This time two members of our players-network went out and made an easter-interview at it´s best - with lot´s of news about Gothic 3. Meditate and Don Esteban talked with Gothic 3 Producer Stefan Berger and Community Manager Johann "Ivan Ertlov" Ertl from JoWooD and they did´nt let them go away before both ot them had given away even the last bit of information...
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World of Gothic:
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It´s rumbling in the fan-communities. Thread after thread is filled with questions, wild speculations and even insults. Do you want to talk about it ?
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Stefan and Johann:
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Well, if it´s necassary and if we will be at our families till easter?
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World of Gothic:
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Naturally it´s all about the copy-protection for Gothic 3. There´s a rumor, that the CP Starforce is the actual favourite. Are there any decisions made about the used Copy Protection for G3 ?
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Stefan and Johann:
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Till now we did´nt make a definite decision, especially for Gothic 3 we will very carefully think about it, because our first goal is: The interests of our fans, the community and each single player.
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World of Gothic:
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How serious is the mainly negative reaction in fan communities regarding usage of Starforce with SpellForce 2 taken? Like a storm in a water glas, cooked up artificially, however, not influencing sales figures? Or are such signals an important hint on future decisions regarding kind of copy protection.
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Johann:
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Of cource, discussion on StarForce is extremly heated up by a few fanatics who believe to be on crusade. Moreover, there are visible connections with Warez Szene with a well known protagonist who has obviously a different focus than those honest buyers. However, some worries are very comprehensive, making some users to join the howling of the sometimes very dubious leading wolfes.
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World of Gothic:
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Is the mainly negative press for Starforce (independent whether right or wrong) a reason to put influence the copy protection?
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Stefan and Johann:
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Yes, if users fear something and I cannot take away this by explanations, then I have to keep them away from "That".
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World of Gothic:
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What is your estimation on number of people who might have bought the game, however, should abstain due to fear of Starforce?
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Johann:
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According to my personal investigations between 5 and 10 percent of the total potential. Many people bought SpellForce although they said before "Starforce will not enter my house", but mainly the non-decicive were threatened.
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World of Gothic:
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Regarding Spellforce, was the number of complaints reaching Support, in the expected margin?
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Johann:
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Yes, at that time the game was already in a very good and mature status. Of course, we will have to patch out some bugs, however, this is normal for such a sophisticated game. However, there were addtional complaints/requests which were more numerous due to copy protection.
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World of Gothic:
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Support was able to assist many users, however, don't you agree it should be better that someone buys and plays a game without being obliged to communicate with the hotline before?
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Johann:
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Absolutely. There will always be technical problems and human errors like illegible serial numbers, however, it is inacceptable to generate additional problems.
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World of Gothic:
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Which copy protection would you prefer for Gothic 3 instead of Starforce?
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Johann:
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See my first answer. My opinion is that any copy protection preventing a fool-safe 1:1 copying with Nero & Co. is satisfactory.
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World of Gothic:
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Advantages of this copy protection against Starforce?
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Johann:
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Less angry users and less spoilers who are not at all interested in the game, however, love to criticize all game platforms and state to boycot.
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World of Gothic:
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Is the information of the American partners Aspyr that they do not intend to use Starforce rather counterproductive for a cooperation? This way they demonstrate to prefer a different way of copy protection thus undermining a supposed general line, to be established by Deep Silver and JoWooD using Starforce for all future games.
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Stefan and Johann:
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Not at all! Each distribution partner is free to choose his CP, however this is not the case with Deep Silver due to DS being Publishing Parter thus obliged to find common ways. Taken e.g. Nobilis in Spain they use a different copy protection, and I see this decision for Tages as a very reasonable one and good for Aspyr. It is a very rigid and expensive protection, however, without those problems assumed with Starforce.
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World of Gothic:
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Is there a general politics to take Starforce for all future games? Or is the decision regarding the copy protection to be taken individully for each game?
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Stefan:
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Of course, we check the different mechanisms of copy protections and companies and decide on the best for each new project.
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World of Gothic:
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How are internal ways of decision? In fact, JoWooD and Deep Silver are common publishers for the majority of new publications thus having an important word. So which influence does JooWoD have non the choice of copy protection?
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Stefan:
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An important one as copy protection has already been implemented during development phase and there are hardly any cases where this is only added in the last stadium of a project.
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World of Gothic:
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How will this topic copy protection develop? Will there be a safe copy protecton one day without possibility to be cracked?
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Johann:
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Never ever. Every protection might be cracked even when Iris-scan and finger print and video surveillance will be normal. And believe me, anyhow this knowledge that every system might be cheated is satisfying for me.
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World of Gothic:
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Some publishers of video games request from their clients to check in online before being able to use he game. Did you ever think about this for one of your products?
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Johann: |
This is a comprehensive way for online-games, either as team Shooter or MMOG, however a Key-Login solution is sufficient, also for lobby.
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World of Gothic:
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Thank you for your fruitful cooperation. Enjoy your Easter holidays. However, we have some more questons. But take a sleep first. Looking forward to reading part 2 of the interview.
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