Rise of Flight ICE, Black Shark, A-10

Skybird · 02-26-11, 08:04 AM

These are typical new-rig-questions

:

Is RoF still coming with this terrible copy protection where you need to stay constantly connected to the internet? Or have they removed it meanwhile?

Is Black Shark still coming with Starforce?

What about A-10?

I fear I still will need to pass on each of these, or do you have happy news for me?

Dowly · 02-26-11, 09:41 AM

Both DCS titles use SF.

Skybird · 02-26-11, 09:50 AM

I feared so, so two names scratched from the list. Well, saves me money.

Remains my question on Rise of Flight ICE.

Oberon · 02-26-11, 11:13 AM

I believe ROF ICE has an offline version now where you don't have to be connected to the net to play. One mo, I read about it in a simHQ re-review...

http://www.simhq.com/_air13/air_444d.html

This is for standard ROF...I'd be very surprised if they've changed it back for ICE.
I must admit...it's tempting me too...although I think I'll need to upgrade a few components first...but it looks and sounds just beautiful, and they've now got the Sopwith Pup as flyable, so that swings it a lot in favour for me.

Skybird · 02-26-11, 11:48 AM

Oh, that is some hope there - heading over to simHQ now.

Skybird · 02-26-11, 12:09 PM

Okay I checked the online pdf of the German manual for Iron Cross. There it is written black on white that while for activation an online connection and creating an online account is necessary, you can launch the game and run it withoiut internet connection from that time on, with access to single player, quick mission, replays, and campaign, but the progress in campaign will be saved on HD, and will not be synchronised online.

At Amazon Germany it currently costs 32 euros. I'll wait until it drops a bit more, due to the online activation scheme, and then at some later time will get it.

I wonder why the original title still costs so much more but offers fewer planes.

a 3-days free trial download is available.

Oberon · 02-26-11, 12:19 PM

Oooh, might have to look at that free trial, after I've seen if it'll work on the home machine. I've been pleasantly surprised at what that machine will run of late, it took ARMA2 with little complaint on Medium settings, and OA too. However that's no guarantee...will have to investigate post-paycheck.

Ubergeek87 · 02-26-11, 01:37 PM

Edit: Nevermind, it's just a newer version of sf

Quote:

Q: Does DCS: A-10C use copy protection?
A: Yes, it uses the new user-friendly ProActive AAA Technology.
You will no longer have a fixed number of activations, but in an effort to prevent piracy the system does limit the number of activations per month. Your DCS A-10C serial number is initially set to 8 activations and when they all are spent, 1 activation is added automatically once per 31 days (effectively "refilling" your serial number).
ProActive AAA Technology does not install any drivers on your PC. It works as an integrated part of the DCS files but has no special privileges in your system.
For more information, please refer to this forum thread: http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=59002

Edit pt 2: Not sure what your opinion of Steam is, but they removed sf from blackshark for the steam release http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=55848

Skybird · 02-26-11, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Not sure what your opinion of Steam is

No pleasant one.

Arclight · 02-27-11, 03:56 AM

For the record, it's not the same Starforce you're thinking off, not even close with A-10C.

It's a one-time online activation like most games nowadays. Except with limited activations, though you can request a reset for BS no problem and Warthog actually restores 1 every month automatically. So unless you do more than 1 reinstall on a different machine/new OS more than once per month it's impossible to run out.

Skybird · 02-27-11, 04:15 AM

Does it install hidden drivers on the rig?

Got burned once, never will get burned again.

What about user codes created from individual hardware compositions of the hosting system?

Arclight · 02-27-11, 05:26 AM

At least in case of digital download versions, no. There might be a driver installed for the disc-based versions, but I doubt it.

Not sure what you're referring to with the codes, but: the activations are tied to a system's hardware composition, basically the same system Windows uses. You'll need to re-activate if there are substantial changes. So yes to hardware code.

You get deactivations as well btw. If you know you'll need to reactivate later, for example when migrating to a new system, you can use one of those and save an activation. With 10 deactivations and 8 activations that's 18 installs on unique machines. And as said, ED can reset for BS and A-10 returns them on its own.

It's still DRM, so it sucks. But it's not the frightening Starforce that rooted at the core of your system and ate baby optical drives.

Dowly · 02-27-11, 07:19 AM

The hardware thingy:

Quote:

An activation will be required if the hardware/software changes exceed 12 points as rated below:

CPU ID: 13
Windows PID: 3
Computer Name: 3
Hard drive volume serial number: 3
MAC address: 6
RAM amount: 6

Skybird · 02-27-11, 10:32 AM

Well.

This is a man who has just violated his own principles.

For 15 Euros - I have now ordered Black Shark.

And then Rise of Flight ICE.

And ARMA2 Gold.

And an external 2TB USB3-HD.

What use is there in a new computer if you can't make it smoke, and smell the taste of burning cable isolation ?

The nice news is all these titles come at reduced prices now, and have already received more or less patching efforts. I just worry about the AI in ARMA2. The AI always was an eyebrow-raiser in previous titles in the series.

