rec.autos.simulators

N4: Won't Read CD

Alan Bernard

N4: Won't Read CD

by Alan Bernard » Sun, 11 Feb 2001 15:19:55

Folks,

I have a Toshiba DVD ROM and N4 does not recognize the CD in the drive.
This is really quite disgusting, and you wonder why folks go to WAREZ, which
I ultimately had to do to get this game running.

Such a sad scenario: I buy the game, but because of Sierra's need to stop
piracy they stop someone who buys the game from even having a chance to run
it.

So here I sit needing a fix for a fix-- and where do I go to get this fix?
I don't think that I have to say.

Has anyone resolved this issue of the game not being able to read the CD?  I
mean, because I got a fix for a fix, I can't join N4's servers.  And I'd
like to try some multiplayer on those servers, where mostly everyone is.

One would think that since there are quite a number of BUYING customers who
have the same problem as I have, that Sierra/Papyrus would get a patch out
immediately to resolve this problem.

Alanb

Jag

N4: Won't Read CD

by Jag » Sun, 11 Feb 2001 16:19:35

On Sat, 10 Feb 2001 06:19:55 GMT, "Alan Bernardo"

The problem is with the cdrom itself. Can't patch that.
--
Jagg

Alan Bernard

N4: Won't Read CD

by Alan Bernard » Sun, 11 Feb 2001 22:36:46


> On Sat, 10 Feb 2001 06:19:55 GMT, "Alan Bernardo"

> >One would think that since there are quite a number of BUYING customers
who
> >have the same problem as I have, that Sierra/Papyrus would get a patch
out
> >immediately to resolve this problem.

> >Alanb

> The problem is with the cdrom itself. Can't patch that.
> --
> Jagg

What, are you crazy?  By your logic if it were the CD then every program
would not be able to read its CD.  Of the games I've seen so far only two
had this problem-- Diablo II and N4.

It's actually the copy protect scheme that is the real culprit here.  But
still, Sierra/Papyrus knew of this and still apparently decided to use the
thing anyhow.  So they are to blame.

I'm sure Sierra/Papyrus like thinkers like you.  But if everyone had your
kind of logic we'd never get a fix for this.

Jeff Vince

N4: Won't Read CD

by Jeff Vince » Mon, 12 Feb 2001 00:32:42

On Sat, 10 Feb 2001 13:36:46 GMT, "Alan Bernardo"




>> On Sat, 10 Feb 2001 06:19:55 GMT, "Alan Bernardo"

>> >One would think that since there are quite a number of BUYING customers
>who
>> >have the same problem as I have, that Sierra/Papyrus would get a patch
>out
>> >immediately to resolve this problem.

>> >Alanb

>> The problem is with the cdrom itself. Can't patch that.
>> --
>> Jagg

>What, are you crazy?  By your logic if it were the CD then every program
>would not be able to read its CD.  Of the games I've seen so far only two
>had this problem-- Diablo II and N4.

>It's actually the copy protect scheme that is the real culprit here.  But
>still, Sierra/Papyrus knew of this and still apparently decided to use the
>thing anyhow.  So they are to blame.

>I'm sure Sierra/Papyrus like thinkers like you.  But if everyone had your
>kind of logic we'd never get a fix for this.

   I think the point he is making is that the problem is the copy
protection on the *CD disc* and that a software patch won't change how
your CD-reader reads this CD disc.  The only fix is a new CD disc
without the stupid copy protection.  Which would cost Sierra *real*
money.

"But in a way, fear is a big part of racing, because if there was
nothing to be frightened of, and no limit, any fool could get into
a motor car and racing would not exist as a sport." -- Jim Clark

Alan Bernard

N4: Won't Read CD

by Alan Bernard » Mon, 12 Feb 2001 01:01:28


> On Sat, 10 Feb 2001 13:36:46 GMT, "Alan Bernardo"



> >> On Sat, 10 Feb 2001 06:19:55 GMT, "Alan Bernardo"

> >> >One would think that since there are quite a number of BUYING
customers
> >who
> >> >have the same problem as I have, that Sierra/Papyrus would get a patch
> >out
> >> >immediately to resolve this problem.

