Controversial StarForce Copy Protection Creators Quizzed 952
Thanks to FiringSquad for its interview with the creators of the StarForce copy protection scheme for PC videogames. The author explains: "In recent months there's been an increasing awareness and alarm over StarForce copy protection. It's actually a driver that installs itself with the [Windows] games that come shipped with it, and originally it didn't uninstall when the game was uninstalled." StarForce's Abbie Sommer argues the advantages of "driver-level copy protection", explaining: "The drivers are what prevents the use of kernel debugger utilities such as SoftICE, Cool Debugger, Soft Snoop etc. Also the drivers prevent emulators from spoofing a drive, and thwart burning tools such as Alcohol 120%." The author concludes by injecting a little personal opinion into the mix, arguing: "PC games will never go away, but if the market keeps shrinking due to the increasing ease of piracy... then the number and quality of games will almost certainly decrease."
Re:I don't think this will be a problem (Score:2, Funny)
When someone starts off with this, I'm expecting something appropriately juicy. Your post was kind of a let down.
WTF? (Score:5, Funny)
Dork Behind Him: What is the matter with you?
Chick: Looks like he ran afoul of Star Force's copyright protection!
Dork: Ha ha!
Chick: *snicker*
Man: Shut the hell up you two!
Dork: OMG YOUR MEGAHURTZ HAS BEEN STOL3D!!
Chick: All your CD-ROM belong to Star Force.
If you can't crack it, do it another way... (Score:1, Funny)
- Good copy protection.
- Game market shrinking.
How could i get a copy and still help the game industry? Easy, go to the shop, open the box, and leave with the CD/DVD...
- You get a copy for free.
- The game industry was paid for it.
Voila! Now if they just could put stickers on the box with the copy protection name so i dont need to go to differents shops that often...
One could argue that the shops keeps generally 4% of the sales to pay the stolen good. But yet other peoples steals, so I pay for them when not stealing, so after a time I've paid for a free product of my choice. Just call that 4% the analogical P2P, and forget about it...
-- Gawaa!
Re:And punish legitimate users? (Score:5, Funny)
Mr. Babbages Line Printing and Mimographic Aperatus for the Laying Out and Production of Tabular Information and Mathmatical Tables
A Driver for use with Mr. Babbages Differential Engine No. #1
Driver verion 1.253 Patch Level 2
Warning! Women should not attempt the installation or operation of this device driver!
Re:And punish legitimate users? (Score:3, Funny)
Parent: "Steam [steampowered.com]?"
Am I the only one who finds this hilarious?
Re:And punish legitimate users? (Score:3, Funny)
Jaysyn
Re:And punish legitimate users? (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Many new mainstream machines come with Nero. (Score:2, Funny)
We could only be so lucky... :P
Re:And punish legitimate users? (Score:1, Funny)
Some of us need to grow up and stop trolling slashdot.
Re:And punish legitimate users? (Score:4, Funny)
This is true. Only by defeating Malak can we bring about the destruction of the Star Forge.
Pazaak anyone?
Re:None of you are getting it (Score:2, Funny)
impossible
How hypocritical Slashdotters are. When stories are posted of stupid lawsuits because someone was careless in purchasing or using a product and did themselves/their family harm, you jump all over them. High and mighty. Superior, intelligent, all-knowing.
welcome to slashdot
It is really time for a major self-evaluation amongst gamers. I'm extremely disappointed that even such an intelligent crowd as here simply repeats the same crybaby pro-piracy mantras after they shit their own beds and don't like the smell. Yeah, invasive copy protection sucks royal ass but the only reason it's there is because of you.
You're obviously insane.
Piracy will always exist and no matter how hard a game is to crack it will eventually be cracked. What a human intelligent mind does can be undone by the same mind.
So, how about trying to limit piracy by making a game worth buying. Consumers have money and are willing to spend it and most of them do faster then they earn it. Trying to somehow connect piracy to dwindling profits is a weak argument. First you presuppose that your product is even worth buying which it some cases it is not. Second piracy is hard to track and even harder to prove how much profit is lost by stealing.
The solution is rather simple, make games that are worth buying. Improve your product. Blaming profit loss on consumers is like a farmer blaming dirt.
Re:And punish legitimate users? (Score:3, Funny)
As compared to many video game sites which say "Pwn them now!" instead.
Re:StarForce stole technology? (Score:2, Funny)
CD-Cops should have used copy protection.
Re:And punish legitimate users? (Score:3, Funny)
"We don't stop playing because we grow old... we grow old because we stop playing."
-George Bernard Shaw