Non-DRM method for anti Piracy of SH5

[BigBANGtheory]

I have a simple suggestion, if Ubisoft produce a really thorough and extensive printed player manual covering like everything from history/tactics/recognition then people interested in the game will buy it. Who wants a dodgy scanned one that you have to ALT+TAB to read in game?

Also include some nice big cut scenes I'm sure the prospect of someone downloading 8GB will put off most potential leechers. Yeah some people have megafast connections most do not though.

Include a serial number on the manual that credits you with an avatar/icon for community forums so that fellow gamers can see if you are a legit user.

Sure you'll get :arrgh!: copies whatever but as the CEO of StarDock points out pirated copies dont equate to an equal number of lost sales i.e. who's to say people would have bought the game had there been no alternative.

Pretty simple stuff really, and I'm sure cheaper than DRM + it rewards paying customers.

..and if it costs more to produce, then I'll pay more IF I am getting some quality out of it.

[Holdit]

I did read one fiendish solution some time ago, which went along the lines the of the distibutors secretly releasing their own "pirate" copies...broken ones. For example, imagine a pirate downloading a copy of SH5 and finding that he can never hit anything with a torpedo...or that his boat nosedives straight to the bottom whenever he submerges. Frustrating stuff like that to ultimately make pirates distrust pirated games. The beauty of this idea is that, unlike "please sir, can I play this game what I paid good money for now?" DRM, this would actually hurt the pirate and leave the legal customer to enjoy his game in peace.

I'm not sure, though, how long it would take the pirate to suss out the trick and pirate a genuine copy instead. Still, it's thinking along the right lines - stop hurting the customer and start hurting the pirate.

Holdit

[Dowly]

I did read one fiendish solution some time ago, which went along the lines the of the distibutors secretly releasing their own "pirate" copies...broken ones. For example, imagine a pirate downloading a copy of SH5 and finding that he can never hit anything with a torpedo...or that his boat nosedives straight to the bottom whenever he submerges. Frustrating stuff like that to ultimately make pirates distrust pirated games. The beauty of this idea is that, unlike "please sir, can I play this game what I paid good money for now?" DRM, this would actually hurt the pirate and leave the legal customer to enjoy his game in peace.

I'm not sure, though, how long it would take the pirate to suss out the trick and pirate a genuine copy instead. Still, it's thinking along the right lines - stop hurting the customer and start hurting the pirate.

Holdit

This has been done in numerous games. Armed Assault has DRM called 'FADE' which will make your guns shoot all over if you have a pirated copy. I believe SH4 had a DRM that showed graphical glitches in the game if you used pirated copy. Mirror's Edge had an DRM where in one big jump, the game would slow your speed to a walking speed and making the jump impossible if you used an pirated copy of the game.

Why I'm telling you this? Well... propably because those dont work, all three examples got cracked in the time it would take to crack a game with normal CD/DVD-check protection. :roll:

I feel like repeating myself (well I am) but I say it once again; If it's made by man, it can be cracked by another. Simple as that.

[Safe-Keeper]

No one is saying they'll work eternally. What we are saying is that they make a number of pirates peeved, essentially making them have to first download a game, then download a fix, or the entire game over again. And I'm sure it does turn quite a few people off, not to mention that it essentially makes pirates turn themselves in to moderators by posting threads to the likes of "I'm having problem X, fix please?", which in the moderator's eyes of course translates to "PIRATE! BAN ME!".

It's not meant to be a foolproof lock to stop all pirates, it's meant to be part an annoyance, part comedic relief for the rest of us. Think of it as a cleverly placed garden rake in your backyard - it may not stop the thief when he steps on it, but it's sure as hell fun to watch him get the pole smack in his face:rotfl2:.

[Holdit]

No one is saying they'll work eternally. What we are saying is that they make a number of pirates peeved, essentially making them have to first download a game, then download a fix, or the entire game over again. And I'm sure it does turn quite a few people off, not to mention that it essentially makes pirates turn themselves in to moderators by posting threads to the likes of "I'm having problem X, fix please?", which in the moderator's eyes of course translates to "PIRATE! BAN ME!".

It's not meant to be a foolproof lock to stop all pirates, it's meant to be part an annoyance, part comedic relief for the rest of us. Think of it as a cleverly placed garden rake in your backyard - it may not stop the thief when he steps on it, but it's sure as hell fun to watch him get the pole smack in his face:rotfl2:.

Exactly. And to reiterate the ultra-important bit: the only frustration is that experienced by the pirates (even if it's not for long). They were never going to pay for the game anyway. I might if I'm treated right. Otherwise, I'll pass. I don't need any game that much.

Holdit

[THE_MASK]

Exactly. And to reiterate the ultra-important bit: the only frustration is that experienced by the pirates (even if it's not for long). They were never going to pay for the game anyway. I might if I'm treated right. Otherwise, I'll pass. I don't need any game that much.

HolditThe copy of SH4 that i bought from EB Games must have been pirated then because the crew had no freakin eyes .

[BigBANGtheory]

I feel like repeating myself (well I am) but I say it once again; If it's made by man, it can be cracked by another. Simple as that.

Exactly so what I am saying is don't try to use software to solve the problem, use other methods like community exclusion or just simply that you miss out on really good material included with the retail release.