Guest EVIL-SCOTSMAN Posted February 2, 2006 Posted February 2, 2006 Why doesn't ED just implement a simple, on-line, license activation procedure? Jeppessen does this with their CMAX software for EX500 MFDs...and their software is a hell of a lot more expensive than a silly computer game. Each disc is encoded with a unique serial number, and you can install the program on your PC, but you can't actually use it until you activate your license. This is done in a quick, simple process, in which you send your serial number electronically to their activation server and it gives you an activation code to make the program start working. But...the catch is, when you enter the activation code, it will check to see if that code is already in use for that serial number, so...the installation can only be activated on one machine. The only way to move it to another machine is to go through a deactivation process for that license, and then you can activate it on another machine. This pretty much stops piracy as even a copy with that same serial number on it couldn't be used if the original purchaser was already using it. It doesn't install any drivers on your machine, and doesn't muck with your burners to try and prevent you from burning a copy. They don't care if you make a copy, because only one person can use it, no matter how many copies you make. See...companies like Jeppessen can't mess with their customers by using intrusive schemes, because, in the case of many of them, they wouldn't need to hire a lawyer...many of them are lawyers themselves. Anyway...this system works really well, even though counterfeiting and piracy in the aviation world is BIG BUSINESS where LOTS of money could be made...not some cheesy little 15 year old punks on warez sites. Having said all that...WHEW!!! LOL. I haven't had any problems with StarForce, but I don't doubt the validity of some of the other claims. If StarForce is a driver, its just like every other driver...on some systems they work great, while on some due to hardware differences (or whatever), they end up totally borking everything. StarForce can up the ante on their challenge by guaranteeing that anyone who qualifies, and goes to Moscow, will be able to transport their PC back to wherever they came from in the same condition it was in when it got there. If customs decides to confiscate it, and/or inspect it and end up damaging it, StarForce should offer to reimburse them the market value of that PC, regardless of whether or not they won the challenge. Otherwise its just noise. I wouldn't mind having to pay for a trip to Moscow, but I sure as hell wouldn't want to risk my PC without certain assurances from StarForce that I wouldn't have to buy a new PC as well. online activation is crap aswell, dvdxcopy was online activation, but it is now all over or was all over the web cracked. so online activation doesnt cut it if you ask me. i gotta feeling games in the future will require a dongle of some sort before you can play.
Raploc Posted February 2, 2006 Posted February 2, 2006 gotta feeling games in the future will require a dongle of some sort before you can play. Yep, and only the worthwhile games will do this :icon_supe http://www.esimgames.com/purchase.htm
trailryder Posted February 3, 2006 Posted February 3, 2006 Is there a database somewhere of brand/model drives that people haven't had any SF problems with, as others here have experienced? Do you think the way a SF protected game is installed could prevent problems with other hardware? Say, if you uninstalled every other piece of hardware besides an old backup CD Rom and the HDD the game is going to be installed on. Then after the game is installed and running, reinstall all other hardware, CD/DVDRoms, HDDs, Floppy, what-have-you. Would SF effect hardware that wasn't being seen by Windows at the time of install, afterwards? I'm building a new high end gaming rig that I'll be connecting to a motion flight simulator I'm building to play Lock On and Pacific Fighters on. I sure would like to get Flaming Cliffs but I think I'm gonna pass.
