Bloodstar44

BTW, I am big supporter of original games and buy them to support developers. If I wish I can get ALL Matrix Games days upon release here for 1 or 1,5 $ so it's not so superior copy protection. Of course Matrix Games and Shrapnel Games have figured out rather efficent way to combat pirates as cracked serials goes to black list and when they release patch pirated game cannot be patched and as wargames are rather obscure and not HOMM5 or MTW2 or Fifa 2007 pirates don't BOTHER to crack those patches. Voila. But again Matrix Games is certanly losing a lot to pirates, but now they have been stuck with this so they couldn't change copy protection because fans would take their scalp after all Mario

Maybe you've missed the authoratative word on this. Moon has stated multiple times that, should Battlefront collapse, all of their games will be released unlocked. So, your copy of ToW will be able to be installed 500 times if you so choose. Most companies that have the elicense stuff have a similar guarantee. </font>

Distant Guns from SES is not cracked yet

Mario: I honestly didn't think there was a giant pirating thing for wargames to tell you the truth. I can understand the kids attacking FPS games, or some other rubbish, but wargames? I hope that I got quoting right I am new at this forum Well, Sapper Astro, there is pirating of wargames as well. As Battlefront.com is not so big I think that they benefit with this e-license. I have some friend here who believe it or not don't pay for computer games. They think that that is kind of throwing the money away, they find cracks on some sites etc... Mind you they are family man, wife, kids etc... All my arguments pro original games were in vain. Slowly but just slowly they start to realize something but again how many such people are there? Also another factor Theatre of War is game that will be liked by wargamers AND strategy games fan, those who like MTW2 type games BF.com can sell between 100000-200000 copies of this game, I really wish them success. If they make it we will hear cork openings on bottles of champagne lol in BF office hehe. So they need good protection. This game is mainstream game believe it or not. I was before game journalist btw. I still cannot grasp how Battlefront.com catched this big fish really. This is AA title that in fact biggest publisher would publish. but I am glad that it landed in BF. As for M2TW, I think its a piece of junk, at the moment anyway. Its got enough bugs in it to sink a battleship. I much prefer MTW1 and Rome Total war with the Europa Barbarorum mod installed. LOLZ OK, you are the type of gamers that I respect, playing same type of game like me. Salute on that. But I really disagree with you and really like MTW2. Yes, I've noticed many bugs but after this is squashed there is a real diamond in this game. Same with HOMM5. I dislike the new way they have done things, and much prefer number 2 and 3. And still play them. OK, I respect your opinion but again don't agree. yes 3 is perfect but 4 is also very good (I reviewd 4). 5 is also great with some minor things I don't like. Hell, I still play Warlords 3 Darklords rising. Here I completely agree with you. I didn't even tried patch for Warlords 4 some say that is now better game. Hey I played Warlords 1 on Amiga 500 with friends hot seat all night long! To not mention night sessions of legendary Steel Empire (Cyber Empires) made by Canadian studio Silicon Knights. I met those guys at E3 in USA. They still send me Christmas cards I guess the point I am making is that everyone is different. I do play old games, and am quite happy to tinker away with dosbox and emulators for C64 games. Just finished Legend of Blacksilver for the C64 again. I still play Carriers at war. I still play Paradroid! You would be surprised how many weirdos there are like me around. We dislike a lot of the new stuff and only buy something when it really takes our fancy. Another thing that I respect. Salute again! I am also old gamer and playing in fact games since 1985. Lot's of gems there on C-64, Amiga, PC... Neuromancer (by Interplay), Betrayal at Krondor by Dynamix... and many others to not mention them here... in that time idea was nmain thing not shine and blitz... some put a soul into those games. Salute again from Croatia Mario

OK, thank you for your answer. I don't see it as a big thing and I can understand. My country is not yet in EU unfortunately but will be hmmm soon (hehe in 5-10 years lolz). I can understand that Ireland have bigger S&H caharges... we also here in Croatia have outraegous postage prices. I use to say to them at the post that usually is for me CHEAPER getting things from USA (ACROSS ATLANTIC!) than here to some village 30 miles distant. So, 5 points to US postal service! Mario

Hmm, I just must tell that shipping for Europe is a little bit too much. 45$ plus 14$ s&h = 59$ for my country (rest of europe) Shrapnel games shipped Dominions 3 at 8 $ to my place I think. Dominions 2 was only 3 $ but I guess that it was higher but they made only 3$ so to make bigger sales (game was 50$). So that some say that I only say good things here about BF This is only constructive critics not to be taken as some attack Mario

