Products lose activation with BIOS changes

[ryanbatc 12,832]

This is really annoying to me.  Again, the LEGAL paying customer is the one hurt by DRM....  *sigh*

 

I had some issues with my PC in the last few months which ended up in a few BIOS resets and or changes.

 

Some of my FSX addons don't like this and ask me to reactivate their products.  I'm not going to name names but there are a few different companies which do this.

 

Did I mention it's annoying?  One company I apparently have to get a new code because I can't even use their addon.  With another company all I had to do was re-enter my information and it worked.

 

Does this bother anyone else?  I think BIOS changes /etc shouldn't be a factor because the people who buy FSX addons usually are power users and make changes to their PC's or upgrade components frequently.

[Cai Zicheng 171]

Blame those who pirate.

[N400QW 205]

I'm guessing we are not culprits or we would have heard noise...consider the publisher dilemma as well as the customers.. if folks were honest at all times and if the world were perfect none of that stuff would be required. :unknw:

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[ryanbatc 12,832]

No it's not ES - fwiw I've never had issues with F1 related stuff.  It's the devs who make in-game licensing/activation annoying.  I completely understand the use of a serial/key etc.  But once I do that I should be able to play.  In this case it seems activation was required and the license did not work anymore - I have contacted the dev.

[Jon 4]

I'm guessing we are not culprits or we would have heard noise...consider the publisher dilemma as well as the customers.. if folks were honest at all times and if the world were perfect none of that stuff would be required. :unknw:

I think this particular issue is quite sad, for reasons I've outlined before on my blog. The small community element of this hobby makes it particularly counter-productive for the perpetrators.

 

At the same time, I do view such measures taken by developers as "anti-features" in a similar vein to bugs when making purchasing decisions. So far I've never really been burned by any of these systems, but it's still a consideration.

 

To say this isn't to blame the developer rather than the pirate at all. I've not had any problems with my limited experience with Flight1 and their wrapper.

 

Just my 2 cents.

[Howellerman 104]

Interestingly enough, I recently updated my BIOS and got this little message in the lower right of my screen on boot: "This version of Windows is not genuine".

 

Fortunately, it resolved itself, but I think that things that change the "underpinnings" of our systems appear as a different (i.e., non-registered) system. 

 

Like everything else, the 2-percenters make life miserable for the rest of us. Unfortunately, it seems the 2% has increased to the 4% or more...   :(

[fppilot 4,358]

You know.  Its like what happened at Target with credit and debit cards.  My wife and I made one purchase on November 29 for all of $18.  So in January our credit card company at their option replaced the credit card we used.  Holy S@^%!!!!  What a PITA.  Amazon, eBay, Paypal, utility companies, insurance companies, and on and on.  Took two to three days of constant work to complete the updates.  

 

So how many hours do you have into your current FSX or P3D installation, including all add-ons, Inspector settings, config files, and on and on.  But not even one of the suppliers cares a sh$@ !! about what we have to go through on a BIOS, OS, HD, or other upgrade.

 

Next time I replace my system I have already identified those add-on offerings I will stay with.  Quite a limited number compared to  what I have invested $$$ and time into with my current state of installation.  

 

Sad point about this is this: if this goes beyond me then it certainly costs revenue $$$ to the current players in the industry that adopt the responsible methods.  And I for one want those players/developers to live and breathe with life.  Cannot another solution be found?

 

Wonder if the lost revenue balances off the claimed amount of piracy?

[zmak 331]

I dont get this with my Asus ROG board and I update and OC several times a year. Having said that it would drive me crazy if it did happen

[fppilot 4,358]

and I update and OC several times a year.

 

OC?  OC, OS, or BIOS?  

[zmak 331]

OC?  OC, OS, or BIOS?  

over clock and Bios update. In fact I just updated to the latest  Bios last week or am I talking about the wrong type of update?

[fppilot 4,358]

 

 

In fact I just updated to the latest  Bios last week or am I talking about the wrong type of update?

 

Only you know for sure <grin>.

[WarpD 824]

Ah... the complaint about protecting one's stuff.  Always a "fun" discussion.

 

As a developer who's seen my work stolen... I have zero sympathy for anyone who has to "endure" protection methods.

 

If you don't like dealing with copy protection, then find a way to make it's necessity obsolete.

[N400QW 205]

These types of discussions are usually moot. OS Devs, FS Devs, and music/book publishers will continue to protect their IP to the extent they can, legit customer will continue to complain, and illegit IP thieves will continue their activities.

 

Human nature at its worst guys. :blink:

[Luke 782]

Ah... the complaint about protecting one's stuff.  Always a "fun" discussion.

 

As a developer who's seen my work stolen... I have zero sympathy for anyone who has to "endure" protection methods.

 

If you don't like dealing with copy protection, then find a way to make it's necessity obsolete.

 

As a developer, what would you prefer - to sell 2,000 copies with a 1% piracy rate, or to sell 5,000 copies with a 70% piracy rate?

 

It seems like honest, paying customers are merely collateral damage.

 

Cheers!

 

Luke