Can I seriously only have one account? - Guild Wars Guru archive powered by Guild Wars Legacy

sparticus

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: Jun 2005

06 Jun 2005 at 08:35 - 1

My brother and I bought thus game thinking that we could play on seperate accounts. Now in the game when I try to make an account it says "Error=103" try using another CD key. But I dont have another one lol?
So pretty much I am asking if their is another way to make an account or anything. I mean $50 of ours and we cant both have accounts? That is really lame. I broke my arm and play games allot because I cant do my homework (it's the arm I write with =( ). Someone please help me out. Can I get an account with the same key or buy another CD key off the site or something...

Karnaj

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: May 2005

USA

Nex Tactus

W/E

06 Jun 2005 at 09:02 - 2

According to The Guild Wars FAQ, you do need to buy another copy of the game in order for both you and your brother to play Guild Wars. I mean c'mon, with all the hard work that the developers put into this game, each player should at least support them with a one-time fee of fifty bucks. You think that's lame? Countless MMOs (even though GW is considered a CORPG) impose monthly fees for server upkeep, maintenance, future updates, etc., let alone fifty bucks.. If I were you, I'd be grateful because GW currently doesn't charge you more, so maybe you or your brother should take up an allowance for a change and earn your right to play.

sparticus

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: Jun 2005

06 Jun 2005 at 09:22 - 3

How do you think we bought it in the first place?

I think that that is lame yes. Needing a whole new copy (which wont even get installed) just for the CD key. Pretty lame. I woke up because my arm hurt and its 2:30 in the morning. I cant play because I forgot his account name and dont know his password... They even say account sharing is illegal lol? They are being money *****s in this way no? Don't go ramping about all of their hard work again every one does and really, its boring/annoying me.

sparticus

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: Jun 2005

06 Jun 2005 at 09:26 - 4

And $50 is allot for a 13 year old... Parents dont give us allowance but I make $40 a month doing things for my moms freind

Mercury Angel

Avatar of Gwen

Join Date: Apr 2005

Wandering my own road.

06 Jun 2005 at 09:27 - 5

Most MMORPG's have it in their EULA that an account can only be used by a single person, and the rights are non-transferable, except in the sole case of an adult setting up an account for a minor.
Most software in general is only intended to be used on a single computer.

Just happens in the case of online gaming, they can actually put in systems to enforce the rules easily. Some software totally based on your PC even requires an internet connection to register in order to prevent pirating.

In short, yes, you need another game. You can order just the code online from PlayNC or buy another copy from a local retailer. Or order it online. Whatever. Buying it used won't ensure that the CD code hasn't been used, and you aren't likely to receive any compensation from ArenaNET, as they cleary state in the EULA that the rights are non-transferable.

Sorry, and I know it's frustrating, and that parents get unhappy about shelling out $100 for a $50 game just so that both children can play, and how much of a strain on the pockets of a minor gaming can be. Hope you can scrounge up the cash and enjoy it together.

IceD'Bear

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Feb 2005

Awoken Myth [MYTH]

Mo/

06 Jun 2005 at 09:45 - 6

As there is no monthy fee, they would hardly make any money if you could make more than one account with one copy of the game.

KJK

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: Jun 2005

Fin Knights [FIN]

R/N

06 Jun 2005 at 09:47 - 7

Quote:

Originally Posted by sparticus

And $50 is allot for a 13 year old... Parents dont give us allowance but I make $40 a month doing things for my moms freind

I'm 13 too, and I gain only 14€ a month, plus few € extra for doing some other stuff and being great at school (I wonder why they started paying me for that, they'll lose all their money...). I've also subscribed to AO for a year, which I regret know, since it takes 8 € a month... leaving me with 6€ + the other stuff (which can be quite amount sometimes... 22€ last week :P), which I spend to MtG cards.

EDIT: Oh, and I buy my games with my own money, I only get them from parents as christmas or birthday presents and they aren't happy to do that. They think I play too much already, which might be true, but whatever...

dansamy

Chasing Dragons

Join Date: May 2005

Lost in La-La Land

LFGuild

Mo/Me

06 Jun 2005 at 09:48 - 8

Actually per the official answer I got from support, if the two of you use one computer you can each have characters on the one account. You are still limited to only 4 characters (or 2 each). That's what my husband and I do. I guess when I decide I want to have another character I will buy another key.

dargon

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: May 2005

The Seraphim Knights [TSK]

R/

06 Jun 2005 at 15:58 - 9

Quote:

Originally Posted by dansamy

Actually per the official answer I got from support, if the two of you use one computer you can each have characters on the one account. You are still limited to only 4 characters (or 2 each). That's what my husband and I do. I guess when I decide I want to have another character I will buy another key.

