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The Sims 2 Forum (BBS) > General Discussion > "NOCD not supported? How about support your customers"

Author: kellinjar - Rank: Voluble VIP - View MySimPage Profile

Date: Sep-16-04 10:49 AM GMT (updated Sep-16-04 01:01 PM GMT)

Subject:
NOCD not supported? How about support your customers

*note* seems to be some confusion, my game works fine. I'm saying this because of all the people who have been posting and who have contacted me for help trying to get their game to work.
*endnote*
So Maxis won't support a NOCD patch for people who can't play because their DVD drives disappear. Yet hasn't released a fix yet, and blames it on the customers.
Hey maxis..remember how popular TS1 was?
You treat your customers like this, it isn't going to happen with TS2.
You have people with Legal copies of YOUR software running other LEGAL software and CANNOT play the game.
Step up or fade away.

http://simtelligence.ca - The unexamined pixel is not worth playing

Author: JefferyUnger - Rank: Overmodest Orator - View MySimPage Profile

Date: Sep-16-04 10:54 AM GMT (updated Sep-16-04 10:57 AM GMT)

Subject:
Solution

Then return the DVD copy to the store you bought it from and trade it for a CD version. The stores will do that if you have a problem with the game.

Author: kellinjar - Rank: Voluble VIP - View MySimPage Profile

Date: Sep-16-04 10:56 AM GMT

Subject:
Re: Solution

Except most stores don't take opened software. And thats not a solution (my DVD works fine but there have been plenty of people posting and who have contacted me who's don't work)
Most people got the DVD version for the extra DVD, etc
The product they purchased should work as promised, it doesn't, and Maxis needs to fix it.

http://simtelligence.ca - The unexamined pixel is not worth playing

Author: Kankkis4 - Rank: Overmodest Orator - View MySimPage Profile

Date: Sep-16-04 10:59 AM GMT

Subject:
Re: Solution Mood:

Hahaha, i have CD version and same problem "correct CD", and i have tested with CDRW and DVD-RW drives.
-Kankkis-

Author: Cobra9516 - Rank: Loquacious Lurker - View MySimPage Profile

Date: Sep-16-04 11:51 AM GMT

Subject:
Re: Solution

The problem is unerelated to the media. The problem is caused by Macrovision's Safedisc 3 copy protection, which is very intrusive. It will not allow your game to run if it detects one of the programs on its blacklist in your PC. This includes CloneCD and Nero, two popular and legitimate products. (Nero often comes with new PCs or PC hardware.) Its intent is to prevent you from running CD- or DVD-emulation software at the same time that the game is running. In practice, the effect is to cause no end of headaches for many legitimate customers. (Pirates are never affected, because they already figured out ways around the protection scheme.)
I have disabled all emulated and even real optical drives on my PC, other than the install drive, and the game still will not run. Removing any related software from launching at boot time with msconfig also did not help. Clearly, the claim that all you have to do is disable the offending software, is a lie. You need to purge all traces of these programs from your system, including registry keys and directories they use. I, for one, will not do that. Macrovision has no business dictating to the paying customers of its clients what may or may not be installed on their PCs.
For now, our only options are: (1) gving in, (2) complaining loudly and relentlessly, and (3) circumvention. The last option may not be discussed here. The second optiion I hope is already being used by many of us. Don't give up. The first is out of the question for me.

Author: kellinjar - Rank: Voluble VIP - View MySimPage Profile

Date: Sep-16-04 11:54 AM GMT (updated Sep-16-04 11:57 AM GMT)

Subject:
Re: Solution

And this is exactly why its the problem of Maxis/EA. They chose the method of protection and its causing problems for their customers. They can either find a way to fix it, or likely lose their customers.

http://simtelligence.ca - The unexamined pixel is not worth playing

Author: Kokopelli821 - Rank: Overmodest Orator - View MySimPage Profile

Date: Sep-16-04 12:59 PM GMT

Subject:
Re: Solution

I wish you KNEW what you were talking about... Lets see, the copy protection you speak of will not allow the game to play if it sees programs on its black list? HA! I have Clone CD, Clone DVD, Nero, Alcohol 120%, DVD X-Copy Platinum... hmmm.. and about 5 more "burning" utilities...... MY GAME WORKS FINE!.. ( I bought the DVD ver. last night and the cashier thought I was insane I was so giddy" It worked so well that I am jonesing now at work to get home and play.
Quit blaming the software companies, it is their right to protect their investment however they can. NoCD cracks are 99.8% of the time created to hack games and software, not for legitimate purposes in "saving the cd from getting scratched." WOnder why it cost $49.99? #1 IT IS AWESOME, #2. Hackers and crackers have distroyed the PC gaming market. Just go look up the statistics. I have no sympathy for the person whining about "No CD".
So anyway, your belief is getting whittled down to the core and its flaw. No one who dished out the $50 for the game cares for the whining. GO buy it, if it does not work TAKE IT BACK TO THE STORE. 100% of the stores out there will do a title-for title exchange for open software, in most states it is the law.
Enough for now.

