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[DocBass]

Hello once again-
    Is there a way to institute copy protection for commercial games?

[metamorphium]

WME supports Starforce protection scheme (from 1.4). If I am not mistaken, SafeDisc and LaserLock are both independent so you don't need direct protection.

[DocBass]

I suppose I was more interested in software protection like serial numbers or something since the game will most likely be download only.

[metamorphium]

then it's very easy to script. For example you just put in some edit box and parse the input, which you compare with some algorithmic result and in case of inequality you call Game.Quit();

Then after successfull registration you write for example some value into registry or generate some file on harddisc with a key, which tells game, that it was already registered so it won't bother player anymore. This registry / file should be unique for installation or others will steal it.

This idea is not bulletproof but no protection is, so it's just another way how to annoy players.

Just note, that people who will steal he game won't buy it anyway,  so using no-protection scheme saves you time and don't loose you that much money

Edit: morning typos

[Mnemonic]

The nice thing about having protection in scripts is that it's harder to crack, because the cracker has to figure out (at least partially) how the compiled scripts in WME work. Of course, it's nothing a determined cracker couldn't do, but at least it might slow them down a bit more than "routine" exe cracking (or maybe I'm naive)

[metamorphium]

Mnemonic: the narrow neck of this scheme is that somehow this information must be stored somewhere, so the player doesn't need to enter this each time around. Simple registry entry or file generator will skip your script protection unless it's really computer / game personalized.

[DocBass]

then it's very easy to script. For example you just put in some edit box and parse the input, which you compare with some algorithmic result and in case of inequality you call Game.Quit();

Then after successfull registration you write for example some value into registry or generate some file on harddisc with a key, which tells game, that it was already registered so it won't bother player anymore. This registry / file should be unique for installation or others will steal it.

This idea is not bulletproof but no protection is, so it's just another way how to annoy players.

Just note, that people who will steal he game won't buy it anyway,  so using no-protection scheme saves you time and don't loose you that much money

Edit: morning typos

I would say that's arguable as far as not losing much money. My first job was in retail at Software Etc. (before it became Gamestop) and all of our loss prevention techniques were meant to "keep the honest people honest." A thief won't buy your product just because it's harder to steal...that much I understand.

[odnorf]

This is going kind of topic but.... I've never seen any proof that any copy protection mechanism helps a company in not loosing money. Actually I've never seen any proof that there are indeed lost money.