Network CD-Keys

[Gandalf Parker]

The game supports multiple machines playing together as long as each machine has a unique CD-key.

The game supports multiple people on one machine (hotseat) allowing them to play all on the same CD-key.

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.

The idea that there is a cost break by not printing a CD and manual in order to provide a cheap CD-key Online (maybe $20) is not a programming question. Its not in Illwinteres territory but is in Shrapnels territory to decide that. Apparently their experience says NO.

[Unwise]

Actually, I think the comparison between Starcraft and Dom2 is fairly apt. The reason people are still playing Starcraft six years after its original release isn't because their are free multiplayer installs, it's because the game-play still hasn't been completely eclipsed by a comparable game.

Sure there have been a truckload of RTS games with better graphics and incremental innovations, but these are trivial at best and interfere with the game at worst.

People still play Starcraft because they can look past the dated graphics and see the superbly balanced game underneath. It helps, of course, that Starcraft was polished to a glossy sheen before release and the interface is still very intuitive.

[BugRoger]

What Gandalf said. LAN play with just one key isn't possible. I recently thought about playing a MP-Game in which every player plays 2 nations. Even that doesn't work...

Yes Gandalf is correct.

Free Multi-player would be great, but I can see the business reasoning and profit margining behind this particular way. I hope that in the near future they would be able to sell just CD Keys (whether or not they are sold Online or not, is another issue) for a diminished price. But I don't get my hopes up. That may be because I'm of the opinion that Dom2 is worth every penny of the $50.00 I spent on it. The same I did for Starcraft years ago, and even bought another copy when I lost the CD a year or two later when I could have just as easily burned or downloaded a new copy.

Either way, you'd have to try to send a petition to Shrapnel and not IW for it.

[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...

[Gandalf Parker]

Originally posted by PDF:
However, I can't see any strong argument for not allowing non-registered copies to join Online/LAN games (only).

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...

I have some problem with this view. The Online multiplayer mode is the purpose for the game. It would be a walk down a long path to convince the devs to treat it differently, no matter if it was true or not.

[ January 20, 2004, 16:38: Message edited by: Gandalf Parker ]

[Saxon]

Starcraft is one game allowing multiple installs from the same CD, Half Life/Counterstrike is another. It is also a game which has had massive success, even though it has long been eclipsed by other FPS. One reason, which is important to me, is being able to install on a LAN. I have five machines in the house and a single disc made a big difference in my game of choice. I also second the opinion that the game then gets bought by other Users. All of my friends now have the game, except Cyrus. His girlfriend won’t let him play games at home!

To be fair, I do not think many people are going to play DOM on a LAN, so I do not think it is a big deal. I just wanted to throw in that for me, as a consumer, I feel that I should buy one copy of the game and use it in my house as I please. I have paid for the game, fair and square, so let me use it.

[OG_Gleep]

A lot of games don't do CD Key verification when you play via lan, checking only when playing on the internet. I hate buying multiple copies of a game so my wife can play it for a week and then quit.

BTW, did I understand that you said if you used those IP's you were able to play via LAN?

[Gandalf Parker]

No the game does not do LAN IP recognition. And it does not do any other LAN recognition. It does PBEM or TCP/IP games and each player coming from a different IP must have a different CD-key.
For now that covers most multiplayer games and even allows for solo hotseat play.