Mastersoft's SuDoKu - Page 4

jledesma · 08-23-05, 05:11 PM

Originally Posted by Mastersoft

I really have heard it all now. You quit our app and started another ... but you're blaming our app. Incredible.

I'm a Computer Systems Engineer. I also do programming on PC as well as other platforms. I've seen this happen a lot of times. You should as well know that it's pretty easy to happen.

I don't want to lead this to further discussion. It's in each of us to accept or deny things. You move on your path as I will on mine.

Cheers and no hard feelings on my side. Hope none on yours.

jledesma · 08-23-05, 05:12 PM

Originally Posted by tabten5

jledesman,

My comments were directed at Mastersoft (and Howard as a corollary) as part of the test suggested.

I wasn't "attacking" your position on whether you used a pirated version or not, so there's no need to reiterate your belief; for my purposes, whether or not you used an official or pirated version is redundant. I was simply reporting that the official version on my unit ran fine.

Hope this clears things up.

Sorry I did not intend my post to be so defensive.

Mastersoft · 08-23-05, 05:16 PM

Originally Posted by jledesma

I'm a Computer Systems Engineer. I also do programming on PC as well as other platforms. I've seen this happen a lot of times. You should as well know that it's pretty easy to happen.

I don't want to lead this to further discussion. It's in each of us to accept or deny things. You move on your path as I will on mine.

Cheers and no hard feelings on my side. Hope none on yours.

Nope I have never seen it on a Pocket PC. Not ever. Anybody else ? I don't see how a compact framework application could trigger the device to reset when another app runs, given that you closed the .NET app. Perhaps you'd like to explain how it could be done using .NET CF as we think you are 100% wrong. Perhaps you could supply the rest of us with an example ? In .NET ? I'm sure it doen't exist ... anywhere.

jledesma · 08-23-05, 05:22 PM

It's pretty much useless to try to make peace with you right?

Mastersoft · 08-23-05, 05:26 PM

Originally Posted by jledesma

It's pretty much useless to try to make peace with you right?

Please believe me jledesma I have no ill feeling towards you. However I have to challenge what you are saying. Also each time I respond the AximSite Home Page lists this topic which bizzarely brings in extra sales despite the claims made ! On that basis I am happy to continue this discussion indefinitely.

08-23-05, 05:29 PM

Originally Posted by Mastersoft

Please believe me jledesma I have no ill feeling towards you. However I have to challenge what you are saying. Also each time I respond the AximSite Home Page lists this topic which bizzarely brings in extra sales despite the claims made !

Thats because everyone is too lazy to read past the third post let alone go down to the second page

maybe you should put a caution on the product page about the danger of using the cracked version :approve:

jledesma · 08-23-05, 05:39 PM

Originally Posted by Mastersoft

Please believe me jledesma I have no ill feeling towards you. However I have to challenge what you are saying. Also each time I respond the AximSite Home Page lists this topic which bizzarely brings in extra sales despite the claims made ! On that basis I am happy to continue this discussion indefinitely.

Unfortunately I do not.

I hope someone else keeps replying so you can show up on the home page until the end of times and keep demonstrating how your team is right therefore no one else is.

I should attend to more important bussiness (at least for me)

As I said before I wish you well.

Cheers

Mastersoft · 08-23-05, 05:57 PM

Originally Posted by fishwood

Thats because everyone is too lazy to read past the third post let alone go down to the second page

maybe you should put a caution on the product page about the danger of using the cracked version :approve:

Hi Fishwood,
I did put a warning on the product page for about an hour and also put one in the FAQ. However then I took them out. Firstly they sow doubt in the minds of genuine purchasers. And secondly, I shed no tears for software pirates. I wouldn't wish a hard reset on anyone, but I'm not about to go out of my way to protect pirates :) In any case I doubt they even visit the product page :0(

veearich · 08-23-05, 10:44 PM

I tried the demo and it hard reseted on me. This was the second demo I tried. I don't remember where I got it from. I started playing a game, went to another grid, bam, hard reset. I restored from backup, deleted everything pertaining to mastersoft, tried the demo of Sudoku Rules and bought it. I don't have the demo version any more, I deleted it right away. All my software is legitimate, I can't imagine what caused the reset.

Mastersoft · 08-24-05, 03:11 AM

Originally Posted by veearich

I tried the demo and it hard reseted on me. This was the second demo I tried. I don't remember where I got it from. I started playing a game, went to another grid, bam, hard reset. I restored from backup, deleted everything pertaining to mastersoft, tried the demo of Sudoku Rules and bought it. I don't have the demo version any more, I deleted it right away. All my software is legitimate, I can't imagine what caused the reset.

Nothing like an oppurtunity to tarnish us whilst promoting a rival app eh ? Total lies as before ...

plaz · 08-24-05, 08:43 PM

While I agree that you certainly shouldn't be forced to support software pirates, I don't think your attitude towards customers and potential customers is all that appropriate.

