Game Design, Programming and running a one-man games business…

Server Move complete (I think)

Ok it looks like the move to a new server is complete. That might mean some blog comments and forum posts got lost in the move unfortunately, but hey, I won’t be moving again for a long time hopefully. Just need to check everything is working ok…

Moving servers

Ok, so it’s pretty clear that in terms of lots of people visiting the blog or posting on the forums, my site can’t take it, so I’ve ordered a dedicated server rather than the shared one I’m on now. It’s about triple the cost which is severe OUCH as far as I’m concerned, but I think the site responsiveness is just too vital for me to not do it.

This will be the easiest bit. the hard bit will be moving one of my domains. Not most of them, which are registered through a normal registrar, but the one nominet UK control. they always demand that I give them a blood and DNA sample before I talk to them, and always doubt I’m legit. Like many companies, they seem to not be prepared to trust a digitally signed email or 128 bit encryption, but company-headed paper apparently means I’m legit.

And that’s a company in charge of the INTERNET here in the uk. As the Americans say ‘go figure’.

Thanks to everyone who ahs emailed me, and recently bought my games. I simply have too many emails to reply to right now, and it would be ironic to take too much time away from actually working on the new game. I’m also bogged down with older stuff, like some tweaks to Oval Office, for a retail publisher at some point. Once I have some spare time and sanity I’m going to see what I can do about expanding the Democracy 2 demo.

Response to pirates

Ok, I did a lot of thinking about it, and rather than post it as a blog post, with all the inevitable crashing and website burning that would involve, I’ve posted my response

HERE.

Feel free to comment here though…

BLOG MELTDOWN

It looks like my conversation with web pirates has drawn in an amazing amount of replies, many of them very interesting.

It also looks like the number of comments knocked by blog out too. Oh well, to be expected in some ways.

I was also interviewed by the business part of CNET, and the link for that feature is here:

http://industry.bnet.com/technology/2008/08/11/cliff-harris-qa-why-do-you-pirate-my-games/#comments

I’ll be posting a full article in a day or two about what people said, what I’ve learned, and what I intend to do about it all. A big thanks to everyone who emailed me (even the bastards who stole my games!). There are just too many of you to reply to by email I’m afraid. I am supposed to be working on my new game (kudos 2)

Most silly comment so far

on the piracy thing:

“Why don’t you do some googling on the subject. You clearly know NOTHING about piracy at all”

Why thankyou for your hugely helpful post. I don’t know how I’ve got by until now without your advice!