Look here. This is really exciting. In addition to being able to finish "The Witch's Wake," there are two great-looking modules to choose from. This is the blurb for "Kingmaker.":

<font color=skyblue>I guess the prices are pretty good. Thanks for the info, Attalus!</font>

Thanks for the heads up! These are probably going to be worth buying.

They look good. Might have a look at it depending on how you can pay.

Guess this is the start of the Digital Distribution packs. The prices do look good. Guess we will have to try one out and see how it compares to the comunities modules.

They'll have to keep a high standard considering you have to pay for them.

Bah, I dunno. Despite being a fan of the game, NWN's has proven to me that Bioware (not Atari) can bring cheapness to new lows. If it was up to me they would never have the D&D license again. Yes, I'm bitter. After 100 + bug reports that still aren't fixed or are partially broken I have issues with giving them money.

Yeah, most notably the Aribeth Romance bug, which is ridiculous. But, I'm still gonna buy them.

Well count me as one who will *not* be buying these modules. A few weeks ago Biware sent me a questionair with this very question. It also seemed, as I went through it, that the free community module aspect may eventually go the way of the dinosaur. Just my read and my 2 cents worth.

[ 10-27-2004, 11:19 AM: Message edited by: Albromor ]

As long as thei're as big as the extensions modules, I guess it's ok.

There will of course be lots of piracy of those modules...

Yeah, I would think piracy would be a big deal, since they couldn't monkey with a download like they could a CD. Or could they?

It's just going to be too easy to illegaly share it. Take the file from your module folder and upload it on the net. Simple as that.

I Imagine they'll issue keys.

It won't be that simple Luvian. The mod will be CD KEY sensitive. According to Bioware, the mod won't open on start-up OR from a saved game unless its launched from a machine with a NWN cd key (not one of the expansions either) which matches a buyers'cd key.

If I understand the process right, you will need to have a live internet connection in place to start the mod or restore a saved game. That HAS to be do a cd-key match between the machine and the purchasing list. Simply putting the mod on the net will NOT get you access.

Ah man... We have to pay to finish the Witches Wake story. This is crap.

It won't be that simple Luvian. The mod will be CD KEY sensitive. According to Bioware, the mod won't open on start-up OR from a saved game unless its launched from a machine with a NWN cd key (not one of the expansions either) which matches a buyers'cd key.

If I understand the process right, you will need to have a live internet connection in place to start the mod or restore a saved game. That HAS to be do a cd-key match between the machine and the purchasing list. Simply putting the mod on the net will NOT get you access. </font>[/QUOTE]I doubt it. Don't expect the protection of the modules to be any better than NWN's protection.

Its been confirmed on the Bioware forums. When you purchase it the mod is linked to your NWN cd Key. Thus making it hard for others to play it without your CD key.

It won't be that simple Luvian. The mod will be CD KEY sensitive. According to Bioware, the mod won't open on start-up OR from a saved game unless its launched from a machine with a NWN cd key (not one of the expansions either) which matches a buyers'cd key.

If I understand the process right, you will need to have a live internet connection in place to start the mod or restore a saved game. That HAS to be do a cd-key match between the machine and the purchasing list. Simply putting the mod on the net will NOT get you access. </font>[/QUOTE]I doubt it. Don't expect the protection of the modules to be any better than NWN's protection. </font>[/QUOTE]The NWN's protection is actually very good considering that with each new patch Atari change it, making it not even worth the time to keep up with as opposed to going out and actually buying the thing. Sure, there will be pirate modules but with the difficulty and (I expect) ongoing patches to these modules they will be few and far between. I MAY play them if they prove to be exceptional I am sure I could find a special offer/reduced price somewhere after a time.

It won't be that simple Luvian. The mod will be CD KEY sensitive. According to Bioware, the mod won't open on start-up OR from a saved game unless its launched from a machine with a NWN cd key (not one of the expansions either) which matches a buyers'cd key.

If I understand the process right, you will need to have a live internet connection in place to start the mod or restore a saved game. That HAS to be do a cd-key match between the machine and the purchasing list. Simply putting the mod on the net will NOT get you access. </font>[/QUOTE]I doubt it. Don't expect the protection of the modules to be any better than NWN's protection. </font>[/QUOTE]Doubt which part? That the mods will be NWN cd-key sensitive? TDC just confirmed that. THat you need a live internet connection to start the mod or reload a save? Check the bioware forums as they have listed a LIVE INTERNET CONNECTION as a MINIMUM system requirement.

