Does Atari generally replace your CD if you have a receipt and the box?

[JonathanValjean]

I have been away for a while now. March was the last time I posted, and it was also the last time I played Civ 3. I have been heavily into my Porsches and have been moving towards club racing as of late. I really got the urge yesterday to play Civ 3: Conquests, and I also noticed that the Games of the Month now use Conquests, as well. I would definitely like to return to the GOTM. However, I can't find my Conquests CD. I took it on vacation with me back in March, and it is very possible that I left it in the hotel room.

Has anyone here had a similar experience? If so, did Atari replace your CD, provided you proved ownership, of course? Should I go ahead and just buy another copy of the game? All advice is appreciated.

 

[ManOfMiracles]

If you can afford to race Porsches, surely you can afford to spend $20 (or less) for a new copy. I don't know that Atari would replace the CD and doubt that have any legal responsibility to do so since you lost your copy. Even if they would, I'm sure it would take quite a while.

 

[JonathanValjean]

If you can afford to race Porsches, surely you can afford to spend $20 (or less) for a new copy. I don't know that Atari would replace the CD and doubt that have any legal responsibility to do so since you lost your copy. Even if they would, I'm sure it would take quite a while.

Good point! However, the way I look at it is that I could put that $20 towards some goodies for the Porsches... You are correct about the legal responsibility. I found on Atari's website (finally) the following quote: "Atari is not responsible for lost or stolen products. In these cases the burden of responsibility falls to the consumer. No replacement can be offered for lost or stolen items." Oh, well...

I do have the Civ III and PTW disks, and in fact, every other CD-ROM I have ever bought.... I even have Conquests installed on my computer. I can use the editor, but I can't actually play games due to the fact that you MUST have the CD in the computer. What really stinks is that I was a beta tester for Conquests, and I still have that disk! Alas, I still can't find the commercial Conquests disk, and I've spent a good hour trying. I guess I'll just have to buy another one, because I really want to compete in the GOTM again!

 

[microbe]

Drive your Porsches and go get one copy. It should take less than 5 minutes.

 

[Babbler]

You get someone copy by let them drive one of your Porsches!

 

[ManOfMiracles]

I would even get in on that action although my spouse would kill me. Also, didn't intend to sound so snide in my earlier post. A bit on envy creeping out. I'm sorry.

 

[bob rulz]

Oh man, I wish I could race Porsches...that would be awesome...

 

[sealman]

If you let me drive one of your Porsches for a day, I will give you my copy of Conquests.

 

[Oddible]

Ditto - where do I sign up?

BTW, you can probably find a C3C CD for $5 on eBay or Half.com these days.

On the other hand, if you only get the momentary urge to play, you can always just use the Yahoo Games download or GameSpy download and just play for a month!

 

[Reprisal]

Since you paid for the game and still have the receipt, you could simply go to one of those websites and download the No CD Crack and use that. I'm not certain how C3C installs, however, but most contemporary games install all the pertinent game files to your HD and only require the CD as a security device to make sure you don't give it to all your friends instead of suggesting that they buy it.

As far as I know, it's a completely legitimate thing for you to do since you already bought the game...

- Rep.

 

[JonathanValjean]

Thanks for all the positive comments about the Porsches, guys! I thoroughly enjoy them, and if anyone is ever near Huntsville, AL, you are welcome to come by and help me exercise the fleet.

 

[Oddible]

Since you paid for the game and still have the receipt, you could simply go to one of those websites and download the No CD Crack and use that. I'm not certain how C3C installs, however, but most contemporary games install all the pertinent game files to your HD and only require the CD as a security device to make sure you don't give it to all your friends instead of suggesting that they buy it.

As far as I know, it's a completely legitimate thing for you to do since you already bought the game...

- Rep.

That's like saying, "Since you have money in your bank account, you can blast your way into the bank in the middle of the night, make a widthdrawal of exactly the amount of funds that you have in your account and that would be perfectly fine."

No CD Crack is illegal. Period. Sorry for the bad news. It works in theory.

 

[Reprisal]

Yeah, whatever. I've used No-CD cracks on other games that I've bought, and nobody save some self-righteous few have every really batted an eye. It may not be in accordance with the letter of the law, but at this point, I don't really care. All I was doing was trying to save this guy the hassle of having to buy it again, or send a letter, or whatever, it's not like I was giving out URLs to download the entire game.

Your example of the bank destruction isn't quite accurate, since nothing is ever damaged in the process except a few people's sense of technical correctness.

Anyway, since I'm up in Canada, things work a little differently up here, if there's such thing as a Gamer Gestapo down there, then perhaps my advice shouldn't be followed...

- Rep.

 

[Oddible]

No overreaction - just a statement of fact. In a world where laws are based on what is right and fair, your logic is sound. But in our current world, the No CD Crack is technically illegal. Just pointing it out, that's all. I agree with you, that it seems a fair way to go but this statement is false: "it's a completely legitimate thing for you to do since you already bought the game..." Hopefully our Porschephile friend can find a cheapy way out of this nightmare! (What would I do without my C3C CD!)

 

[Reprisal]

All right, man, no problem.

It must be different in those United States of yours, since I'm fairly certain programs like DVD X-Copy are still legal to sell and own. I'm not too familiar with the commercial legal system in the States, though, and only passingly familiar with that of my own country.

But yeah, I hope the thread originator can work something out. I wouldn't wish a lack of C3C on anyone.

- Rep.

 

[alamo]

No CD patch works for me.

I personally find it insulting to make someone constantly dig up and handle their source disk when there is no technical reason for it.

In this case the individual has already paid for the intellectual property and is hampered by needless copy protection.

If you make a good product then good people will pay for it. All the copy protection in the world won't help a bad product.

 

[digitalgoodtime]

I too would use the no cd patch if i could find one, I play many games and having to dig out a cd every time sucks... Seems like they could come up with a better way like validating your copy online the first time you play...

 

[JonathanValjean]

I thought I would update you guys. I couldn't let Oddible stay up nights worrying about his Porschephile friend. I am still searching for my CD (it truly is the only CD-ROM I have ever lost!), but I am considering the NO CD patch as a solution. The safeguard is there for copy protection. Well, I have my receipt and box right here in a drawer, and the game was installed November 7th, 2003, just after I purchased it. Hopefully, I would not be prosecuted for using a game for which I own the rights.

Alamo, I love your Sig!

 

[alamo]

Thanks. I always wonder if anyone gets it.

I lifted it off the German Max Plank Research Institution web site.

Check your PM's.