Game Activation Uproar

NightSt@lk3r · 22 Aug 2007 at 22:36

Radiation said:
Then you're only hurting the rest of us in the long run and should be ashamed.

nope not ashamed at all, lots of games require online activation, hell windows requires online activation, its not like you are limited in the ammount of times you can activate it.

Tejstar · 22 Aug 2007 at 22:37

Dano said:
Having this limitation on steam is even worse, the whole point of steam is that you can play your games on any capable pc anywhere in the world, if that is no longer the case then steam is pointless as anything but a delivery system.

I know, Steam was my last hope for this game on the PC and now it looks like I'll be going for the 360 version. There is no way that I will be buying the PC version and have the overhang that I only have two chances to install the game.

Teki187 · 22 Aug 2007 at 22:39

manoz said:
MMOs?

You can download most MMO's and play on many free servers.

If a cracked version for the PC comes out, would it be illegal for me to use the crack on my bought copy (hopefully pre order arrives tomorrow) in order to avoid using up one of my two installations?

You are LEGALLY ALLOWED to make a personal backup of an Original Game CD/DVD as long as you are the owner of the Original Game CD/DVD.

Which includes using cracked .exe's to run the game.

sid · 22 Aug 2007 at 22:41

What time is bioshock released? Is it 8pm friday?

I'm gonna preload this on Steam now,

Its just too good a game, I'll argue with you guys later about damn activations.

sid

Dano · 22 Aug 2007 at 22:41

Teki187 said:
You are LEGALLY ALLOWED to make a personal backup of an Original Game CD/DVD as long as you are the owner of the Original Game CD/DVD.

Which includes using cracked .exe's to run the game.

But it is illegal to circumvent the copy protection as far as I am aware, so no you cannot use a cracked .exe to run the game.

Teki187 · 22 Aug 2007 at 22:44

Dano said:
But it is illegal to circumvent the copy protection as far as I am aware, so no you cannot use a cracked .exe to run the game.

copy protection just stops you from copy and pasting the CD and or creating the ISO.

Cracked .exe's are used to not only speed up loading times but to stop you using the CD/DVD all the time. Since your not circumventing the Copy protection, its not illegal.

Radiation · 22 Aug 2007 at 22:44

NightSt@lk3r said:
nope not ashamed at all, lots of games require online activation, hell windows requires online activation, its not like you are limited in the ammount of times you can activate it.

People like you really miss the point, simply ignore it or just don't care, theres simply not enough :rolleyes:

.

Also just because others have tried and got away with it doesn't make it 'right' or 'good'.

NightSt@lk3r · 22 Aug 2007 at 22:45

Teki187 said:
copy protection just stops you from copy and pasting the CD and or creating the ISO.

Cracked .exe's are used to not only speed up loading times but to stop you using the CD/DVD all the time. Since your not circumventing the Copy protection, its not illegal.

but reverse engineering the games code is illegal.

Dano · 22 Aug 2007 at 22:47

Teki187 said:
copy protection just stops you from copy and pasting the CD and or creating the ISO.

Cracked .exe's are used to not only speed up loading times but to stop you using the CD/DVD all the time. Since your not circumventing the Copy protection, its not illegal.

Since the copy protection requires the disc in the drive (ok, not steam games) doing anything that removes that need is circumventing the copy protection and thus, illegal.

Teki187 · 22 Aug 2007 at 22:48

NightSt@lk3r said:
but reverse engineering the games code is illegal.

But you dont do that to create a .exe crack, you just remove the applications dependence on the CD/DVD since the content is already installed on the HDD.

Since the copy protection requires the disc in the drive (ok, not steam games) doing anything that removes that need is circumventing the copy protection and thus, illegal.

Copy protection is during the installation of the game.

SafeDisc, SecuROM, LaserLok and RMPS are all used DURING the installation of the games and or inital launch of the application.

After installation the CD is only used to launch the game.

NightSt@lk3r · 22 Aug 2007 at 22:49

Teki187 said:
But you dont do that to create a .exe crack, you just remove the applications dependence on the CD/DVD since the content is already installed on the HDD.

majority of games .exe files are encrypted by the copy protection, in order to crack the copy protection the .exe needs to be unpacked and moddified which is reverse engineering the code.

LoadsaMoney · 22 Aug 2007 at 22:54

I take it no ones running Vista then, as if you change summit you have to phone up to get it re-activated, thats a £200 OS, and your moaning about having to do the same on a piddly £25 game, priceless

Dano · 22 Aug 2007 at 22:57

Teki187 said:
But you dont do that to create a .exe crack, you just remove the applications dependence on the CD/DVD since the content is already installed on the HDD.

Copy protection is during the installation of the game.

SafeDisc, SecuROM, LaserLok and RMPS are all used DURING the installation of the games and or inital launch of the application.

After installation the CD is only used to launch the game.

No, the disc is required for the program to run and is checked by whatever system is used, it is part of the protection for the program.

Nate--IRL-- · 22 Aug 2007 at 22:58

Just to be clear here...sorry i'm not sure i've fully understood this

If i have 1 install on my xp partition and one on my Vista partition, and i do something stupid and disk is wiped.....

I then have to repurchase Bioshock?

Nate

weringo · 22 Aug 2007 at 22:59

Why is the legality of cracking games if you have the disc relevant to anything? I've never heard of a company prosecuting a legit customer just because they aren't using their CD/DVD anyway.

Tejstar · 22 Aug 2007 at 23:01

Nate--IRL-- said:
Just to be clear here...sorry i'm not sure i've fully understood this

If i have 1 install on my xp partition and one on my Vista partition, and i do something stupid and disk is wiped.....

I then have to repurchase Bioshock?

Nate

A phone call should be enough for them to reset your key/send you a new one... apparently.

Teki187 · 22 Aug 2007 at 23:22

Dano said:
No, the disc is required for the program to run and is checked by whatever system is used, it is part of the protection for the program.

In your case, wouldnt direct drive be liable to action since they dont use CD's and or copy protection?

RoachycaL · 22 Aug 2007 at 23:26

NightSt@lk3r said:
i accept it, will be picking it up over the weekend

Well that's good to know - I'll sleep easy tonight

Kipper67 · 22 Aug 2007 at 23:28

Teki187 said:
In your case, wouldnt direct drive be liable to action since they dont use CD's and or copy protection?

Nope

I'm pretty sure D2D don't just pirate the games and hope the original publisher doesn't get wind of it

Obviously they make a deal with the publisher to strip the protection out and remove the cd check as I take it, like STEAM, direct to drive is tied to your account.

Teki187 · 22 Aug 2007 at 23:29

Kipper67 said:
Nope

I'm pretty sure D2D don't just pirate the games and hope the original publisher doesn't get wind of it

Obviously they make a deal with the publisher to strip the protection out and remove the cd check as I take it like STEAM direct to drive is tied to your account.

Aye, so hes saying if you break the copy protection your doing something illegal, which you arnt.