Dark Side of DRM

from Elemental Forums

To the world Stardock promotes DRM free gaming, just do a search and you will see multiple results that state this.  The problem is, I have come to learn that the games really are not DRM free.

Over the weekend I lost my internet connection due to a faulty router.  An annoyance, but something I could easily fix on Monday.  In the mean time I figured i would play Elemental, and that is where the DRM issues started.  

I currently have patched to 1.19 for all the great updates it has brought, but it also requires an internet connection to get to the main menu.  On previous officially released versions (1.10, 1.09), I could start up the game, and eventually the attempts to connect to the net would time out and the menu would come up (I dislike programs calling home so have it blocked through firewall).  This time out was usually a couple minutes (5 tops) which while very annoying, was tolerable. For some reason, possibly because it is beta, 1.19 never times out, even after 40+ minutes.

Thinking the issue was tied to the build being beta, I decided to use archives of previous builds I had, and roll back to 1.10.  I start up Impulse in offline mode, load up the old archive and start the rollback. A short time later it is done and I think I am ready to play.  I start up the Elemental exe, and to my surprise, up pops an activation window. Weird I think, but I put in my email and the product serial number (which I have stored), with a growing sense of dread that it is going to try to connect to the net.  I click submit and I am promptly informed that the data cannot be validated as it is not able to connect to the net.

DRM has successfully stopped me from enjoying a game I have paid for.  I am sad to say that Stardock and Impulse has let me down.

elemental
14,817 views 22 replies
Reply #1 from Elemental Forums Top

Try to rename "DataZip.exe"(in the core folder of the game) into enything else till you renew your internet connection.Thus i'm not shure that this will actually do anything.

Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top

Yep, the betas do have to "call home". The true release don't. Your problem might ne that you're at 1.19a (the 2nd beta) and your archive is 1.19 (the 1st beta). You would have to go two archives back to get to 1.10 (the true release).

Multiplicity - Control multiple PCs using one keyboard and mouse
Reply #3 from Elemental Forums Top

Hahahahahahahahaha.

Reply #4 from Elemental Forums Top

ya the betas require connection. Release versions don't.  My connection has been acting up lately so i haven't even bothered with newest batch of beta patches.

Reply #5 from Elemental Forums Top

Wow, I never realized this since I typically stay online when opening Elemental by coincidence.  Thanks for pointing this out.

 

And I know there isn't an official ignore button on this forum, but could we please get one made just for Xiatroll? :grin:

Reply #6 from Elemental Forums Top

lol

 

Its just part of the beta. If you don't like it, then don't take part.

Reply #7 from Elemental Forums Top

it's the beta bro. always been that way, though not certain why. the game itself is DRM free, though. and that makes me happy.

Reply #8 from Elemental Forums Top

always been that way, though not certain why.
End of quote

It allows the devs to push out updated XML files without needing to restage on Impulse.

Reply #9 from Elemental Forums Top


To the world Stardock promotes DRM free gaming, just do a search and you will see multiple results that state this.  The problem is, I have come to learn that the games really are not DRM free.

Over the weekend I lost my internet connection due to a faulty router.  An annoyance, but something I could easily fix on Monday.  In the mean time I figured i would play Elemental, and that is where the DRM issues started.  

I currently have patched to 1.19 for all the great updates it has brought, but it also requires an internet connection to get to the main menu.  On previous officially released versions (1.10, 1.09), I could start up the game, and eventually the attempts to connect to the net would time out and the menu would come up (I dislike programs calling home so have it blocked through firewall).  This time out was usually a couple minutes (5 tops) which while very annoying, was tolerable. For some reason, possibly because it is beta, 1.19 never times out, even after 40+ minutes.

Thinking the issue was tied to the build being beta, I decided to use archives of previous builds I had, and roll back to 1.10.  I start up Impulse in offline mode, load up the old archive and start the rollback. A short time later it is done and I think I am ready to play.  I start up the Elemental exe, and to my surprise, up pops an activation window. Weird I think, but I put in my email and the product serial number (which I have stored), with a growing sense of dread that it is going to try to connect to the net.  I click submit and I am promptly informed that the data cannot be validated as it is not able to connect to the net.

DRM has successfully stopped me from enjoying a game I have paid for.  I am sad to say that Stardock and Impulse has let me down.

End of quote

Add /LOCALDATAONLY to the Target box of your shortcut and then hit the Escape key when the "Failed to load datafile" message comes up.  Game should run even if you're not connected.

Reply #10 from Elemental Forums Top

Thank you for clarifying that, Kyro.  Makes a lot more sense now.

 

Quoting Thiryn, reply 6
lol

 

Its just part of the beta. If you don't like it, then don't take part.
End of Thiryn's quote

Before you 'lol' too hard over this -- you're missing the point.  I (among others) want to take part, but not all of us are lucky enough to have constant access to an internet connection.

Reply #11 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Victor5, reply 10
Thank you for clarifying that, Kyro.  Makes a lot more sense now.

 


Quoting Thiryn, reply 6lol

 

Its just part of the beta. If you don't like it, then don't take part.

