Multiplayer on LAN using CD?

[gecko]

If I want to play this game on my LAN with my house mate do I need to buy two copies?

Thanks!

gecko

[Fyron]

Technically, no, because you don't need the CD to play the game. All that having the CD in the drive does for you is allow you to listen to the annoying music. And since you don't need 2 copies to play with someone in a hot seat game, making 2 installs to let 2 people play over a LAN is, IMO (not necessarily that of Shrapnel/Malfador), a reasonable use of your copy of the game.

Legally, yes, your housemate should buy his own copy (or you buy one for him).

Hopefully, Richard won't be mad at this post. If he doesn't approve of it, I will delete it ASAP (or he could delete it if he feels so inclined).

[gecko]

Thanks for the reply.
Just to clarify, it was never my intention to get around any copy protection or anything like that.

I too am of the view that it is fair use if I install a game to my two PC's and invite a friend to play. However, if the license agreement forbade this I would just be less likely to buy the game - I wouldn't lose any sleep getting aggrieved over it.

Does anyone from Shrapnel read this forum? If so, would they mind stating their position on this?

A good example of a fair solution for LAN games would be the Last game I played and genuinely loved, which was Total Annihilation (yes, I don't play many games ). With TA you could install as a multiplayer spawn. Actually, IIRC you could do this even for Internet play but all my friends bought a copy anyway so they could practise against the computer

Actually, I've thought of a better question. Can my friends get a feel for the multiplayer game using the demo? If so, would I have to play the demo too and could we continue the same game if we then purchased it? Phew, hope that makes sense!

I have now downloaded the Gold demo by the way but have only had time to play a couple of turns. I also didn't read the FAQ so I have colonies with no population on them

Reading threads like the 'Proportions Mod' makes me want to like this game...

gecko

[baetis]

quote:

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Actually, I've thought of a better question. Can my friends get a feel for the multiplayer game using the demo? If so, would I have to play the demo too and could we continue the same game if we then purchased it? Phew, hope that makes sense!

I have now downloaded the Gold demo by the way but have only had time to play a couple of turns. I also didn't read the FAQ so I have colonies with no population on them

---

Yes, you can play multiplayer with the demo, but you cannot continue the game with the full Version if you all eventually get it. And to play, you must all use the demo Version. (From what i've read anyway)

As far as planets with no population, this is from the SEIV FAQ:

There are two things you need to colonize a planet, a colonizing component and population. When you build a colonizing ship, it has a colonization module on it. But before you send it off to colonize a planet, you need to load it up with population first. If the colony ship doesn't have any population on it, then you can still colonize the planet, but it will have zero population.

When you have a newly built colony ship, the best way to send it off is to give it the Colonize order. This order will automatically load population first, then send the ship to the target planet, then colonize that planet. If you use the MoveTo order on your colony ship, it will move towards its destination, without loading population first.

[gecko]

Heh, thanks baetis, but I read the FAQ afterwards which was when I realised my mistake

gecko

[Richard]

I don't beleive we have anything (I could be wrong) in the license about multiplayer. You guys can do what you want alogn those lines but remember the more copies we sell the more likely SEV is .