Do NOT install trial of Civ3:Conquests!

[syknight]

This is just a warning for those thinking of downloading the trial version of Civ3 Conquests from Trymedia (ActiveMARK).

1) If you own the retail civ3, it won't work - you NEED the trial Civ3 from Tryware.

2) If you BUY the retail version of conquests, even after uninstalling the trial, the Tryware box pops up limiting your play time to 3 hours, no matter what.

3) You can't get support. I BOUGHT Conquests and can't play the damn thing longer than 3 hours because of this Tryware GARBAGE, and it's been over a week and still no reply from Tryware.

 

[sealman]

that should teach you to only grab demos from the makers of the game.

 

[BlueBomberDude]

Thanks for the heads up!

 

[syknight]

sealman, obviously Atari worked with ActiveMedia in creating this version of the game, as they required the SDK in order to do it.

I got a reply from Atari, which basically told me they won't help me...

This is what I got from ActiveMedia 5 days after submitting my request:

Thank you for contacting Trymedia Systems Support.

We have received your inquiry. Due to higher-than-expected volume,
it may take as many as 4-5 days to respond to your inquiry. We
apologize for this delay.

PLEASE DO NOT RESUBMIT YOUR CASE as this will only delay our response
to you.

Here is your case number: AT-031212.209874
Please use this in any communication with us.

Have you tried resolving your issue using our self-service Customer
Support Center? Visit us at http://fe.trymedia.com/csc/
for help, technical walk-throughs and more.


::::: powered by AnswerTrack Express :::::
http://express.answertrack.com :::::

 

[sealman]

It is not obvious to me. If Atari released a demo, one would assume that it would be available at Atari's page, or the CIV 3 page. But I have never seen it. Also, I do not see why they would refuse to help you had some hand in the demo.

BTW: What is an "SDK"? I am not familiar with that acronym.

 

[CIVPhilzilla]

Thank god for a cable outage or id have the trial version and be screwed.

 

[DS_Legionary]

Hmm glad I decided to wait until the weekend to download this. I would have been mad if I had already downloaded it.

 

[ainwood]

Originally posted by sealman
It is not obvious to me. If Atari released a demo, one would assume that it would be available at Atari's page, or the CIV 3 page. But I have never seen it. Also, I do not see why they would refuse to help you had some hand in the demo.

BTW: What is an "SDK"? I am not familiar with that acronym.

SDK = Software Development Kit.

I believe that the problems described stem from the fact that this trymedia crew encourage you to download the product, run it and then purchase it from them. Once purchased from them, they simply unlock it, and the time reminder goes away.

I suggest that the continuing problems come about because of people buying conquests from a different source.

 

[syknight]

ainwood, good point - and I would have bought it from them if it actually worked

In any case, I think I got the message out and saved people the headache of dealing with this crapware. It's unfortunate it didn't make the news page, but such is the decision of whoever manages the news - I just hope that people will see this post before following the download link to the trial on the news page.

As least I managed to get the retail Conquests running, and have the chance to enjoy this really great game!

(I'm still ticked off that this stupid volcano blew up my city... No one told me the volcanos actually erupt :O

 

[Turner]

Thanks! I was thinking about doing this. . .

Have you tried uninstalling and reinstalling Civ? This may or may not work. You may need to go deeper into your system than just reinstalling, but unless you're very sure of what you're doing, I wouldn't try it.

 

[syknight]

I cleaned out the registry, deleted all the files... The tricky part is, the Tryware stuff actually sits resident in memory, opening up either TCP or UDP (I don't remember which) ports which send and recieve data from the mothership, while also keeping particular files locked.

When I reinstalled, it was keeping the civ3conquests.exe locked, so after a few minutes it finally unloaded it's self and I was able to copy over the .exe from the CD to the install dir.

Bottom line, for $14 from Amazon, just go buy it

 

[JonathanValjean]

Originally posted by syknight
Bottom line, for $14 from Amazon, just go buy it

I know, and that price is making me sick! I paid the full $29.99 the day it came out, but have only had time to play one game so far... Take advantage of that excellent price, guys!

 

[Thunderfall]

Originally posted by JonathanValjean
I know, and that price is making me sick! I paid the full $29.99 the day it came out, but have only had time to play one game so far... Take advantage of that excellent price, guys!

haha... they lowered the price AGAIN, to $9.99. It's insane.

What's next? C3C for free!?

 

[BlueBomberDude]

Originally posted by Thunderfall

haha... they lowered the price AGAIN, to $9.99. It's insane.

What's next? C3C for free!?

Holy crap!!!
It's still $40 Canadian up here (roughly $30 USD).

 

[Padma]

My wife paid $30 for it a week ago, at WalMart....

 

[ainwood]

I paid $NZD 29.99 for it, which was the list price. That equates to only about $USD 18.00 from the outset.

 

[Brewster]

Still, $40 is a good price for something that will entertain you for several hundred hours (you are a fanatic right?). Lets do a cost/benefit analysis with that $40.

$40 = one reasonable night in the bar/pub
$40 = a tank of gas for a midsize vehicle
$40 = haircut for your significant other
$40 = a bag of BC's finest
$40 = several hundred hours of glorious Civ [dance]

They could have bumped the price up to $50 and I still would have bought it.

 

[Sandman2003]

I have seen a PTW retailing at AUD $49 right next to Conquests retailing for AUD $29. Now that has got to be seriously out of whack!

 

[Turner]

[dance] Finally! This convinced my wife to let me buy it! Whoot!

 

[Amorphus]

I got my Civ3GOTY and C3C a couple hours ago from amazon(WEEEEEEEEEEE ) and I seem to have no problems, even though I had both trials before.