Network CD-Keys

[BugRoger]

Originally posted by Gandalf Parker:
But LAN would require multiple machines all having the same CD-key and some way of recognizing that its on a lan. Not as easy as the other 2. Illwinter has not tried to program that in.

A check if the turn was submited from on of these IP-Ranges does the trick:
10.0.0.0 - 10.255.255.255 (10/8 prefix)
172.16.0.0 - 172.31.255.255 (172.16/12 prefix)
192.168.0.0 - 192.168.255.255 (192.168/16 prefix)

This isn't a technical problem. It's politics as well...

[Gandalf Parker]

Originally posted by BugRoger:
A check if the turn was submited from on of these IP-Ranges does the trick:

Or checking for a network name. Or using pings and traceroutes. There are alot of ways. Some are easier to spoof than others. Everything has its pros and cons. This just seems to be an area which Illwinter decided not to tackle.

The easiest thing might just be for a user to setup a shared directory PBEM game so that it looks HotSeat. I wont foolproof (script or batch file) this method until Im more sure of Illwinters or Shrapnels standing on such info.

This isn't a technical problem. It's politics as well...

[ January 18, 2004, 13:41: Message edited by: Gandalf Parker ]

[BugRoger]

But come on, people won't go as far as spoofing their IP. They would just download a key generator or a cracked exe or something.

I'm talking about the honest players here. I think it would be fair to allow the people who actually bought the game to play a MP-Game without spending a truckload of money. Limit it to 3 or 4 players. I would even applaud a limit of 2 players.

Allowing free LAN games or selling additional MP-Keys would be a great way to reward the honest players.

Bleh. You've been given your answer and a method and now you arguing not with the ones who control it, but the ones who deal with the policies in place. Perhaps you should Email these points to Shrapnel. I'm sure it would prove much more beneficial to whatever you are trying to accomplish.

Edit: Never underestimate those willing to find ways not to pay for legitimate services. It's a long proud human tradition.

[ January 18, 2004, 14:05: Message edited by: Zen ]

[Gandalf Parker]

Originally posted by BugRoger:
Allowing free LAN games or selling additional MP-Keys would be a great way to reward the honest players.

I dont think anyone, not even the two companys involved, is arguing that point.

[Karacan]

I think the easiest way to allow multiplayer games is to remove the turn-limitation of the demo...

I know I played a lot of them before my full copy of Dom I arrived. The research cap (and the fact I loved the game dearly) were enough for me to purchase it for good after a week intense playing.

I'd love to show around Dom on one of our bimonthly LAN sessions as well, but I can't afford to purchase the five to eight copies required for that.

[PDF]

I've the same problem with my friends : currently the only way is to use demo Version. But I have 12+ people that could be interested in a pbem, and there are only seven playable nations !

Maybe selling keys and downloads is a risky business, although for example Stardock (makers of GalCiv) was successful with that.
However, I can't see any strong argument for not allowing non-registered copies to join Online/LAN games (only). Combat Mission for example allows that (there's no key but CD is required to play).
Given the game "potential audience" and the fact that Online Dom2 games aren't that friendly (how many Dom2 owners play it ?), I can't think of this "robbing" the publisher from paying customers.
People introduced to the game this way will either quit or buy it if they're hooked...