I'm a fan of Alawar also, and always have been. I think it's more like they were "soiling" on that site (by being honest), instead of getting soiled themselves. Lol! More power to them for confusing the confused. *&:-b And thanks for reminding me to check the monthly freebie. :)

I actually like Alawar games. I learned to associate the name with "Quality Games" when they were being offered here. I don't think I've ever had a problem with a game but the Gamebox is another story. I'm hoping to now get an answer to the problem with their listing of "Full" and "Demo" games in their "My Games" section of Gamebox.

Fortunately, it is not needed to play any games. I only keep it around for the monthly freebie and then I don't always get it.

I was just surprised to see them on this site. It just felt like the games (and Alawar) was being "soiled" by association with a site like that. Alawar has been a member on that site for 2 months according to their profile.

I love alawar. They have been brilliant over the several years I've bough games from them. They even sent me Christmas presents a few years ago to thank me for all the comments I'd posted; then, when I started to Beta test for them I was invited to their primary beta test team, which meant I got to keep full versions of the games I tested; sadly the primary beta I know some community members have had problems with some of thames they distribute, but, apart from Arcon toys, I never have. They have always been prompt at answering queries, and have even given me games for free when I've asked for discounts (only on the older games though). None of the games i've ever bought from them (apart from the one I've mentioned above) have been problematic running; I recently discovered that the game in question, which was also given away a few years ago and wouldn't play on loads of other community members computers (XP) does actually work on Vista (and Win 98). I only have good things to say about them. I also prefer their activation method as you don't need to activate them via the internet, which many game houses force you to do.

@Archangel... Yes, that's my point. What Alawar did was right. They own the game, to distribute it on any site they wish. But the pirate site doesn't hold the copyrights to those games, so why are they allowed to distribute them in such a fashion? Why are illegal sites allowed to give away goods that don't belong to them? As wrabbit suggests, is it just that it's a nuisance to stop them? Can't webmasters "pull the plug" on such sites? Just don't get it, why it's so hard to control something so blatantly there, in plain view. It's not like they're hiding, so there's no evidence. Or maybe most people are honest? That's what I'd like to believe...

lol Archangel, you're probably right; some of those that download are probably writing to their mates telling them the site has gone downhill, lol.

I really wish the authorities were able to crack down on them more, but I believe many of these sites are run from places were the authorities have more pressing matters on their hands.

We are probably paying for all those lost sales by having to pay higher prices. Much like insurance which is costly these days because of all the dishonest people out there trying to make a fast buck.

@midori

Any person that holds the copyrights to the software can distribute it anyway they see fit so I see that they did nothing wrong even though a link was posted on a "Questionable" Site. Then again "Wrong" is in the eye of the beholder. I imagine that there were a bunch of Game "Pirates" that felt that they were wronged because they only got half the normal trial time but believing it was a cracked game! LOL I'm still ROTFLMAO!!!

Now people who are visiting that site won't know if its a legit download or a cracked one so maybe there traffic will slow down because of frustration.

My Hat's off to you at Alawar!

Archangel

Hi Dragonlair, I've finally searched through my emails and am going to PM you the Email contact so that you can hopefully get more direct feedback /help from Alawar. sorry it's taken an age to sort.

Regards

Whiterabbit

With respect to Warez sites and p to p download sites (using bit torrents usually) I think they are doing the gaming industry great harm, and as far as i'm concerned getting your games from such sites is tantamount to stealing.

I can understand why some people may get their games from such site. I've was living from hand to mouth when I was at university and sometimes wondered where my next meal was coming from, let alone being able to buy computer games (the cost of them back then was a lot more than it is now), but being skint is really no excuse for such behaviour.

