Warez copies of Demigod causing online issues [Update]

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Warez copies of Demigod causing online issues [Update]

Posted Apr 16th 2009 9:00AM by John Callaham
Filed under: RPG, RTS, Demigod

A few days ago, when it was revealed that Gamestop had broken the sales embargo for Demigod, Stardock's CEO Brad Wardell said this would be a interesting way to see the true effects of PC piracy. In his latest update on the status of their just released strategy game, Wardell states that users with warez copies of Demigod are overloading the game's multiplayer servers.

He states, "Sadly, most of the ~120,000 connections are not customers but via warez. About 18,000 are legitimate." Those warez users are being pushed off so that they are not " . . . slamming the same servers that legitimate customers are using." Server capacity has also been expanded and a new connection system for multiplayer matches (shown above) has been created that will be released later via a patch.

Wardell also took time to go after GameSpot's 6.5 (out of 10) review of Demigod. The review was critical of the game's current connection issues and while Wardell certainly has to agree he adds, " . . . I think that should be weighted with what the average user who gets Demigod will experience and in reality, as annoying as this issue is, it's not something that's going to be an ongoing issue, it's something that is likely to be taken care of in the next day or two." Wardell hopes other reviews of the game will take that into consideration before posting up their opinions.

Update: A new patch that is designed to fix some of the connection issues has been released for the game via Impulse. Another patch is expected in a few more days.

Gallery: Demigod Screenshots

Tags: demigod, gas-powered-games, impulse, stardock

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Really just proves that the people that pirate aren't particularly those anti-DRM types, just a bunch of parasites that want a free game. It's interesting that they can identify the pirated copies, yet unfortunate they can ban them outright. Pirate copies might be a reality of doing business, but it doesn't mean they have to benefit off of someone else's hard work.
Posted at 10:04AM on Apr 16th 2009 by ChimpWithAHandgun

I do believe gamespot's review might seem abit unfair for this game. I purchased demigod myself and it does seem frustrating when I can't get into a multiplayer game. But when I do get into a multiplayer game, it's very fun and addictive. I believe it's not very fair to take into consideration a game's connective issues at launch when it can be fixed in a matter of days, especially when these issues are caused by piracy. Also, as to gamespot's criticism on a lack of story driven campaign mode, if you weret to examine hit games like battlefield 2 and Enemy Territory Quake Wars, both those game seem to lack a strictly story driven campaign mode as well, but gamespot gave those games a 9.3 and an 8.5. Considering how reviews tend to affect people purchasing a game, I'm quite disappointed by Gamespot's review of this game.Posted at 10:07AM on Apr 16th 2009 by Flagduality404

And where is the demo?Posted at 11:23AM on Apr 16th 2009 by ahac

I think Stardock probably did not pay Gamespot enough money to get a review done.

Gamespot has ignored games with bugs, connectivity issues etc. in the past, it's strange that they shine a flashlight on Demigod over connectivity at *launch*.

I have no faith or trust in gamespot as a review site any more.

It's a shame that people who pirated the game are trying to use the official servers to connect. Let's hope that Stardock's software is robust enough to kick them off and keep them off.

If they want to play Multiplayer, buy the darn game.Posted at 12:25PM on Apr 16th 2009 by Andrew

Several of the more recent reviews on Gamespot have been harsh (the Stormrise one in particular), and it makes you wonder just how long these "reviewers" tried to play a normal game with it. Or maybe how many RTS guys are too stuck in the old RTS mold to try and play the "new experience" RTS games that have come out recently.

I have not purchased this game (too many RTS titles for the RTS n00b right now), but it suprises me that 1/6 of the games connecting are legit. It is the other 5/6 that are embarassing us.

XBox 360 - A new game having issues? Really? That's new... (/SARCASM OFF)Posted at 12:45PM on Apr 16th 2009 by SidearmS