Pre-Order Heir to the Throne now!

[Pitt The Elder]

My understanding is that you always have to log into the service to install. That seems to me to be the definition of your game being tied permanently to the download service. In this case the service we are talking about is Gamers Gate, but I'm under the impression all the others it will be available on are at least as bad.

No, I figured that was what you were getting at. The reason I answered like I did is that I think you can install from those files without a connection to GG. THINK being the keyword unfortunately, since I'm not in a position to test it at the moment.

Also, you can always just burn the installed game to a CD and make a new copy each time you install a patch. So even if Paradox or GG go out of business you have a fully-patched game that you can just copy to your hard drive and run.

But if you have such a grudge against online distributors (which I don't really understand, I love GG), why not just do this. If you really want to get fancy with it you could just compress the whole directory and write your own installer to set Reg keys as needed. It's not all that hard.

 

[6354201]

I shall lurk in the darkness patiently and hysterically grin at people's feedback at first release. Then even more patiently and maliciously will I wait for the patches that are bound to come. When the playable level is reached I will strike from the darkness as a knife in the back and get HTTT.

Normally I would agree with this, but expansions that add to a game that is already stable like EU3 are usually a pretty safe bet.

 

[unmerged(169112)]

I think his issue is that you still need to have an internet connection to run that exe even though it isn't downloading the game. You can also work around this though by copying the temporary folder after the game downloads but before it finishes installing (at which point it normally deletes the actual installer .exe file).

It's not 'supported' but it does work as I posted above.

Also, you can always just burn the installed game to a CD and make a new copy each time you install a patch. So even if Paradox or GG go out of business you have a fully-patched game that you can just copy to your hard drive and run.

Running without internet connection is my concern. Or, to be more accurate, it is near the bottom of my list of concerns, but it covers all the others so is the one worth focusing on.

You know I just dug out my old Fallout 2 disk and played that? You know how old that game is? I still play Alpha Centaurii fairly often. In fact, this whole thing makes me tempted to start quoting Commissioner Lal and Sister Miriam.

I don't want to have to remember an account 10 years from now. I don't want to have to try and recover it using an email address that I don't have access to, from an ISP that may no longer exist, from a download service that may have gone under. Even a year from now I don't want to worry about download services if I decide to throw a few games in my bag to play on a relatives computer over the holidays.

Of course now I've gotten going about download services, which is not what I was looking to do. I know better than to tilt at windmills. Industries are going to do what they are going to do. Essentially it comes down to this: If I can burn the game to disk in such a way that I can use it pretty much like a classic install disk, workaround or no, then I'll be more than happy to give Paradox my $20.

Sorry if my question is answered five more times before I put this up. It took a bit to write that, and I actually made it LESS ranty. Like I said, I (mostly) know better.

 

[unmerged(169112)]

But if you have such a grudge against online distributors (which I don't really understand, I love GG), why not just do this. If you really want to get fancy with it you could just compress the whole directory and write your own installer to set Reg keys as needed. It's not all that hard.

No surprise, someone posted an answer while I was typing my rant.

I don't think I have a grudge against download services. I just think being tied to one is a hassle I don't need. I think most people who talk about how much they love them are not coming from the same place I am. I just don't play many PC games these days. When I do, I'm usually disappointed. I don't need a service to make it easier to buy all the games that I don't want to play anyway. I don't get any benefit from them, and I am missing out on such a tiny tiny amount of stuff I want by sitting them out. That's why I was trying to keep my questions simple and avoid the discussion. I don't care what you think, and I'm betting you don't care what I think.

I do however care that you took the time to answer me. A couple people now have told me that they think I'll probably be able to do what I'm looking to do, which I understand is the best you can give me. I certainly appreciate that.

Again, thanks for the time and sorry if I come off too badly.

 

[jdrou]

I was also hesitant about buying online until I found out you could backup as I described. In its earliest years you actually had to connect to the GG site to even play the game (or at least every third time you played). I would certainly not buy a downloaded game that required that. Since they removed that restriction I've bought most of my Paradox games through GG (main exceptions being EU3 Collector's Edition and HoI Anthology which was also sort of a "collector's edition").

 

[Veldmaarschalk]

A new icon is always nice and since I hate to see empty boxes on MyGames/Registrations page I pre-ordered.

 

[Camara]

I hate to see empty boxes on MyGames/Registrations page

We can see that

 

[Nomble]

pre-ordered, I'm so excited.

 

[Riddermark]

A new icon is always nice and since I hate to see empty boxes on MyGames/Registrations page I pre-ordered.

