BlackShark cracked on day zero :(

[Naffa]

It worked wonders for half-life, sales of which were driven massively by counter-strike of course.

That and HL was an awesome game that gamers wanted to own. I still remember getting the box from Game on release day, my hands were trembling when I opened it . Reading the back of the CD, about intelligent AI, ground breaking graphics, gameplay and so on. I was so genuinely excited. I completed HL the weekend I got it because I played it non stop. Because, unlike any game I've played recently, I didn't want to stop playing it.

What I wouldn't have done to be able to play Half Life at the time of release... I played it through about five years ago, and it was still the most enjoyable gaming experience I've had (bar Half Life 2 obviously ) but I would have killed to be able to play it back in 1998... Being young does have it's downsides I suppose.

I just wish games were still getting released that got me as excited as Half Life 2, Sonic Adventure and what not. I suppose it's all part of growing up... But Half Life, what a damn good game. I'd pay to own it ten times over.

 

[Delvis]

I do believe (though I can't say for sure) that most Steam games have been cracked.

Yep, most thing's have a work around, they have cracked servers for cracked games...probably the same for COD4 and the like.

Same with WOW actually.

 

[Delvis]

What I wouldn't have done to be able to play Half Life at the time of release... I played it through about five years ago, and it was still the most enjoyable gaming experience I've had (bar Half Life 2 obviously ) but I would have killed to be able to play it back in 1998... Being young does have it's downsides I suppose.

I just wish games were still getting released that got me as excited as Half Life 2, Sonic Adventure and what not. I suppose it's all part of growing up... But Half Life, what a damn good game. I'd pay to own it ten times over.

Think I've got about 4 copys of the thing

One original one, one from Generations, one when I got HL2 ages ago I think via STEAM....and one when I brought the Orange box...ooops

Problem is, I can't remember what cd-keys are tied to what account

 

[platypus]

I just wish games were still getting released that got me as excited as Half Life 2, Sonic Adventure and what not. I suppose it's all part of growing up... But Half Life, what a damn good game. I'd pay to own it ten times over.

One of the few games I'd glady buy again.

Still have the box and CD with my 5 figure WONID tucked away for some nostalgic reason. Of course I bought it again with the Orange box.

 

[orderoftheflame]

Think I've got about 4 copys of the thing

One original one, one from Generations, one when I got HL2 ages ago I think via STEAM....and one when I brought the Orange box...ooops

Problem is, I can't remember what cd-keys are tied to what account

Same here. I'm sure I've got 4 or 5 copies spread over several steam accounts.

As far as I know, the only time you'd need your CD key again is if someone else tried to claim that they'd purchased that key and you needed to dispute it.

 

[Darg]

I owned HL1 on disk back in the days but have since lost it before I got that key registered on steam. If anyone has a free copy they can give me I'd greatly appreciate it. Been wanting to play through it again for a while.

 

[Delvis]

I owned HL1 on disk back in the days but have since lost it before I got that key registered on steam. If anyone has a free copy they can give me I'd greatly appreciate it. Been wanting to play through it again for a while.

So you don't have HL2 or anything presumably?

 

[Schnippzle]

IMO the only real way to discourage piracy on the PC at present is to build a fantastic online mode that requires a legit CD-key to play. It helped CoD4 sales and many other games like it immensely.

Not really. One legit cd key could be used multiple times at the same time. Kinda defeats the point if you ask me.

 

[Tefal]

to protect us from pirates.

You're being attacked by pirates?


Run out the cannons!

 

[Streeteh]

Not really. One legit cd key could be used multiple times at the same time. Kinda defeats the point if you ask me.

Er, games that require legit CD keys to play online don't allow the same CD key to be used online more than once. It's been like that for years.

 

[Teki187]

gamers wanted to own.

That is exactly the point right there. I'll openly admit to being a pirate and im not ashamed of it either.

But games the deserve my money, i gladly pay for.

Example World of Goo, superb game, could have downloaded it, but i bought it to support them.

Simple answer to fix piracy, create a game that doesn't suck BIG time and isnt a console port, then you'll get my money.

 

[Tefal]

Simple answer to fix piracy, create a game that doesn't suck BIG time and isnt a console port, then you'll get my money.

if it sucks big time why download it?

Pretty ****ing retarded argument.


If you're going to be a pirate at least be honest about why, you want it for free and can be reasonably sure to get away with it.

Don;t try and make it into some kind of noble struggle.