The only problem with that method being you can't both play at the same time. Imagine a GvG team in which everyone on one team was all in the same room.

Loviatar

Underworld Spelunker

Join Date: Feb 2005

06 Jun 2005 at 16:11 - 10

taking that a bit farther what about a big family that wants to play as their own guild and set up 10 accounts for the same 50 dollars

the cost per account is the same for Anet so you can see the problem with adding accounts for free

heck beaides your family why not share with a few best friends as well?

nub

Academy Page

Join Date: May 2005

06 Jun 2005 at 16:40 - 11

i guess you're not used to online games, sparticus. when you buy a copy, you're merely buying an account for that game. you can also use a credit card to purchase just the CDkey, and use it to create an account and immediately start playing. buying the actual box gives you the installation disc and some goodies.

yeah, you can download the game client from the site.

Talus

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Apr 2005

Hamilton, ON

E/Me

06 Jun 2005 at 16:53 - 12

I don't get why this is so hard to understand...

CD keys would be rendered completely useless according to Sparticus' logic. Basically, Anet should just sell 1 copy of the game and split the $50 amongst the entire dev team and publisher. Everybody in the world will all share an account and they'll let us all play for free.

$50 buys you the right to start an account and play said account on their servers, with only one active character at a time. I think it's pretty cool that if you have 4 people in your household that all want to try Guild Wars that they can EACH try playing a character having only bought one copy of the game.

Considering your situation, I'd say you should be satisfied with that.

Welcome to the world of online gaming.

Dwiggit

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Apr 2005

Heroes Unlimited (HaCK)

R/Mo

06 Jun 2005 at 17:19 - 13

Quote:

Originally Posted by dargon

The only problem with that method being you can't both play at the same time. Imagine a GvG team in which everyone on one team was all in the same room.

I offer a suggestion to the developers as an option. Allow a purchased copy to spawn a temporary code that will let a friend play for XX hours. At the end of the XX hours, that account and characters will be locked until a code from a purchased copy is entered. At least this will let you show it to a friend to get them hooked, then buy the game later. May work as a nice marketing tool.

I am in this situation as I am trying to get my wife hooked on the game so we can play together. She usually doesn't go for this type of game, so I don't want to lay out another $50 hoping she will continue playing it. Meanwhile, only one of us can be online at a time, greatly reducing the fun factor for both of us, and not helping me getting her hooked.

Another suggestion is buying quantity discounts. Give a 5% discount for buying two copies, 20% discount for 5+ copies, etc. This would help relieve the cost burden on families with many players.

Well that's my 2 cents.....

Dwig

Darkest Dawn

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: May 2005

Ohio, USA

W/Mo

06 Jun 2005 at 17:26 - 14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Talus

I don't get why this is so hard to understand...

CD keys would be rendered completely useless according to Sparticus' logic. Basically, Anet should just sell 1 copy of the game and split the $50 amongst the entire dev team and publisher. Everybody in the world will all share an account and they'll let us all play for free.

$50 buys you the right to start an account and play said account on their servers, with only one active character at a time. I think it's pretty cool that if you have 4 people in your household that all want to try Guild Wars that they can EACH try playing a character having only bought one copy of the game.

Considering your situation, I'd say you should be satisfied with that.

Welcome to the world of online gaming.

I agree. The only gripe I have is that if you join a guild, all your characters must be in the same guild. Not a big deal to me as I'm the only one playing, but it could be to some...

Ordas

Academy Page

Join Date: May 2005

06 Jun 2005 at 17:52 - 15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darkest Dawn

I agree. The only gripe I have is that if you join a guild, all your characters must be in the same guild. Not a big deal to me as I'm the only one playing, but it could be to some...

I thought this, the friends list, and the shared storage thing was kind of odd when I first started playing... but it makes sense to me now and I like it like this.

An account wasn't MEANT to be shared among multiple people... although you're allowed to do it. This method keeps your friends close(shared friendslist and guild) and lets you transfer items easily (shared storage). Chances are, as a single player, you wouldn't go running of joining 4 different guilds w/ 4 different characters.

midnyte13

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: May 2005

W/E

06 Jun 2005 at 18:04 - 16

if youre brothers....why would you have to "remember" his account name and log on. if you bought the game together as you stated why then just write down the info and use as needed (0230 in the morning) besides you can have up to 4 characters per account....i dont see a problem.