Author: kellinjar - Rank: Voluble VIP - View MySimPage Profile

Date: Sep-16-04 02:41 PM GMT

Subject:
Re: Solution

uhm.. glad you KNOW what you're talking about. you can't post here if you don't own the game.
I also highly dobt you have that many burning apps.. no one needs that many burning apps.
If you goto the safedisc site you'll infact see that it does react to CD emulation software (which includes many of those applications you listed)
If you aren't having any problems you're very lucky or full of it.
However people who have completely removed those applications from their HDs and still get the same error (and others claim removing it seems to do the trick)
EA has every right to protect its game, but it doesnt' have the right to dictate what legal software may be installed on your computer while you play their game.

http://simtelligence.ca - The unexamined pixel is not worth playing

Author: SNmantra22 - Rank: Loquacious Lurker - View MySimPage Profile

Date: Sep-19-04 08:25 PM GMT

Subject:
Re: Solution

Gotta agree with you regarding "Kokopelli821" comment. And to all those other folks who think Nero or CloneCD or any cd emulation software out there doesn't effect copy protected cds from playing, just do some reading on the subject from the experts.
Being a gamer for a long time, and a "customer" of EA's simulation games, all the way back to my first EA Games SimEarth & SimAnt, I can understand the frustration that many folks are going through. I buy 10-20 games a year. I probably would buy more more if i entered my local GameStop shop more often (I try to stay away from my addiction), had more money to spend, or if the industry had more quality games. At $50 a pop, customers who brought the game should be able to play it, problems free. They shouldn't have to spend time uninstalling software for CloneCd, Nero, etc. in order Yet, these comments have been repeated on so many websites because for the past two years ever since the problem with the music industry really started to be battled out in courts, companies and programmers have made their money off of music industry and game industry software developers by implementing software that DEtects CD emulation software.
Now I am fortunate to have a desktop and a laptop. When I first got this game on thursday, I was as crazed as a wild baboon. I still am. I truly love this. Today I decided to install it on my laptop. I wanted to check out the forum and read a few comments. I see this board. I read. I notice that my laptop crashes on CD 4. I stop installing and decide to reinstall. CD 4 takes a long time to install. I pray. As I read this board, the claim about CloneCD bothers me. I say not again. This has happened to me with HALO 2 and Max Payne 2. Not only did they not play with my CloneCd installed, but they also had severe crashing problems and only worked well with a NOCD exe. So thank god for the NOCD exes. otherwise $100 would have gone down the drain. Anyway, on the 2nd install it happened to me too when I pressed play. "CD emulation Software Detected" - Proof it happens. So unstall CloneCD, i delete it from the registries. Still doesn't work. Now I need to reinstall The Sims and hope it works this time. If you don't want to believe the board, look at PCWorld Mag and these few links. Companies have it, they do it, and it is not fair!!
Article: Solutions to CD Nagging
Readers sound off about CD requirements; legally play copied games.
http://www.pcworld.com/reviews/article/0,aid,115874,00.asp
Article: CD Copy Annoyances; Battlefield: Vietnam
http://www.pcworld.com/reviews/article/0,aid,115413,00.asp
Artilce: Plugged In: Crackdown Coming on CD Copying
http://www.pcworld.com/howto/article/0,aid,108708,00.asp

"I can commit, i'm commited, i'm a committee!! Buffy proverb.

Author: mlefay21 - Rank: Overmodest Orator - View MySimPage Profile

Date: Sep-20-04 10:56 AM GMT

Subject:
Re: Solution

Quoted from original message:
uhm.. glad you KNOW what you're talking about. you can't post here if you don't own the game.
I also highly dobt you have that many burning apps.. no one needs that many burning apps.
If you goto the safedisc site you'll infact see that it does react to CD emulation software (which includes many of those applications you listed)
If you aren't having any problems you're very lucky or full of it.
However people who have completely removed those applications from their HDs and still get the same error (and others claim removing it seems to do the trick)
EA has every right to protect its game, but it doesnt' have the right to dictate what legal software may be installed on your computer while you play their game.