While I've not once had a stability issue with the demo or full version of Sudoku (X50v, A03 rom, HW revision A04), that doesn't mean that somebody else, with a different combination of software, hardware, rom version, hardware revision, etc would not run into issues. Sure, maybe hardware or software conflicts are outside your control, but at least you'd be able to inform people running into the same issue about causes and possible resolutions.

You claim that it's not possible for a .NET CF application to hard reset a device. Doesn't the fact that the cracked version appears to cause hard resets discredit this? Cracked or not, it's still a .NET application - I really doubt anyone bother porting the whole program to some other language just to get it for free.

In short, pay more attention to what your customers are saying. However unlikely it is, they just might be right sometimes. :)

Gambino P · 08-25-05, 02:26 AM

First off, it's clear who's releasing the cracked version with the hard reset problem on the p2p networks: :hide: the developer. :hide:

By definition, hackers compromise software to show off their skills and to use for trading. If they trade bad warez, then they get a bad reputation, right? So common sense would dictate that it would serve a hacker no purpose to crack a ppc game and then sneak in a hard reset bug.

The only logical entity behind the hard reset bug is the developer, who probably feels that their actions are justified considering how rampant software piracy is. As seen with Anton Tomov, Resco, and others, hard reset bugs are becoming a more common occurence when using cracked software, so with the support of those others, this developer probably thought vigilante justice was the way to go.

And, considering the lawlessness on both sides of this battle, maybe the developer is right.

I read in another forum that PDAMILL is now using legitamately purchased software to scan the user's hard drive for cracked software, doing heavens knows what when the search does in fact turn up cracked software. Pretty soon they'll be hard reseting desktop computers, not just ppcs. :rolling:

Maybe both sides need to be regulated. :soap: :soap: :soap:

09-07-05, 02:47 AM

Originally Posted by Mastersoft

Nope I have never seen it on a Pocket PC. Not ever. Anybody else ? I don't see how a compact framework application could trigger the device to reset when another app runs, given that you closed the .NET app. Perhaps you'd like to explain how it could be done using .NET CF as we think you are 100% wrong. Perhaps you could supply the rest of us with an example ? In .NET ? I'm sure it doen't exist ... anywhere.

Hello everyone,

I feel that I have to say something here, even though I'm not an axim owner (I have an hx4705).

Well...anyway...I've had my hp for about a year, and I'd never had a hard reset problem. After installing mastersoft sudoku (demo version which I downloaded directly from the mastersoft site) I started having random reset problems (which normally happen right when turning the device on, but not only). I can guarantee that no other software was installed in the month before (or since) on the PDA...only mastersoft sudoku.
Of course, it might not be related...but It seems like a bit of a coincidence.

Anwyay, getting back to things, like I said before I downloaded the file directly from the mastersoft site, and bought and registered it on the 3rd day of the demo (directly from the mastersoft site again).... I can provide mastersoft with the serial they gave me as proof if you want. I'd send a copy of the e-mail, but I bought and registered while on holiday at my parent's house, so I can't access the computer directly at the moment.

A second thing I noticed is that this isn't the only bug. Another thing that happens is that if the device turns itself off in power saving mode due to being inactive, after turning it back on sudoku gets all buggy, in that you can no longer complete any of the puzzles (it freezes when you finish it), and you can no longer exit the program with the "exit mastersoft sudoku" command (you need to minimize it with the X in the top right and then "stop" it in the running programs option.

A couple of weeks ago my boss bought the program too, for his Qtek s100, which is running windows mobile 2003 phone edition, and it's even buggier on that device, getting random error messages regarding the sudoku exe file when starting the program or closing it. I know for a fact that that version was also downloaded straight from the mastersoft site (I downloaded it), and I think he still has the e-mail in which mastersoft sent the serial.

Well, apart from those bugs, I have to say that the program is fantastic, and have spent way too much time on it. I hope that things can be figured out (and find it strange that few people are reporting these problems)

Regards,

09-07-05, 03:26 AM

Hmm....I just installed version 1.10, and none of the bug I mentioned are ocurring.

I also noticed that the new installer warns that the program should be installed in main memory.

Well...I had my earlier version installed on the storage card (and I know that my boss's version is too...cause I installed it there). I installed to main memory this time and it seems that everything is fine(had to copy old files over from storage card and install again, cause of the registration info and records). Maybe somehow that was what was causing the problem?

redhead · 09-19-05, 08:22 PM

I just downloaded Mastersoft's Sudoku. Does it really have to be installed to main memory? It will not work from CF or SD?

09-19-05, 09:35 PM

Originally Posted by redhead

I just downloaded Mastersoft's Sudoku. Does it really have to be installed to main memory? It will not work from CF or SD?