Santanus_Perro

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Jun 2005

Scott Township, PA

Iron Rangers

W/Mo

06 Jun 2005 at 18:09 - 17

"I offer a suggestion to the developers as an option. Allow a purchased copy to spawn a temporary code that will let a friend play for XX hours. At the end of the XX hours, that account and characters will be locked until a code from a purchased copy is entered. At least this will let you show it to a friend to get them hooked, then buy the game later. May work as a nice marketing tool."

They already did that. We called them World Beta Event, and the subsequent Beta Weekends, which included a one time use code for a second person. Let your wife play, and you sit behind her showing her things. If she likes it, great. My wife can't stand my gaming, so I don't even try.

Dwiggit

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Apr 2005

Heroes Unlimited (HaCK)

R/Mo

06 Jun 2005 at 18:20 - 18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Santanus_Perro

"I offer a suggestion to the developers as an option. Allow a purchased copy to spawn a temporary code that will let a friend play for XX hours. At the end of the XX hours, that account and characters will be locked until a code from a purchased copy is entered. At least this will let you show it to a friend to get them hooked, then buy the game later. May work as a nice marketing tool."

They already did that. We called them World Beta Event, and the subsequent Beta Weekends, which included a one time use code for a second person. Let your wife play, and you sit behind her showing her things. If she likes it, great. My wife can't stand my gaming, so I don't even try.

As far as I know, that was only available pre-release. Are there more World Beta Events happening for the future content releases?

Also, this game is a LOT better when you play with friends. If I could play my character alongside my wife's character, I'm SURE her entertainment level (as well as mine) would be a LOT higher. My chances of getting her hooked would be greatly improved.

My wife is not an avid gamer either, it's a good challenge to get her playing this. I'm actually surprised that I've even managed to goad her into creating a character. She's made it to level 3 now, but not quite hooked yet. If I could only play along with her..........

Dwig

Algren Cole

Banned

Join Date: Jun 2005

06 Jun 2005 at 18:53 - 19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Karnaj

According to The Guild Wars FAQ, you do need to buy another copy of the game in order for both you and your brother to play Guild Wars. I mean c'mon, with all the hard work that the developers put into this game, each player should at least support them with a one-time fee of fifty bucks. You think that's lame? Countless MMOs (even though GW is considered a CORPG) impose monthly fees for server upkeep, maintenance, future updates, etc., let alone fifty bucks.. If I were you, I'd be grateful because GW currently doesn't charge you more, so maybe you or your brother should take up an allowance for a change and earn your right to play.

TECHNICALLY what Guild Wars is doing could be considered a breach of the Computer User Licensing Agreement(passed by the government to protect the consumer against monopolized software industries)...which clearly states that when purchasing a piece of software that runs under an Operating System that isn't free to that user(Windows or Mac)...the User purchases the right to use that piece of software on the Machine...you never own software, you own a license to use it. Currently a company can not force a user to purchase multiple licenses for a single machine....which is essentially what the creators of Guild Wars are doing.

Good Luck holding them accountable for it...just pony up the extra 50 bucks. it's worth it.

Fye Duron

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: May 2005

Chico, CA, USA

Dragon Fang

06 Jun 2005 at 19:06 - 20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Algren Cole

TECHNICALLY what Guild Wars is doing could be considered a breach of the Computer User Licensing Agreement(passed by the government to protect the consumer against monopolized software industries)...which clearly states that when purchasing a piece of software that runs under an Operating System that isn't free to that user(Windows or Mac)...the User purchases the right to use that piece of software on the Machine...you never own software, you own a license to use it. Currently a company can not force a user to purchase multiple licenses for a single machine....which is essentially what the creators of Guild Wars are doing.

Good Luck holding them accountable for it...just pony up the extra 50 bucks. it's worth it.

I disagree with what you are saying. The thing is he wants to put it on 2 computers so he and his brother can play at the sametime. When you purchase the right it is for the soul use on one system. You must have the licence for each computer. In order to legally play it on 2 systems at once.

Oni No Arashi

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Apr 2005

Puget Sound area, WA State

KnightMare Brigade [KB]

E/R

06 Jun 2005 at 19:09 - 21

Plus, the only thing that's running on your system is the client software. All of the data for the account is stored on Anet's servers. Thus your licence is to access information on their servers, not a self contained program on that computer. Anyone can download the client, only those with an access key can get to their protected servers.

