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So, I've looked at the game a lot of times, especially during this big winter sale. Read reviews and stuff, screenshots look nice.....but from what I've read, whilst the DRM furor was basically a misunderstanding -according to the top game review on GOG and THIS THREAD you need to have an active internet connection in order to play single player.

The system requirements on the game's store page on GOG do not list an internet connection requirement that I have seen. I'm not going to buy it this sale, and I'm not going to rant and rave about what bullshit it would be to have that unlisted and unnecessary requirement. I'd just like someone to clearly state if this is the case or not, so I know whether to remove Victor Vran from my wish-list or not. Thanks in advance.
Post edited December 26, 2017 by Sturleson
This question / problem has been solved by Pajamaimage
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Sturleson: So, I've looked at the game a lot of times, especially during this big winter sale. Read reviews and stuff, screenshots look nice.....but from what I've read, whilst the DRM furor was basically a misunderstanding -according to the top game review on GOG and THIS THREAD you need to have an active internet connection in order to play single player.

The system requirements on the game's store page on GOG do not list an internet connection requirement that I have seen. I'm not going to buy it this sale, and I'm not going to rant and rave about what bullshit it would be to have that unlisted and unnecessary requirement. I'd just like someone to clearly state if this is the case or not, so I know whether to remove Victor Vran from my wish-list or not. Thanks in advance.
I don't want my games connecting anywhere especially as I only ever play in SP mode and don't use Galaxy so I always block firewall access. For this game (and a few others too) it means that it just will not start at all when blocked. To get the game to run I have to disable my internet connection completely and then allow the game firewall access. Then, when I've finished playing, I have to remember to disable the firewall rule and then re-enable my internet connection. This is not ideal by a long shot but "technically" it doesn't need the internet to run. This is why it is deemed a grey area.
Sounds like a dirty lawyer trick to steal gamer's information or some such. Thanks for the info and the workaround, have to decide to get it in the spring or not support this kind of borderline dirtbaggery by not buying games from that corp.


Out of curiosity, has anyone started a forum list of all the shady games/publisher tricks?
The game does contact our servers on startup, but it shouldn't refuse to run without a connection. How are you blocking it?
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ivanassen: The game does contact our servers on startup, but it shouldn't refuse to run without a connection. How are you blocking it?
For me, via my firewall. When the game starts up my firewall tells me that the game is trying to connect to the internet and asks if I want to block it or allow it. As I only play SP without Galaxy I see no reason why I should allow it access so I block the game then the game just exits and won't start at all. As previously mentioned, to get the game to run I have to disable my internet connection, then allow access via my firewall. Obviously not ideal which is why I've hardly played the game at all :(
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ivanassen: The game does contact our servers on startup, but it shouldn't refuse to run without a connection. How are you blocking it?
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Pajama: For me, via my firewall. When the game starts up my firewall tells me that the game is trying to connect to the internet and asks if I want to block it or allow it.
What firewall are you using?
I just tried blocking VictorVran.exe via the Windows Firewall and the game works normally (and is really blocked from accessing online). It is possible that your firewall is doing something slightly differently and we don't handle the error condition properly and crash.

There is no intent or effort on our side to prohibit you from playing you while offline.
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ivanassen: What firewall are you using?
I just tried blocking VictorVran.exe via the Windows Firewall and the game works normally (and is really blocked from accessing online). It is possible that your firewall is doing something slightly differently and we don't handle the error condition properly and crash.

There is no intent or effort on our side to prohibit you from playing you while offline.
I use Windows Firewall too (I'm running Win 7 64 bit) but I do use Windows 10 Firewall Control (which is compatible with Win 7) as an 'overlay' so I can see what exactly is trying to connect to the internet and have the option to prevent it.

As a matter of interest are you only blocking outgoing connections? The reason I ask is because of this;
https://www.gog.com/forum/victor_vran/gog_is_no_longer_drm_free/post41
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Pajama: As a matter of interest are you only blocking outgoing connections? The reason I ask is because of this;
I just tried with a separate rule to block inbound connections too, and it still works.

The game shouldn't accept any inbound connections anyway, we make one connection to our servers (with a potential redirect to another server) and use it for everything.
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ivanassen: I just tried with a separate rule to block inbound connections too, and it still works.

The game shouldn't accept any inbound connections anyway, we make one connection to our servers (with a potential redirect to another server) and use it for everything.
OK, I've just done a fresh reinstall of the latest version available via GOG (Version: 2.07(20171123) and when I try to run the game I get a message from my firewall and an error message from Victor Vran - see attachment. If I disable internet access in my firewall and try running the game again I always get the 'Victor Vran has stopped working' error window.

The only way I can actually get the game to even start (and this has always been the case from when I first bought the game) is to disable my internet connection and also allow Victor Vran access via my firewall.

Not sure if it matters but I'm not using Galaxy, this is the Classic installer.
Attachments:
vv.jpg (211 Kb)
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Pajama: OK, I've just done a fresh reinstall of the latest version available via GOG (Version: 2.07(20171123) and when I try to run the game I get a message from my firewall and an error message from Victor Vran - see attachment. If I disable internet access in my firewall and try running the game again I always get the 'Victor Vran has stopped working' error window.
Do you allow localhost access?
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Gydion: Do you allow localhost access?
Silly question but how do I do that? If it is a rule I need to put directly in the Windows Firewall can you tell me exactly what (and where) I need to put it? Thanks. Hopefully this will be the answer :)
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Pajama: Silly question but how do I do that? If it is a rule I need to put directly in the Windows Firewall can you tell me exactly what (and where) I need to put it? Thanks. Hopefully this will be the answer :)
That would be a Zone, but...
The Zone box lists all the available zones from the Zones repository (the Zones pane). "Show advised/recommended zones only" limits the list with the set of the most usable zones. Otherwise, the zone choice may be not easy, the list of predefined zones is long typically (Plus Edition).
The Free Edition offers the four predefined zones only: EnableAll, DisableAll, OutgoingOnly and IncomingOnly. "Show Advised/Recommended Zones Only" option state is not saved within the Edit Application dialog simplifying your choice in the short list of Advised/Recommended zones only. Please use the Settings pane to make the option default
Nope, can't tell you. If you can see the Windows 10 Firewall Control rule under Advanced settings in Windows you can likely edit it. Block rules have precedence over Allow rules in Windows Firewall.
Post edited January 24, 2018 by Gydion
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Gydion: If you can see the Windows 10 Firewall Control rule under Advanced settings in Windows you can likely edit it. Block rules have precedence over Allow rules in Windows Firewall.
Thanks for the pointer. I'll look into it later and see if I can get it sorted.
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ivanassen: The game does contact our servers on startup,
Why? Why does the game need to connect to your servers on startup when only playing single player and not using Galaxy? So much for following the GOG policy of "DRM-free means no copy protection, on-line checks, or any other annoyances..."

I can think of no good valid reason why the game needs to 'phone home' on startup and as such I'm hoping that you are working on a patch to disable this behaviour?
So it seems like it doesn't actually require internet to play? It just weirdly refuses to start if you block it on your firewall?