WR

True, graylox... I think it's great that they offer their demos there, as if trying to put the right into the wrong, in case you didn't get my agreement about that. And sure... there is a demand. Obviously. There always seems to be a demand for bad things, or illegal things. But to blatantly offer stolen goods to the public? I guess it's hard to understand why that is legal, or legal enough not to be shut down. Like giving away stolen cars because people don't want to pay for a car? Games that are obviously cracked, obviously not "for sale," but "for take." It's like someone dealing drugs in broad daylight, yet the police do nothing because there's a demand? Or the dealer didn't create the drugs? Yet the law can go after someone who may have a porn picture on their computer and prosecute them, without doing anything to shut down the site that hosts thousands of them. (Thinking of Peter Townsend of the Who.) So the provider of that service is innocent, yet someone who "looked" at that service is guilty. That's the logic that escapes me. Why is one side innocent, the more sinister side, and the one that took the bait guilty. Like a guy in a trenchcoat offering candy to school kids. Who's guilty. The guy in the coat, or the kid who takes the candy. What should be stopped. The source? or the aftereffect. It just seems too obvious. But the law doesn't see it that way.
Tho I do understand what you're saying, it always boggles my mind. Which is boggled enough. *&:-|

Well, midori, why are there such a lot of warez sites?
Because a lot of users want to have warez, want to have the newest games and top programmes without paying for them. Even the warez market is subject to the law of supply and demand.
So, when you are calling the police, they have to go after both sites.
Those file-sharing and download sites don't crack the programmes and don't sell the keygens. They are companies providing services. Similar to a bank which makes a safe deposit box available to you for your crown jewels without knowing if the jewels are actually yours or mine.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File_hosting_service

And again, I can't see what is wrong about the fact that Alawar offers their game-trials.

graylox

I think that's a gas. Go Alawar! I really don't understand how these sites are "allowed" to exist, along with sites that offer porn and whatnot. Why can't the Net police just shut them down, the way you'd put a lock on a restaurant with a health code violation? I mean... it's illegal, right? Yet they seem to go after those who USE these sites, instead of those who create them to pimp their goods. I just don't get that part. I mean, if someone were to set up an illegal parlor in the middle of your neighborhood, wouldn't it be closed down?? Or maybe not. I have a neighbor that's the sore spot of the community, regardless of complaints and reports. Why? Because the police can't see through the walls. And even if a good Samaritan has witnessed things, they don't believe them! Somethin's very wrong with these pictures.

I agree GMMan in fact thats kind of slick! 30 min instead of the standard trial of 60? ROTFL and I see they get the reaction they want!!!

Really, I don't see what's wrong with that. Throw illegal downloaders for a loop. It won't do anything, definitely, but it does show what Alawar thinks of those sites.

I'm sorry, I did not mean to violate any policy. The site I mentioned was not one where you would expect a company like Alawar to be a member of. I initially thought the links I found were copyright violations and was investigating with the intent of notifying Alawar of the links. I was astounded to discover they were Alawar themselves and they were being a bit underhanded in providing even more limited versions than at their own site but NOT specifying that they were limited in any way.

I don't understand - who is sneaky and underhanded?
The users who come to a download site with mixed content in hope to get warez or the developer who tries to sell their programmes?
As far as I can see did Alawar not announce full games or free games.
I'm sorry for you if you are disappointed.
graylox

I noticed something today that shows a really sneaky side to Alawar.

On another board, a link was made to a xxx page. I know that site is often used for illegal file sharing (as well as legitimate sharing). On the right side of the page was a list of 5 or 6 Alawar Games. Clicking on them showed they were uploaded by a user named "Alawar Games" with an avatar of the Alawar Logo.

Alawar itself created a "user" on xxx and has about 38 games listed. The sneaky part is they are 30 minute trials! They're not even the 60 minute trials you get from Alawar itself! They do not say anywhere on the file description (that I could find) that they are trials of any sort. People who know the kinds of files often found on xxx will expect something for nothing and instead get a tiny peek into the "real" thing.

That is sneaky and underhanded. I have no problem with Alawar having the account over there and offering the trials as a way to get more business. However, to not say they are trial versions is more likely to make people mad and have them say, I'll find it elsewhere!

Diane

---Edited---No warez related posts...