The EULA for almost every online game out there has the same thing in it, so if it was against the law, EQ and WOW would already be done cases.

Algren Cole

Banned

Join Date: Jun 2005

06 Jun 2005 at 19:09 - 22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fye Duron

I disagree with what you are saying. The thing is he wants to put it on 2 computers so he and his brother can play at the sametime. When you purchase the right it is for the soul use on one system. You must have the licence for each computer. In order to legally play it on 2 systems at once.

ya I misinterpreted...as I didn't grow up in a house with two computers. I shared a commadore with my two brothers and mother...luckily I was the only one that could operate it. So it didn't even dawn on me to think he has two machines. I figured he was upset about sharing a friends list/guild list/storage inventory.

It would be illegal to install the game on a second machine.

Algren Cole

Banned

Join Date: Jun 2005

06 Jun 2005 at 19:11 - 23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oni No Arashi

Plus, the only thing that's running on your system is the client software. All of the data for the account is stored on Anet's servers. Thus your licence is to access information on their servers, not a self contained program on that computer. Anyone can download the client, only those with an access key can get to their protected servers.

The EULA for almost every online game out there has the same thing in it, so if it was against the law, EQ and WOW would already be done cases.

the Law doesn't specifically include Online Games...I doubt anyone has ever tried. not that you'd have any success. but like I said TECHNICALLY it's a breach of a government backed Licensing Agreement.

Ketendra

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: May 2005

New York

JackKnife Brigade

E/Mo

06 Jun 2005 at 20:06 - 24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Algren Cole

TECHNICALLY what Guild Wars is doing could be considered a breach of the Computer User Licensing Agreement(passed by the government to protect the consumer against monopolized software industries)...which clearly states that when purchasing a piece of software that runs under an Operating System that isn't free to that user(Windows or Mac)...the User purchases the right to use that piece of software on the Machine...you never own software, you own a license to use it. Currently a company can not force a user to purchase multiple licenses for a single machine....which is essentially what the creators of Guild Wars are doing.

Good Luck holding them accountable for it...just pony up the extra 50 bucks. it's worth it.

Actually that isnt true, if you want to speak technically - you didnt pay $50 for the software - you paid for the CD key, which has nothing to do with the software so it is exempt.

Algren Cole

Banned

Join Date: Jun 2005

06 Jun 2005 at 20:09 - 25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ketendra

Actually that isnt true, if you want to speak technically - you didnt pay $50 for the software - you paid for the CD key, which has nothing to do with the software so it is exempt.

which is a technicality that Online Gaming companies are exploiting....yes I agree if anyone attempted to sue them for this they'd simply change the law...I was merely pointing out that what they are doing breaches a Licensing Agreement(an outdated one at that).

p.s. you don't purchase a key or software. when buying software what you are actually purchasing is a license to use the software. the software itself is essentially free...without the license it's useless

Darkest Dawn

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: May 2005

Ohio, USA

W/Mo

06 Jun 2005 at 20:36 - 26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ordas

I thought this, the friends list, and the shared storage thing was kind of odd when I first started playing... but it makes sense to me now and I like it like this.

An account wasn't MEANT to be shared among multiple people... although you're allowed to do it. This method keeps your friends close(shared friendslist and guild) and lets you transfer items easily (shared storage). Chances are, as a single player, you wouldn't go running of joining 4 different guilds w/ 4 different characters.

Understandable, to be sure. However, I do have a scenario that happened to me. I am in a guild, and enjoy it very much. I meet a player(another guild) and we hit it off and want to play together. This person is a guild leader, but I can't also join his guild(with another character of mine) and help him out since I can only have one guild choice. I am stuck betwixt two desirable choices. I ended up staying with my current guild, and just buddy up with my friend if we can.

abep

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: Jun 2005

06 Jun 2005 at 20:51 - 27

That seems fine, i suppose if they let you join 4 sep. guilds (1 for every one of you toons) you wouldnt get to know people as well, or keep track of guild matters as well, because you would be trying to keep track of 4 seperate guilds. One guild per account is a good idea.

Bgnome

Elite Guru

Join Date: Feb 2005

07 Jun 2005 at 21:33 - 28

if you wish to purchase another key without having to buythe whole retail package, you can go to http://store.plaync.com