Game copy protection (Star-force)

This article ticks me off immensely. The author works for Star-force and writes mainly in his anger with software hackers who espouse pains when dealing with his companies particular copy protection. I have no problem with what he said about pirates, their self indignation is false. Dennis unfortunately said, in essence, anyone having trouble with their game copy protection is a hacker.

“….user that run in to compatibility problems are beginner level hackers….”

Huh? A blanket statement like that is dangerous and reckless, especially as a figurehead for your company. What is he THINKING? I, like many other people own starforce protected games, and have had numerous problems with it. Aside from random crashes; the program gradually slows your disk/cd/dvd drives down to PIO mode, something akin to speeds in the DOS game days. Usually the only solution is to reinstall the entire system, how many casual gamers know how to do that? According to the article,

“…Compatibility problems do occur with any protection system, and the statistics of Starforce lie within a standard.”

The problem is no one knows what this standard is. Starforce forums regularly delete posts asking for help or expression of anything but glee for their products. It’s not uncommon for the Admins to accuse the customers with a problem of piracy, and theft. Got a problem? You are a pirate. Random computer behavior? You were trying to circumvent the copy protection. It sounds Cliché’ to say it, but in Starforces eyes you are 'guilty until…' well you're really just guilty. Unlike every other copy protection scheme on the market (safedisk, laserlock, tages) and unlike hardware vendors, the folks at Starforce haven’t even listed compatibility errors- not a single one. Despite the complaints, according to them- every piece of hardware is 100% reliable. Makes one wonder what ‘standard’ is being touted and compatible. I wonder what percentage of gamers built their computer themselves. Moreover, wouldn’t they like to know what hardware is incompatible?

What’s going on? Regardless of the real reason for problems with Starforce, it is not making any friends, with its closed policy and shoot first forums, this is simply not the behavior of a company with nothing to hide, A simple piece of PR her eand there and a compatilibility list would go a long way to repairing the damage they have done to themselves. Regardless of their tactics and regardless of 'the real story' - I would love to know how to speed up my DVD drive again.

please register to use this feature

RANT mode on:

Nothing irks me more than the near compulsive need of more and more web sites that demand my personal details. I have no desire to register just to access a friends link about a tap dancing cat. As frustrating as it is, this is indicitive of how much 'they' want from us.

Now realize what has me so worried. Ideas for what has been deemed 'internet 2.0' have surfaced as a near eventuality for some. The idea is to create a tiered internet, with services beneath premium that limit the data you download and sites visited. Some look at this as extortion while others see it as the next step.

Unfortunately it all comes down to money, and the telcos that run the pipes of the internet demand a piece of the pie. They own the pipes; how dare you have a business that generates traffic on them.
Consider, though, the impact this concept will have impact on the websites themselves. Websites will have to pay fees based on the amount of traffic they generate. If you hate giving out your information NOW, imagine how bad it will get.
-In an effort to wring any profit from your browsing as possible, sites will not only require you to register, but will probably ask to sell your data.
-Want to read that news story about your favorite baketball team? register or you cant see it, how about that recipe that google just showed you? REGISTER to browse the recipe list.

In essence, by destroying the ability to browse the internet without commitment, Internet 2.0 is shooting your fanbase in the foot, alienating the only thing that makes a website money- PEOPLE.

small update

Microsoft products for productivity are great, assuming you have the cash (anyone got a spare $400 so i can write a book report?). There are alternatives though, like open office. Ajaxwrite is a great idea, assuming it can be pulled off. Imagine an office suite that is avalible via the web, able to work on any platform (mac, PC, Linux etc.) , will work with current microsoft office standards, and is completely free. I'm sure the free part is whats pissing the most people off.

-stray