I'm in a bit of a panic here, since I've had to re-install my Win7 on my laptop, and I'm currently scrabbling around trying to re-populate my hard drive with my wargame collection.
Anyway, I come to JTS's site, where I've bought a number of titles, and I try to log in to their storefront. Invalid details. Ok, I must have got the password wrong, so I try the 'forgot password' routine, and I am informed that no account is registered to my email address!!!
I have a good few games attached to JTS, and now I'm not in their system at all... I was worrying about the DRM mechanism, but I should have worried about them actually losing my account itself!!!!
They seem to have recently shifted over to a new Storefront, so hopefully someone at JTS can verify my account and purchases and restore everything, and then allow me to download them again and re-activate the games..
Good Lord. I didn't realise just how stressful re-installing your wargames could be... my AGW CD is b0rked too!! bah!
Ouch, sorry to hear that. Who are JTS?
Spelk,
A few months ago the JTS store was reset. I lost my account too. It's not a big issue. Just send an email to support and they will sort it out and re-issue you download links. I think it took them 24 hours to fix it for me.
John Tiller Software, methinks.
Yes John Tiller Software.
Quote from: Bison on April 13, 2013, 07:02:19 PM
A few months ago the JTS store was reset. I lost my account too. It's not a big issue. Just send an email to support and they will sort it out and re-issue you download links. I think it took them 24 hours to fix it for me.
Ah thats good to know, thanks for the re-assurance Bison!
Quote from: Bison on April 13, 2013, 07:03:20 PM
Yes John Tiller Software.
Yeah, sorry for not spelling it out.
http://www.johntillersoftware.com/
Quote from: spelk on April 13, 2013, 07:07:06 PM
Quote from: Bison on April 13, 2013, 07:02:19 PM
A few months ago the JTS store was reset. I lost my account too. It's not a big issue. Just send an email to support and they will sort it out and re-issue you download links. I think it took them 24 hours to fix it for me.
Ah thats good to know, thanks for the re-assurance Bison!
No worries man. I cannot remember what they need either the purchase number or game serial, but it was information that came in your purchase confirmation email.
Quote from: spelk on April 13, 2013, 05:38:32 PM
Good Lord. I didn't realise just how stressful re-installing your wargames could be... my AGW CD is b0rked too!! bah!
With all the varied and painful DRM on stuff these days, I don't look forward to it either. I plan on building a new desktop sometime this year and the real hair-pulling part is not only sorting out all the logins & keys but figuring out which games I need to uninstall or de-register on the old one. There will inevitably be lost "activations" on a few and even likely some CS emails involved. >:(
Quote from: Nefaro on April 14, 2013, 01:52:29 AM
Quote from: spelk on April 13, 2013, 05:38:32 PM
Good Lord. I didn't realise just how stressful re-installing your wargames could be... my AGW CD is b0rked too!! bah!
With all the varied and painful DRM on stuff these days, I don't look forward to it either. I plan on building a new desktop sometime this year and the real hair-pulling part is not only sorting out all the logins & keys but figuring out which games I need to uninstall or de-register on the old one. There will inevitably be lost "activations" on a few and even likely some CS emails involved. >:(
It's funny...some people who complain about DRM also complain about the hassle of re-installing games with multiple serial numbers and CDs. The beauty of a DRM system like steam is there is no such hassle. Install steam onto any number of computers and there you have it. All your games, your entire library. No codes. No CDs. No hassle. No worries. I wish the "DRM haters" would at least give credit where credit is due.
Quote from: Jarhead0331 on April 14, 2013, 07:17:56 AM
It's funny...some people who complain about DRM also complain about the hassle of re-installing games with multiple serial numbers and CDs. The beauty of a DRM system like steam is there is no such hassle. Install steam onto any number of computers and there you have it. All your games, your entire library. No codes. No CDs. No hassle. No worries. I wish the "DRM haters" would at least give credit where credit is due.
This is true. For convenience and ease, if I had all my wargames on a Matrix distribution system that just used one login, and I could install/un-install and re-install at whim - like Steam - then it would save me much heart-ache over where I've got my backups saved, whether the CD's will work in a good few years time when needed etc. I couldn't bear having multiple copies of CD's just in-case of a read-error. I have the majority of my Matrix titles on a USB HDD, which is handier (storage wise) but I don't suppose it's anywhere near as robust as it should be.
The Matrix way allows you to take your game, and reg-key, stick it on a CD, and off you go - install where you like, when you like, without the need for an Internet call home. However, to patch up you need the Internet anyway. If your CD backup goes bad, you'll have to get the install through Matrix's customer service. So its a balance I guess, between wanting convenience and having the freedom to install your games as you want them.
I don't think theres a single ideal solution sadly. I suppose something like GOG.com comes close, you have an account with all the downloads readily available, and the installer will let you put it on any PC, as many times as you like.
I was upset to find a lot of my Matrix games, are unavailable as downloads from the Members area on the Matrix web site. I try to religiously register them to have available the install and extra downloads. But I think even Matrix hasn't got the downloads that were offered early on from the likes of Plimus! Which has got to be a ridiculous situation! You bought the game from them, but their distribution system has changed, and they've not got access to the installs they sold you. IMHO Your account should have available to it, all install files for all games you own through Matrix, regardless of when sold to you, under what system. I'm sure Matrix will come to a persons aid on a case by case basis, but I'd have a good number of support tickets in, if I didn't have some external backup of the install files. It should really be done en masse, and it would bring their level of service up to scratch, in terms of self-service.
As a "happy ending", to the JTS saga, Rich Hamilton mailed me promptly last night and is dealing with my account issues on their site. In that mail, he provided me with download links for all my JTS game purchases. So that is indeed a very good and prompt service!
As I've said elsewhere, the folks at JTS are top-flight.
In confess that its two-install limit has crimped my gaming with its newer titles (I love me some LAN gaming) and I still think Matrix has the right solution, but I have never had a bad experiencing dealing with the personnel at either place.
Best,
Jim
"Cyrano"
:/7)
I think, but am not sure, that the two platform limit has been dropped.
I'm still not a big steam fan but, their system really shines when it comes to reinstalling software (easy).
Quote from: Jarhead0331 on April 14, 2013, 07:17:56 AM
Quote from: Nefaro on April 14, 2013, 01:52:29 AM
Quote from: spelk on April 13, 2013, 05:38:32 PM
Good Lord. I didn't realise just how stressful re-installing your wargames could be... my AGW CD is b0rked too!! bah!
With all the varied and painful DRM on stuff these days, I don't look forward to it either. I plan on building a new desktop sometime this year and the real hair-pulling part is not only sorting out all the logins & keys but figuring out which games I need to uninstall or de-register on the old one. There will inevitably be lost "activations" on a few and even likely some CS emails involved. >:(
It's funny...some people who complain about DRM also complain about the hassle of re-installing games with multiple serial numbers and CDs. The beauty of a DRM system like steam is there is no such hassle. Install steam onto any number of computers and there you have it. All your games, your entire library. No codes. No CDs. No hassle. No worries. I wish the "DRM haters" would at least give credit where credit is due.
That is a definite advantage to Steam or other similar client-based delivery programs. My big complaints about Steam these days usually relate to their terrible customer service and regularly experiencing issues with some installs or the client itself (which just maginifies the CS point).
I'd still much prefer a system like GOG (as mentioned) with just a login and a DRM-free installer download.
Quote from: Al on April 14, 2013, 11:00:14 AM
I think, but am not sure, that the two platform limit has been dropped.
Dont know official policy but you can mail Cs and ask for another activation.