Arclight · 02-27-11, 10:38 AM

It's not that bad imho; they're perfectly capable of killing you. That's one thing it's got up on most shooter AI, but that might have something to do with gamedesign.

Just started using an AI mod for Operation Arrowhead, and it looks pretty good. Especially snipers, they just right turned into ghosts.

Doubt you will regret any of those purchases.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dowly

The hardware thingy:

You don't have to re-activate after new Windows? Wish I'd know that earlier.

02-26-11, 08:04 AM	#1
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 40,458 Downloads: 9 Uploads: 0	Rise of Flight ICE, Black Shark, A-10 These are typical new-rig-questions : Is RoF still coming with this terrible copy protection where you need to stay constantly connected to the internet? Or have they removed it meanwhile? Is Black Shark still coming with Starforce? What about A-10? I fear I still will need to pass on each of these, or do you have happy news for me? __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.

02-26-11, 09:50 AM	#3
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 40,458 Downloads: 9 Uploads: 0	I feared so, so two names scratched from the list. Well, saves me money. Remains my question on Rise of Flight ICE. __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.

02-26-11, 11:48 AM	#5
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 40,458 Downloads: 9 Uploads: 0	Oh, that is some hope there - heading over to simHQ now. __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.

02-26-11, 12:09 PM	#6
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 40,458 Downloads: 9 Uploads: 0	Okay I checked the online pdf of the German manual for Iron Cross. There it is written black on white that while for activation an online connection and creating an online account is necessary, you can launch the game and run it withoiut internet connection from that time on, with access to single player, quick mission, replays, and campaign, but the progress in campaign will be saved on HD, and will not be synchronised online. At Amazon Germany it currently costs 32 euros. I'll wait until it drops a bit more, due to the online activation scheme, and then at some later time will get it. I wonder why the original title still costs so much more but offers fewer planes. a 3-days free trial download is available. __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.

02-27-11, 03:56 AM	#10
Arclight Navy Seal Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Land of windmills, tulips, wooden shoes and cheese. Lots of cheese. Posts: 8,467 Downloads: 53 Uploads: 10	For the record, it's not the same Starforce you're thinking off, not even close with A-10C. It's a one-time online activation like most games nowadays. Except with limited activations, though you can request a reset for BS no problem and Warthog actually restores 1 every month automatically. So unless you do more than 1 reinstall on a different machine/new OS more than once per month it's impossible to run out. __________________ Contritium praecedit superbia.

02-26-11, 09:41 AM	#2
Dowly Lucky Jack Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Finland Posts: 25,005 Downloads: 32 Uploads: 0	Both DCS titles use SF.

02-26-11, 11:13 AM	#4
Oberon Lucky Jack Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 25,976 Downloads: 61 Uploads: 20	I believe ROF ICE has an offline version now where you don't have to be connected to the net to play. One mo, I read about it in a simHQ re-review... http://www.simhq.com/_air13/air_444d.html This is for standard ROF...I'd be very surprised if they've changed it back for ICE. I must admit...it's tempting me too...although I think I'll need to upgrade a few components first...but it looks and sounds just beautiful, and they've now got the Sopwith Pup as flyable, so that swings it a lot in favour for me.

02-26-11, 12:19 PM	#7
Oberon Lucky Jack Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 25,976 Downloads: 61 Uploads: 20	Oooh, might have to look at that free trial, after I've seen if it'll work on the home machine. I've been pleasantly surprised at what that machine will run of late, it took ARMA2 with little complaint on Medium settings, and OA too. However that's no guarantee...will have to investigate post-paycheck.

02-27-11, 04:15 AM	#11
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 40,458 Downloads: 9 Uploads: 0	Does it install hidden drivers on the rig? Got burned once, never will get burned again. What about user codes created from individual hardware compositions of the hosting system? __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.

02-27-11, 05:26 AM	#12
Arclight Navy Seal Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Land of windmills, tulips, wooden shoes and cheese. Lots of cheese. Posts: 8,467 Downloads: 53 Uploads: 10	At least in case of digital download versions, no. There might be a driver installed for the disc-based versions, but I doubt it. Not sure what you're referring to with the codes, but: the activations are tied to a system's hardware composition, basically the same system Windows uses. You'll need to re-activate if there are substantial changes. So yes to hardware code. You get deactivations as well btw. If you know you'll need to reactivate later, for example when migrating to a new system, you can use one of those and save an activation. With 10 deactivations and 8 activations that's 18 installs on unique machines. And as said, ED can reset for BS and A-10 returns them on its own. It's still DRM, so it sucks. But it's not the frightening Starforce that rooted at the core of your system and ate baby optical drives. __________________ Contritium praecedit superbia.

02-27-11, 10:32 AM	#14
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 40,458 Downloads: 9 Uploads: 0	Well. This is a man who has just violated his own principles. For 15 Euros - I have now ordered Black Shark. And then Rise of Flight ICE. And ARMA2 Gold. And an external 2TB USB3-HD. What use is there in a new computer if you can't make it smoke, and smell the taste of burning cable isolation ? The nice news is all these titles come at reduced prices now, and have already received more or less patching efforts. I just worry about the AI in ARMA2. The AI always was an eyebrow-raiser in previous titles in the series. __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.