Hi - anyone know if this game company is still active. I paid for an upgrade for the latest version but got no license file link. I sent a mail to support but heard nothing. Tried to register on their forums but even thats not sending me an activation mail for my account there.
Have I just thrown money in the toilet ?
AFAIK they are active.
Support usually is quick and effective. Not sure what is going on. :-\
That's odd. I hadn't heard anything. Try asking over in the armor section at simhq.com. Pretty sure Ssnake hangs out in there.
I certainly hope that eSim is still a going concern. Did you (sorry for the obvious) check your spam filter and make sure they have the correct email addy in your profile?
Edit: corrected pub name.
Thanks all ... got a reply - but they cant figure out why I didnt get any mails. Got the licence thing sorted but now the freaking codemeter thing doesnt work. Doesnt even get recognized as a USB device. This has got to be the most Pain in the A** DRM I have seen. Any clues ?
Sorry, this is a game I've always wanted to get into but never took the plunge.
Quote from: LongBlade on November 03, 2012, 09:16:12 PM
Sorry, this is a game I've always wanted to get into but never took the plunge.
Well - I have never been particularly anti drm. But this thing has a dongle. So the game doesnt work not because I dont have a key. Not because the software is bugged. But because some quite separate piece of plastic thats just been sat in a CD case for four years no longer works. I guess they are going to ask me to send it back - but I frankly dont know I can be bothered. I mean its 2012, dongles for gods sake - I had to use those in my amiga .... this may be reason enough to keep your money longblade.
USB Thumb Drives are notoriously unreliable as to life span (which is what these 'security' dongles are). Some will last you a long time, more likely so if you only keep them plugged in, powered up, and used occasionally. But I've also seen some that just plain die within a year or two of regular use, no matter the name brand.
I've got an old SanDisk that has lasted a surprisingly long 3-4 years, but I learned to only plug it in and use it very rarely, for a 3rd backup location of smaller files and useful little Windows utilities I may need when people ask me to fix up their PC while I'm visiting.
Ah dead USB's... the disadvantage of dongle-based DRM.
Here is a link to the eSim forums concerning dongle issues:
http://www.steelbeasts.com/sbforums/showthread.php?t=7012
Quote from: Staggerwing on November 04, 2012, 06:50:12 AM
Here is a link to the eSim forums concerning dongle issues:
http://www.steelbeasts.com/sbforums/showthread.php?t=7012
Thanks - but I spent hours trawling through everything yesterday and it appears I have the terminal flashing red and green issue. Now to compose an email to them and see if I can keep my temper.
Quote from: Nefaro on November 03, 2012, 11:30:21 PM
USB Thumb Drives are notoriously unreliable as to life span (which is what these 'security' dongles are). Some will last you a long time, more likely so if you only keep them plugged in, powered up, and used occasionally. But I've also seen some that just plain die within a year or two of regular use, no matter the name brand.
I've got an old SanDisk that has lasted a surprisingly long 3-4 years, but I learned to only plug it in and use it very rarely, for a 3rd backup location of smaller files and useful little Windows utilities I may need when people ask me to fix up their PC while I'm visiting.
Thats the thing. It worked last time I used it a few years back and since then its just been sat in a box. Ridiculous system, they must self destruct or something.
I bought Steel Beast Pro PE about six weeks ago, and my initial license email went astray. They did respond within a day with a new email. Since then I haven't had any issues, though it does look like the biggest technical complaint with the game is around their Codemeter license key.
Fantastic, though extremely complex and demanding sim. Could do without this clunky DRM approach, though.
Quote from: panzerde on November 04, 2012, 02:00:33 PM
I bought Steel Beast Pro PE about six weeks ago, and my initial license email went astray. They did respond within a day with a new email. Since then I haven't had any issues, though it does look like the biggest technical complaint with the game is around their Codemeter license key.
Fantastic, though extremely complex and demanding sim. Could do without this clunky DRM approach, though.