Check out the Bioware forums for the rest of the details, but you WILL NOT be able to play the mods WITHOUT a valid CD-KEY.

Nah it suck, anyone can just go to megagames and download the latest crack, just like any other game...

The cd key alone is not enough to stop piracy and they know it. Just as it does not stop people from pirating NWN or any other games that ask for a cd key at install. Even Windows is pirated, and it has a cd key check too.

The only real protection is a check every time you start it or load a game, but in my opinion, when copy protection get in the way of the legit customer, you have a problem.

So, you bought the product, but lose your internet connection for a reason or another. You can't play the game you paid for? Seem pretty annoying to me...

If the modules get popular enough to attract the attention of a real and determined pirate, they will get pirated. Of course it has to be worth it, because potentialy, it might take a lot of modification to remove the protection...

Nah it suck, anyone can just go to megagames and download the latest crack, just like any other game...

The cd key alone is not enough to stop piracy and they know it. Just as it does not stop people from pirating NWN or any other games that ask for a cd key at install. Even Windows is pirated, and it has a cd key check too.

The only real protection is a check every time you start it or load a game, but in my opinion, when copy protection get in the way of the legit customer, you have a problem.

So, you bought the product, but lose your internet connection for a reason or another. You can't play the game you paid for? Seem pretty annoying to me...

If the modules get popular enough to attract the attention of a real and determined pirate, they will get pirated. Of course it has to be worth it, because potentialy, it might take a lot of modification to remove the protection... </font>[/QUOTE]Disagree. Had major trouble making backup copies of NWN's, SOU and HotU. Each used different protections and like I said these protections are updated every patch or so. On top of that you need a legit CD-key for each one. Yes it can be done if the time is put in but the protective measures by no means "suck" IMHO. NWN's is actually one of the most highy-protected games I have ever bought, causing me to complain to Atari about them obstructing my legal right to backup what I own.

This only mean you suck at it... [img]tongue.gif[/img]

I always do the backup for my friends since they're not that good with computers, and NWN wasn't any harder than any other game.

Serials aren't hard to get. I'm sure if I wanted I could find about a dozen of them in a few minutes.

Has anyone seen the new chapter of Feast for Crows on his site? It's pretty good. [img]smile.gif[/img]

*spoilers*


Cersei seems to have ended up alone. Joffrey dead, Tywin dead, Clegaine dying, Tyrion a refugee and Kevan preparing to go home. In the meanwhile, the Tyrells are getting more and more ambitious which each passing day. I can't wait 'till the book is available.

LOL, Velk, I didn't understand a word of your post except 'a', an' and 'the.'

Guys lets just remember that we should not be talking about the cracking of games as its against the TOS for Ironworks. Lets keep the talk on the premium modules and not how easy or how hard it may be to crack them.

Cheers!

I assumed since Luvian was talking about it that it was ok, simply skirting the issue and without going into specifics about how-to it would simply become a topical subject. I will keep it as general as possible, however.

I still think you are wrong though, Luvian. I bet you suck at it more [img]tongue.gif[/img] . In relation to what you said...NWN's maybe but the expansions, no. I have been backing up my games for a long time now and still believe their protective measures are extreme in comparison. Let me clarify, it is not about who 'sucks' at what per se but rather time taken and effort spent as a gauge to measure protection.

As far as checking to see if a copy is legit when the game starts, NWN's has always had this and it is called SecureRom. Many on the Bioware forums complain about it causing them problems booting the game up. Go to the forums there and do a search, you will see just how stubborn it is by some peoples' experiences with legit games they bought. This, along with the numerous other anti-pirate protections on these games, Cd-keys (which cannot be simulated btw), CW protections and a frequent patchly update on securerom along with 1 other measure which I will not mention here (it would breach the TOS imho) making for a less than easy backup procedure. Anyways, let's agree to disagree on this one.

[ 10-29-2004, 05:01 AM: Message edited by: SpiritWarrior ]

As long as we keep the conversation about backups and not cracking the software then its ok.

No CD cracks are fine to talk about since some people need to use them because of certain copy protections (Atari Tech Support have recomended this to a number of people)

Just thought I would head off any other talk about it before it happened. No one did anything wrong. :D