Ubisoft officially dumps Starforce

[astr0creep]

What scares me the most about Starforce is the effect it can have on my hardware. Software can always be removed and reinstalled and at the worse one can reformat the HD.

But if the hardware goes belly-up there is nothing to be done.

 

I've played Starforce-infected games before but I didn't know until I saw the list on some anti-SF site. And when I read the effects this "protection" can have on some systems it was enough to steer me away from the products who have it. Not because I'm a proficient user of pirated software but because I just don't want to risk it.

 

I don't care if a product is installed on my computer without my knowledge as long as it doesn't damage my hardware. Slowdowns don't bother me either because I usually reformat every 4-6 months and that solves all my computer problems everytime. Unless the hardware dies.

[Spider]

I wonder if UbiSoft would have been so likely to drop it without the lawsuit against them.  I also wonder if UbiSoft is victorious over the lawsuit if they'll go back to using it.

 

Here is a link to the UbiSoft (HoMM) forums with a developer painting Starforce in a more favorable light, with some statistics as well.  Whether you believe it or not is probably fit for a different thread entirely.

 

http://forums.ubi.com/groupee/forums/a/tpc...92/m/8121095173

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Just felt that it was worth to point out that HoMM didn't ship with Starforce after all, they went with Securom. A cracked ersion was available 9 days before the official release date (european release). It would be interesting to know how long it'd have taken had they used StarForce after all.

[astr0creep]

Just felt that it was worth to point out that HoMM didn't ship with Starforce after all, they went with Securom. A cracked ersion was available 9 days before the official release date (european release). It would be interesting to know how long it'd have taken had they used StarForce after all.

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

How come you know about the crack?

[Deraldin]

Just felt that it was worth to point out that HoMM didn't ship with Starforce after all, they went with Securom. A cracked ersion was available 9 days before the official release date (european release). It would be interesting to know how long it'd have taken had they used StarForce after all.

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

How come you know about the crack?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

He knows someone that maybe downloaded said cracked version?

[Nick_i_am]

This makes me happy and glad.

[Spider]

How come you know about the crack? 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

He knows someone that maybe downloaded said cracked version?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Actually, I do. Although it's not through that friend that I found out the date the crack was available. That information is fairly easy to find if you know where to look. Don't even have to go to a site that distributes the crack (or cracked version).

[alanschu]

Well, the fact that they aren't using Starforce is reflective of the fact that Ubisoft as a company has decided not to use them, isn't it?

[Judge Hades]

Copy Prot4ection, regardless it is SecuROM or Starforce, is a waste of time and a huge waste of money. There will be no perfect form of copy protection. No matter what they use their will be some **** who will seek to break it and steal the game, and more often than not will be able to break it within 1 to 2 weeks of the game's release.

[astr0creep]

I like what Stardock did with GalCiv2.

 

Everyone can play it but only the good guys are allowed to patch and update it.

Only Stardock has the power to accept/distribute serial# and that is all that is needed. Keygens won't work and cracks are rendered useless. It's a great, smart and simple system.

 

Hats off to them.

[Judge Hades]

Stardock has done it best.

[alanschu]

Copy Prot4ection, regardless it is SecuROM or Starforce, is a waste of time and a huge waste of money.  There will be no perfect form of copy protection.  No matter what they use their will be some **** who will seek to break it and steal the game, and more often than not will be able to break it within 1 to 2 weeks of the game's release.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

Copy protection isn't meant to be perfect.

 

 

EDIT:

 

Stardock has done it best.

 

 

Funny, I'd figure you'd be against that sort of "central hub" thing.

Edited May 26, 2006 by alanschu

[astr0creep]

Copy protection isn't meant to be perfect.

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

If copy protection was perfect, there would be no more software piracy, which is the goal of copy protection.

[Judge Hades]

If Copy Protection isn't meant to prevent copies to be made then what service is it suppose to have?

[astr0creep]

If Copy Protection isn't meant to prevent copies to be made then what service is it suppose to have?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Thank you Hades. That is what I meant.

But I have learned, to my great despair, not to ask Alan any questions, simply state the obvious then shut-up.

 

[Plano Skywalker]

I like what Stardock did with GalCiv2.

 

Everyone can play it but only the good guys are allowed to patch and update it.

Only Stardock has the power to accept/distribute serial# and that is all that is needed. Keygens won't work and cracks are rendered useless. It's a great, smart and simple system.

 

Hats off to them.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

right, and, hopefully, this will lead to more "premium content" in future games as only a legit copy can download the content.

[Deraldin]

If Copy Protection isn't meant to prevent copies to be made then what service is it suppose to have?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

According to the Starforce guys the goal is not to prevent it entirely, but to prevent it being cracked in the first few weeks. If people have to wait they are more likely to actually go out and buy the game in that first little while. Or at least that was the excuse they were handing out when I was over there during the whole Starforce/GalCiv2torrent deal.

