Wow.. Impulse kind of sucks here.

Just installed Impulse and again I am reminded why I don't like using Steam and any of its ilk.

 

- Requires registration to download updates - huh? not cool.

- Requires installing IE7.  'Nuff said

 

Naturally it kicked back the SN from my legitimately purchased copy.  Kinda reminds me of Starforce (shudder).

Luckily I hear good things about StarDock's support so hopefully by monday I'll have a resolution.

 

9,607 views 13 replies
Reply #1 Top

Wow.  Sorry to hear that.  I personally use Steam and Impulse, love them both.

I think they're kinda like cars, you get a car, love it, it loves you; but someone else absolutely hates it, and the car hates them back.  I have no idea why this happens, even thought I've been on both ends of it.

Anyway, I hope you get everything worked out!

Reply #2 Top

What's wrong with registration?

And if youare using a PC with IE installed . . even if you don't use it, you should be using IE7.

Lastly . . Impulse has to connect to the web.  The best known (to work and be installed in most PCs) is IE7.

Reply #3 Top

I have to admit the only think that messed up was paypal, when I tried to buy entrenchment - resorted to using my credit card. Impulse worked fine in itself, no problems. Nice bit of software :)

Reply #4 Top

Don't worry, it sucks here too :p

I recently purchased entrenchment and had to uninstall, redownload, and reinstall Impulse, and install IE7 because impulse refused to complete it's update (and thus wouldn't let me update sins or install entrenchment). Steam works far better than impulse... at least you can play your games while the steam client is downloading an update.

Reply #5 Top

Tried the demo, bought the game and got told to download Impulse which I've not seen before.

 

I currently run Vista as my main OS and a version of XP without unnecessary services etc for gaming.

XP comes with IE6 by default so it was pretty frustrating to be told I needed IE7, especially as you only need that to surf the web on Impulse - i.e. you don't need it to download and install the game.

I do like the one click install - no faffing about with long serial numbers or activation junk, but it's frustrating that I had to install IE7 too. I don't think it especially degrades XP performance, it would just be nice to have a "I'm not gonna surf the web, leave that bit out" option.

 

On the bright side at least I didn't have to crap around with DRM. So there's good and bad.

Reply #6 Top

You dislike the registration? What's so bad about taking 30 seconds to enter some numbers to prove you actually own the game you want to update? Most 'standard' retail versions of games require you to enter the serial key at some point anyways, what's the difference? (I'm unfamiliar with the issue you had with your SN, human error for all I know, if not, just a small oversight somehwere along the line, easily corrected, not a major problem that merits any complaints against Impulse)

And seriously, why don't you already have IE7 installed? I, like most people I know, don't use it, but it's put on with Windows to start with, and there's no reason to uninstall it in the first place.

Reply #7 Top

IE7 requirement cannot be helped as the application uses an embeded browser.  I hated having upgrade to IE7 as well.  Until Stardock comes up with it's own embeded browser, which I doubt they will want to spend moeny on, we are stuck with this.

Reply #8 Top

True Impulse needs IE7, and frankly I never use IE. But we only require that it is installed, don't set it as your default browser and continue to use a good browser like FF.

 

Reply #9 Top

I've been using IE 7 at home forever and have had no issues. I've started using Firefox at work, but I don't really see what all the fuss is about.

Reply #10 Top

Quoting RaveBomb, reply 9
I've been using IE 7 at home forever and have had no issues. I've started using Firefox at work, but I don't really see what all the fuss is about.
End of RaveBomb's quote

Really firefox, is more for computer pros

I use firefox to get rid of ad :), adblock ftw

Reply #11 Top

Quoting DWM, reply 6
And seriously, why don't you already have IE7 installed? I, like most people I know, don't use it, but it's put on with Windows to start with, and there's no reason to uninstall it in the first place.
End of DWM's quote

I know you were referring to the OP, but my reason is simply because I use XP as my gaming OS, XP installs IE6 as default, I have no desire to use the inbuilt browser so I shouldn't need to upgrade IE simply because I ought to.

If Impulse had a very simple "download and get it going" version that would be cool. Stardock probably won't spend effort on that because people using IE6 are very likely in the minority (and tbh I'd rather they spend dev time on more important stuff), but it would just be nice to buy a game and get it installed without having to jump through hoops.

It isn't a lot of effort, but it's more than it should be IMO.

 

Edit to add: And I just found out that you have to register with Ironclad's servers to get multiplayer. So why did I even have to sign up with Stardock?

That's IE7 which I won't use. Impulse which I won't use other than to install the game, and this account which I won't use (other than these posts) because I'm not much of a forum chatter. No DRM is good. Annoying and needless excess is bad.

Whatever happened to a setup exe, a cd key and away you go :annoyed:

Reply #12 Top

Quoting bairysd, reply 11
to the OP, but my reason is simply because I use XP as my gaming OS, XP installs IE6 as default, I have no desire to use the inbuilt browser so I shouldn't need to upgrade IE simply because I ought to.
End of bairysd's quote
If you are using a pre-SP2 cd to install Windows XP, then right after install, you have IE6. However, if you have an active internet connection and let it update itself normally, it will, by default, install IE7 through Windows Update.

Reply #13 Top

Even if you don't use IE, keeping IE6 instead of IE7 is a huge, huge security flaw. IE7 may be a huge update, but it's just as important as any other security fix Microsoft rolls out through Windows Update.