I purchased virtual villagers a couple weeks ago. The fact I could play it without needing a cd was a selling point to me. I get tired of keeping up with cd's, and since I play a lot of games I get tired of having to hunt up the cd I want. Also I have kids who can manage to gouge the heck out of a cd just by swapping them out. I have to admit the fact it was in my price range was also a selling point. But what really sold me was the fact it said I could install it on more than one computer.

It failed to mention however that doing so was going to be a hassle. My computer died. It just happened so I don't even know what happened to it. I put it in the shop today. So I have this new computer with next to nothing on it, and I thought "hey, yeah I can download virtual villagers and be playing in minutes". Bad news, it asked me for a "key". I couldn't remember having to type any key the first time, but I thought, well it'll be in that mail I got when I bought it. So I read the mail, all it had was a thousand digit activation code, nothing about a "key". (I tried the activation code, that's not the key).

So I actually READ the 1 mail I got from them and it says I have to submit the information to them to get another LICENSE for my other computer. Duh! Unfortunately, it doesn't go to the bother of explaining HOW to send them that information.

So I ASSUME I do so through their technical support department. I've just done so. No idea if THAT IS how I'm supposed to do it. I'll find out in 24-48 HOURS I guess.

(surely people needing new keys happens more than once every so often. Getting a new key SHOULD BE AUTOMATED, ESPECIALLY SINCE YOU CHARGE FOR IT)

Also, assuming I did do it properly. I noticed it says I can only do it 3 times before they start charging me for it. That disgruntles me a bit as well. It didn't mention THAT when I bought it either.

I get new computers as often as twice a year, usually only once. Also, I have 3 computers in my house. Mine, my wife's, and my kids'. It doesn't bother to say how much renewals will cost after 3, but it's looking like I didn't buy the bargain priced game I thought I did.

I've got games cd's in my collection that I've had since the early to mid 90's. I may have paid more for them, but they came WITH a key and I can reinstall them at will on every new computer I get, for free. Unless the new "key's" after 3 are like $0.50 I'm becoming suspicious that I may have been duped.