Just Checking - 100% DRM Free, Correct?

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CrazyBernie
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Re: Just Checking - 100% DRM Free, Correct?

Post by CrazyBernie »

As they say... "Locks only stop honest people."
Poxx wrote:Any software that can be "activated" to full version is usually cracked within a good few hours after being available for download. I know this because of reasons that I won't elaborate on here.
1. That's common knowledge. There's no need to "elaborate."
2. The second sentence you used is generally a roundabout way of saying "I'm a pirate/cracker." Regardless of whether or not you are, that's the impression you give. You would've been better off not including that sentence.

Regarding all of your tips:

It's not worth the time/effort/money on BW's part. I'd especially have an issue with the hardware challenge... 'cause then I wouldn't be able to put the game on my desktop and my laptop, or on the new computer that I'll build within the next six months. That kind of copy protection is what creates more pirates, and decreases the likelyhood of future purchases for the developer that uses crap DRM. There's been more than one software company that has lost my business because of asinine DRM... Valve being a prime example. Even when I do decide to purchase a game, I look for a crack for it just so I don't have to deal with disc protection. Despite years of not having a change in price structure, games are still too damn expensive to deal with scratched/broken discs... I have yet to buy a game from a company that offers free replacements.

The more difficult you make it to crack, the more likely someone is going to see it as a challenge to do so. Refer to my first sentence.
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BasiliskWrangler
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Re: Just Checking - 100% DRM Free, Correct?

Post by BasiliskWrangler »

Poxx wrote:Ok , just as a tip here :

Any software that can be "activated" to full version is usually cracked within a good few hours after being available for download. I know this because of reasons that I won't elaborate on here. However, I'd hate to see this great game be cracked and keygen-ed within a day or so , because I think great software ( and therefor great programmers ) should be supported financially to continue to make great software and earn a fair living ( we all know that programmers have a hard time, especially privatized gaming companies ). Some of the tips I want to give you :

- Use Themida executable packer for anti-debugging, it's one of the hardest packers to unpack.
- Ask in your software for crackers not to crack your software and explain to them why. It's amazing how many crackers will refuse to crack a good program that is fairly priced if the software author specifically asks them not to
- Obfuscate your code
- use a hardware ID challenge to activate the software using the serial key, this way your registration key will not be able to be used on someone else's PC. Don't use VolumeID because that can be spoofed or simply changed with volumeid.exe. Instead use the hardware harddisk serial number (which is unique to every harddisk) and processorID and network card MAC address. An example is to use an algorithm that blends all those ID's into 1 big string, which is then used to activate the software using an activation server online.
- Divide your algorithm over several modules ( or even things like game maps, enemies etc ) so that when it's cracked, the crack will only work up to level 4-5. Many crackers just crack then go on to the next crack, they never test beyond the initial crack. Once it says "software activated" thats it they release it. If you implement checks after your software activation screen ( let's say, after you kill boss "blabla" which is needed for the quest, about 25% into the game, the serial check routines are executed again but then different algorithms using online activation ).

There are plenty of other ways to check if the software is legitimate, but I think this should get you thinking already. The most important is to make the software cheap so people won't even bother cracking it.
Thanks for the tips. The fact is, even the greatest software companies in the world can't prevent their products from being stolen, so what chance do I have? Zero.

Despite the fact that Book 2 is likely to be pirated, I can only offer this in response: we respect our customers. When you buy a game from us, it is your software to do with as you please. The registration code you receive from us will unlock all three versions (Win/Mac/Linux). We want you to be happy with the product you buy from us.

If any pirate wants to argue that the reason they crack is because developers use crippling DRM or overprice their software... they lose all creditability when cracking our software.

So, we once again ask anyone reading this who is looking forward to downloading their copy of Book 2 from a pirate site, please consider purchasing our game instead. Book 2 cost significantly more than Book 1 to make, and so it is imperative that you support what you enjoy. We cannot make games just to give them away, just as you would not be able to work without a receiving paycheck.
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azraelck
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Re: Just Checking - 100% DRM Free, Correct?

Post by azraelck »

- use a hardware ID challenge to activate the software using the serial key, this way your registration key will not be able to be used on someone else's PC. Don't use VolumeID because that can be spoofed or simply changed with volumeid.exe. Instead use the hardware harddisk serial number (which is unique to every harddisk) and processorID and network card MAC address. An example is to use an algorithm that blends all those ID's into 1 big string, which is then used to activate the software using an activation server online.
Which would mean I'd have a time reinstalling when I buy a new laptop, which I'm planning for march (gainshare bonus from work comes in then, and assuming Jan release). Which would mean it does have a restrictive DRM scam, one which will be cracked anyway as soon as word gets out how it's done.

Nothing can't be cracked. There is no way to make a fool and pirate-proof program. The only question is how badly are you going to treat your customers: forcing them to buy new copies to play on new hardware screams scam. EA tried it, and encountered a firestorm, and in the end, more people pirated that game solely because it was the only way to get a usable copy.

Obsuficating the code, which I take to mean writing it poorly, means it will be harder to maintain and debug later on down the line. Naming variables $xxx instead of RegCode (or whatever needed) might make it hard to read for pirates, but it also makes it hard to read for the programmer. Enter code rot, and Eschalon 2 will probably not have any bug fixes past release.

About the only thing usable is the written request to not crack the game, which will probably be about as effective as the worst DRM schemes, without pissing off the people who paid for the game.
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Poxx
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Re: Just Checking - 100% DRM Free, Correct?

Post by Poxx »

It was just an idea. Sorry if I stepped on some people's toes.
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Re: Just Checking - 100% DRM Free, Correct?

Post by AstralWanderer »

BasiliskWrangler wrote:Yes, it will be 100% DRM free, but we will be using a "registration code" method of activating the full version....There are no server checks and other than downloading the setup file, you don't have to have an internet connection to play.
While this was the case with book 1 also, some vendors (e.g. Greenhouse or Steam) sold a version that required online activation. Will this apply with book 2 as well?
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Re: Just Checking - 100% DRM Free, Correct?

Post by MyGameCompany »

Probably, but that's up to those distributors. Most distributors all have their own DRM or activation methods that they use for the games that they publish. The developer doesn't have any control over that.

If you want DRM-free, buy directly from Basilisk Games. Incidentally, that will benefit Basilisk Games the most too, since the majority of the sale will go directly into their pocket (as opposed to only getting a royalty or percentage of the sale when you purchase elsewhere).
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Re: Just Checking - 100% DRM Free, Correct?

Post by Faithful »

Yes, if at all possible I purchase from the developer directly as long as it is a DRM free game to start with in the first place.

I am looking forward to Book II release or at least when orders open. I am guessing that there is no preorder system to buy the game ahead of time and get it whenever it is finished?
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Re: Just Checking - 100% DRM Free, Correct?

Post by azraelck »

Not as of now. As soon as BW get a pre-order screen setup, I'm going to buy it then.
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