So why exactly does Game Dev Tycoon need access to the net? I have Comodo monitor anything that attempts to try to connect to the net as Game Dev Tycoon is one of them. I’ve monitor the connections with Network Miner and believe I can see when Dev talks back to you guys. Are you collecting usage information for sales purpose etc with no warning or option to turn this off?
They are collecting anonymous usage statistics (which is how they were able to track the pirated vs purchased copies), but make no attempt to force you to allow the game to report those statistics. If you want to block the game’s access to the web, it will still work fine.
we also check for game updates so you might want to leave it on.
That’s fine but there should be a warning for this and an option to turn it off. I know how to block it with the firewall, others may not hence and in-game option is required.
I disagree. it’s anonymous and covered by our privacy policy. why annoy users with configuration options? you should be able to start the game and play.
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A simple warning on the download page, or the installer would probably suffice. Something like:
“This game collects anonymous information to help us improve our games. It also regularly contacts our servers to check for updates.”
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Most software will do background checks to make sure they’re up to date. This isn’t something new in the software world, this happens all the time.
I don’t see why a disclaimer in this particular instance is needed. If people don’t want it happening, then they already have ways to stop it, such as a firewall.
It’s in the EULA but I get the point that no one reads these things. Personally I really doubt there’s the need to warn about this since it’s quite a standard practice nowadays but we will revisit the question.
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I agree that there shouldn’t be a need to warn, nor an config option, but sometimes, if a simple piece of text is all it takes to keep the greater public happy, I say ‘what harm can it do?’.
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Creating special version of the game for pirates is piece of cake, but adding a simple line of text on the purchase/download page is too much of a hassle?
The question is not one of whether it is a difficult task, but one of whether it is necessary.
I personally would like to believe that people are intelligent enough to get along just fine with a warning for every possible situation. However, this does not always prove to be the case.
Either the “Checking for updates” doesn’t work, or it never did. I haven’t played this since a week after buying it back in May last year, stuck on 1.3.2 and every time the game is run, despite having full network access, it NEVER detects there have been updates. The original download purchase link also no longer works and just gives the invoice so still no access to updates.
@jondonnis we specifically negotiated with our payment provider that download links don’t expire so you should be able to download the game. I’d suggest that you look for emails from mailer@fastspring.com and see if there is a second email with a working download link. If this doesn’t work please contact orders@fastspring.com and mention your order-id; they should then be able to resend you an active download link.
Sorry for the trouble.