Why would I worry about my site being dead? I don't undertand that.

Evidence? Got SF on two different systems. CD after putting them in not recognized until 3-4 minutes passed by, burning data backups on CD lasted up to 20-30 minutes, were usually it would be done in 2-3 minutes.

Got rid of SF, and problems gone.

Problem recreated on - well, on damn many different machines out there, and technically explained in a way that so far is not prooved wrong or contradicted by anyone. web forums were flooded with similiar descriptions.

All evidence I need. The information and proof is out there since long. It's just the question if one wants to ignore it, or wants to see it.

I have no piracy tools, nor do I run a single illegal copy of anything. It is almost a personal offending that you generalize frustrated customers all to be pirates. Kind of preemptive warfare against potential pirates that are not yet pirates but maybe, eventually, who knows, could become pirates.

I also have no sympathy for the first statement, that SF only was debated, because, as you imply, people were bored and not entertained. If there is no crappy protection software with a game, maybe the game itself would be debated then. Which is perfectly okay, I think.
Hasn't it always been like this?

Strange how so many people say the same thing; we're not pirates but maybe, eventually, who knows, we could become pirates. Does not sound like they have strong convictions. They're just a bad experience with copy protection from becoming pirates.

That's not evidence, Skybird. That's your claim, made on the Internet. In court, it would barely pass as hearsay. Sure, it's all the evidence you need but maybe someone who has not met you or seen your computer would like a little more to go on.

If I post tomorrow that Silent Hunter 3 screwed up my computer, is that evidence? If I say that your e-mail sent me a virus and erased my hardrive, is that evidence? You want evidence who shot Kennedy? I know who it was, it was a guy named George Bronlow. Now, you have the evidence.

Do I smell the nauseating aroma of envy? You're much too tense, relax. Besides, you should be pleased, as you have saved us from the invisible menace of Starforce. Was it ever real? Did it ever exist? Well, we don't know, but the important thing is that you have saved us from it.

So, what will you do with your time now? What becomes of heroes when they are no longer needed?

Ubisoft must convince me with better customer support over a longer period and more contents in their games before I buy again games of those.

The renouncement of StarForce points already into the right direction for me, but momentarily Ubisoft stands still on my list of companies which I don't support by purchasing games of them, they lost to much reputation of me in the past.

two questions...

1- do we get a chance to buy a version of SH3 sans SF for $5, or will they be sending us a free copy in the mail? :lol:

2- this aint another April Fools joke is it... one that didn't get out in the first batch :D


--Mike

Some links just FYI
 

So, just for your information on a similar case now quite famous, I post some links about SONY's XCP music CD protection system. This system is technically, in many ways similar to Starforce (installs stealthly, has Ring 0 (super user) permissions, and may be used by hackers to get inside systems which have this tech).

Well, Sony is already retiring this system...

Now, I'm not in for a fight, but I think truth and facts must be told, and not disregarded as "hacker stuff" or "child stuff". This is about technology, about our systems, our rights and freedoms. So there are facts 4 ya:

http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/archives/004144.php

http://news.com.com/Microsoft+will+w...3-5949041.html

http://news.com.com/FAQ+Sonys+rootki...3-5946760.html

http://www.masternewmedia.org/sony_r...s_20051203.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XCP

http://cp.sonybmg.com/xcp

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/columni...-rootkit_x.htm

http://cp.sonybmg.com/xcp/english/titles.html

BTW Sony is probably going to lose this lawsuit they have in NY:
(this is from the sony link)

Re: Some links just FYI
 

The system is quite different. XCP uses real cloaking techniques (every part of it is basically 100% invisible), SF doesn´t. By the way, dozens of other programs, for example many anti-virus programs, have Ring 0 permissions, I don´t see many people complain about that...

I think you misunderstood him, Neal. Unless I'm mistaken, Skybird means that you're assuming guilt until they're proven innocent. He's not saying anybody wants to be a pirate or that they don't have convictions.

Neal, you have a terrific site, and I don't think you have to worry about it dieing anytime soon, but there is, on the part of those who operate it, a pronounced lack of impartiality where the subject of SF is concerned. The fact that you and the mods always appear to defend SF is, in my opinion, starting many more fires than you're putting out.

Sorry, that's just my observation. I'm not trying to tell you how to run your site, so I'm shuttin' up now. Delete me, ban me, do whatever, but that's how I see it.

Though none of "us" ever said that SF is 100% harmless.

Maybe they just sit back, bathing in the warm afterglow of public acclaim for their efforts, and reflecting on a job well done. :D

But, alas, it is Maundy Thursday, and we all know what happens after supper.

Neal, with all due respect, can't we all agree that Starforce was an overly-invasive piece of software - and, just as importantly, Starforce the company was notorious for refusing to acknowledge any problems, throwing accusations at the players themselves, and just general bad PR. It was impossible to hold Starforce accountable on anything, and their location in Russia only helped them on that.

Starforce wouldn't be singled out if there weren't any reason for it. There is no other protection scheme that has gathered this much hostility that I know of - even if they occasionally caused trouble for legit users. I don't think it's fair to say that "Anti-Starforce = Anti-Copy-Protection". But everyone will be happier if there is a fairer, less invasive copy protection scheme with a more responsible company. Frankly, I'd be quite satisfied if SHIV arrived with a USB key.