RPGXplorer: Not an option after all
The pits of Hell, you say
Let’s face it: Product activation is a hassle for customers. It takes time and requires user interaction1, and that’s annoying as hell. And yet, annoyance is but a minor part of the issue.
All in your mind
Software crackers are a lot smarter than you think, so product activation isn’t all that effective. Your activation scheme will only stop an unskilled computer user from giving a copy to his friend. In many cases, that copy is free advertising—the friend getting it is most likely right smack in the middle of the product’s target audience. Why, exactly, do you not want to reach that person?
Is that really what you think of me?
Another important point is the attitude that powers the use of product activation. In effect, I’m suspected of being a thief, and I’m guilty until proven innocent. Even after endorsing your product by paying for it, I’m being treated as a common thief until I have “proven my innocence” by activating the product. That just isn’t a healthy attitude to have towards paying customers.
Trust, or the lack of it
Then there is the issue of trust. If you don’t trust me, why should I trust you? Product activation, in it’s most “user-friendly” form, requires communication with a server. How can I be certain that you aren’t gathering data about me? Even if the data you gather seems innocuous enough today, it can be very interesting a year from now.
Of course, you have your privacy policy, and even local laws telling you what you can and can’t do. But the privacy policy is nothing but words when it comes right down to it, and software companies are easily moved to other countries with different laws.
If I choose a “safer” form of activation, through email, phone, what have you, then it becomes an even greater hassle, and an even greater waste of my time. Which should I choose? Schylla or Charybdis?
It’s all about the money
Incorporating product activation costs money. Maintaining activation servers and alternative solutions costs money. Even if activation does increase revenue—and I for one strongly doubt it does—will it outweigh the costs?
According to Pierce Morgan Ltd., the cost for maintaining the solution is negligible. But even if the cost is a small one, it’s still there.
Worst-case scenario
Then there is the worst-case scenario: The company loses interest, and/or goes belly-up. Support for the product stops. Then what? Will the product still be available to those who paid for a copy, even if they have to reinstall?
Pierce Morgan Ltd. has made a guarantee they’ll make a non-activated version available if everything goes to heck. Since you obviously can predict the future, can you give me next week’s lottery number, too?
In the end
In the end, Pierce Morgan Ltd. has offered to make their activation solution as flexible as anyone could want, but they will not reconsider using activation. In other words, the attitude is still there; the demand for undue control of their customers—not their product, but their customers—is still there. They’ve also repeatedly pointed out how cheap and great their software is, but that doesn’t change anything. The program could cost a penny and solve world hunger, and I still wouldn’t support the use of product activation.
I’ve emailed them my demand for a refund, and once I have my money, this program will no longer exist in my world. I made due with other tools before RPGXplorer came along, and I’ll make due with other tools in the future.
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Since you already got my comments in another way, I’ll just say again that I think this is a very good piece. Made me think about Product Activation.
Excellent work.
I know pcgen ain’t the easiest to use, but we are trying to find ways to expose more of that power to general users. We are in the middle of a major code cleanup which should make doing a new interface light years easier. Hopefully we’ll eventually look as slick as RPGXplorer while maintaining our full power.
Devon Jones
PCGen Head Coder, PCGen Board of Directors
While I agree with most of your comments on product activation, I don’t think you really gave a good summary on why the tool was not suitable beyond the fact that it had a key code and internet connection.
It seems there’s only one real paragraph on the summary of what was actually wrong with the program and it seemed (to me) more like very opionated beliefs with a dash of fact. This is not meant to counteract your troubles or bring down your ideas, it’s just that if there were real troubles with the program I would’ve liked to have seen more in depth problems, perhaps a screenshot with some of the more annoying errors?
Also, for a new user (that’s me) to DM tools on a computer of any type, the delay really isn’t an issue since it’s due out very shortly anyhow. I think I’d like to see another review on it from you, if willing, however because you do seem to have the ability to pick apart the problems in an easy to read format :)
-DM Moocat
To be quite honest, product activation is such a show-stopper for me that the quality of the program is pretty much irrelevant.
From the little testing I actually did, I wouldn’t say there’s anything directly wrong with it, but it certainly did not live up to the expectations set by the previews.
I’m afraid I won’t be doing a full review on RPGxplorer. That would require installing and using the software, and the inclusion of product activation means I’m boycotting it completely. However, I’ll probably do reviews on alternative software as I’ll come across it.
Ha, while attempting to install not 5 minutes after my comment, it crashed… not after install, DURING install. Apparently someone didn’t do very good testing ;) You are the clear winner in this case, not ever having bothered :)
I had been reading about this software and was interested in trying it. I installed it, and have been unable to get the trial mode to activate for the very reasons you outline. I’m beginning to think that there’s very little point in going much further. WHat is the point of a trial mode when it has to communicate with the server?
You make several good points about the software. However, your focus on the activation issue overshadows the rest of the review. Since most people probably don’t feel as strongly about the activation issue as you do, and would rather know more about the software itself (good or bad), the review as a whole leaves me feeling confused and unsatisfied.
“Since you obviously can predict the future, can you give me next week’s lottery number, too?”
I think, 5 years out, it’s clear who’s the prophetic one, here.
(Although—and please don’t take this as anything more than a playful jab—it does seem strange that you rail against the collection of user information, albeit quite eloquently and convincingly, when this very comment form requires an email address that we are assured will not be published.)
@Pyrrhonic: A shortcoming of the software used to power this site. I would turn that particular bit off if I could.
I just read this today and since I noticed two not comments I thought I would post my own here.
It’s been five years since your initial testing of the software and I think it’s come pretty far since then. I use it, I like it. It does not have all the features I want, such as the one you pointed out.. “you can’t create a separate ruleset for different campaigns” .. but I have since updated from 1.9.0 to the 2 Alpha and I have noticed improvements. In 1.9.0 users cannot make monsters, but in 2.0 we can.
I think you are being a little harsh on the product activation .. as is my current feelings. If the activation came with a 5 time usage then I would totally agree, but it seems I can activate it as many times as I want so the little nuisance is but that to me.
I would hope with such venom that you don’t have a Windows Operating System.. “and the inclusion of product activation means I’m boycotting it completely.” ..but what you do is what you do.
After the product activation though, it’s been 10 years and the software has yet to meet it’s full functionality, but I would recommend giving it a second visit. The trial has been changed so that you can use it with only one restriction, you cannot make PC’s higher than level 5.
You review has inspired me to try PCGen again .. which I thought was painfully bloated. Hopefully this time around I can feel excited about it again.