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Sins of a Solar Empire for $20 at Target

A warning for those that care about DRM: this product uses a restrictive registration/updating scheme similar to steam.
 
People don't like Steam? Really, programs like Steam and Impulse are the best method for a company to protect their software while not pissing off their consumer. With both I feel like I'm gaining a service that helps keep my games updated and protects me from lost discs and the like. Stardock also has their own gamer bill of rights which gives their consumers far more options than any other gaming company while holding the games to a higher standard (you don't see games on Impulse like Rainbow 6 Vegas 2 that simply don't run on many machines that it should).
 
i need to update mine, i heard they improved the single player a lot over the last year
 
Wal-Mart has also been selling it for this price for a while. I am also unaware of any DRM associated with this game.
 
Originally posted by: Ayrahvon
People don't like Steam? Really, programs like Steam and Impulse are the best method for a company to protect their software while not pissing off their consumer. With both I feel like I'm gaining a service that helps keep my games updated and protects me from lost discs and the like. Stardock also has their own gamer bill of rights which gives their consumers far more options than any other gaming company while holding the games to a higher standard (you don't see games on Impulse like Rainbow 6 Vegas 2 that simply don't run on many machines that it should).
Click to expand...

I dunno, Steam still pisses me off. For example, if you just happen to have no net connection, and you didn't go into 'offline' mode before, then your SOL, until you can get a connection back up.
The other thing with steam, is that they allow the publisher to add more DRM on top of what Steam already has.
And finally, just where are the savings compared to the retail model? Sure, they hold some sales some time, but I have seen plenty of cases where you can find the game cheaper at a retail store than on Steam.

For the deal, this seems to be YMMV, I checked my local Target, and it is $40.
 
Impulse has the advantage of not requiring you to be online to play the game. I'm pretty sure you don't even need impulse installed to play, just to update.
 
Originally posted by: Ayrahvon
People don't like Steam? Really, programs like Steam and Impulse are the best method for a company to protect their software while not pissing off their consumer. With both I feel like I'm gaining a service that helps keep my games updated and protects me from lost discs and the like. Stardock also has their own gamer bill of rights which gives their consumers far more options than any other gaming company while holding the games to a higher standard (you don't see games on Impulse like Rainbow 6 Vegas 2 that simply don't run on many machines that it should).
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When valve decides or is forced to turn off steam, how many of your games are you still going to be able to play.
 
Originally posted by: lupi
A warning for those that care about DRM: this product uses a restrictive registration/updating scheme similar to steam.
Click to expand...

It uses a program called Impulse to update the game which is required to play online.

That's it. That's the full extent of the game's copy protection. It doesn't come with Securom or CDilla or Starforce or any other crap like that and you don't need to have the CD in the drive to install it and it doesn't count the number of times you install the game. (You could even install it via Impulse if you wanted to once you have it registered.)

If having to use Impulse to update the game is the price we have to pay to avoid having to suffer all of the crap I listed above then so be it. Impulse seems very benign and it doesn't need to run in the background in order to play the game (both in single player and online).
 
Originally posted by: gft
Impulse has the advantage of not requiring you to be online to play the game. I'm pretty sure you don't even need impulse installed to play, just to update.
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Yup, there's basically no DRM for single-player mode, not even a CD check. And for updates/online I think all you have to do is enter a registration code to verify you own the game.

Thanks OP, I'll have to head by Target tomorrow and see if they have it at this price. Have been wanting Sins, just haven't got around to buying yet. 🙂
 
Originally posted by: BladeVenom
Originally posted by: lupi
Originally posted by: gft
Surely, you're joking. I bought the game online and it has no DRM what-so-ever.
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you seem to be the one joking.
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There is no DRM! You only have to register the game if you want to use their service. It's not Steam.
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Then I'm sure those claiming it doesn't have a DRM would be happy to buy a used copy of their titles. 🙂
 
It's perfectly viable to buy and sell Sins of a Solar Empire. Stardock won't support the used copy but that's their right.
 
If the used copy you buy was never registered can't you buy it and register it and get support? Can the person you buy the game from give you their impulse account along with the game, so you can get support?
 
Originally posted by: CU
If the used copy you buy was never registered can't you buy it and register it and get support? Can the person you buy the game from give you their impulse account along with the game, so you can get support?
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I actually had this happen to me. I bought it used from a trader here and it was a NO GO.

I was required to purchase a new key for $20. At the time the game was still $50 so it was a good deal but beware, the accounts are NOT transferrable. Good Luck!

and....

It is a very well done game and the pace is a bit slower for those that are not uber RTSers 🙂, like me!

Dave
 
Some clarification.

Impulse is required to get the patches for the game, but not to play the game.

The comparisons to Steam are somewhat incorrect in that regard. If Impulse disappears tomorrow, it won't affect your ability to play the game.

 
Originally posted by: jfunk
Some clarification.

Impulse is required to get the patches for the game, but not to play the game.

The comparisons to Steam are somewhat incorrect in that regard. If Impulse disappears tomorrow, it won't affect your ability to play the game.
Click to expand...

You can even get the older patches off of other sites. It's just to get the latest ones that require Impulse.
 
Originally posted by: jfunk
Some clarification.

Impulse is required to get the patches for the game, but not to play the game.

The comparisons to Steam are somewhat incorrect in that regard. If Impulse disappears tomorrow, it won't affect your ability to play the game.
Click to expand...

Hence the term, similar to steam.
 
My friend wants me to get this. Whats the learning curve on this game for someone experienced with RTSs (warcraft, SC, warhammer)? I heard it's pretty complex.
 
Originally posted by: dakels
My friend wants me to get this. Whats the learning curve on this game for someone experienced with RTSs (warcraft, SC, warhammer)? I heard it's pretty complex.
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If you know RTSs, it's really not that hard. It's actually very slow paced compared to most, so you shouldn't have much trouble. You're not going to know what's going on the first time or two, since it's not quite the same as the standard Warcarft style, but if you have any experience with 4X games like Master of Orion as well, you should be able to immediately recognize all aspects of the game. It'll just take you a bit to figure out which elements are more 4X (tech research, exploration) and which are more RTS (combat, building structures to build more advanced units).

I haven't played in a while, and 1.1 made major changes to the game, so I won't give you any starting tips as mine are probably all obsolete now. 😛

If your friend is local, you can actually install his copy (including the updates from Impulse) and play with him to try it out. Stardock completely supports this practice on the honor system. Please do purchase the game if you like it. We need to support companies that forgo restrictive DRM like this if we want them to continue doing it.
 
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