I think that people overreact quite often. Stardock just launched an unfinished game which is maybe not that good (I only know one or two reviews.). This is not a federal crime. Its against their former bill of rights which obivously is a morale standard too high for them (and others) and its a disapointment for the fans, in particular if you pre-ordered the game. But pre-ordering a game is quite risky and people who do it, are most probably aware of this. So, lets wait, how the games develops...

Well Elemental finally got it's random map generator, exept it's fan made :-p.
Also Elemental contains funny DRM out of box. Or what does system that disables game if exe (this includes, but is not limited to, unofficial Out Of Memory error exe fix) is tampered with sound to you? :-p (note that problem with OoM fix may have been fixed in 1.07 as Neil Banfield said that they'll look into it) Aparently they did not learn anything from Demigod launch where automatic checks/requests from million pirated copies almost bought their multiplayer servers to their knees. Why wouldn't they simply make check for updates button and autocheck only if player chooses multiplayer instead of automatic check at game startup? As is, isn't there again a possibility that when they actually add the multiplayer the servers will again struggle with all the automated checks coming from all the pirated games?

At a guess it sounds more like Stardock's version of VAC/Punkbuster if you ask me. Fiddling with the exe with an editor or a trainer is one way to cheat online.

Even if it's intented as anticheat feature, isn't the check happening in wrong place (at game start up and not when user chooses multiplayer) and consequences bit excessive as they disable whole game? Also don't cheaters use external apps that make modifications in memory these days rather than risk breaking the game with exe tampering? Also game is primarily single player and MP hasn't been even added yet (still a feature advertised on retail boxes apparently :-p).

Well you could say that but in all honesty why would you want to fiddle with the exe in the first place? It's not like there is a CD-Check or anything. They tend to word these things strongly to put people off doing it in the first place.

The more elegant solutions do but the equivalent of using a sledgehammer like a trainer or ArtmoneySE actually alter the exe in real time.

Well to fix the OoM problem frequently reported on the forums for one. Also much later when Stardock is done with the game, other unofficial patches may need to tamper with the exe to fix bugs (probably around fourth or third of games on GOG have such patches). Also reason doesn't matter if user plays single player. They should be allowed to modify the files or exe how ever they wish, only the multiplayer needs any anti cheat meansures in the first place (even then the system hardly needs to make game nonfunctional if it detects cheating, just preventing MP should be enough).

Well if Stardock ever abandon Elemental to the point community patches are required and they need to alter the exe I assume they will stop checking. I also assume this check isn't done if you are playing offline so it wont affect those hacking it for their own single player needs such as cheating. Of course a little clarification on the issue from Stardock would be nice but they seem to be rather busy on other issues at the moment :p

Actually it seems it does do the check while offline on monthly basis, it's some sort of crc check apparently. Also remedy to the problem sounds stragely familiar (wasnt there a game while back where drm dll license expired on it or something rendering game unplayable.).
1. Roll the clock on your pc back a week (technically any time before 09/01/10). The (monthly?) compatibility check won't activate and thus your game should work until patch 1.07 comes out, SD stated that should be today or tomorrow.
Neil Banfield said in same topic that they'll look into it (so OoM fix can be applied) but there have been no confirmation wether or not it made into 1.07 patch. I can't confirm my self as I decided to postpone purchase till game is fixed (and price drop/sale). Been burned too many times when I bought games on release (MoO3, Braveheart, Xenocracy...).

Yes famously Gears of War. Epic wanted us PC owners to feel loved. Well at least there is a check but rolling back the clock is hardly ideal.

You know the saying "any publicity is better than none". Worked so well for then didn't it? ;-) :-p

Thank you for sanity, decency, being a reasonable human being, etc.

Anybody in the PR business who goes by a "any publicity is good publicity" philisophy will not keep his job long.

Nope it hasn't... got it twice yesterday playing the campaign with version 1.07... (the reason why it took me 3 hour to finish the campaign instead of 2 and a half :) )

I am not quite sure if this statement is purely ironic or not. :hmmm: :)

Yup.
Often the question is only how hysterically over the top their response is going to be.