Ah, due to craking and hacking... you can post here if you don't own the game...
The only true knowledge is knowing that you know nothing. Since this thread is really just your opinions I'm expressing mine. Don't try to place a negative issue into the community like this. I know you aren't trying to decrease the aura and promote negativity but you are. Sit and think about it... you are just frustrated. Take some deep breaths. I think people should be able to play without the disk but I think that software companies should also protect their money how they can. Capitalism makes games fun. If companies didn't The catch is that you can't trust all of your customers to not give out a no-cd key. Since nothing is perfect and we live in a chaotic universe, there is always away to undo something, and software companies have a lot of trouble making money at times when the security isn't there. Humans like free things... and it's a lot easier to steal something if nobody is watching. Due to our rights to and love of privacy, they can't hire someone to watch you 24/7 to make sure you aren't downloading the game and using the no-cd hacks to play it.
Well, that's it. I think if you don't have anything nice to say you probably shouldn't say any thing at all unless you think you have a valid argument that will change the major opinion of others. Otherwise you just make people irritated and then they take that with them into their lives thus making it worse for everyone else around them. Unless they just shrug it off since it's nothing... which everyone should do.

Author: kellinjar - Rank: Voluble VIP - View MySimPage Profile

Date: Sep-20-04 11:42 AM GMT

Subject:
Re: Solution

no you can't post here if you don't own the game. You have to product register with a valid CD key to post here. Maxis/EA would have long ago banned any CD key distributed with a pirate copy.

http://simtelligence.ca - The unexamined pixel is not worth playing

Author: barrinspiteSim - Rank: Overmodest Orator - View MySimPage Profile

Date: Sep-18-04 10:32 AM GMT

Subject:
Re: Solution

I TRIED to return my game but the store wouldn't take it because it was opened.

Author: juhae85 - Rank: Overmodest Orator - View MySimPage Profile

Date: Sep-16-04 10:44 PM GMT

Subject:
Re: Solution

OMG...I feel exactly the same way~
I just got a new comp for the Sims 2 and i can't play on it becuz of the stupid 'insert correct cd...'erro...so i'm trying to play on my old comp...booohoo....

Author: GoodCow - Rank: Overmodest Orator - View MySimPage Profile

Date: Sep-17-04 08:23 AM GMT

Subject:
Re: Solution

File a complaint with the better business bureau like I did.
It was not only due to the invasive copy protection which dictates to me which LEGAL programs I can and cannot have on my system, but also due to the fact that a company like EA, with $2.5 billion in revenue last year, doesn't seem to care about their customers enough to have a toll-free customer support line.
www.bbb.org

Author: aloneinshadow - Rank: Loquacious Lurker - View MySimPage Profile

Date: Sep-19-04 08:46 AM GMT

Subject:
Re: Solution Mood:

That's a bunch of bull. Listin, I have nero, Padus, you name it, I pirate it. Even though I've never pirated a Sim game (cuz they're worth buying), the point remains that I have all this stuff on my drives. Point being, it is not cuz of the software you have or whatever. Problem is you got a nocd patch that just plain out doesn't work. Look, just do it like its supposed to be done. Pop it in, play the game. If that doesn't work, get a new computer cuz its probably a junker.

Simmin' like a villin.

Author: Spastik_kitty - Rank: Overmodest Orator - View MySimPage Profile

Date: Sep-19-04 02:25 PM GMT

Subject:
Re: Solution Mood:

Exactly. There are perfectly legit reasons (like ripping a backup CD, or cloning a picture disk.. even burning downloaded music LEGALLY) to have this software and is Maxis about to give me my money back for either the game or the software? I didn't think so. And once the box is open, no store will take it back either.
There should have been a HUGE warning on the box about this or they should make a patch ASAP to fix this massive problem.
>^..^

Author: GamezAlot1968 - Rank: Overmodest Orator - View MySimPage Profile

Date: Sep-19-04 05:37 PM GMT

Subject:
Re: Solution

I don't understand this whole "noCD" issue. Just play with the CD/DVD in the drive, duh. Why do you assume that any software company MUST allow a noCD crack to work? Maxis is under no obligation of any kind to you people or anyone else for any reason whatsoever... just read the End User License Agreement... it explains all of it.
BTW, I'm using the DVD version AND I have Nero installed and I have NO PROBLEMS of ANY kind running The Sims 2... or any other copy protected game for that matter. Maxis is not to blame here. It's all the morons who don't know how to boot their system clean. Get a clue, newbie boneheads.

