SHIV Protection system?

[TDK1044]

I'm aware that Ubisoft have announced that they will not be using the Starforce protection system for future games, including SH1V, but does anyone know if they're considering using a different protection system that could throw up similar issues, or whether they now realize that such protection software is more trouble than it's worth?

[UglyMowgli]

I hope it will be CodeMeter, the best one

http://wibu.com/start.php?lang=en

[Gizzmoe]

Originally Posted by MSgalileo

I hope it will be CodeMeter, the best one

But it´s way too expensive, also it´s not practical for a company that sells many millions of games per year.

[Onkel Neal]

Originally Posted by MSgalileo

I hope it will be CodeMeter, the best one

http://wibu.com/start.php?lang=en

Hmmm... looks good. I agree.

[Gizzmoe]

We´ll know in a few months which copy protection they use for SH4. Until then everything is just speculation.

[fire-fox]

Hope fully it will not be BuntyBox.

Errrrrrwwww.... ::Shivers::

[TDK1044]

You're right, Gizz. It just seems to me that every software protection system on a game that I'm aware of is usually cracked within weeks of the game's release. As 95 percent of purchasers of the game are honest and are not interested in stealing from Ubisoft ,and the remaining 5 percent are always going to crack the software anyway, I wonder as to the wisdom of using such software?

[Onkel Neal]

Originally Posted by TDK1044

You're right, Gizz. It just seems to me that every software protection system on a game that I'm aware of is usually cracked within weeks of the game's release. As 95 percent of purchasers of the game are honest and are not interested in stealing from Ubisoft ,and the remaining 5 percent are always going to crack the software anyway, I wonder as to the wisdom of using such software?

I'm trying to understand what this means: As 95 percent of purchasers of the game are honest and are not interested in stealing from Ubisoft ,and the remaining 5 percent are always going to crack the software anyway,

If they purchase the game, aren't 100% of the purchasers honest?? It's the non-purchasers we worry about. Where do your stats come from?

[UglyMowgli]

Codemeter is use with Steel Beasts Pro SE, no problem with it.

[TDK1044]

The vast majority of people who acquire a game like SH3 or SH1V, in my opinion, do so legally by purchasing it. Those people are then punished by having to load needlessly intrusive drivers onto their system, that are there to protect the game from a small number of thieves who will have defeated the protection software within weeks of the game's release. This leaves a high number of legitimate purchasrers struggling with unwanted and intrusive software, while the thieves laugh all the way to the bank. My argument is that the piracy figures would not be any higher, at least not by much, if this software protection was not in place, so why punish the good guys?

[Onkel Neal]

Originally Posted by TDK1044

The vast majority of people who acquire a game like SH3 or SH1V, in my opinion, do so legally by purchasing it. Those people are then punished by having to load needlessly intrusive drivers onto their system, that are there to protect the game from a small number of thieves who will have defeated the protection software within weeks of the game's release. This leaves a high number of legitimate purchasrers struggling with unwanted and intrusive software, while the thieves laugh all the way to the bank. My argument is that the piracy figures would not be any higher, at least not by much, if this software protection was not in place, so why punish the good guys?

I don’t have any verifiable numbers but I think in the case of SH3, yes, most users acquired that game by purchasing it, because it had very strong copyprotection (I did not say "uncrackable", so all you guys waiting to tell me there was a crack online 3 months before the game came out, please--exhale )

I respectfully disagree that "vast majority" of people who buy games like SH3 get them legally. One game developer was quoted as saying that there were 5 times more requests for tech support on their game from users without the serial number than from users who bought the game legally. (I wish I had the link handy, if you want I can dig it up tonight, maybe someone else read that blog and they can supply the info). I know from my own experience with Subsim and the web, people use pirated software routinely. I can't begin to tell you how many people have offered to "share" something with me, even good friends and people I work with. It's pretty common, it usually goes like this:

Guy: Yes, I stayed up late last night playing NEWGAMEX, man, it's cool
Neal: Isn't that the one where you play as a Space Ranger?
Guy: Yeah, and you have 32 types of ships and guns.
Neal: Wow, sounds neat.
Guy: Here's a link, get a copy for yourself and let's play.

Not everyone does this, but there are a lot. I believe if you don't pay for it, you shouldn't play it. I know, I know; I don't score any popularity points with that attitude

I agree with you that software protection should not punish the good guys. But I don't think having a dongle to insert into the USB port with the DVD is exactly nerve-shattering punishment I put more effort into making a bowl of oatmeal. But, hey, it sounds like we both agree that games should not be pirated, right? If a guy spends hundreds of hours working through code and art, putting together a new game, endures the griping that it isn't perfect, witnesses the congratulatory cheers some modder gets for adding a unit, etc…. he at least should get paid for every copy that gets played.

cheers
Neal