waltc: Opened an account on the Shroud of the Avatar site, downloaded the demo, fired it up, and then tried to log on to the SotA site forums and then the Steam SotA forums to ask why the *offline mode* was disabled in the game demo, and to inquire as to whether the game would be fully voiced at some point--and guess what? Even with a SotA site account you are not permitted--not even in the Steam forum--from posting and asking questions unless you have already bought the game...!

My God, Garriott must believe his game is horrible at the moment to do this. I do not think I have ever seen or heard of a game with this sort of forum Q & A restrictions--especially mind boggling to see it on Steam--although Steam is more than willing to accommodate any developer who wishes to lock up his game with DRM. First time I have ever seen a game *forum* locked up with DRM! Incredible!

I can't even find any *Ultima* forums on Steam--so either Garriott has taken them down, too, or else GOG is the only company to sell the Ultima titles these days! Weird.

So the SotA demo has been deleted from my system and I will never even consider this game so long as such draconian restrictions exist--little better than fraud, imo. If Garriott thinks this sort of thing will fool people and increase his sales I feel really, really sorry for the man. Sad.