Starforce forum admin publishes torrent links

[Onkel Neal]

http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3148721

Anti-piracy software developer Starforce: In a posting on its company messageboards an admin (who may or may not be directly employed by the company) included in a post the link to an active torrent file trading link for the recently released Galactic Civilizations 2. The link has subsequently been removed, but the text of the post remains. The poster states "Right now several thousands of people are downloading the pirated version only from that web-site. Is it good for the sales? Unlikely."

Not sure how "official" that move was but it was pretty stupid. SF is not helping their case.

[Skybird]

Bump.

[Godalmighty83]

heres the developers side of things-

http://forums.galciv2.com/index.aspx...aid=106741&c=1

essentialy someone points out to starforce that draconian (stardocks word) methods of copy protection simply isnt needed and that sales of gal civ have far exceeded expectations without intrusive protection methods, in reply starforce link to torrent of that programme saying how such torrets will harm sales.

it all seems a bit dodgy to me and the joke of starforce being a strongarm of the russian mafia suddenly seems a bit less funny.

[STEED]

starforce :/\chop

[jumpy]

tick tock tick tock tick tock tick tock... the sweet sound of the last vague shreds of credabiltiy slipping away.

RIP SF.

[STEED]

Originally Posted by jumpy

tick tock tick tock tick tock tick tock... the sweet sound of the last vague shreds of credabiltiy slipping away.

RIP SF.

Well said and lets hope so.

[Onkel Neal]

I fully support anti-piracy measures, no matter (especially) when they p*ss off the casual game copiers, but when the anti-piracy company resorts to these tactics, I support some other anti-piracy measures, by some other company.

[Dowly]

When do they realise that there´s no copy protection that couldn´t be cracked.

If a new game would be released today with all the latest copy protection measures in it, I could bet everything I own that the game would be cracked and ready for download in day or two.

[Hellcat]

incredible...

What really needs to done here is to find a compromise, no solution is 100% as others have stated. Surely there's a method out there that can keep both publishers/developers and gamers happy?

[jumpy]

I'd be greatful for any protection software that doesn't allegedly interfere with my pc in such a way as to make some basic hardware/functions inoperable.
I believe I already have some of these installed with other games and they seem to do quite well.
Kinda interesting that nobody makes a peep about the software that protects COD2 or BF2... that's 'cause it works properly :hmm:

[Hellcat]

Originally Posted by jumpy

I'd be greatful for any protection software that doesn't allegedly interfere with my pc in such a way as to make some basic hardware/functions inoperable.
I believe I already have some of these installed with other games and they seem to do quite well.
Kinda interesting that nobody makes a peep about the software that protects COD2 or BF2... that's 'cause it works properly :hmm:

BF2 uses punkbuster which "calls home" every time you play, for most this is'nt an issue. For others it's a problem because first you need a internet connection present, and more importantly your're never sure what is being sent to the server from your system.

[Gizzmoe]

Originally Posted by Hellcat

BF2 uses punkbuster which "calls home" every time you play, for most this is'nt an issue. For others it's a problem because first you need a internet connection present, and more importantly your're never sure what is being sent to the server from your system.

BF2 is protected by SafeDisc, Punkbuster is just an anti-cheat software. Punkbuster calls home to check for updates.

More about Punkbuster:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punkbuster

[Perilscope]

Originally Posted by Gizzmoe

BF2 is protected by SafeDisc, Punkbuster is just an anti-cheat software. Punkbuster calls home to check for updates.

I starforce that message… I mean… I enforce that message.

Originally Posted by Hellcat

...and more importantly your're never sure what is being sent to the server from your system.

Oh yes, some do know…

Laws are there to protect both sides, software companies have no rights to query your computer for personal information. They must remain within their objective.

Giving back a bit of your PC info is like saying to them what car you drive and its options, and since they render service to a product that runs on your car, there is nothing personal about telling them what's your car model number, year, date, month of fabrication… blah blah blah… That is all they do besides doing the primary role, which is to protect your fair game session while playing in multiplayer mode, it punks out the busters and in exchange they take a few non-personal info here and there. They do not have the right for example, to go check your email files and gather info there…

I should say that over 95% of software's out there only collects legally accessible information. No big deal, no harm done and no paranoia's. Just stay away from weird software's and you should be OK, because you personal info is protected by law... what is left of it

[The Avon Lady]

I'm working on games on RFM tags implanted under your skin.

Who wants to be first?!

[Iceman]

Originally Posted by Dowly

When do they realise that there´s no copy protection that couldn´t be cracked.

If a new game would be released today with all the latest copy protection measures in it, I could bet everything I own that the game would be cracked and ready for download in day or two.

Unless the core of the game was on the companys seperate server and requires no cd for the person to play...but a password based on ip addresses and password combinations or something similar.Like a vpn tunnel or something.