I think that this kind of activation is here to stay. There would be some who are not very satisfied but it is nececity. Combat Mission didn't had any copy protection at all i think, what do you think pirating copies of CM have been around? The game publisher are cornered to the wall - they have to protect their property or face extinction. Battlefront.com just choosed to live, nothing else. What is better - some annoyance for the customers or extinction of niche wargame publishers like Battlefront.com? Answer is quite obvious. Pirating rate have taken an enormous protection. Many kids on the planet and adults as well can have cheap DSL connection, many with flat rate and they download (leech) stuff trough Torrent etc... warez, movies, games, music, everything... even scanned comic books lol. Some are leeching it almost 24h a day lol so they cannot even enjoy it properly. Argument that many of them would not buy the game is true but at the same time - many of them would also play the game as well for free if not protected. Yeah, I know - it's same old, same old but Battlefront.com have my support in doing things like this. And about playing the game after 10 years or owning the game or BF going out of business - there are many games that I want to play from the past. Playing Archon on emulator for C-64 don't bring me same emotion like playing it on original fatty Commodore 64. There are other games as well from the past that are clear headache to get it to work on todays PC. Yeah, I can run DosBOX and play that old game - but I just don't find TIME or have enough WILL to do it. Technology is changing too fast and hyperproduction of GOOD GAMES is also present. Computer games are in fact passing entertainment. Lately I have been playing game called Medievel II: Total War - now I really think that this game is really masterpiece, now I would have put it at top 30 games of all times. Do I want to play Rome Total War of MTW 1 or Shogun? NO, I don't have a slightest desire to play those games now. Call me a graphical whore but it's not just that. Also I am big fan of Heros of Might and Magic. Nival have done great job in doing HOMM 5 and now I don't think that I could play HOMM 3 just like that, maybe 4... And lastly I don't see any indication that Battlefront.com will go so soon out of business. It is plain wrong and damaging to the whole wargaming community to think that BF is there to trick someone and not release a patch if they go out of business. And wargamer need to support all good companies and most important GOOD GAMES. Wargaming market is anyway so small so resulet no buying is damaging for this market as well. It will not bring any good to anyone, to customer no, and no to the publishers and developers. And as some said here, if margin of pirating games lowers then we will see healthier wargaming market, and better games, and better selection. And sorry for so long post, just one more sentence. Imagine situation that ALL major publishers go activation route - who will have more damage BF.com or EA if you choose to boycott BF.com? EA as being mastrodont of game industry will IN ANY way have enough sales by it's brute force and presence in so many game shops, web retails etc... So those who propose boycott to BF are just making a damage to whole wargaming "industry". That's all. Mario

Martin, I found this very innapropriate to lock the thread and don't even wait my response. That is very insulting for me. If you maybe want to ban me do it now. This is not good. First, I am not spokeperson for Battlefront.com. In all those discussions I was merely expressing MY opinion and that is MY private thing to do. Usenet or forum I enjoy sharing opinion. No, last think I would want is some kind of inter forum wars or to ignite some fire. You completely miseunderstood me. Term "defending" is broad and loose. I have been defending MY PRINCIPLES. Battlefront.com is there only by chance and when they attacked e-license yes I have defended you but in fact I have defended principle (MY principle). And in fact all good games are worth defending because it's lousy thing when some talk about e-license but don't do extra step and see what is the game behind it, they simply ignore it. Well, no problem but I didn't expected this reaction. Maybe you are right maybe I need to shut my mouth and allow all that lynch on Internet on you or SES or anybody else. Well, it is shame that my good intentions are considered bad. And you are right to lock that kind of discussion but you also applaud (suck up?) to Matrix Games admins who will gladly allow bashing of Battlefront.com while chucling along. They can say that they love battlefront.com but they will enjoy badmouthing of e-license. Martin, you have dissapointed me. And certanly it was not nice toward me to act like this. Mario

Ok, my nick on Matrix Games forum is Monkeys Brain... I am one of rare there who actually defends Battlefront.com. And on usenet. You will thank me later I guess lol here's one interesting link: http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=1421998&mpage=1&key= hmmm... there were also other threads and also on usenet as well. As I am fan of Battlefront.com maybe I will post more here. Because Battlefront.com is attacked on many places because e-license which is really too much and that's why I have registered here (again). I will of course play this game and talk about it. e-license is just another thing for publisher to protect itself. I will not ignore good games because of copy protection. Maybe starforce but that's another story. Mario

You are right here I must admit.

Hello Intel fanboy. I think you are probably generalising a bit too much. My AMD PC is running now for 6 1/2 years daily without any CPU problems - There was not one reinstallation of windows necessary during that years. I am only scraping it because I need a new rig to run ToW on. And after my experiences so far I will buy an AMD CPU again. I hope for both of us that our contrary decisons ar equally and 100% succesful. Uwe </font>

Intel processors are GENERALLY better than AMD. Trust me. AMD processors and PC based on AMD processors are gone to repair shops much often than Intel based PC's and I have friends who works at big company that sells PC's and he showed me a one room full of broken PC's and he said "Look at those PC's, 90% of them are AMD!". I had problems with Athlon based PC (it was XP 1800+). Imagine nightmare of 3 (yes THREE!) motherboards went KABOOOM!, 2 video cards and many other things. So never again I will touch AMD based PC. I want stability and quality. AMD owners used to mock Intel owners "look, we are faster 5%!" or said "you can cook eggs on Intel"... And funny what is 5 % in games? Nothing. Now Core DUO Intel beat AMD so they have been quiet lately about speed hehehehe. And trust me Intel makes better quality processors. So when it comes to PC I would rather pay additional money and know that PC will work fine. And that is important. Very. Hah, I know that AMD owners will not like this but that is my experience.

LOL Only best processor is Intel. AMD is pure crap from my experience with computers. Last time I had AMD based PC I had to reinstall windows every 3-6 month. Now, after setting up Intel based PC nothing, no reinstall. And never again I will buy AMD based PC. NEVER AGAIN.

Hello! I have also preordered the game and looking forward to it Regards to Moon (Martin) and Steve!! We have been cooperating before as I wrote some reviews of your games in Croatia and Slovenia as well. If ex game journos buy this game you know it's something. Mario M.