STEAM : Get rid of redundant registrations please

Karmapowered · 04-11-2012, 04:25 PM

Sorry to start a new thread just for this, but I feel the mandatory (and thus) redundant registration for this game bugs me enough to warrant a little attention seeking.

Once a game is installed via Steam, I am fine with it querying for special keys to unlock at its first execution, to save up on the extra development costs creating a specific Steam version of the game, or whatever. By providing aforementioned keys in a small popup, Steam does a great job at making this process as painless as possible.

However, "Sins of a Solar Empire" requires me to register the game again, by creating an account on their own servers, which I don't really care about (at this point).

If I use Steam to get my games, it's precisely to get rid of all those anachronistic proprietary registration/copy protection processes, which mean only trouble over time. In 10 years from now, if I want to reinstall this game on a new computer, who knows if the Ironclad/Stardock registration server is still up. I am hoping and betting that Steam will be.

Therefore, I don't care if the game comes from Ironclad, Stardock, Blizzard or EA. If I get my game through Steam, I want only ever have to deal with Steam registration processes.

I am kindly asking game publishers to stop bullying their legitimate customers with "extra" registration features that are not only annoying, but largely unneeded, because I don't see why one would pirate a game if one went through the trouble to purchase it through Steam (and their own copy-protection processes) in the first place. Please get a lesson or two from GOG instead.

I am kindly asking Steam to refuse games that come with such redundant registrations, or at least warn us on the store page of the game, because I wouldn't want to purchase them in the future again.

Thank you.

AirwolfBRMB · 04-15-2012, 03:18 PM

Then just buy it directly from stardock, and have 2 steamlike apps running instead of just one (which is a pain as i did that for the first trilogy)...

I mean seriously a one off registration for stardock, and this is so you can log in and multiplay which is what the game is really about anyway?? Is it even worth the post. Some people are never happy, i welcome the fact they make this game availiable on steam.

Sifer2 · 04-16-2012, 06:41 PM

Well the question is why its necessary if the game is Steamworks anyway I heard? If it is Steamworks there really should not be a reason to create another account. Usually I feel like its cause they just want my email address to send spam. Like the OP says its not a game breaking deal. But its annoying, and they should stop doing that.

AirwolfBRMB · 04-16-2012, 09:32 PM

Well then maybe post on stardocks forum, rather than steam forums as they have nothing to do with the game. And as i said the lobby e.t.c. will be hosted on their servers and thats what you are rego'ing for.

Cegorach · 04-17-2012, 07:56 PM

I'm pretty sure you'd have to register for a Stardock account if you bought if from them (and you would then login initially instead of registering).

marelooke · 05-26-2012, 06:30 AM

Wish they'd mention crap like this on the store page, I'd have passed it up then.

kozzy420 · 06-14-2012, 10:23 AM

you have to make a stardock account no matter where you buy it from.

Trodamus · 06-14-2012, 11:44 AM

I thought this was kinda goofy.

To play multiplayer, I had to create a profile, but I didn't need to log into my ironclad account.

At the same time, I had to use a separate ironclad friends list for the purpose of a "friends only" game. But I could invite people via steam (they'd then be told they couldn't join as it's a friends only game).

There's also weird stuff like joining through the in-game friends screen will net you a "wrong password" error if the game is passworded — it doesn't prompt you to enter one at all. You have to go to your friend's lobby and join through that to get the password popup.

Hosting and joining games is super clunky.

OzLefty76 · 07-20-2012, 02:08 AM

+1 for OP.

It's anti-consumer bull♥♥♥♥ and you're quite right to be annoyed by it. If you want to sell your game on Steam, Stardock, then their DRM should be enough. Don't make me join anything else.

Lovell · 09-15-2012, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marelooke

Wish they'd mention crap like this on the store page, I'd have passed it up then.

They do, it's just hidden at the bottom of the page under "other requirements", this ♥♥♥♥ jaratees me off as well, I try to avoid signing up to websites or any other small sites especially considering the chances are it has 0 security and is only a matter of time before they get hacked.

Other Requirements:Broadband Internet connection, also to activate this game you must create a Stardock account while launching the game on Steam.

