Quation on Star force, after its controversy now

Castout · 05-28-11, 01:19 AM

I know personally that it damages your DVD drive over time rendering them unusable.

From wiki I read that it would serve as a security weakness making the PC more vulnerable to exploit and introducing operating system instability.

Now my question is,

has any of those changed now with their version 5?

Sailor Steve · 05-28-11, 02:51 AM

I have no clue. I never had any problems when I was running the original version of SH3, but a lot of people did. I currently don't have it on my computer (as far as I know) but I think I would now avoid any version of it, just 'cause.

kiwi_2005 · 05-28-11, 03:15 AM

What latest game run Starforce I thought SF had died out. Its back!

Castout · 05-28-11, 04:24 AM

Theater of War 2 and now 3, Blackshark, Lock on Flaming Cliffs 2(the old lock on but released again). Well only Russian games now use Starforce.

My two previous DVD drive on my previous rig died because of starforce.

I've since avoid installing any game that comes with it.

Well for Theater of War I guess you can always buy from steam.

Skybird · 05-28-11, 05:23 AM

In its latest versions, StarForce has been changed into something less harmful, see Black Shark. It still is said to be quite effective, but I have not heared the latest versions having damaged hardware or slowed down systems. Their hidden drivers also are not as potentially threatening anymore, and the company speaks more open about it.

I hated the first versions of it and boycotted it, because I too was a victim of hardware complicatiuons and massive slowdowns. The new version that came with Black shark so far has not even mad eme raiksing an eyebrow.

About potential privacy violations I cannot comment, since I do not know.

All in all if you want the title really badly, the "risk" to go with this copy protection scheme in its modern incarnation can be accepted, I think. I do not love it, but I can live with it now.

One has to give it to them that SF 5.5 is probably the most effective DVD security scheme out there, it delays cracking by quite some time (which is aparamount for game releases, to protect the game during the days and weeks of market introduction).

The record of their way to intimidate critics and threaten lawsuits as well as firing staff from companies that voiced concerns over SF, and massively interfering and manipulating critical forum entries, is something that speaks against the company. They may behave a bit more civilised now, but I think they still are a bunch of gangsters. Unfortunately, their protection scheme is very effective and gives hackers a pain.

Growler · 05-28-11, 10:08 AM

Here's why Staforce is bad, in my opinion.

Silent Hunter 3. Bought it, installed it, made my wife a subsim-widow for a few months. After some time, I noticed my then-desktop starting to run a little... differently. No biggie. Time for a backup, system restore, and back in business, right?

Yeah, not so much.

Starforce COMPLETELY blocked write access to my DVD-ROM and CD-ROM writers. No getting around it. No backup feasibly possible.

OK, common story, everyone's had Starforce issues, I know that.

Here's the sad part: I never checked my copy of Pacific Fighters for Starforce - I just assumed that, because it was an Ubi game and roughly contemporary, it too must have that POS Starforce, and was therefore not going to be installed once I got my computer running again; went ahead and donated the copy I had to Goodwill.

I missed a GREAT GAME because I didn't check. Which brings me to my point: In this, I behaved like a typical, nonthinking customer, and because I drew conclusions without backing those conclusions with facts, I missed out on a great game. Starforce left such a bad impression that, based on an erroneous conclusion, I still avoided it like I would a SARS-filled elevator. Customers can - and do - make those levels of emotional free-association decisions every day.

I'm not suggesting that I'm not culpable for missing out on PF; what I am suggesting is, that in the volatile world that is software and business, a bad impression can have longer-lasting ramifications than are readily apparent. I refuse to buy a Starforce protected game today.

Copy protection that punishes a legitimate user is pure bollocks.

(The opposite, by the way, also holds true: I played a ton of MicroProse games back in the day, because the CP was easy to use. I also read labels more diligently now.)

05-28-11, 01:19 AM	#1
Castout Silent Hunter Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Jakarta Posts: 4,794 Downloads: 89 Uploads: 6	Question on Star force, after its controversy now I know personally that it damages your DVD drive over time rendering them unusable. From wiki I read that it would serve as a security weakness making the PC more vulnerable to exploit and introducing operating system instability. Now my question is, has any of those changed now with their version 5? __________________ My blog: http://exposingsingapore.wordpress.com/ Last edited by Castout; 05-28-11 at 01:51 AM.