> >> >Alanb

> >> The problem is with the cdrom itself. Can't patch that.
> >> --
> >> Jagg

> >What, are you crazy?  By your logic if it were the CD then every program
> >would not be able to read its CD.  Of the games I've seen so far only two
> >had this problem-- Diablo II and N4.

> >It's actually the copy protect scheme that is the real culprit here.  But
> >still, Sierra/Papyrus knew of this and still apparently decided to use
the
> >thing anyhow.  So they are to blame.

> >I'm sure Sierra/Papyrus like thinkers like you.  But if everyone had your
> >kind of logic we'd never get a fix for this.

>    I think the point he is making is that the problem is the copy
> protection on the *CD disc* and that a software patch won't change how
> your CD-reader reads this CD disc.  The only fix is a new CD disc
> without the stupid copy protection.  Which would cost Sierra *real*
> money.

N4 has already been copied and distributed, so the scheme they use has
nothing to do with Sierra losing money.

As far as I remember, I had the same problem (and so did others) with Diablo
II.  Blizzard released a patch which fix some of the CD problems.

But here's a solution.  If a game is going to be copied and distributed
anyway, why does Sierra/Papyrus use a copy protection scheme with known
problems?  That only serves to turn away the person who bought the game.
Heck, I would have been better off-- as things now stand-- to get the WAREZ
version.

So Papyrus/Sierra has actually encouraged something that they wanted to
avoid people from doing.

I guess they just don't get it.

Alanb

- Show quoted text -

Philste

N4: Won't Read CD

by Philste » Mon, 12 Feb 2001 01:50:53

I have a Toshiba DVD rom and didn't have any problems.


> Folks,

> I have a Toshiba DVD ROM and N4 does not recognize the CD in the drive.
> This is really quite disgusting, and you wonder why folks go to WAREZ, which
> I ultimately had to do to get this game running.

> Such a sad scenario: I buy the game, but because of Sierra's need to stop
> piracy they stop someone who buys the game from even having a chance to run
> it.

> So here I sit needing a fix for a fix-- and where do I go to get this fix?
> I don't think that I have to say.

> Has anyone resolved this issue of the game not being able to read the CD?  I
> mean, because I got a fix for a fix, I can't join N4's servers.  And I'd
> like to try some multiplayer on those servers, where mostly everyone is.

> One would think that since there are quite a number of BUYING customers who
> have the same problem as I have, that Sierra/Papyrus would get a patch out
> immediately to resolve this problem.

> Alanb

--
Philippe "Philster" Sergerie
Steve Rosk

N4: Won't Read CD

by Steve Rosk » Mon, 12 Feb 2001 03:55:08

OK, the problem is with the copy protection, so what's the fix for those of
us whose CD drives won't read the CD correctly?  I run the game with the
cracked exc, but I can't get online.  Point is, Papy has my money and I'm
running with a cracked exe off the net.  I think Papy owes me and the others
with this problem a fix.

> On Sat, 10 Feb 2001 13:36:46 GMT, "Alan Bernardo"



> >> On Sat, 10 Feb 2001 06:19:55 GMT, "Alan Bernardo"

> >> >One would think that since there are quite a number of BUYING
customers
> >who
> >> >have the same problem as I have, that Sierra/Papyrus would get a patch
> >out
> >> >immediately to resolve this problem.

> >> >Alanb

> >> The problem is with the cdrom itself. Can't patch that.
> >> --
> >> Jagg

> >What, are you crazy?  By your logic if it were the CD then every program
> >would not be able to read its CD.  Of the games I've seen so far only two
> >had this problem-- Diablo II and N4.

> >It's actually the copy protect scheme that is the real culprit here.  But
> >still, Sierra/Papyrus knew of this and still apparently decided to use
the
> >thing anyhow.  So they are to blame.

> >I'm sure Sierra/Papyrus like thinkers like you.  But if everyone had your
> >kind of logic we'd never get a fix for this.

>    I think the point he is making is that the problem is the copy
> protection on the *CD disc* and that a software patch won't change how
> your CD-reader reads this CD disc.  The only fix is a new CD disc
> without the stupid copy protection.  Which would cost Sierra *real*
> money.