Author: kellinjar - Rank: Voluble VIP - View MySimPage Profile

Date: Sep-19-04 06:31 PM GMT

Subject:
Re: Solution

learn to read. This isn't about using a NOCD.
And the point is some people can't just put the DVD in and play.
because of the copy protection failing on their older drives.

http://simtelligence.ca - The unexamined pixel is not worth playing

Author: macsgirl86 - Rank: Overmodest Orator - View MySimPage Profile

Date: Sep-20-04 08:03 PM GMT

Subject:
Re: Solution

I dont have a DVD drive on my computer. That didnt stop me from mistakenly buying the DVD version of the game. TARGET will NOT take it back to exchange it for the CD version of the SAME game. SO, regardless of all the crap some people have on their computers, others are still suffering for it.

Author: EskevarMkDrake - Rank: Overmodest Orator - View MySimPage Profile

Date: Sep-22-04 02:48 PM GMT

Subject:
FOR ALL THAT HAVE CD VERSION

If you have problem with the protection or as me have bought others problem like Nero, CloneCD or Alcohol, I can suggest to search the crack.
I've download already also if I've the original copy of "The Sims 2".
I can't tell where it is but I can tell all that exist.

Author: macsgirl86 - Rank: Overmodest Orator - View MySimPage Profile

Date: Sep-20-04 08:05 PM GMT

Subject:
Re: Solution

TARGET does not and will not take back the opened DVD version of the game to exchange it for the CD version.

Author: Lullissa13 - Rank: Overmodest Orator - View MySimPage Profile

Date: Sep-16-04 10:56 AM GMT

Subject:
Re: NOCD not supported? How about support your customers

AMEN to that.

Author: ToledoScotty69 - Rank: Overmodest Orator - View MySimPage Profile

Date: Sep-16-04 12:54 PM GMT

Subject:
Re: NOCD not supported? How about support your customers

I cant see al the replies to this thread. PLease fix this bug!

Author: ToledoScotty69 - Rank: Overmodest Orator - View MySimPage Profile

Date: Sep-16-04 11:02 AM GMT

Subject:
Re: NOCD not supported? How about support your customers

I agree with this. Then they threaten to ban people from this site for even posting links to it. There are many reasomns why some people need the no cd patch. Not always illegal reasons either. I paid 50 bucks for the Sims 2, and it should be my choice if I want to use a patch or not. I have been a simmer for over 4 years now. But hey, I guess that really does not matter does it.

Author: APathosAnhedonia - Rank: Overmodest Orator - View MySimPage Profile

Date: Sep-16-04 11:11 AM GMT

Subject:
Re: NOCD not supported? How about support your customers

Yea, personally i like no-cd patches. I bought the dvd version and it runs fine (knock on wood), i just don't like juggling doom3/bfv/sims2/etc.. cds every time i fire up a game. I don't want the no-cd for the fixed executible, i want it for the NOCD.

Author: Simalala114 - Rank: Loquacious Lurker - View MySimPage Profile

Date: Oct-24-04 07:14 AM GMT

Subject:
Re: NOCD not supported? How about support your customers

Quoted from original message:
I agree with this. Then they threaten to ban people from this site for even posting links to it. There are many reasomns why some people need the no cd patch. Not always illegal reasons either. I paid 50 bucks for the Sims 2, and it should be my choice if I want to use a patch or not. I have been a simmer for over 4 years now. But hey, I guess that really does not matter does it.

As well they should. I really don't want to hear that Oh, I need it because I don't want to swtich discs all the time.
Quit being LAZY and blaming the company for your imcompetent laziness.
You paid 50 bucks for the game, FOR THE GAME. Not for the right to do whatever you want with it. I guess since Joe Blow paid 50 bucks for it, he should be allowed to copy it, slap a no-cd patch on it and distribute to whomever he wants, just because he bought it.

