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General discussionDefcon key revoked?(42 posts)solved(42 posts)solved
(42 posts)solved
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Posted June 07, 2015
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Ganni1987: I think this depends where the game saves the key, many games (Two Worlds 1 and 2 come to mind), require a key which is automatically installed by the GOG installer.

If Defcon saves this key differently, there's nothing GOG can do.

People are so quick to cry DRM for almost every little nuisance these days. Look at it this way - you bought the game, you insert the key and done game is at your mercy, no internet required. No DRM there.
uhh... might want to check the definition of DRM bud.
Posted June 07, 2015
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Ganni1987: I think this depends where the game saves the key, many games (Two Worlds 1 and 2 come to mind), require a key which is automatically installed by the GOG installer.

If Defcon saves this key differently, there's nothing GOG can do.

People are so quick to cry DRM for almost every little nuisance these days. Look at it this way - you bought the game, you insert the key and done game is at your mercy, no internet required. No DRM there.
In comparison to games like Neverwinter Nights 1+2 and Two Worlds 1+2, this actually does require Internet for activation of the full version.
Post edited June 07, 2015 by Grargar
Posted June 07, 2015
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DreamedArtist: LOL I did LONG AGO and they said well nothing we can do. and thus I gave up :/
They could have... not accepted it for sale?
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Maxvorstadt: Wow, a game with DRM on GoG. Didn`t know that. It`s totally possible to remove this kind of DRM by the developers. They didn`t, so that`s their fault and they shoulod be banned from GoG.
That it`s possible shows Torchlight. I own both, the boxed and the GoG version of the game. The boxed has to be activated via a key, the GoG version doesn`t have to be activated.
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Sachys: for your information... I found out xenonauts has Steam_api.dll in its folder - and WONT launch without it - just yesterday...
That in itself isn't DRM. If the game is running without Steam running (and/or without you having the game registered to your Steam account) then clearly they deactivated the DRM.
Post edited June 07, 2015 by SirPrimalform
Posted June 07, 2015
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Ganni1987: I think this depends where the game saves the key, many games (Two Worlds 1 and 2 come to mind), require a key which is automatically installed by the GOG installer.

If Defcon saves this key differently, there's nothing GOG can do.

People are so quick to cry DRM for almost every little nuisance these days. Look at it this way - you bought the game, you insert the key and done game is at your mercy, no internet required. No DRM there.
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Sachys: uhh... might want to check the definition of DRM bud.
First thing, I apologize if I sounded rude but I've seen many people calling some things DRM when they actually aren't, nothing personal. As for the steam_api.dll, a few more games here on GOG come with it. Divinity: Original Sin has it, Rise of the Triad (2013) has it. The file is there because it interfaces with some Steam features, personally I have no issue with it as long as it's not doing something in the background (like talking to the internet).


Secondly, since Grargar just corrected me that this game requires an internet connection, then yes I wholeheartedly agree, it is DRM and I suggest the OP to get a refund. Such a game should either be removed unless the developer offers a true DRM-Free version.
Posted June 07, 2015
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Ganni1987: People are so quick to cry DRM for almost every little nuisance these days. Look at it this way - you bought the game, you insert the key and done game is at your mercy, no internet required. No DRM there.
Uhhh... requiring a key is DRM, especially since, if I've understood the thread correctly you have to enter the key and connect to a server before the game is anything other than a demo.
Posted June 07, 2015
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Ganni1987: People are so quick to cry DRM for almost every little nuisance these days. Look at it this way - you bought the game, you insert the key and done game is at your mercy, no internet required. No DRM there.
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SirPrimalform: Uhhh... requiring a key is DRM, especially since, if I've understood the thread correctly you have to enter the key and connect to a server before the game is anything other than a demo.
Read my post above :-)

Grargar mentioned it required internet, that's DRM in my book as well. When I posted the first time I thought it saves it locally and stops there.
Post edited June 07, 2015 by Ganni1987
Posted June 07, 2015
high rated
MYSTERY (as to how GOG could let a game with online activation into their store) SOLVED!

We're all aware of how GOG deals with games that require keys, right? They include a single key in the installer and then give every user their own optional key. This normally works fine but seems to have gone horribly wrong here.

So I ended up buying the game just now to try and work out what's going on. I figured that if there was no way to get rid of the DRM then GOG would owe me a refund anyway (for not being able to solve the problem preventing me from playing).

GOG's copy of DEFCON is pre-activated, and if you never let it connect to the internet it seems to work fine. The problem is that the developer has revoked the key GOG used in the installer, presumably because they saw thousands of different IPs using it (GOG really should have explained this to the dev so they could make an exception for that key). So as soon as the game gets a chance to connect to the internet with the default key the server de-activates your game.