> "But in a way, fear is a big part of racing, because if there was
> nothing to be frightened of, and no limit, any fool could get into
> a motor car and racing would not exist as a sport." -- Jim Clark

Jag

N4: Won't Read CD

by Jag » Mon, 12 Feb 2001 04:41:01

On Sat, 10 Feb 2001 13:36:46 GMT, "Alan Bernardo"

Yes, but that's irrelevant to this issue.

You misunderstand me. The copy protection scheme runs off the cdrom,
not your hard drive. cdrom's are read only, therefore you can't patch
the cdrom. They could release a nocd patch, but there is already one
out so it's not needed. But, some people can't even get the game
installed due to the copy protection. So how do they fix that? I'm not
on Sierra's side at all. Read my other posts and you can clearly see
that. I'm just talking about the possibility of putting out a fix for
it.
--
Jagg

Rod Princ

N4: Won't Read CD

by Rod Princ » Mon, 12 Feb 2001 05:36:49


CD-ROM's can we read/write, but that CD doesn't support it. ;)

But you can update the firmware on most drives and I'm led
to believe this has solved the issue on *some* models of CD-ROM's.

(insert obligatory comment regarding screwing legitimate buyers
with copy protection schemes)

Cheers,
Rod.

Jan Loebzie

N4: Won't Read CD

by Jan Loebzie » Mon, 12 Feb 2001 07:39:44

On Sat, 10 Feb 2001 20:36:49 GMT, Rod Prince


>CD-ROM's can we read/write, but that CD doesn't support it. ;)

I can be picky, too! :-)
CD-ROMs *are* read only, hence the name ROM (read only memory).
CD recordables and CD rewritables are a different thing, so they got
different names.

Jan

Jag

N4: Won't Read CD

by Jag » Mon, 12 Feb 2001 13:54:54


thus spoke:

Thankyou Jan.
--
Jagg

Jeff Vince

N4: Won't Read CD

by Jeff Vince » Tue, 13 Feb 2001 13:34:20

On Sat, 10 Feb 2001 16:01:28 GMT, "Alan Bernardo"




>>    I think the point he is making is that the problem is the copy
>> protection on the *CD disc* and that a software patch won't change how
>> your CD-reader reads this CD disc.  The only fix is a new CD disc
>> without the stupid copy protection.  Which would cost Sierra *real*
>> money.

>N4 has already been copied and distributed, so the scheme they use has
>nothing to do with Sierra losing money.

   If they have to create and distribute new CD-ROM discs to the 5 or
10% or however many N4 customers are effected by this problem, it
will.

   Well, maybe there is hope for a patch then.

   Yup.

"But in a way, fear is a big part of racing, because if there was
nothing to be frightened of, and no limit, any fool could get into
a motor car and racing would not exist as a sport." -- Jim Clark

Jeff Vince

N4: Won't Read CD

by Jeff Vince » Tue, 13 Feb 2001 13:41:42

On Sat, 10 Feb 2001 13:55:08 -0500, "Steve Rosko"


>OK, the problem is with the copy protection, so what's the fix for those of
>us whose CD drives won't read the CD correctly?  I run the game with the
>cracked exc, but I can't get online.  Point is, Papy has my money and I'm
>running with a cracked exe off the net.  I think Papy owes me and the others
>with this problem a fix.

   There are many options, some good some bad.  Some people will
choose to give up, some will go to the ends of the earth to run the
sim.  :)

* Read the long post from Sierra to see if anything there (latest
sound, video drivers; temp. joystick disabling; etc.) helps.

* See if your CD device needs a firmware upgrade.  Try to reconfigure
your CD device(s).  Or buy a new CD reader.  Or buy a totally new
computer.  :)

* Return N4 (if you bought it from a store with a good return policy,
like EB)

* Return N4 to Sierra (I hear they have a 90-day money-back guarantee,
which gives them some time to come up with an alternative solution).

* Wait for a patch from Sierra/Papyrus.  Wait for a replacement CD
disc if that's what it takes.

* Use a No-CD fix or Warez version (which may prevent you from racing
online).

* Keep looking here for more answers.

"But in a way, fear is a big part of racing, because if there was
nothing to be frightened of, and no limit, any fool could get into
a motor car and racing would not exist as a sport." -- Jim Clark


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