Veld u know I like you but with all due respect - THIS IS MADNESS! :rofl:

 

[Jayavarman]

Veld u know I like you but with all due respect - THIS IS MADNESS! :rofl:

Relax.

 

[unmerged(169112)]

I was also hesitant about buying online until I found out you could backup as I described. In its earliest years you actually had to connect to the GG site to even play the game (or at least every third time you played). I would certainly not buy a downloaded game that required that. Since they removed that restriction I've bought most of my Paradox games through GG (main exceptions being EU3 Collector's Edition and HoI Anthology which was also sort of a "collector's edition").

Yah. Thanks again for answering. It sounds like GG downloads are lightly protected enough that I'll be able to do what I want with them. If nothing else I've probably received about as much assurance to that effect as I'm going to get. So again, thanks to you and others who took the time to reply.

 

[Riddermark]

Relax.

You are next on the list buddy.

 

[Darkrenown]

By install directory, do you mean the directory you install the game to or the one you install it from? If you mean the directory you install the game to, wouldn't that only work on the same OS or even the same machine, meaning you would have to use their service if you ever wanted to install on a different machine?

I know you've already had some other answers, and you can just copy in install files as people have said, but just to address the above: You can copy the game directory onto another machine and it'll work just fine. I've also copied my game from an XP64 machine and ran it on both XP32 and Win7 64 without issue. The only thing you might have to do is add the registry key manually if you need to run a patch installer. Obviously I can't promise it'll work on whatever OS we're using in 20 years, but given that it's fairly "self contained" I expect it would, assuming it works normally.

 

[unmerged(147169)]

paradox why do you hate my bank account

will preorder when I get money

 

[Pitt The Elder]

Running without internet connection is my concern. Or, to be more accurate, it is near the bottom of my list of concerns, but it covers all the others so is the one worth focusing on.

You know I just dug out my old Fallout 2 disk and played that? You know how old that game is? I still play Alpha Centaurii fairly often. In fact, this whole thing makes me tempted to start quoting Commissioner Lal and Sister Miriam.

What actually transpires beneath the veil of an online download service? Decent people shouldn't think too much about that.

Man, SMAC/X is awesome.

Again, thanks for the time and sorry if I come off too badly.

Don't worry about it. We see much worse

 

[Fookison]

Relax.

Veld's gotcha by 2 icons..................

 

[Jayavarman]

Veld's gotcha by 2 icons..................

I let him have it. I have two infraction points, and I don't wish for more.

 

[rifle0021]

pre-ordered!!!

 

[unmerged(169112)]

What actually transpires beneath the veil of an online download service? Decent people shouldn't think too much about that.

Man, SMAC/X is awesome.

Beware of he who would deny you access to information, for in his heart he dreams himself your master. -Commissioner Pravin Lal

I'm sorry, I couldn't resist.

Don't worry about it. We see much worse

I'm sure you have. Just wanted to make sure people knew I wasn't trying to be a jerk. I sat out new PC releases pretty much entirely for at least two years because I let my computer get way behind spec. I built a new one not long ago, and have not been generally impressed with the state of PC gaming. I suspect I let that fact color my comments on this sort of thing more than I should.

I know you've already had some other answers, and you can just copy in install files as people have said, but just to address the above: You can copy the game directory onto another machine and it'll work just fine. I've also copied my game from an XP64 machine and ran it on both XP32 and Win7 64 without issue. The only thing you might have to do is add the registry key manually if you need to run a patch installer. Obviously I can't promise it'll work on whatever OS we're using in 20 years, but given that it's fairly "self contained" I expect it would, assuming it works normally.

Yah, I think my issues have been pretty well addressed. My understanding now is that :
1. The installation files of past GG releases have tended to be pretty easy to backup in a form that is satisfactory to me.
2. Even if they're not, the installation itself is likely simple + compact enough to just transfer from machine to machine without any particularly extensive tweaking.
3. There is no reason to believe this release will be different.

I'm ok with either 1 or 2, so I should be ok in general.

I certainly don't mind the extra confirmation though. Or, as you and others have pointed out, the almost confirmation. Obviously nobody can guarantee that I'll be able to do with an unreleased game what they have been able to do with past releases. The people with access to unreleased products are usually not the ones likely to give answers regarding unsupported features, so I think I've got all I'm going to get.

Again, much thanks for all the help.

 

[Will Lucky]

Finally pre-ordered, also got Vicky Complete 40% off .