[Skybird]

Growler, you mentioned SH3 - but the SF StarForce 3 "Pro" version back then is very different from the actual versions 5.5 and 5.7 StarForce "FrontLine".

SF3 prohibited the use of optical SCSI drives and emulators. As far as I know, at least the drives are not effected anymore since version 4.

Versions before 4 were not Windows certified, one must assume that Microsoft was aware of serious incompatabilities.

The drivers they use today still need to be manually installed, offer Ring 0 access - which means a critical secuzrity risk since they can be chnaged by a user even if not havfing administrator rights, and will be loaded when you boot the system, adding a bit to booting time. However, since version 5 in no way they cause as much obvious trouble for the user anymore like they used to with version 3.5 and earlier, which were used years ago for games like SH3.

One rwally should not judge the actual versions of SF by the problems earlier versions from 5 and 6 years ago have caused. I hated SF myself after bad experiences with it. But today using the new version with BlackShark, I see no noticable effects from it.

I warn however to use the older versions of SF. Especially when running a 64 Bit modern Windiws version. to use version 4 and even more: version 3, is really no good idea, I would say.

The main problem remaining is the Ring 0 access, imo. It is a potential exploit.

Edit, lets face it, people will always complain if they have to pay for games, and thus they will always find excuses to speak out against copy protection. It may be a simple CD check, it may be a dongle, it may be a password form a manual, it may be SF - they will alwqays balk and bite and call for a debate on much more profound rights and constitutional rules. Heck, in the past I even did it myself - and I did not even run copied games. That companies have any interest there is to delay the cracking of games, most people are not willing to reflect on, and accepting the consequence of protection measures. Even demanding them to plug in a dongle, already is asking to much of them. Some developers argue with split tongues, and developers of software proection often do the same, especially Sony (SecuRom), and StarForce. But this does not change the fact that they are confronted with a gaming community that is as split-tongued and hypocritical as the companies themselves.