This is crazy

Rich · #1 January 31st, 2017, 08:11 PM

I hadn't played in a while and decided to give it a go again. So I installed the game and entered the key. I got a message saying there were already three uses. This was truly a wtf moment.

So I looked in the forum here and found this was the product drm and that I might be able to get one more install. I understand deterring piracy but this is the dumbest and most intrusive drm I've ever seen. Might be able to get one more install? For forty dollars?

Will I be able to continue playing this game or not? I periodically redo my hard drive and need something with an unlimited number of installs. In more than 30 years of playing computer games, I've never seen anything as rancid as this.

phanatic62 · #2 February 6th, 2017, 03:34 PM

I would try sending a private message to the dev, "ibol" on these forums. I'm not sure how actively he checks them to see your message, but he has said in the past that if you are a legitimate customer that he would probably help you out with a new code. I tried to find his email address on his website, but to no avail.

That said, this is a perfect example of DRM punishing real customers while probably doing very little to prevent piracy. If someone managed to break the DRM (I haven't bothered to look as I actually purchased the game) they would not be stuck with this three install restraint. So now any real customer has to jump through hoops if they want to install this game years down the line, but a pirate wouldn't have any such issue.

I strongly encourage ibol/Shrapnel Games to make one final patch for this game that would remove the DRM. Lord knows that the high price has already prevented any chance for this game to really succeed. You might as well give the customers who did support it the benefit of knowing that they will be able to install it wherever/whenever they please.

I actually just started playing this again, and have enjoyed it (other than the fire blobs. I think their spawn rates are a bit out of whack) and could totally see myself coming back to play this many times again the future - unless I'm blocked from reinstalling by unnecessary DRM, of course.

Tim Brooks · #3 February 9th, 2017, 07:25 AM

Just contact customer support if you have problems with your code.

https://www.gamersfront.com/store/user_login.php

Rich · #4 February 18th, 2017, 09:10 PM

I have contacted customer support and received a new code. But my point is valid. This is a draconian DRM and totally unnecessary. Product sales have shown there is no real piracy risk.

MischiefMaker · #5 February 20th, 2017, 10:19 AM

Is it possible at least to de-activate your code when uninstalling?

Wdll · #6 July 4th, 2020, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MischiefMaker

Is it possible at least to de-activate your code when uninstalling?

There is a mystery patch released which removes the DRM.
To get it you have to go to the store page for this game.
The store page is not available.
No one in the forums reply to where to get the patch.
Yeah, this is great way to promote a summer sale.

Tim Brooks · #7 July 6th, 2020, 04:52 AM

Shrapnel Games no longer own the rights to this game. We contacted every owner of this game and gave them two months to download the patch from our website when we still had the rights. We have customer support links on every page of our website. If you need help, contact customer support. The forums are for the gamers to share. It is not a customer support area.

ibol · #8 July 15th, 2020, 03:59 PM

Hi Wdll (and everyone else who is wondering),

I will put the patch up somewhere in the next few weeks. It removes the DRM.

You can come to my new website, it's probably where I'll host that.

http://approachinginfinitygame.com/

Thanks,

Bob / IBOL17