[astr0creep]

If Copy Protection isn't meant to prevent copies to be made then what service is it suppose to have?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

According to the Starforce guys the goal is not to prevent it entirely, but to prevent it being cracked in the first few weeks. If people have to wait they are more likely to actually go out and buy the game in that first little while. Or at least that was the excuse they were handing out when I was over there during the whole Starforce/GalCiv2torrent deal.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

So it's now like Hollywood?

Only the first(few) week(s) count for a successful title?

[Deraldin]

If Copy Protection isn't meant to prevent copies to be made then what service is it suppose to have?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

According to the Starforce guys the goal is not to prevent it entirely, but to prevent it being cracked in the first few weeks. If people have to wait they are more likely to actually go out and buy the game in that first little while. Or at least that was the excuse they were handing out when I was over there during the whole Starforce/GalCiv2torrent deal.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

So it's now like Hollywood?

Only the first(few) week(s) count for a successful title?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

That's what they were saying. "

[metadigital]

If Copy Protection isn't meant to prevent copies to be made then what service is it suppose to have?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

According to the Starforce guys the goal is not to prevent it entirely, but to prevent it being cracked in the first few weeks. If people have to wait they are more likely to actually go out and buy the game in that first little while. Or at least that was the excuse they were handing out when I was over there during the whole Starforce/GalCiv2torrent deal.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

So it's now like Hollywood?

Only the first(few) week(s) count for a successful title?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

In this goldfish-length-attention-span era, yes. The probability of little people buying games after the first few weeks is negligible.

[astr0creep]

In this goldfish-length-attention-span era, yes. The probability of little people buying games after the first few weeks is negligible.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I only buy greatest hits/used console games, usually at EBgames. PC games drop in price eventually as well but I'm so backed-up in tech right now I can't even buy something that will run properly on my machine.

[alanschu]

Copy protection isn't meant to be perfect.

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

If copy protection was perfect, there would be no more software piracy, which is the goal of copy protection.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

The ideal may be for it to be perfect. But we're kidding ourselves if we think that copy protection providers actually expect their game to be uncrackable. Their realistic goal is to "good enough" to help improve the bottom line of the company that uses it.

 

 

So it's now like Hollywood?

Only the first(few) week(s) count for a successful title?

 

Yes. A game like Torment, which made money over the long run is too poor of a ROI. Investors typically like high ROI.

 

According to the Starforce guys the goal is not to prevent it entirely, but to prevent it being cracked in the first few weeks. If people have to wait they are more likely to actually go out and buy the game in that first little while. Or at least that was the excuse they were handing out when I was over there during the whole Starforce/GalCiv2torrent deal.

 

It's really not as unreasonable as it sounds. People are an impatient bunch, and want, nay demand, instant gratification. These same people bitch and moan about the costs of games being too expensive, yet absolutely have to play it right now. Telling them that the cost will come down eventually means nothing and so on.

 

 

It's a hard and messed up thing to prove, but I'm under the impression that they (both copy protectors as well as investors/publishers) have information that leads them to think that it does work. Otherwise they wouldn't waste money doing it, as it would lessen their ROI.

 

Either that or they feel they need to keep doing it, as they are worried that if they don't do it they'd be saying piracy is okay (and possibly not a problem). But the rationale behind this would still be that they would anticipate increased piracy and as a result not make as much money.

[Spider]

On the other hand, Oblivion didn't really have any copy protection and it seems to have done just fine.

 

As has been said before, what is interesting is whether or not theinvestment in copy protection actally provide enough sales to make it worth it. I'm not convinced.

[Darque]

Copy protection is under the same principle as a lock.

 

It's meant to keep honest people out.

 

It'll never stop piracy.

 

But if companies want to waste their time and money making it... well it's their time and money...

[alanschu]

On the other hand, Oblivion didn't really have any copy protection and it seems to have done just fine.

 

As has been said before, what is interesting is whether or not theinvestment in copy protection actally provide enough sales to make it worth it. I'm not convinced.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

So I can just burn a copy of the DVD?

[Kasoroth]

On the other hand, Oblivion didn't really have any copy protection and it seems to have done just fine.

 

As has been said before, what is interesting is whether or not theinvestment in copy protection actally provide enough sales to make it worth it. I'm not convinced.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

So I can just burn a copy of the DVD?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I keep my original disc safe in the nice collectors edition case where it won't get scratched and play off a copy. No cracks from pirate (ARRR!!!) websites needed, it just copied and worked. Actually I installed off the original disc before I made the copy, so I'm not 100% sure there isn't some copy protection in the installer, but I don't think there was any. It makes me very happy that Bethesda trusted their paying customers enough to allow this because I'm always a bit nervous to be constantly using original discs.

 

Hopefully the piracy levels of Oblivion will not be higher than other similarly popular games, because I'd like to see more publishers start extending this level of courtesy to their customers.

 

-Kasoroth