So the bottom line is, if you are playing on an offline computer or the dev's server is down then the game should run fine. It also would run fine on an online computer if the dev hadn't deactivated that key. So while the game technically still has DRM, it had been 'dealt with' by GOG. Whether you could connect to the server or not, the game should have worked but the developer threw a spanner in the works by deactivating the default key. I'm guessing they were unaware of GOG's way of making the game self contained.

GOG does need to sort this out with the dev, but it's not as bad as it seemed.
Post edited June 07, 2015 by SirPrimalform
Posted June 07, 2015
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Ganni1987: When I posted the first time I thought it saves it locally and stops there.
If it did, GOG would (should, at least) have used the same solution as for Neverwinter Nights: supply a locally-valid key as part of the installer (same key for everyone, not valid for multiplayer), and you'll only have to think about switching it out for the unique one on the game page if you want multiplayer.

Of course, the developers have likely not built-in such a tiered system and don't make any kind of keycheck locally. And if they haven't, and treat it as a demo unless verified online, then it's DRM'd and should preferably be removed from here until at least the singleplayer is fixed.
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SirPrimalform: GOG does need to sort this out with the dev, but it's not as bad as it seemed.
Thank you for working that out. So it is like Neverwinter Nights, except Defcon tries to access the auth servers as soon as it launches rather than when you specifically choose to go to multiplayer mode.
Post edited June 07, 2015 by Maighstir
Posted June 07, 2015
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DreamedArtist: LOL I did LONG AGO and they said well nothing we can do. and thus I gave up :/
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SirPrimalform: They could have... not accepted it for sale?
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Sachys: for your information... I found out xenonauts has Steam_api.dll in its folder - and WONT launch without it - just yesterday...
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SirPrimalform: That in itself isn't DRM. If the game is running without Steam running (and/or without you having the game registered to your Steam account) then clearly they deactivated the DRM.
not the case sadly - searches for steam, finds steam, demands steam.
thankfully, removing the dll, starting the game again (which fails to start of course) and replacing the dll solves it.
i'd reckon that comes under a drm definition - if not directly drm.

* * * *

and to clarify - before some numpty jumps in - I use gog preferably, but also use steam when not possible / for some early access games that I love (I do hope you have bought NEO SCAVENGER btw) - kickstarter isnt for everybody - same as early access on steam.

there is NO good reason for a GOG version of a game trying to connect to steam on my computer.
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Ganni1987: As for the steam_api.dll, a few more games here on GOG come with it. Divinity: Original Sin has it, Rise of the Triad (2013) has it.
still shouldnt be there though - tries to communicate with steam and if found can lock you out of the game.

also, no offense taken at all, and you were not rude - just making a point... from my point.

i had to say "point" twice dammit! O_____o
Post edited June 07, 2015 by Sachys
Posted June 07, 2015
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Sachys: not the case sadly - searches for steam, finds steam, demands steam.
thankfully, removing the dll, starting the game again (which fails to start of course) and replacing the dll solves it.
i'd reckon that comes under a drm definition - if not directly drm.
I'm not sure I follow. Are you saying it works ok if you don't have Steam running, but if you do then the game picks up on that and refuses to run (presumably because it connects to Steam and Steam says you don't have the game)? I guess the DRM wasn't deactivated properly... It should be possible though, there are other games which include the steam_api.dll and don't do this.
Post edited June 07, 2015 by SirPrimalform
Posted June 07, 2015
But here's the thing, what if entering said serial key, does not require online authentication, but is required to unlock "paid" mode?
I get some might call this a weak form of DRM, but if GoG gives you the installer and gives you a unique key which unlocks the game offline, you are given everything you need to play the full version and install it to any computer you own.

Isn't this almost the same thing as receiving a GoG gift key? You need one, or a purchase to download a game in the first place. And worse, you actually have to be online to download it in the first place!

There are already a number of games which require a serial key in order to play multiplayer online as each player must have a unique key...
Posted June 07, 2015
OP here
Just to let everyone know, I followed the steps that @Grargar posted
and the game is working now. You can not access that folder through GoG galxy though (could not find it) I had to do it from the browser. So it seems this game has pseudo DRM. Its working and the game is great! Something to play with my buddys on my craptop or just to enjoy a good strategy game! Thanks for all the posts! If people are still having trouble I can post a video on how to do it or just look what Grargar said!
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Community
General discussionDefcon key revoked?(42 posts)solved(42 posts)solved
(42 posts)solved