I've been playing this game since it was in beta. I've always had it installed on my SD card of my X50v.

Once in a while I get an error message, requiring me to exit the game and soft reset to get it to work ok, but this error message doesn't happen often with version 1.12, and it's never caused my PPC any other issues.

And, the more I play this game, and the more I compare it to the others out there (I've installed and played about 6 in total), the more I really believe that this is the best version yet! And, I've found the support to be very helpful and attentive to the needs of the customers.
:)

Mastersoft · 09-20-05, 04:04 AM

Originally Posted by inglezoid

Hello everyone,

I feel that I have to say something here, even though I'm not an axim owner (I have an hx4705).

Well...anyway...I've had my hp for about a year, and I'd never had a hard reset problem. After installing mastersoft sudoku (demo version which I downloaded directly from the mastersoft site) I started having random reset problems (which normally happen right when turning the device on, but not only). I can guarantee that no other software was installed in the month before (or since) on the PDA...only mastersoft sudoku.
Of course, it might not be related...but It seems like a bit of a coincidence.

Anwyay, getting back to things, like I said before I downloaded the file directly from the mastersoft site, and bought and registered it on the 3rd day of the demo (directly from the mastersoft site again).... I can provide mastersoft with the serial they gave me as proof if you want. I'd send a copy of the e-mail, but I bought and registered while on holiday at my parent's house, so I can't access the computer directly at the moment.

A second thing I noticed is that this isn't the only bug. Another thing that happens is that if the device turns itself off in power saving mode due to being inactive, after turning it back on sudoku gets all buggy, in that you can no longer complete any of the puzzles (it freezes when you finish it), and you can no longer exit the program with the "exit mastersoft sudoku" command (you need to minimize it with the X in the top right and then "stop" it in the running programs option.

A couple of weeks ago my boss bought the program too, for his Qtek s100, which is running windows mobile 2003 phone edition, and it's even buggier on that device, getting random error messages regarding the sudoku exe file when starting the program or closing it. I know for a fact that that version was also downloaded straight from the mastersoft site (I downloaded it), and I think he still has the e-mail in which mastersoft sent the serial.

Well, apart from those bugs, I have to say that the program is fantastic, and have spent way too much time on it. I hope that things can be figured out (and find it strange that few people are reporting these problems)

Regards,

Any copies downloaded from Warez sites or share networks such as Emule, Bit Torrent etc will hard reset your machine. That is DEFINITE. These versions contain malicious hard reset code.

The demo from our site DOES NOT contain any malicious code.

Hopefully this is clear enough.

Please don't try and steal our software as you'll get your fingers burnt.

80g · 11-06-05, 04:06 PM

Originally Posted by Mastersoft

Well I can see why you'd think that for sure. It doesn't make sense. We certainly wouldn't gain anything from it.

It makes perfect sense, don't play ignorant. The record industry flooded KaZaA with tainted music files over a year ago. Flood the medium with a file which people think has a chance of hard-resetting their device and most won't even bother trying to download your program.

Originally Posted by Mastersoft

As for accusations, well if we did do it we wouldn't admit to it would we ?

Any sane person would put 2 and 2 together and realise you did it. No admission is necessary, though by denying it you just perpetuate the image of dishonesty.

As Gambino P said, your spreading the hard-reset files is the only logical conclusion. You yourself said that you can't manage legal proceedings as you're a small company - so naturally you get frustrated and attempt to do something about it yourself.

Originally Posted by Mastersoft

Please don't try and steal our software as you'll get your fingers burnt.

And now you stop trying to hide your actions so much.

I'm a long-time lurker, but seeing your farce of an argument promped me to register.

Mastersoft · 11-06-05, 04:31 PM

Originally Posted by 80g

It makes perfect sense, don't play ignorant. The record industry flooded KaZaA with tainted music files over a year ago. Flood the medium with a file which people think has a chance of hard-resetting their device and most won't even bother trying to download your program.

Any sane person would put 2 and 2 together and realise you did it. No admission is necessary, though by denying it you just perpetuate the image of dishonesty.

As Gambino P said, your spreading the hard-reset files is the only logical conclusion. You yourself said that you can't manage legal proceedings as you're a small company - so naturally you get frustrated and attempt to do something about it yourself.

And now you stop trying to hide your actions so much.

I'm a long-time lurker, but seeing your farce of an argument promped me to register.

Sorry if you got your fingers burnt. It appears to be an extremely popular file on the networks.

80g · 11-06-05, 04:39 PM

Fingers burnt? I've the money to get a £400 PocketPC, a mere ~£10 for a game is hardly beyond my means ;)

It seems that as soon as someone posts a rational argument exposing the holes in yours your reaction is just to accuse them of being a pirate.

I never said what you are doing is wrong, because it isn't. It's the only way to prevent piracy. What is wrong, however, is lying about it.