504 Wolverine Posted February 3, 2006 Posted February 3, 2006 Rugg, drives in sig. No problems here. [/url]
Trident Posted February 3, 2006 Posted February 3, 2006 Dear Sir, calling StarForce "Anti-copying malware" is a good enough cause to press charges and that is what our corporate lawyer is busy doing right now. I urge you to remove your post from http://www.boingboing.net/2006/01/30/anticopying_malware_.html because it is full of insults, lies, false accusations and rumors. Your article violates approximately 11 international laws. Our USlawyer will contact you shortly. I have also contacted the FBI , because what you are doing is harassment. Sincerely, Dennis Zhidkov, PR-manager, StarForce Inc., http://www.star-force.com Reference: http://gameguru.box.sk/ ****************** How about all the people who have had their computer hardware systematically destroyed suing starforce. They {SF} really have some balls, suing someone because they expose information about their product that is true in many cases. ****************** http://www.glop.org/starforce/ Read about all the problems people are having as a result of SF's product. ****************** I say everybody collectively sue Starforce, for damage to personal property. ****************** Hello, My name is Dan Mattia, the founder and co-owner of Game Overdrive (http://www.game-overdrive.com). In an effort to help the Boycott Starforce project, my company has begun emailing our PR contacts from the publishers who use Starforce, stating to them that they either drop Starforce or we drop their support. We've also banned any reviewing of any games they make until Starforce is dropped. We've had to hurt some of our relations with these companies, but in order to keep our systems running, Starforce will not be allowed to be installed. I urge you to contact your favourite gaming publications and demand they drop support of companies that use Starforce, as well. If we get a big enough boycott, we're sure to make an impact on the publishers Reference: http://www.glop.org/forum/viewtopic.php?id=163 [RANT] IMHO the community needs to seriously reconsider how they deal with StarForce. This is not directed at anyone in particular, but I've actually heard people use the fact that you can't remove StarForce permanently if you continue to use the game it was protecting as proof of SF's evil intentions. Now, it was definately legitimate to complain about *older* SF versions not uninstalling when you removed the game itself (this infact being the raison d'être for the removal tool), but it's not hard to see that the above is pretty rediculous. Not to mention the double standards regarding other protection systems which use drivers too, do not ask for permission upon installation either and yet don't get nearly as much flak. I mean, there are plenty of perfectly valid issues with SF even now, you'd think people could stick to factual information to make their point. As I said, there are important issues with StarForce that need to be discussed and resolved, but the above behaviour makes it all too easy for SF not to take their critics seriously. [/RANT]
Shaman Posted February 3, 2006 Posted February 3, 2006 THE FUNNIEST PARANOIA SINCE I have no problems with SF driver whatsoever. It seems only the warez boys and system security paranoics (read:nerds) are crying out loud. I have 3 (three!) optical drives. All of them working fine (read&burn). And yes, still in UDMA mode! I can alt-tab from games as fast as I could before I had SF. I have no Windows error 51 or whatever. I didn't mess with my drives firmware, debuggers and breaking into SF files and other system files (like evil h3x0r) trying to crack SF protected games. Alcohol and Nero software is working well and doesn't report any problems. Both apps have virtual drives feature and this is also working fine and I use it a lot. I've ended happy with perfectly stable system. ( SF crew could hire me as their represenative ;) ) So what's the deal here? Whatever the deal is I think it will end in court anyway. I'm not too happy about low-level driver as copy protection. However as long it saves small developers like ED, where each single legal copy counts, I understand why they need strong copy protection. I'll just go with the flow. Anyway SF will fade with time, and new copy protection will arise - probably hardware + few low level drivers, and some built-in bug in the new CPUs. Progress is inevitable. And computer security paranoia will soon be found in medical manual 51PVO Founding member (DEC2007-) 100KIAP Founding member (DEC2018-) :: Shaman aka [100☭] Shamansky tail# 44 or 444 [sIGPIC][/sIGPIC] 100KIAP Regiment Early Warning & Control officer
Weta43 Posted February 3, 2006 Posted February 3, 2006 No - I've not had any problems either. I did buy a joystick once where the drivers completely stuffed up my OS & I had to rebuild, but I never got round to suing anybody. I installed some new drivers for my video card & had realy nasty graphics artifacts till I changed them. Some people undoubtedly have problems with SF, the majority don't. Any drivers - a few systems are going to spit the dummy. ED plainly states that there's SF on it's products & provides a removal app. Where's the big deal Cheers.
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