Tutorials: http://www.cssgirl.com/resources/2006/05/29/sims-2-recoloring-eyes/
http://www.cssgirl.com/resources/2006/05/29/recoloring-hair-for-sims-2/
High Quality Download Directory: http://directory.simalala.com

Author: kellinjar - Rank: Voluble VIP - View MySimPage Profile

Date: Oct-24-04 09:17 AM GMT

Subject:
Re: NOCD not supported? How about support your customers

1) you can't post here if you haven't bought the game
2) copyright laws give you permission to make a backup of your software even if that requires an adaptation (noCD)

http://simtelligence.ca - The unexamined pixel is not worth playing

Author: Simalala114 - Rank: Loquacious Lurker - View MySimPage Profile

Date: Oct-24-04 10:17 AM GMT

Subject:
Re: NOCD not supported? How about support your customers

Quoted from original message:
1) you can't post here if you haven't bought the game
2) copyright laws give you permission to make a backup of your software even if that requires an adaptation (noCD)

What does #1 have to do with anything?
Do you just pull things out of your tushy to argue about?

Tutorials: http://www.cssgirl.com/resources/2006/05/29/sims-2-recoloring-eyes/
http://www.cssgirl.com/resources/2006/05/29/recoloring-hair-for-sims-2/
High Quality Download Directory: http://directory.simalala.com

Author: kellinjar - Rank: Voluble VIP - View MySimPage Profile

Date: Oct-24-04 04:22 PM GMT

Subject:
Re: NOCD not supported? How about support your customers

no but 2 completely nullifies your point.
You have no point and no position other then to try and stir something up.
The point is that maxis chose a protection that blacklists productivity software and causes the game to fail on hardware it wouldn't otherwise have a problem with.
They knew this ahead of time and did not warn the customer.

http://simtelligence.ca - The unexamined pixel is not worth playing

Author: teomcdohl86 - Rank: Overmodest Orator - View MySimPage Profile

Date: Sep-16-04 11:21 AM GMT

Subject:
Re: NOCD not supported? How about support your customers

No company with a right mind would EVER support a No-CD patch, and for good reason. Anyone thinking a company would do such a thing is out of their mind. Maxis has every right not to support such a thing. For every one person who has a problem that such a patch would fix, thousands more would be ripping off Maxis by installing the game and then handing it to their friend. This shouldn't even need saying, it's so obvious.

Author: kellinjar - Rank: Voluble VIP - View MySimPage Profile

Date: Sep-16-04 11:33 AM GMT

Subject:
Re: NOCD not supported? How about support your customers

1) NOCD patch gets made whether maxis supports it or not
2) I wasn't saying maxis SHOULD support it. You missed the point completely. Maxis is wasting time caring about a NOCD patch when they should be helping individual customers play the game they bought. If the person is on this forum, they're product registered, they have the right to play the game.

http://simtelligence.ca - The unexamined pixel is not worth playing

Author: android2243 - Rank: Overmodest Orator - View MySimPage Profile

Date: Sep-19-04 03:32 PM GMT

Subject:
Re: NOCD not supported? How about support your customers

1. If you choose to use the NOCD, then you choose to play with or without stability issues (or even the ability not to play at all.)
2. If the person on this forum chose to buy the game and then install the patch, assuring themselves with the ENTIRE EULA would behoove them to understanding what EA will and will not support. I would bet they cover using other methods than as described in your manual that comes with the game.

Author: Wynderayn - Rank: Overmodest Orator - View MySimPage Profile

Date: Sep-16-04 12:16 PM GMT

Subject:
Re: NOCD not supported? How about support your customers

Thanks for stating the obvious, since apparently it did need to be said! I completely agree with you.

Author: WingCom4 - Rank: Overmodest Orator - View MySimPage Profile

Date: Sep-17-04 02:23 AM GMT

Subject:
Re: NOCD not supported? How about support your customers

Quoted from original message:
No company with a right mind would EVER support a No-CD patch, and for good reason. Anyone thinking a company would do such a thing is out of their mind. Maxis has every right not to support such a thing. For every one person who has a problem that such a patch would fix, thousands more would be ripping off Maxis by installing the game and then handing it to their friend. This shouldn't even need saying, it's so obvious.

See StarDock and Brad Wardell, he hates copy protection for all the reasons listed here, they make a point not to put copy protections on their games because they realize that CD Copy Protections only piss off the legitimate user.
In fact, in one of his latest games, the publisher insisted they add copy protection, so as a compromise, the game ships with copy protection, but at the end of the year it will be disabled, and the version that StarDock sells direct-for-download has no protection.
Check out JoeUser.com for Brad's articles on the subject, it was linked from PA a few months back and it was a good read.