05-28-11, 02:51 AM	#2
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	I have no clue. I never had any problems when I was running the original version of SH3, but a lot of people did. I currently don't have it on my computer (as far as I know) but I think I would now avoid any version of it, just 'cause. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

05-28-11, 03:15 AM	#3
kiwi_2005 Eternal Patrol Join Date: May 2004 Location: Aeoteroa Posts: 7,382 Downloads: 223 Uploads: 1	What latest game run Starforce I thought SF had died out. Its back! __________________ RIP kiwi_2005 Those who can't laugh at themselves leave the job to others.

05-28-11, 04:24 AM	#4
Castout Silent Hunter Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Jakarta Posts: 4,794 Downloads: 89 Uploads: 6	Theater of War 2 and now 3, Blackshark, Lock on Flaming Cliffs 2(the old lock on but released again). Well only Russian games now use Starforce. My two previous DVD drive on my previous rig died because of starforce. I've since avoid installing any game that comes with it. Well for Theater of War I guess you can always buy from steam. __________________ My blog: http://exposingsingapore.wordpress.com/

05-28-11, 05:23 AM	#5
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 42,637 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	In its latest versions, StarForce has been changed into something less harmful, see Black Shark. It still is said to be quite effective, but I have not heared the latest versions having damaged hardware or slowed down systems. Their hidden drivers also are not as potentially threatening anymore, and the company speaks more open about it. I hated the first versions of it and boycotted it, because I too was a victim of hardware complicatiuons and massive slowdowns. The new version that came with Black shark so far has not even mad eme raiksing an eyebrow. About potential privacy violations I cannot comment, since I do not know. All in all if you want the title really badly, the "risk" to go with this copy protection scheme in its modern incarnation can be accepted, I think. I do not love it, but I can live with it now. One has to give it to them that SF 5.5 is probably the most effective DVD security scheme out there, it delays cracking by quite some time (which is aparamount for game releases, to protect the game during the days and weeks of market introduction). The record of their way to intimidate critics and threaten lawsuits as well as firing staff from companies that voiced concerns over SF, and massively interfering and manipulating critical forum entries, is something that speaks against the company. They may behave a bit more civilised now, but I think they still are a bunch of gangsters. Unfortunately, their protection scheme is very effective and gives hackers a pain. __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert. Last edited by Skybird; 05-28-11 at 05:56 AM.

05-28-11, 10:08 AM	#6
Growler A long way from the sea Join Date: May 2005 Location: Iowa Posts: 1,913 Downloads: 21 Uploads: 0	Here's why Staforce is bad, in my opinion. Silent Hunter 3. Bought it, installed it, made my wife a subsim-widow for a few months. After some time, I noticed my then-desktop starting to run a little... differently. No biggie. Time for a backup, system restore, and back in business, right? Yeah, not so much. Starforce COMPLETELY blocked write access to my DVD-ROM and CD-ROM writers. No getting around it. No backup feasibly possible. OK, common story, everyone's had Starforce issues, I know that. Here's the sad part: I never checked my copy of Pacific Fighters for Starforce - I just assumed that, because it was an Ubi game and roughly contemporary, it too must have that POS Starforce, and was therefore not going to be installed once I got my computer running again; went ahead and donated the copy I had to Goodwill. I missed a GREAT GAME because I didn't check. Which brings me to my point: In this, I behaved like a typical, nonthinking customer, and because I drew conclusions without backing those conclusions with facts, I missed out on a great game. Starforce left such a bad impression that, based on an erroneous conclusion, I still avoided it like I would a SARS-filled elevator. Customers can - and do - make those levels of emotional free-association decisions every day. I'm not suggesting that I'm not culpable for missing out on PF; what I am suggesting is, that in the volatile world that is software and business, a bad impression can have longer-lasting ramifications than are readily apparent. I refuse to buy a Starforce protected game today. Copy protection that punishes a legitimate user is pure bollocks. (The opposite, by the way, also holds true: I played a ton of MicroProse games back in the day, because the CP was easy to use. I also read labels more diligently now.) __________________ At Fiddler’s Green, where seamen true When here they’ve done their duty The bowl of grog shall still renew And pledge to love and beauty.