(08-04-2010, 05:49 PM)--Pete Wrote: I completely agree with this. I am almost fanatically against pirating. If I want the same software on three machines, and the EULA doesn't allow multiple copies, I'll buy three copies or do without. But more and more I've resorted to running cracked games after I've bought the legal copy. I've hated copy protection schemes as far back as the days of the intentionally damaged floppy and the "enter the third word of the second line on the fifth page" nonsense.
If someone is willing to make the effort, no software is uncrackable. Even hardware security, such as dongles, can be bypassed by altering the code that checks.
I've never understood why the paying customer should have hassles running the software than does the pirate. Yeah, it might cut back on the casual, "I'll burn you a copy", pirating. But most people can find whatever they want at a warez site or buy a mass produced Russian or Chinese made rip off.
Just one of the stupidities of the world, I guess.
--Pete
Anyone remember Sacred? You had to have the physical disc in the drive when you wanted to play (normal, no real complaints there besides I don't want to dig up the disc each time), but every single patch it would break the validation for different cd rom manufacturers and models. Every single patch a new round of legitimate users who wouldn't be able to play because it wouldn't recognize that they did in fact have the game in the drive. Apart from all the other bugs it had, that one made the game completely unacceptable. Once you get to the point where your customers can't use the game they bought because of the horrible anti-piracy (but the pirates can still play), it's gone too far.
Intolerant monkey.