04-11-2012, 04:25 PM	#1
Karmapowered Join Date: Jun 2010 Reputation: 5 Posts: 8	STEAM : Get rid of redundant registrations please Sorry to start a new thread just for this, but I feel the mandatory (and thus) redundant registration for this game bugs me enough to warrant a little attention seeking. Once a game is installed via Steam, I am fine with it querying for special keys to unlock at its first execution, to save up on the extra development costs creating a specific Steam version of the game, or whatever. By providing aforementioned keys in a small popup, Steam does a great job at making this process as painless as possible. However, "Sins of a Solar Empire" requires me to register the game again, by creating an account on their own servers, which I don't really care about (at this point). If I use Steam to get my games, it's precisely to get rid of all those anachronistic proprietary registration/copy protection processes, which mean only trouble over time. In 10 years from now, if I want to reinstall this game on a new computer, who knows if the Ironclad/Stardock registration server is still up. I am hoping and betting that Steam will be. Therefore, I don't care if the game comes from Ironclad, Stardock, Blizzard or EA. If I get my game through Steam, I want only ever have to deal with Steam registration processes. I am kindly asking game publishers to stop bullying their legitimate customers with "extra" registration features that are not only annoying, but largely unneeded, because I don't see why one would pirate a game if one went through the trouble to purchase it through Steam (and their own copy-protection processes) in the first place. Please get a lesson or two from GOG instead. I am kindly asking Steam to refuse games that come with such redundant registrations, or at least warn us on the store page of the game, because I wouldn't want to purchase them in the future again. Thank you.

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04-15-2012, 03:18 PM	#2
AirwolfBRMB Join Date: Mar 2009 Reputation: 0 Posts: 50	Then just buy it directly from stardock, and have 2 steamlike apps running instead of just one (which is a pain as i did that for the first trilogy)... I mean seriously a one off registration for stardock, and this is so you can log in and multiplay which is what the game is really about anyway?? Is it even worth the post. Some people are never happy, i welcome the fact they make this game availiable on steam.

04-16-2012, 06:41 PM	#3
Sifer2 Join Date: Nov 2007 Reputation: 185 Posts: 3,653	Well the question is why its necessary if the game is Steamworks anyway I heard? If it is Steamworks there really should not be a reason to create another account. Usually I feel like its cause they just want my email address to send spam. Like the OP says its not a game breaking deal. But its annoying, and they should stop doing that.

04-16-2012, 09:32 PM	#4
AirwolfBRMB Join Date: Mar 2009 Reputation: 0 Posts: 50	Well then maybe post on stardocks forum, rather than steam forums as they have nothing to do with the game. And as i said the lobby e.t.c. will be hosted on their servers and thats what you are rego'ing for.

04-17-2012, 07:56 PM	#5
Cegorach Join Date: Oct 2009 Reputation: 0 Posts: 24	I'm pretty sure you'd have to register for a Stardock account if you bought if from them (and you would then login initially instead of registering).

05-26-2012, 06:30 AM	#6
marelooke Join Date: Aug 2010 Reputation: 24 Posts: 160	Wish they'd mention crap like this on the store page, I'd have passed it up then.

06-14-2012, 10:23 AM	#7
kozzy420 Join Date: Nov 2008 Reputation: 50 Posts: 1,351	you have to make a stardock account no matter where you buy it from.

06-14-2012, 11:44 AM	#8
Trodamus Join Date: Mar 2009 Reputation: 135 Posts: 406	I thought this was kinda goofy. To play multiplayer, I had to create a profile, but I didn't need to log into my ironclad account. At the same time, I had to use a separate ironclad friends list for the purpose of a "friends only" game. But I could invite people via steam (they'd then be told they couldn't join as it's a friends only game). There's also weird stuff like joining through the in-game friends screen will net you a "wrong password" error if the game is passworded — it doesn't prompt you to enter one at all. You have to go to your friend's lobby and join through that to get the password popup. Hosting and joining games is super clunky.

07-20-2012, 02:08 AM	#9
OzLefty76 Join Date: Sep 2009 Reputation: 42 Posts: 347	+1 for OP. It's anti-consumer bull♥♥♥♥ and you're quite right to be annoyed by it. If you want to sell your game on Steam, Stardock, then their DRM should be enough. Don't make me join anything else.