Ubisoft ain't so Bad

[tater]

I'd not talk about anything if it involves a crack.

I see how it could be used with one, certainly. The general issue is how crappy a drm is that could ever be defeated so trivially if that combination were in effect.

Had they simply added an offline option, no one would have poked around, lol.

[The Enigma]

What I see as such has already been explained in one of my previous posts.
The definition of a crack differs from forum to forum.

I tried to get that clear with my question about the mod (see previous posts).
A mod is, to me, editing locally stored text files which are allowed to be changed for modding purposes.

This mod doesn't violate this rule. Yet some forums allow to talk and discuss that mod, some don't.
Some see it as a cr*ck, some don't.

And there starts the confusion.

Originally Posted by tater

I admit I had a lot of trouble understanding the thread, but no where does it say anything about touching any file that is not a simple text file. If the "fix" proposed only works after the game has started via a proper connection, and simply allows you to progress after you for some reason lose connection, it doesn't even defeat the DRM, just allows online play after a disconnect.

but how can you possibly lose connection and still be playing "online" if you are disconnected?

to me it sounds like bill clinton saying it depends on your definition of what "is" is or how sex isnt sex just because he doesnt consider it sex.

i see both sides here and agree its a fuzzy area but all i see is a crack trying to be passed off within the rules with some PC description of what it does.

a while back there was a sh4 thread with a "hack" for the exe file, it was a flat out mod for faster loading or something (i cant remember) but it wasnt a crack for anything being bypassed but it was a hacked exe and therefore not allowed so there is an example of even if its action and intent is pure and legal its the bypassing of the check thats at issue and illegal

i think neal has the only opinion that really matters here since he is the final authority on what is or isnt allowed so its best to play it safe and not discuss the specifics until he gives his opinion on this so called "mod"

talking about it in "general terms" without specifics is IMO ok

[jerm138]

Originally Posted by Webster

it sounds like bill clinton saying it depends on your definition of what "is" is or how sex isnt sex just because he doesnt consider it sex.

i ... agree its a fuzzy area but all i see is a crack

[Onkel Neal]

Originally Posted by Webster
it sounds like bill clinton saying it depends on your definition of what "is" is or how sex isnt sex just because he doesnt consider it sex.

i ... agree its a fuzzy area but all i see is a crack

Originally Posted by jerm138

Good one, Webs.

I would rather not interject myself into this discussion, you guys are doing fine.

[lord bame]

the pc community always makes me laugh... a bunch of fat 12 years kids that still believes in anarchy and lol i can download this for free and DRM is the ****

[Rockin Robbins]

Actually, no, this is a group of law-abiding adults trying to reason out a situation which Ubi clearly does not like on their forum, but which appears to me to fall clearly in the realm of a mod, altering an unprotected, internally commented text file, contained in a directory which has always been open for Ubi endorsed modding, within a file which has been open for Ubi endorsed modding. In fact, over the years, Ubi has used the extreme moddability of the Silent Hunter Series as a sales promotion tool.

The question is, "Can you make a change to a file permitted for modding which Ubi can say is not permitted."

Anyway I think would be hilarious if Ubi comes up with "well you WERE intended to mod that unprotected text file, but we didn't think you would alter THOSE lines!" I know! They could put a commented disclaimer warning in the .cfg file before each forbidden line: "Warning: altering the following line could circumvent our unassailable, uncrackable DRM. If you modify it you will be in violation of law and be subject to fine, imprisonment, death and bad karma." That would stop any problems, wouldn't it?

Having made a terrible sophomoric mistake with their DRM concept and implementation, I don't know how Ubi can close Pandora's box, and I can't see any possibility that they can say that file is not intended to be modded. Any attempt, as shown above, would make them look plain silly. But, of course, they look plenty silly now...

[Nisgeis]

Originally Posted by Rockin Robbins

The question is, "Can you make a change to a file permitted for modding which Ubi can say is not permitted."

The question is, "How do you play the game offline, without using the 'no net patch' that the 'mod' you are referring to talks about."

I'm not aware of a no net patch from Ubisoft. So...

[The Enigma]

The writer of the mod says that it works with both the illegal sh5.exe as with the unaltered sh5.exe

It doesn't nowhere says it only works when you have that illegal version.

[EDIT]
As far as I understand it correctly, that mod allows you to play all levels or what it may be called within SH5, without the need of having a connection to UBI the server.
Normally the UBI server 'opens' a door to a next mission by changing your .cfg files at your PC.
This mod does the same by showing you how to manually altering those .cfg files.
That's all.