Author: Punkscout1 - Rank: Overmodest Orator - View MySimPage Profile

Date: Sep-21-04 10:01 PM GMT

Subject:
Re: NOCD not supported? How about support your customers

well actually they do all the time. just one example to prove my point. Unreal Tournament 2004. Shipped with CD ( or DVD) in drive to play. the VERY FIRST patch to the game a couple weeks later removed this requirement. So now.. you dont need the CD but to install. I'll let you look up the rest there computer software expert. I agree though, I hate having to put CDs in the drive to play, I wanna play then play something else. not play the cd swapping game.

Author: QRDA18 - Rank: Overmodest Orator - View MySimPage Profile

Date: Sep-22-04 09:10 AM GMT

Subject:
Re: NOCD not supported? How about support your customers

That's funny ... Epic & Atari ... (well known for the Unreal Tournament-series) have consistently disabled the cd-check in their games within a year of distribution.
UT'99, UT2003 and currently UT2004 all function without the official cd-check, *because* Epic released an *OFFICIAL PATCH* that disabled the most useless and error-prone feature of their game.
'copy protection' is and always will be an annoyance to the legit users, while the pirates and the rest of the warez-community never have any problems.
In fact 'copy protection' can't possibly ever give 100% perfect results, *because* the media used don't incorporate those things as part of their function. It's been a proven that 'copy protection' results in degradation of the quality of the medium used.
The fact that the media needs to be in the drive also increases the wear on both drive (causing needless upgrades) and the media itself (which ultimately leads to the failure of copy-protection and thus a legit user without any means to use the software).
As for the value of 'copy protection' ... Sims 2 was available on the net long *before* it was officially released.

Author: FlamingoKicker1 - Rank: Supreme Social Sim - View MySimPage Profile

Date: Sep-16-04 11:30 AM GMT

Subject:
Re: NOCD not supported? How about support your customers

This sounds like a problem with your machine not with their product so why are you blaming Maxis?

"Parents aren't interested in Justice. Parents only are interested in Quiet."
--- Bill Cosby

Author: kellinjar - Rank: Voluble VIP - View MySimPage Profile

Date: Sep-16-04 11:34 AM GMT

Subject:
Re: NOCD not supported? How about support your customers

Learn to read. My game works fine.
However there are plenty of others who's game isn't working (also people who are having the same problem with the CD)

http://simtelligence.ca - The unexamined pixel is not worth playing

Author: SimMasterMsWick - Rank: Loquacious Lurker - View MySimPage Profile

Date: Sep-16-04 11:34 AM GMT

Subject:
Re: NOCD not supported? How about support your customers

How is it Maxis problem that your DVD drive disappears?!
Let me point out something here: Bugs are issues within the game that EVERYBODY experiences. If only a handful of people have a problem, then it is a computer/hardware/driver issue and not a bug that Maxis is required to fix.
Maxis does not have to support something that is used among software pirates (I am not accusing you or anyone else of being one, just stating a fact) to get around the anti-piracy efforts that gaming companies use to try and keep people honest. Maxis is also not required to test their product against every other program that someone may or may not have on their machine. If it doesn't work because of a conflict on your system, then you need to address it, not Maxis.

"Be a first-rate version of yourself, not a second-rate version of someone
else." - Judy Garland

Author: kellinjar - Rank: Voluble VIP - View MySimPage Profile

Date: Sep-16-04 11:37 AM GMT (updated Sep-16-04 12:04 PM GMT)

Subject:
Re: NOCD not supported? How about support your customers

Let me repeat again:
My game works fine.
The problem is possibly caused my Maxis' CD protection, thats why its Maxis' problem.
Their CD protection is reacting badly to LEGAL software. People who have then uninstalled this software to play the game they legally bought still cannot play. I've recieved messages from plenty of them.

http://simtelligence.ca - The unexamined pixel is not worth playing

Author: Cobra9516 - Rank: Loquacious Lurker - View MySimPage Profile

Date: Sep-16-04 11:59 AM GMT

Subject:
Re: NOCD not supported? How about support your customers

I think you're beating a dead horse. He doesn't get it. Maybe he can't conceive of big corporations like EA taking draconian measures intentionally at the expense of some of their customers. The sad irony is that Safedisc 3 does not work in its intended function of stopping piracy. Pirates have cracked that repeatedly already. (For instance, Doom 3 uses Safedisc 3, and the game was cracked and available for download before its official release.) The only thing it thwarts, and very well, I might add, is the ability of customers to use what they paid for.

