Don't even get me started on this! I bought my copy of SH3 off the net, I got ONE install, and I can't even buy another copy! My existing game can't even be copied to a disk, either. God only knows how I'm going to do an uninstall and clean reinstall for GWX!! There's just something inherently wrong with the concept that anti-piracy software and policies are able to restrict legitimate users to that extent. Intellectual copyright laws apply to commercial uses, not private use by the consumer. Just read the small print on the FBI notice on videotapes and DVD's. It specifically states COMMERCIAL use is prohibited. This situation is like saying when you buy a book, you can't take it out of the house, or lend it to a friend.
Best part is, if you do any research on SF, you'll find out the "uninstall" tool doesn't uninstall it! The company that wrote SF is Russian, and has a typically Russian attitude towards us, i.e., totally abrasive, obnoxious, and paranoid. Anyone who complains is summarily classified as a thief and hacker, and subjected to all kinds of abuse. Not to mention their reaction when a company has the unmitigated gall NOT to use SF. Can we all say "unethical, cynical, and hypicritical"?
At the end of the day, SF doesn't even do what it's supposed to do--prevent hacking of the game. Just from reading posts here, it's clear that's already happened.
I think it speaks volumes that Ubisoft won't be using SF for SH4. I suppose one of the big questions is how they ended up using SF in the first place, but I'm not sure we even want to know that answer.
My only concern now, is what I'll do when GWX comes out. It's not like $20-30 for a new game will kill me, but I object on principle. I could boycott Ubisoft, but I REALLY like SH3, I can't wait for GWX, and I think SH4 is going to be great. So, other than cutting off my nose to spite my face, I guess I'm basically screwed.
Thanks for letting me vent a little. At least now I feel slightly better!
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