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A better DRM?

Hardcore mode: Play through the entire game with invincible scorpion chasing you.

(j/k, don't be a dick, support the developers and buy the game)
 
Sad thing is, this can have drawbacks. I forgot what game it was, but as an anti piracy measure, some developer put in bugs and glitches that would only activate if you pirated the game. Lo and behold, forums were flooded with people claiming that the game sucked because of all the bugs, with all the legit users going "wtf no issues here".

But the crying about the bugs apparently really hurt the games reputation
 
NikolaeVarius said:
Sad thing is, this can have drawbacks. I forgot what game it was, but as an anti piracy measure, some developer put in bugs and glitches that would only activate if you pirated the game. Lo and behold, forums were flooded with people claiming that the game sucked because of all the bugs, with all the legit users going "wtf no issues here".

But the crying about the bugs apparently really hurt the games reputation
Click to expand...

That was Titan Quest.
It was still a buggy mess that didn't run well on the hardware available when it was released.
Fun when it ran though.
 
I had the Titan Quest discs and it still had bugs, up until the last patch plus some unofficial patches. Ditto Mass Effect. And Arkam Asylum (Steam version).
Deliberately fucking your game is NOT acceptable, pirates or no.
 
NikolaeVarius said:
as an anti piracy measure, some developer put in bugs and glitches that would only activate if you pirated the game. Lo and behold, forums were flooded with people claiming that the game sucked because of all the bugs, with all the legit users going "wtf no issues here".

But the crying about the bugs apparently really hurt the games reputation
Click to expand...

Another like that was the original DarkStar. I owned the game and still had the "your a pirate" glitches occuring.

Even had to send in a copy of the box to prove I owned the game to get some help. In the end it turned out that the anti pirating check was triggering as I had a virtual drive enabled (it was that or it found a CD drive without the game disk in it). Either way, I think even people with two optical drives were having the issues I was having.

Definitly a crap system. Good game otherwise but i've told everyone that was interested in it to stay away from it.
 
greenhawk said:
Another like that was the original DarkStar. I owned the game and still had the "your a pirate" glitches occuring.

Even had to send in a copy of the box to prove I owned the game to get some help. In the end it turned out that the anti pirating check was triggering as I had a virtual drive enabled (it was that or it found a CD drive without the game disk in it). Either way, I think even people with two optical drives were having the issues I was having.

Definitly a crap system. Good game otherwise but i've told everyone that was interested in it to stay away from it.
Click to expand...

Several DRM methods will disallow a game's activation and function if ANY kind of drive emulation software is installed. SecuRom comes to mind. I think some versions of TAGES do as well. StarForce used to wreak all kinds of havoc with its hidden, virtual drive emulation drivers, if I recall.

Best defense against that crap? Stop. Buying. Products. That. Use. Them. I've said it before and I'll say it again, complaining about DRM/etc in a game, then buying the game anyway is completely pointless. You are sending the message to the publisher that you'll continue to buy their games with their draconian DRM, that their actions are ok.
 
Bateluer said:
StarForce used to wreak all kinds of havoc with its hidden, virtual drive emulation drivers, if I recall.
Click to expand...
Starforce killed one of my CD burners some years ago. Fuckers.

I'd support this if it affects pirates only and not a single paying customer.
 
Bateluer said:
Several DRM methods will disallow a game's activation and function if ANY kind of drive emulation software is installed. SecuRom comes to mind. I think some versions of TAGES do as well. StarForce used to wreak all kinds of havoc with its hidden, virtual drive emulation drivers, if I recall.

Best defense against that crap? Stop. Buying. Products. That. Use. Them. I've said it before and I'll say it again, complaining about DRM/etc in a game, then buying the game anyway is completely pointless. You are sending the message to the publisher that you'll continue to buy their games with their draconian DRM, that their actions are ok.
Click to expand...

Ah yes, the days of SecuRom refusing to launch my game when Alcohol 120% was running in the background even though the original disc was in the drive. Those were the days!
 
Bateluer said:
Best defense against that crap? Stop. Buying. Products. That. Use. Them.
Click to expand...

True, but not like the manufacture/publisher goes out of their way to tell you what DRM the game has before you purchase it. I find the best way to find out is to visit the sites offering the pirated version and reading the comments. Not a good way to keep the customer informated.
 
greenhawk said:
True, but not like the manufacture/publisher goes out of their way to tell you what DRM the game has before you purchase it. I find the best way to find out is to visit the sites offering the pirated version and reading the comments. Not a good way to keep the customer informated.
Click to expand...

Then you wait until they do release that information. Seems like most publishers and suits only look at the month or so of sales. Long term sales don't matter any more . . . at least with modern FPS.
 
Biggest problem with DRM like that is when you get false positives and start accusing your paying customers of being pirates. No easier way to tank your company (ala Titan Quest).
 
Dark Souls did this too iirc, by invading the world of players who broke street date with max level characters.
 
LessThanDan said:
Hardcore mode: Play through the entire game with invincible scorpion chasing you.

(j/k, don't be a dick, support the developers and buy the game)
Click to expand...

I already own the game, but I can't help but think this would be a riot to try and play through with this invincible pink scorpion demon trying to kill you
 
thilanliyan said:
Starforce was a pain. I usually get no-dvd patches and remember trying to find one for one of the Splinter Cell games and wasn't able to get one for a while.
Click to expand...

Starforce was horrible. I remember to get a few of the starforce no-cd cracks to work you needed to disconnect your DVD/CD drive so one wasn't present in windows and you could spoof the protection so to speak. I ended up building a little on/off switch, hooked it up to the power cable of my drive, then mounted it on the front of the case so I didn't need to open it up to disconnect the drive. haha, fun times..

I always grab no-cd cracks for games I purchase as I should be able to run them without needing the disc. I'm not playing on an xbox after all..
 
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