True, but its safe to say that's not going to matter that much to this fellow.

Iit may already be on GOG, I know AoW 1 wasd put there prior to its stunt of shutting down.

It's still a form of access control, as defined by DRM.  We cannot access the game without using your proprietary software first.  Obviously, there will probably never be any actual updates of AoW, but still, it's a "technical" restriction as part of the agreement.  Also, what happens if I lose my files?  Do I have to use Impulse to re-download it again?

This is what I never understand.  People will argue till they're blue in the face that "this is not DRM" and does absolutely nothing to restrict our play online or offline.  My answer is, then why use it all?

If you are REALLY telling us we have nothing to complain about at all, then why not just give us a compressed file we can download directly from our browser like GOG does?  There is no difference right?  So why bother with the Impulse app at all?  For antiquated games like this, there is no point to even using the Impulse client, if I'm reading your response correct.

Maybe to buy and download software in one place? DRM restricts you to play only when you are logged on to DRM servers and it's form of copy protection for a product. It ensures you have a legal copy of it. Impulse allows you to buy and download software. It doesn't require you to be connected to any server to play the game and it's not part of any copy protection. If you can't see the difference here then you apparently have no idea what DRM or access control is. If Impulse had DRM, you wouldn't be able to PLAY it without being logged on to Impulse servers. Steam is form of DRM. Impulse isn't.

Okay, then answer my question: Why do we need the application, period?  GoG allows me to download all my stuff in one place too, without proprietary software.

...

It's not too hard to understand the dirty little secret here: Stardock, Steam and others wants to make money through advertising.  This becomes especially transparent when it sells old-school games like Age of Wonders, when there is no logical benefit to the customer by using their software.

Please tell me you are kidding me. You are accusing a company of advertising as if that is a crime and not NORMAL PRACTICE OF ALL COMPANIES ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD. I mean, how dare they advertise anything and actually try to sell more of their products. After this I'd say you are trolling, and wasting my time.

Still waiting on my answer...

Edit: Nevermind, you've answered it.

You admit that this is the reason to buy AoW from Impulse.  Well, if it's of no real benefit to me, and it's just to line their pockets, then no thank you.

1) It didn't require ownership of AoW 2

2) Was sold as a stand-alone game

3) No reference was made to it being billed as an "expansion"

:: Age of Wonders: Shadow Magic ::
http://www.triumphstudios.com/shadowmagic/features.php

Age of Wonders: Shadow Magic takes the acclaimed fantasy strategy series to new heights. This new stand-alone game enhances the series' praised fusion of empire building, role-playing and tactical combat with the following features

GoG requires an internet browser. The internet browser is free, but must be installed to receive delivery of games and updates.  It too is a form of DRM (based on how you are defining the term).  If you don't have an internet browser, you can't get at the games.  GoG doesn't have any ads on their website, I imagine. Its probably just a somewhat blank web page where you can't see anything but a link to a download.  Surely they don't advertise other games on their website.  These are pretty silly, annoying arguments, no?  Its apparently ok to use this form of "DRM" as long as the "DRM" works with an app you already have installed.  If you are required to install another application, well, that's about the most horrible thing I've ever heard, but you are certainly entitled to your opinion. 

Side note, and I do apologize, but what is this thread about again?  "Age of Wonders Makes it Way to Impulse."  Maybe start your own thread on this topic instead of derailing an announce thread (that many of us are excited about) to go on about how you'd rather not have to install impulse to purchase and download games from SD. 

I picked up the trilogy a few minutes ago.  Glad you SD folks got this up and running for weekend.  Thanks!

Huh?  How exactly are they making money through advertising?

Sorry, I just don't understand this mentality.  It's like saying "what do you mean, I have to have a computer that runs this stupid game?"  You need a computer, you need an OS, you are telling me that a delivery system is too much "control" now?  The issue of advertising is silly also.  They advertise so customer buy from them so you can have the game in your little paws in the first place.  They are a for profit business.  They provide a service or product to make money and in turn they can pay for things like the very forum you are reading. It's kind of a give and take thing.

Oh well, this whole issue makes me parched...I need some water.   Wait- I need a glass to drink the water...screw it...I'm not drinking!

Impulse maybe DRM friendly, but GoG it is not. It makes no sense to even claim that it is. GoG gives you an exe and you're good to go for as long as the OS can handle that file.

Okay, that's all fine and dandy then.  "Stardock: Let us use our web browser instead of Impulse to download games."  *crickets*

A "computer" game will not run without a "computer".
A computer game (at least since pong) will not run with some sort of operating system architecture.
A computer game will run without Impulse. 

See the difference?  See why someone would, I don't know, be a little bothered by that?

I've seen a lot of people rationalize how Impulse is not DRM, but I have yet to see someone tell me why I actually need it to run.  You can't have it both ways: you can't tell me Impulse does not restrict my game-play in any way, but then argue that it is necessary.

If you're using Impulse because of customer loyalty or you just want to contribute something to Stardock, I have no problem with that.  That's your choice.  But don't tell me it's DRM free, because it isn't.  They are Managing the Rights of Digital software using their own client.  Whether that happens constantly or one time doesn't change that fact.  I'm a 1s and 0s kind of person, I see things in shades of true or false.

You are right. My bad here. I remember Triumph Studios announcing that they were making an expansion for AoW2 but apparently they changed it to a full blown sequel for the release. BTW. points 1 and 2 can apply to an expansion as well. There were a number of expansions that were stand alone as well. However, this is apparently not the case here.