Schadenfroh
Elite Member
I have been working on my sourceforge.net project for a few months now. I believe that it is finally ready to make its AT debut and solicit feedback.
The program is called GNag. It is free, open-source software under the GPL that uses a definition based approach to blocking nag screens, splash screens, forced intros, non-browser based pop-ups, advertisements, etc. that are caused by installable applications.
Summary Page (with download link)
Main Page
(you will need Microsoft's .NET Framework 2.0 or above if you are not running Windows Vista)
Read Me
You do not need to leave GNag open once you enable blocking.
Supported Games (as of June 10, 2009):
It works by modifying the registry, altering windows file permissions, renaming files, moving files and mimicking files (like replacing a bik with an "empty" bik that is still a valid bik, yet does not show anything). The files can even be in a compressed archive (compression / decompression operation is present).
It has a GUI and a CLI, the GUI features a definition editor that will allow you to create or edit your own definitions to improve functionality or to add your own programs to GNag.
GNag trys to discover supported applications on a system by looking at their default install locations. It features an automated full search and selective directory search as well if it is not installed in its default location.
Once found, the user has the option to block or unblock the application's "nag" screens. Since it does not crack or reverse engineer the game's files in anyway (all of them remain untouched, at worst they are renamed or moved), you should not have to worry about being banned by punkbuster😛
Since each game requires its own definition and I do not own every game, I was hoping that if AT users enjoy the program or like the concept, that they will contribute their own definitions (credit to the writer will be given, if desired, in the comment's of each definition). GNag has a built in definition updater so users can quickly and easily get support for new applications as they are added. You can write your own using the built-in definition editor or manually editing the XML files or you can simply share the information needed to create a definition, namely:
Program Name
ID Files (files that uniquely identify an application)
Comments (where applicable)
Default Install Paths (where the standard install puts it)
Operations (registry edits, file permissions, renames (may or may not be inside an archive), moves, mimics, etc. that will block the splash screens / nag screens)
Most nag screens in games are rather trivial, renaming or mimicing will work, one only needs to know which files. However, some of the applications supported by GNag require a bit more complex approach (the registry edits and the file permissions) to get the job done. GNag can use any supported operation in any combination, so feel free to mix and match.
It is currently in beta, so use at your own risk! I have tested it significantly, but I cannot account for the various system configurations out there.
The program is called GNag. It is free, open-source software under the GPL that uses a definition based approach to blocking nag screens, splash screens, forced intros, non-browser based pop-ups, advertisements, etc. that are caused by installable applications.
Summary Page (with download link)
Main Page
(you will need Microsoft's .NET Framework 2.0 or above if you are not running Windows Vista)
Read Me
You do not need to leave GNag open once you enable blocking.
Supported Games (as of June 10, 2009):
If requested by the publisher or developer, support will be removed as soon as possible via a definition update.
It works by modifying the registry, altering windows file permissions, renaming files, moving files and mimicking files (like replacing a bik with an "empty" bik that is still a valid bik, yet does not show anything). The files can even be in a compressed archive (compression / decompression operation is present).
It has a GUI and a CLI, the GUI features a definition editor that will allow you to create or edit your own definitions to improve functionality or to add your own programs to GNag.
GNag trys to discover supported applications on a system by looking at their default install locations. It features an automated full search and selective directory search as well if it is not installed in its default location.
Once found, the user has the option to block or unblock the application's "nag" screens. Since it does not crack or reverse engineer the game's files in anyway (all of them remain untouched, at worst they are renamed or moved), you should not have to worry about being banned by punkbuster😛
Since each game requires its own definition and I do not own every game, I was hoping that if AT users enjoy the program or like the concept, that they will contribute their own definitions (credit to the writer will be given, if desired, in the comment's of each definition). GNag has a built in definition updater so users can quickly and easily get support for new applications as they are added. You can write your own using the built-in definition editor or manually editing the XML files or you can simply share the information needed to create a definition, namely:
Program Name
ID Files (files that uniquely identify an application)
Comments (where applicable)
Default Install Paths (where the standard install puts it)
Operations (registry edits, file permissions, renames (may or may not be inside an archive), moves, mimics, etc. that will block the splash screens / nag screens)
Most nag screens in games are rather trivial, renaming or mimicing will work, one only needs to know which files. However, some of the applications supported by GNag require a bit more complex approach (the registry edits and the file permissions) to get the job done. GNag can use any supported operation in any combination, so feel free to mix and match.
It is currently in beta, so use at your own risk! I have tested it significantly, but I cannot account for the various system configurations out there.
