Comment Re:Haven't played game with copy protection in yea (Score 1) 80
Well, I'm a slow learner. After going through hell with several StarForce protected games, I'm now on the StarForce boycott. The StarForce paradox is that you have to buy the software to find out if you'll have any problems with it. Then if you do have problems, the software has been opened and you can't return it. You lose and they still get paid.
I also abhor the idea of a game installation stashing ring 0 drivers on my system without my knowledge or permission. My computer and operating system are *my* property and game makers don't have the right to take liberties with it. They somehow justify this trespass with some small print in the license agreement. I'd really like to see some legislation protecting me in that regard.
I'm glad to see publishers dropping StarForce. It's not like StarForce is the only game in town (no pun intended) nor is it the only one that installs low level drivers. SafeDisk does as well, but I believe they use one ring 3 driver and it's much less invasive (as opposed to SF which uses 3 drivers one of which is ring 0). At least I've never had any problems with SafeDisk. SecuROM seems to be the least invasive and doesn't install any drivers as near as I can tell. This is all stuff I've had to spend time making myself aware of since the problems I've had with StarForce. I've had two games that wouldn't authenticate and problems with my DVD drive. After removing all StarForce related files and registry entries, I've had no problems since. The StarForce protected games ended up in the circular file. I've lost some money and lots of time because of StarForce.
StarForce is evil and needs to go down in a spiraling conflagration. It will please me greatly to see that happen.
- Craig
I also abhor the idea of a game installation stashing ring 0 drivers on my system without my knowledge or permission. My computer and operating system are *my* property and game makers don't have the right to take liberties with it. They somehow justify this trespass with some small print in the license agreement. I'd really like to see some legislation protecting me in that regard.
I'm glad to see publishers dropping StarForce. It's not like StarForce is the only game in town (no pun intended) nor is it the only one that installs low level drivers. SafeDisk does as well, but I believe they use one ring 3 driver and it's much less invasive (as opposed to SF which uses 3 drivers one of which is ring 0). At least I've never had any problems with SafeDisk. SecuROM seems to be the least invasive and doesn't install any drivers as near as I can tell. This is all stuff I've had to spend time making myself aware of since the problems I've had with StarForce. I've had two games that wouldn't authenticate and problems with my DVD drive. After removing all StarForce related files and registry entries, I've had no problems since. The StarForce protected games ended up in the circular file. I've lost some money and lots of time because of StarForce.
StarForce is evil and needs to go down in a spiraling conflagration. It will please me greatly to see that happen.
- Craig