Before you 'lol' too hard over this -- you're missing the point.  I (among others) want to take part, but not all of us are lucky enough to have constant access to an internet connection.
End of Victor5's quote

 

I don't have constant internet access either; I'm just aware that you can't have everything. Irrelevant anyway, as mentioned before the beta requires internet access - this has been known since the very first betas. If not being able to play when not connected to the internet is a large enough issue to warrant statements such as this: "DRM has successfully stopped me from enjoying a game I have paid for.  I am sad to say that Stardock and Impulse has let me down." then you would think that the logical thing to do would be to simply not take part in the first place.

Reply #12 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Victor5, reply 10
Before you 'lol' too hard over this -- you're missing the point.  I (among others) want to take part, but not all of us are lucky enough to have constant access to an internet connection.
End of Victor5's quote

In which case your system does not meet the minimum requirements for the beta.  It's as simple as that.

Reply #13 from Elemental Forums Top

I realized that the beta was probably the reason I couldn't connect with version 1.19 (not a), which is why I rolled back using a local archive to version 1.10.  My disappointment is that I could not play 1.10 either, as I had to activate with that version, and that also required a network connection.  That is what DRM prevented me from playing.

 

Quoting Stuie_, reply 9

quoting post

Add /LOCALDATAONLY to the Target box of your shortcut and then hit the Escape key when the "Failed to load datafile" message comes up.  Game should run even if you're not connected.
End of Stuie_'s quote

Thanks for this information, it will help next time I lose my connection.

Reply #14 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting SilverInfinity, reply 13
I realized that the beta was probably the reason I couldn't connect with version 1.19 (not a), which is why I rolled back using a local archive to version 1.10.  My disappointment is that I could not play 1.10 either, as I had to activate with that version, and that also required a network connection.  That is what DRM prevented me from playing.

 


Quoting Stuie_, reply 9
quoting post

Add /LOCALDATAONLY to the Target box of your shortcut and then hit the Escape key when the "Failed to load datafile" message comes up.  Game should run even if you're not connected.
Thanks for this information, it will help next time I lose my connection.
End of SilverInfinity's quote

 

Well, not sure but if you rolled back, I think because you install the beta the computer think it's a new game and you need to "reactivate it" before playing offline. Is a support guy can validate that?

Reply #15 from Elemental Forums Top

Any system that uses a serial key is DRM as far as I am concerned... same for any other kind of authentication/activation.

 

So I agree with the OP that it may be a reversal of previous stance to include such things for their game. However, they also had to amend their bill of rights thing after they released a game that wasn't finished. So its not like it should be a surprise at this point... at least they care.

Reply #16 from Elemental Forums Top

Hahahahahahahahahaha

Reply #17 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting UmbralAngel, reply 15
Any system that uses a serial key is DRM as far as I am concerned... same for any other kind of authentication/activation.
End of UmbralAngel's quote

You do know what DRM is, don't you? Take your Elemental disk and install it on as many computers as you want.  You won't have to register or activate a single copy because there is no DRM.  Alternatively, go to Anywhere.ImpulseDriven.com and download an up-to-date standalone .exe of Elemental and install it on as many computers as you want.  Again, you won't have to register or activate a single copy because there is no DRM.  Now I'm not advocating you actually do any of this, but the point is you can.

As for the Gamer's Bill of Rights, those are things that the gamer has the right to demand - it's not intended to restrict developers - and Stardock still stands behind it 100%.

Reply #18 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Mtn_Man, reply 17


You do know what DRM is, don't you? Take your Elemental disk and install it on as many computers as you want.  You won't have to register or activate a single copy because there is no DRM.  Alternatively, go to Anywhere.ImpulseDriven.com and download an up-to-date standalone .exe of Elemental and install it on as many computers as you want.  Again, you won't have to register or activate a single copy because there is no DRM.  Now I'm not advocating you actually do any of this, but the point is you can.

As for the Gamer's Bill of Rights, those are things that the gamer has the right to demand - it's not intended to restrict developers - and Stardock still stands behind it 100%.
End of Mtn_Man's quote

Thank you very much Mtn_Man.  In all the years I have been using Stardock, I was never knew about this link.  The files in this link are what I always thought the archives effectively were.

Reply #19 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting SilverInfinity, reply 18
In all the years I have been using Stardock, I was never knew about this link.
End of SilverInfinity's quote

Yeah, they don't exactly go out of their way to advertise it.  I only know about because it was mentioned in the forums (sort of like my post above).

Reply #20 from Elemental Forums Top

Ummm... is there a non-darkside to drm?  I mean anyone who wants to ignore it can in 99% of cases.  It generally just screws legit users.  Dunno how many times I have been forced to abandon or rebuy a game because I lose some slip of paper than came with it years ago.  At least now most can be registered online.  I have to say in this case the complaint is groundless as it is about a beta test, while the release version runs fine without a connection.

Reply #21 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting Delmoroth, reply 20
Ummm... is there a non-darkside to drm?  I mean anyone who wants to ignore it can in 99% of cases.  It generally just screws legit users.
End of Delmoroth's quote

Precisely. You can't force people to obey copy-write laws, and the more a game frustrates you with its draconian protection scheme, the more likely people are to circumvent it entirely. Only MMO games can ensure you paid for a copy. A better system would be to make the player want to purchase the software. I think the ability to download all my purchased games at any time through impulse is pretty sweet.

Reply #22 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting troglyte, reply 21
Only MMO games can ensure you paid for a copy.
End of troglyte's quote

Not entirely.  There are a lot of private servers out there for people to play on.