Can i install on another computer?

#1 The license says you're allowed a backup copy, but only one in RAM at a time, so I guess I'd just try, unless one of the GG guys tells you otherwise...
(this is just my opinion from reading the license before installing)

#2 If I have to buy another one, I have to buy another one :)

#3 You can install it on several machines, the current limit is 4.

#4 My son had to install it on 3 machines before he could find one that it would run on. Something to do with the video cards. I guess that means he can only install it once more...

A demo would have helped ensure that 2 of those installs weren't wasted.

#5 A Marble Blast demo is next on the list!

#6 When you say 4 machines, do you mean 4 installs ??
As in if I install 4 times on the same machine (ie hypotethically, because I reinstalled the OS, etc.), it won't authorize the game afterwards ?
I guess it would then be something to deal on a case by case basis ?
Just curious and wondering... 8p
Oh, and if I wasn't clear enough in my previous post :
I went to sleep at five this morning, after a night of Marble Blast (and Chain Reaction) galore !!
It was a grand blast !! (hehe ;))
Good work guys, good work !!
For the prices those games are, they are really tough to beat quality/price ratio wise : excellent by themselves, the pricing being a cherry on the sundae.
Thanks for the fun ! ;)

#7 The Ignition system counts unique machines, so you can install it as many times as you like on the same machine. If someone does run out of installs, we will deal with those on a case by case basis. Glad you like Marble Blast Nicolas... it's is a bit addictive, especially if your really into getting the best time possible :)

#8 How does it determine "unique machines?" Does it do a hardware check a la Windows XP (where you can change X pieces of hardware before it appears to be a different machine), CPU ID, or something else entirely?

I understand if you'd rather not disclose this info. Merely curious, that's all. :)

#9 One of the first things I do when I get my hands on a new game is peek around to see what makes it tick. That said, I recorded registry logs when I first ran MB. ;-)

From what I see: it uses the MS crypto library, the MS Strong Cryptographic Provider with an RSA key, and sends a GUID for your machine (located at HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Cryptography\MachineGuid). It seems to also take note of the windows product ID, then it records the key, a log number in hex, and then what looks like an encrypted string called "ticket."

I would guess (from earlier descriptions) that the Ignition server simply records and allows up to five machine GUIDs per unlock key.

Did I get it right, Tim? =D

#10 Is there anyway that you can post this information about multiple installs and the requirement of internet access to install it with the product? It's a great system. I just wish that the information were easily available.

My issue is that if I were a user who received this as a gift and was not aware of these forums or some other circumstance where I had not seen this thread, I would have very quickly exceeded my four installs with the understanding that I could install this game on as many computers as I wanted with the one catch that Marble Blast was only on one computer at a time.

(Good Example... I bought Marble Blast for my mother. I installed it once to test it so I could know what its like to help her get it on her computer if need be. Mom has too computes and not sure which it will run better on... Thats already down to one install.)

After I have installed 4 times, although I do not believe that there is anything wrong with the above scenario, I would need to contact GarageGames, which is somewhat of a hassle and I'm not sure how obvious it is I need to do that because I have not yet seen that error message (I am under my 4, right now, :) ).

Other than that, great game :)

Emanuel

#11 Putting the information up somewhere would be a good idea... We're going to be putting together a support page for each product, with a FAQ, etc. It will probably end up there.

It would be nice to be able to migrate the ticket. But I can't think of any solutions that don't involve some major inconvenience to the player (or a big security hole).

#12 Wow, that sounds like one of the first really airtight setups I've ever heard of. Good job GG. Fucking Warezers won't get their mitts on MB.

#13 Well, warezers will get it eventually :( The key security is pretty good, so I don't expect they'll crack that and make a key generator, but as long as they have access to the executable they'll be able to hack that and eventually remove the Ignition check. Nothing we can do about that.

#14 I'm really disappointed to find out about this apparently activation-like scheme.

Marble Blast is installed on my spyware-testing/games/generally-scratch partition, which will get vaped and reinstalled pretty often. If I find my serial number is suddenly deactivated, or if the game won't install at times I have no internet connection available, I will be extremely annoyed. I was not informed of this limitation when I chose to purchase this software. I thought this screw-the-consumer-with-annoying-copy-protection attitude was limited to the big commercial vendors.

I also dislike the way it tries to connect to the internet without asking every time it is run. I don't know whether this is a license checking thing, or just updating the message of the day, or what, but I would really appreciate being prompted first. In full screen mode, the way it bounces back to Windows for the dialup window is pretty annoying in any case.

#15 that's because you have DUN set-up to auto-dial.
I play MB all the time without being connected to the Net, and it certainly doesn't prompt me. And now, I didn't have to modify any thing for this, that's why I'm saying you have auto dial enabled. :)
hth

#16 Andrew,

Once installed, Marble Blast will work indefinitely without having to reenter your serial number (or at least that's the way it's supposed to work - Tim is fixing an ignition bug that sometimes forces people to reenter their keys... doh!). You cannot, however, register the game without being connected to the internet. We thought this was a reasonable tradeoff for a download only game, balancing the customer's convenience with our desire (as independent developers) to not have our work distributed away freely. We have plans to add support for registering from a different machine through a web browser, but that won't be available for while.

