Battlefront.com DRM

[Space6ghost]

I have purchased all Combat Mission games. In fact, I just pre-ordered Red Thunder last night. I love what they put out and will continue to support them. I wish they would go back to being able to activate and then deactivate the license, but it is what it is. The upgrade process is a bit of a hassle, but if one takes their time, it is not that complicated. I usually reformat my hard drive every six months or so, and have not had any issues with them in regards to licensing, or any re-installing problems.

[Staggerwing]

What special steps do you take in reference to the game installs (the ones w/out uninstal options) before you reformat? Do you send BF Support a heads-up email 1st?

[republic]

I would prefer it to Stormeagle's DRM.  I can't even get http://stormpowered.com to load today :(

[SgtRock]

I would prefer it to Stormeagle's DRM.  I can't even get http://stormpowered.com to load today :(

Even StormEagle Studio changed their DRM to Steam like/client based system. They haven't produced anything in years, maybe they went belly up?

[Toonces]

I'm not a big fan of Battlefront's DRM, however, I DO like that they are at least transparent about it.

What I don't like is buying a game and then finding out after the fact it has UPlay or Windows Live or some other disaster of a DRM scheme on it.

[Nefaro]

I would prefer it to Stormeagle's DRM.  I can't even get http://stormpowered.com to load today :(

Even StormEagle Studio changed their DRM to Steam like/client based system.  They haven't produced anything in years, maybe they went belly up?

S'true.

Even their limited install DRM was dropped after all the complaints, in favor of a Steam-ish client.  It used to be almost exactly like Battlefront's current DRM, including monitoring hardware configs.  It probably took them too long to finally get around to changing it because some people had written them off for good by then.

Their current DRM is far more palatable than Battlefronts, though, and I give them credit for actually changing it due to feedback.

[republic]

Their current DRM is far more palatable than Battlefronts, though, and I give them credit for actually changing it due to feedback.

I've had terrible luck with it.  I preferred the old scheme to the new one.

[Nefaro]

Their current DRM is far more palatable than Battlefronts, though, and I give them credit for actually changing it due to feedback.

I've had terrible luck with it.  I preferred the old scheme to the new one.

The initial changeover wasn't smooth because something was jacked up with my original password.  They troubleshooted the problem and gave me a new p/w on the same day I contacted them.  It's been fine since, so I couldn't complain.  *shrug*

[Rekim]

I would prefer it to Stormeagle's DRM.  I can't even get http://stormpowered.com to load today :(

distant guns the russo-japanese war was the single most expensive computer game I have ever bought ($90USD). I did enjoy it while it worked. Haven't been able to play it for many years, all because I failed to release the license prior to having a major computer meltdown. I contacted SE support a couple of times but was not able to jump through all of the hoops they set up for me. Worst DRM experience ever.

Come to think of it, the only other bad experience I've had involved Combat Mission BfN. When I installed Silent Hunter 5 on my Windows 7 PC it broke the DRM system for CM. While SH5 was the real culprit, it just goes to show how these DRM schemes can have a negative impact on paying customers.

[Nefaro]

Come to think of it, the only other bad experience I've had involved Combat Mission BfN. When I installed Silent Hunter 5 on my Windows 7 PC it broke the DRM system for CM. While SH5 was the real culprit, it just goes to show how these DRM schemes can have a negative impact on paying customers.

Yeah.. the DRM schemes are just as buggy as the games they're added to. 

Silent Hunter 4's "Fade" style DRM was removed because it was getting false positives on legitimate users' computers and screwing up their game while they were playing.  It was taken out on the 2nd patch IIRC.  You'd think Ubi would've learned but noooo.

[SgtRock]

These days, if someone wants DRM without all the hassle let them release their games on Steam even if they have to charge a little more! The major problem with embedding some third party DRM in a product, how can you ever be sure what it's really doing or won't interfere with or be interfered with by other software or OS changes?

[sandman2575]

Question re: Battlefront's DRM --

If I install the game, and then for some reason have to re-install (say something went screwy in the initial installation), does that count as a second "activation"?  Or is it like the OOTP drm where you have a couple of installations, but can always deactivate them if you want to install on a different computer - ?

[Nefaro]

Question re: Battlefront's DRM --

If I install the game, and then for some reason have to re-install (say something went screwy in the initial installation), does that count as a second "activation"?  Or is it like the OOTP drm where you have a couple of installations, but can always deactivate them if you want to install on a different computer - ?

Not sure if you can manually deactivate this one.  I would expect that it's supposed to automatically do so as part of the Uninstall but that may not always work at the point it's done.

[Zonso]

Question re: Battlefront's DRM --

If I install the game, and then for some reason have to re-install (say something went screwy in the initial installation), does that count as a second "activation"?  Or is it like the OOTP drm where you have a couple of installations, but can always deactivate them if you want to install on a different computer - ?

You can re-install as many times as you wish without affecting activation which is a one time event for your computer. (barring major hardware changes) Lots of theoretical 'issues' and misinformation here. In practice, I have not had an issue with this drm and I don't recall any of my pbem partners having any either. The number of activations seem generous to me for how often I perform major upgrades to my PC.

[Asid]

Lots of theoretical 'issues' and misinformation here. In practice, I have not had an issue with this drm and I don't recall any of my pbem partners having any either. The number of activations seem generous to me for how often I perform major upgrades to my PC.

Is there any published information that makes it clear exactly what is involved?

Regards