Well - I am now two days without access to my game or a reply. I must say I am less than inpressed. I know its the weekend but this game is a$150 bucks so I would have expected something. I frankly find the whole code meter thing utterly arcane and ridiculous. People complain about ubi soft but this thing has got to be the worst I have seen. At least all I need for ubi soft is an internet connection for this I have to be sending bits of plastic by post half way round the world to get the thing working.
Yeah it's pretty frustrating for the price they ask for it.
I've not have had any problems with my dongle ever. In over 4 years now. But if you do, then it's certainly frustrating!
Just when I thought someone couldn't possibly make worse DRM than the previous crap.. ::)
Its an amazing Sim and by all accounts well worth the price. I had a great time with the Steel Beasts back in the day and have no doubt this version is great as well. Just look at all the vids on line for it.
Dongles...see this a lot in med tech software. Odds are this stems from ProSims main business paradigms.Don't think its really DRM the way most people think about it. It is an annoying thing to deal with though when it goes wrong.
Iam not a drm fanatic, but can't see myself ever buying a game that required a physical device attached to my pc.....to me, an unheard of need to do this.
IRRC, dongles were quite common with high end CADCAM design software costing thousands or tens of thousands of dollars. A bit of overkill for a retail game, even a pricier one, unless it closely mimics the setup of the restricted military versions minus a few features. That is probably the original reason for the dongle.
Quote from: Staggerwing on November 04, 2012, 08:24:39 PM
IRRC, dongles were quite common with high end CADCAM design software costing thousands or tens of thousands of dollars. A bit of overkill for a retail game, even a pricier one, unless it closely mimics the setup of the restricted military versions minus a few features. That is probably the original reason for the dongle.
Which would be fine if we were back in the 80's and 90's. :)
Well what should they do now? Online activation?
I think the dongle works just great. I have 4 licenses on mine for SBPro PE and we never had a problem with it...
Quote from: Cougar_DK on November 05, 2012, 11:38:05 AM
I think the dongle works just great. I have 4 licenses on mine for SBPro PE and we never had a problem with it...
So you endorse that kind of DRM? :o
QuoteI've not have had any problems with my dongle ever. In over 4 years now. But if you do, then it's certainly frustrating!
then youre doing better then Windy by a looooong shot.
Quote from: GDS_Starfury on November 05, 2012, 11:53:33 PM
QuoteI've not have had any problems with my dongle ever. In over 4 years now. But if you do, then it's certainly frustrating!
then youre doing better then Windy by a looooong shot.
Well - its getting sorted now. Cost me 20 bucks to send it back and insure it (if it gets lost thats my licence gone) - so the cost of this game is now 170 bucks.
They told me to make sure that I put my name and address in the package so they know who to send it back to. Of course my response to that was "so you get that many coming back do you".
Not sure how anyone sees this as a good option for the customer. for the supplier maybe - as code meter has never been cracked. But certainly not for the customer.
I had SBPPE over a year ago. Did not have problems with the dongle, but did write custom scripting to load and unload the dongle drivers.
It was a solid sim, but just not for me. I sold it for about 50% immediately prior to a new release. One thing about the dongle, it prevents depreciation of the software.
Quote from: Nefaro on November 05, 2012, 10:23:12 PM
Quote from: Cougar_DK on November 05, 2012, 11:38:05 AM
I think the dongle works just great. I have 4 licenses on mine for SBPro PE and we never had a problem with it...
So you endorse that kind of DRM? :o
It works for me, so yes...
Quote from: Cougar_DK on November 06, 2012, 02:10:49 PM
Quote from: Nefaro on November 05, 2012, 10:23:12 PM
Quote from: Cougar_DK on November 05, 2012, 11:38:05 AM
I think the dongle works just great. I have 4 licenses on mine for SBPro PE and we never had a problem with it...
So you endorse that kind of DRM? :o
It works for me, so yes...
Good for you, though reliable, there's a chance that it does not work forever like all hardware. You just have to be aware of it.