Marble Blast does two web checks on startup - one for the message of the day, and one to see if a new version of the game is available. If you don't want these checks done, you can install a product like Zone Alarm (once you've authenticated the game), disable your auto dialer, or modify the game startup scripts to remove the version and MOTD check. To do this, edit the file main.cs in the Program Files/MarbleBlast directory and add at the bottom:

package NoSecretNastyGarageGamesSpyware
{
function startMOTDCheck()
{
}
function startVersionCheck()
{
}

};
activatePackage(NoSecretNastyGarageGamesSpyware);

Hope that helps, and enjoy the game!
- Mark

#17

Quote:I'm really disappointed to find out about this apparently activation-like scheme.

Marble Blast is installed on my spyware-testing/games/generally-scratch partition, which will get vaped and reinstalled pretty often. If I find my serial number is suddenly deactivated, or if the game won't install at times I have no internet connection available, I will be extremely annoyed. I was not informed of this limitation when I chose to purchase this software. I thought this screw-the-consumer-with-annoying-copy-protection attitude was limited to the big commercial vendors.

I also dislike the way it tries to connect to the internet without asking every time it is run. I don't know whether this is a license checking thing, or just updating the message of the day, or what, but I would really appreciate being prompted first. In full screen mode, the way it bounces back to Windows for the dialup window is pretty annoying in any case.

First off:

You don't have a legitimate complaint based on what you've said here. You have had no problems with copy protection. You're just mad to find out that there IS copy-protection. If the consumer (you) isn't hurt, wtf are you whining about?

This copy-protection doesn't slow down the game (like big commercial games do). It doesn't adversely affect ANYTHING except the ability to rip off the people that made it -- which I think is a pretty good setup.

I mean, seriously. You get a GREAT game -- without a doubt one of the best of 2002 -- for only $15. Screw the consumer? Hell, they give you five installs for $15 -- an evil screw-the-consumer company like Real Media or M$ would require that you install spyware on your system to MAKE SURE that the game isn't still installed, and would probably charge you a fee for the reinstall, and would also probably skim some money off of the transaction (Passport anyone?).

Or they could just say "screw this, we're talented game producers, we could publish our games with anyone -- let's ditch the whole GarageGames idea and not give a triple-A engine away for only $100 and provide the means for thousands of people to make some seriously cool shit, and instead sign up with Sierra or EA to produce bloated unfun sequels."

Btw, I am not a representative of GarageGames. I'm just some dude.

#18 Luc, that was a bit harsh. Having to be connected to the net and 4 installs (even M$ gives you 10) is an annoyance. And having un-authorised internet access from an app really annoys a lot of people, just think of all the money people have spent on things like cookie killers etc. This kind of 'Privacy' does matter to people.

I personally really like the MoTD and Auto-update type feature, but there should be a better way to turn them on and off than editing an ini file. Not a great fan of internet authorisation but I can see why they done it. But from a purist user point of view, it's a real pta - something at the end of the day will only ever punish legit users. However I can't think of a better way to do it. And if it means I can buy such good games for $15... i'll live with it.

Can't say I read the EULA for the games, but if it doesn't mention the ignition system GG really really need to revise it. If the EULA isn't presented before a purchase then you're entitled to a refund if you don't accept it. So I presume they've covered that base somewhere.

#19 > If the consumer (you) isn't hurt, wtf are you whining about?

I'm not hurt yet. But that doesn't mean I won't be in the future.

Five reinstalls of my gaming setup in a year is not unusual. [I play games, including Marble Blast, on a scratch partition so I can continue work on my main partition without having to worry about system problems caused by installing games and other programs being tested. I believe this is quite common.] So next year when I come to install the game again, I will be out of luck. And had I not read this thread, it would have come as a total surprise to me.

From a more long-term point of view, what happens when Garage goes bust? I'm not wishing any harm to GG here, but no-one lives forever, least of all games companies. As soon as their registration server goes down, no-one can install Marble Blast any more, and the game that I own - cheap though it admittedly was - is worth nothing. I am right now still using many pieces of software from companies that have disappeared, or changed focus so as not to support their old products any more; that just wouldn't be possible under this regime.

(And at least with Microsoft's hated activation scheme there is a non-internet way of doing it; here, if I want to install onto a machine without (or with broken) net connection, I'm also stuffed.)

#20 Andrew, I think in the scenario you present you'd be fine. As it's 4 different machines and as long as you don't re-install the OS (but you could use something like a ghost image) then they don't count.

I think we'll be playing Marble Blast 2050 super VR edition on the internet MK3 before GG bites it. If not then i'm sure someone will simply crack it. Plus if you haven't noticed GG are pretty reasonable chaps, i'm sure if you have a legit reason to install it 20 times they can up your install count (infact legally they'd probably have to).

Annoying... Sure.

End of the world... Nope.