 

[m4cc45]

If you look at it logically. If someone can engineer something then someone else can reverse engineer it. I can't think of one way of creating a protection that would prevent piracy.

If you 'stream' games (as someone mentioned in this thread) you are going to stop people playing it where there is no internet coverage. Or if there's a disruption in service or anything along those lines then this would have to be catered for (normally by storing the files locally on the PC - in which case this can be cracked).

The only way I can see piracy deminishing is by releasing the games either lower priced (Steams prices are too high - normally always higher than buying in a shop) or having superb online content restricted via a CDKey.

Also publishers need to stop using harsh protection. 'Allowing' a game I just bought to be installed 5 times is ridiculous. I've just bought the game I should be able to install it as many times as I like. The first thing most people would do, even with a bought game, is crack it so that it doesn't register online.

Edit: I do see the point of creating something that doesn't suck. If someone's 50/50 about a game they are, more than likely, going to download it rather than buy it. If they test it and its brilliant then they may end up completing the game and never buying the original. Some people say 'play demos' however I haven't played a demo recently where it is exactly the same as playing the real game (obviously only one level).


M.

 

[Tefal]

The first thing most people would do, even with a bought game, is crack it so that it doesn't register online.

Your definition of "most" is clearly very very wrong, most people wouldn't even know how to do that, or why they should.

 

[Delvis]

What would be nice regarding the install limits, is if they clearly state it, so you literally cannot miss it when install the game.

Still, it shouldn't be there, it's just annoying...It obviously doesn't stop piracy, so hey.

 

[Teki187]

if it sucks big time why download it?

Well when you see threads on here saying "omg this game rocks" posts links to all the main stream bum sucking gaming websites and they praise it as the next coming of Christ, it should be good. But take spore as example, propped up on a pedestal as being the next big thing, it came out, it was shallow, low graphics, boring and lacking MASSIVE content, but it was still sold to use the consumer as being the next big thing. Thankfully i didnt waste my money on that tripe.

But then there is the flip side to this, HL2, sold as being amazing, everyone said it was amazing, bought it and it was amazing. Same with Ep 1 and 2.

Settlers rise of an empire, not given good reviews, not a well known product, liked the previous games, bought it and the expansion and it was really good.

If you're going to be a pirate at least be honest about why, you want it for free and can be reasonably sure to get away with it.

Don;t try and make it into some kind of noble struggle.

I never made it out to be a noble struggle, more of a struggle between wasting money on a unfinished pile of **** sold to us as being finished and great and downloading that game to find out it was **** without spending money.

Then using that money to put it into something that deserves it more then the EA cash cow.

 

[Metalface Mark]

I think while things like that are cracked and distributed, stuff that is niche like this is less likely to be pirated by dedicated fans, especially in things like this where there is usually a nice weighty manual

 

[Topper]

You're being attacked by pirates?


Run out the cannons!

Heh I was just being facetious Arrrrrrr.

 

[Devlish]

If I were a developer (and presuming I had developed THE GAME OF THE CENTURY) I would:

- Remove the publisher from the equation using steam, release 99% of the client as a preload with the last bit on launch day. Hopefully no 0 day releases.
- release a taster (much longer than a demo) of a whole two hours / level cap worth of play for £3 on steam. Option to knock the £3 off the full purchase price.
- Drop that purchase price to around £23 - hopefully cash saved from slicing out the publisher.
- Incorporate a spanking online game with a central server check, ban duplicate keys.
- Release my own game torrents which dont actually work.
- Infiltrate posters onto the usual torrent sites and report these as fantastic versions.
- Let everyone know the only way to update the game is through the client.
- Spam torrent patches which trash the install.
- Infiltrate posters onto the usual torrent sites and report these as fantastic versions.
- when a proper crack is released, torrent a trash patch with exactly the same name, there must be some way of doing that.

Of course you wouldnt stop piracy and all the forums on the net would be trying to lynch you, but you might make it more than £23 worth of effort to pirate it. Ah hell, lets face it nothing would work probably but right now its so easy. Id love to know what securom say to try and persuade developers to include their software "were pretty sure it will delay the piracy by 12 hours!! woot!'

 

[Dano]

I think while things like that are cracked and distributed, stuff that is niche like this is less likely to be pirated by dedicated fans, especially in things like this where there is usually a nice weighty manual

For sure most simmers will buy to support the niche, however the choice of using SF on BS has lost ED sales, many just wont buy it period now.

The manual is irrelevant as I believe it is in PDF format and not a physical book, which to my mind just makes the whole thing more suceptable to piracy.