[Nisgeis]

I think what he's saying is that he is a legal owner of the game, so what he is doing is legal. He then goes on to describe what does and doesn't work with the cracked version (or no net patch version) and how to manually make the changes that the proper game exe would make if you were using it. If he has a legal version of the game and is using the crack, then he's legal right? I know that's a whole other grey area...

But, I don't see anyway to get round the needing a network connection other than using the cracked exe. There's nothing in the save files about whether or not to check you have a connection and the game checks for a connection before it loads the rest of the game up and before you load the save files.

[The Enigma]

Originally Posted by Nisgeis

I think what he's saying is that he is a legal owner of the game, so what he is doing is legal. He then goes on to describe what does and doesn't work with the cracked version (or no net patch version) and how to manually make the changes that the proper game exe would make if you were using it. If he has a legal version of the game and is using the crack, then he's legal right? I know that's a whole other grey area...

But, I don't see anyway to get round the needing a network connection other than using the cracked exe. There's nothing in the save files about whether or not to check you have a connection and the game checks for a connection before it loads the rest of the game up and before you load the save files.

His statement before explaining how to do it:

SO I ONLY MODIFY MY OWN COPY OF GAME WITHOUT ANY CRACK JUST TO BE ABLE TO PLAY CAMPAIGNS WITHOUT NET CONNECTION!!!!

I fail to see how one could read that line in a different way.
So please help me if I'm wrong with my conclusion that this guy isn't using a modified sh5.exe

[fw66]

Originally Posted by Webster

i ... agree its a fuzzy area but all i see is a crack

Originally Posted by jerm138

Heh, that's what she said

[Nisgeis]

Originally Posted by The Enigma

His statement before explaining how to do it:

I fail to see how one could read that line in a different way.
So please help me if I'm wrong with my conclusion that this guy isn't using a modified sh5.exe

His 'style' of writing is a bit hard to read through, but he says in the same post:

Main problem to player without net connection , using no net crack is that game BLOCKING , MISSION BAR PROGRESS and we can't have our MISSIONS completed

I don't have that problem when I have no internet connection, I just get disconnected, never mind campaign progress not updating.

And to he says to test with:

yes without need of connection to the UBISOFTCKERS SERVERS (try with patch no net)

And also:

FIRST mission works and can be completed even with NO NET PATCH

I don't think that's an official patch .

But just to be absolutely sure, I went through all of his instructions and changed everything he said to (boy was it tedious) and I started the game without an internet connection - it wouldn't start. So I plugged the cable in until it had started and then continued to follow the instructions (loading the save) then pulled the cable out. The game came up and said that I must be connected to the internet to play the game.

So, the instructions don't do anything to make the game work if you don't have an iternet connection, they only let you continue through the campaign if you already have a way to play without being connected (a cracked exe).

EDIT: Has anyone else with a legit version tried this?

[The Enigma]

Originally Posted by Nisgeis

His 'style' of writing is a bit hard to read through, but he says in the same post:

I don't have that problem when I have no internet connection, I just get disconnected, never mind campaign progress not updating.

And to he says to test with:
And also:

I don't think that's an official patch .

But just to be absolutely sure, I went through all of his instructions and changed everything he said to (boy was it tedious) and I started the game without an internet connection - it wouldn't start. So I plugged the cable in until it had started and then continued to follow the instructions (loading the save) then pulled the cable out. The game came up and said that I must be connected to the internet to play the game.

So, the instructions don't do anything to make the game work if you don't have an iternet connection, they only let you continue through the campaign if you already have a way to play without being connected (a cracked exe).

EDIT: Has anyone else with a legit version tried this?

Now that's a revealing post.
I must agree, reading through his post is quit a struggle.
I thought when he was talking about the "no net patch", he was referring to his own .cfg modification.

You proofed by going through the process he has described, that his so called solution only works with a modified sh5.exe.
Thank you for clearing things up.

I can't go through those steps myself, since I don't own a copy of SH5.

[Rockin Robbins]

Whether morally right or not (I don't like it) most countries now have laws on the books forbidding you from modifying software of any type to defeat DRM. I choose not to break the law, so I wouldn't consider using the cracked exe file.

However, if Ubi, as it did in SH3, actually pirates the cracked game from the pirates and releases it officially as the DRM free version of the game then all bets are off.

So according to Ubi, piracy is bad unless... I still say that Ubi commits piracy with its DRM, converting your computer to its own use, removing your legal fair use rights with the software. What is worse, piracy of a piece of software or piracy of an entire computer? I'm not going to jump on the bandwagon for either.

SH3 and SH4 are great games that can keep us modding, playing and strategizing for ten years.