Author: SimMasterMsWick - Rank: Loquacious Lurker - View MySimPage Profile

Date: Sep-16-04 12:05 PM GMT

Subject:
Re: NOCD not supported? How about support your customers

Ahem. I'm a "she" and yes I do get it, but I also know why Maxis and every other gaming company in the world uses anti-piracy software in their games.
As I already stated, Maxis cannot test against every possible software combination out there. If you have issues on your computer, it is up to you to find a fix for it, not Maxis.

"Be a first-rate version of yourself, not a second-rate version of someone
else." - Judy Garland

Author: kellinjar - Rank: Voluble VIP - View MySimPage Profile

Date: Sep-16-04 12:10 PM GMT

Subject:
Re: NOCD not supported? How about support your customers

Nero is a very common piece of software. it comes with the vast majority of burners purchased and bundled with a good majority of PCs that come with burners. Maxis would have been well aware that Safedisc 3 inteferers with it before they chose it as its a known problem. Maxis is forcing its users to choose between CD burner functionality and their game. on top of the fact that most simmers are not strong enough computer users to know how to go through salting their registry so there is no trace left of this program so the protection doesn't kick in.

http://simtelligence.ca - The unexamined pixel is not worth playing

Author: GNimmo86 - Rank: Overmodest Orator - View MySimPage Profile

Date: Sep-19-04 04:05 AM GMT

Subject:
Re: NOCD not supported? How about support your customers

WHAAAT???
I have Nero installed and running this very minute, I have had NO and I mean NO problems whatsoever.
The issues you appear to be having sound to be due to a problem with the drivers, check that you have the most up to date drivers installed.
If I am understanding this correctly then your driver appears to dissappear (hmm, poor wording award to me!) Maxis is not responsible for the operating system detecting drives and their content, your operating system is. From what I understand, the program simply queries the disc label and maybe a file on the disc to confirm that it is there.
The only problem with this protection algorithm was when I was trying to play doom 3 and it kept going into a fit over DVD Region Killer (very usefull when you travel between many countries) so, all I have done is remove it from the startuup list and run it as and when I need it.

Author: kellinjar - Rank: Voluble VIP - View MySimPage Profile

Date: Sep-19-04 08:46 AM GMT

Subject:
Re: NOCD not supported? How about support your customers

Thats fine for you. Other have removed nero or cloneCD or another application and the game works.
This isn't a result of maxis' programming but the maxis/ea choice in copy protection. They picked the scheme, therefore its their fault.
They had plenty of other choices available to prevent casual copying and they chose the route that causes the most problems for the legal end user.
Its not a 'driver' issue. its an issue with safedisc.
Older DVD/CD drives will fail if you try to use safedisc on them because they cannot do whatever it is the protection needs it to do. Maxis knew alot of their simmers had old technology and failed to disclose this prior to the sale.
Read the entire thread as well as some fo the rest of the BBS before replying. Its quite apparent that some peoplave have swapped out their DVD/CD drive and teh game works and some people ahve removed CD utility software and the game works. This is quite an obvious indicator that its not a 'driver' problem.

http://simtelligence.ca - The unexamined pixel is not worth playing

Author: aloneinshadow - Rank: Loquacious Lurker - View MySimPage Profile

Date: Sep-19-04 09:00 AM GMT

Subject:
Re: NOCD not supported? How about support your customers Mood:

Look, if you've got "old drives" or whatever and your game won't play. Oh well, tough cookies. Buy a new drive. Simple solution for a simple problem. Duh.

Simmin' like a villin.

Author: DuSpinnst81 - Rank: Overmodest Orator - View MySimPage Profile

Date: Oct-17-04 08:38 AM GMT

Subject:
Re: NOCD not supported? How about support your customers

What if that drive was in a brand new laptop then how would you "Go buy a new one" The game works fine on all of my other PC's except my laptop. It can't read the disc due to the SafeDisc 3 "weak sectors." And in response to the Mod, we all know why Maxis/EA uses copy protection but why not SecuROM or another brand that doesn't break everything else? Macrovision Safedisc is by FAR the WORST copy protection scheme out there. They have every right to use a technology, but they also have a duty to legitimate customers to use the most inevasive one.