Multiplicity - Control multiple PCs using one keyboard and mouse
Reply #3 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
SDC is a great tool. It's not cumbersome, no spyware, no adware, no annoying marketing content. Plus you can re-download the entire game without any fuss if you had to. It's Gold.
Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Well hell if you don't have autoupdates enabled it might as well be cumbersome for you. I just start up SDC, wait (after clicking that stupid script error notification away) and if it doesn't prompt me for any updates, I close it.

oh noes, I have to start a process to let it check for updates as opposed to what, starting firefox and looking on my own? Oh snap.
Reply #5 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
poorly laid out interface


Maximizing the program screen might help.