Uncrackable activation schemes ...

On 18 jan, 15:24, "Ralph Hoenig" <R.Hoenig-Ellenb....TakeThisOut@t-online.de>
wrote:
>
> By Frogboy
> Posted October 2, 2006 14:33:48
> A digital copy protection company has conducted a survey that found "only"
> 28% of consumers avoid protected games.

Stating the obvious here but if a digital copy protection company -
which has a zillion reasons to keep this number as low as possible -
reports this at 28% ...

Greetz,

Eddy Sterckx
 >> Stay informed about: Uncrackable activation schemes ... 

In article <MPG.21fa372cbe6d0b01c5 RemoveThis @news.east.earthlink.net>, epicat1212
@hotmail.com says...

> > 1) Show the Mario's of this world that the DRM is not hurting the
> > pirates, only the customers.
>
> I don't think this proves it's not hurting piracy. No one with any
> sense would claim that it would stop every pirate. I think it probably
> is reducing piracy.
>
> There probably losing more in sales, than money gained from extra sales
> because of stopping piracy, though (I'm thinking that that could have
> been worded better).

Well, exactly. But my question is even more fundamental; do the gain
*even ONE sale* from DRM? I know they've lost at least one sale - mine
- so the math fails from the get-go.

--
Giftzwerg
***
"The IAAF ruled Monday that double-amputee sprinter Oscar Pistorius is
ineligible to compete in the Beijing Olympics because his prosthetic
racing legs give him a clear competitive advantage."
- New York Times
 >> Stay informed about: Uncrackable activation schemes ... 

In article <d22ae49c-4e16-4063-b33c-c9ad94a780f1
@h11g2000prf.googlegroups.com>, eddysterckx.RemoveThis@hotmail.com says...

> > Matrix Games has CD KEY copy protection in pace but very large fan base but
> > we don't know what they would do if they are STARTING right now their
> > company, isn't it? )))
>
> AGEod started 2 years or so and they seem to be doing extremely well
> without DRM.

Factoid:

Amount of money Giftzwerg has spent at AGEOD: ............. ~ $125US

Amount of money Giftzwerg has spent at SES .................. $0.00US

--
Giftzwerg
***
"The IAAF ruled Monday that double-amputee sprinter Oscar Pistorius is
ineligible to compete in the Beijing Olympics because his prosthetic
racing legs give him a clear competitive advantage."
- New York Times
 >> Stay informed about: Uncrackable activation schemes ... 

On 18 jan, 15:54, "Vincenzo Beretta" <reck... RemoveThis @hotmail.com> wrote:
> > This is the link to the article
>
> > //www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3910&Itemid=2
>
> I wonder if there is a link between this line of reasoning and the fact that
> Brad Wardell is one of the best AI programmers out there...

Could be, I dunno,

But I do detect a positive correlation between the harshness of the
DRM employed and developer attitude towards customers. The harsher the
DRM, the more hostile the customer relations are.

But correlation doesn't imply causality, so I'm just wondering if
there's no simple cause and effect here, but that *both* are effects
of a cause called "the personality of the developer" ...

Greetz,

Eddy Sterckx
 >> Stay informed about: Uncrackable activation schemes ... 

In article <e8a7f8af-efa0-477f-a022-
5cd41abdfe7f.RemoveThis@t1g2000pra.googlegroups.com>, jurisper.RemoveThis@gmail.com says...

> Of course that makes sense and I would be surprised if it wasn't true.
> But it would be interesting to see a good study with some actual data
> on what effect DRM schemes have on sales. I'm surprised that this
> hasn't been done, but according to Wikipedia it hasn't:

This fact that such studies haven't been done tells us something,
though; like Holmes' "dog that didn't bark," if such a study was likely
to demonstrate what the protectionists claim, then there would surely be
studies, and they would trumpet them to the high heavens.

So we're left with anecdotes. Here's mine:

I would have bought a copy of DISTANT GUNS except for the Nazi DRM. I
don't know how many pirates were deterred, but it deterred me from
*buying* it.

--
Giftzwerg
***
"The IAAF ruled Monday that double-amputee sprinter Oscar Pistorius is
ineligible to compete in the Beijing Olympics because his prosthetic
racing legs give him a clear competitive advantage."
- New York Times
 >> Stay informed about: Uncrackable activation schemes ... 

On 18 jan, 14:39, "Vincenzo Beretta" <reck....RemoveThis@hotmail.com> wrote:
> "Giftzwerg" <giftzwerg....RemoveThis@NOSPAMZ.hotmail.com> ha scritto nel messaggionews:MPG.21fa739dcf5bdf8b989778@news.giganews.com...
>
>
>
>
>
> > In article <13f90ac8-57fa-4349-83f0-a5f60cc09948
> > @i3g2000hsf.googlegroups.com>, eddyster....RemoveThis@hotmail.com says...
>
> >> "Well, I am thinking to buy ten copies of Jutalnd for every one of
> >> your that publicly say that you will not buy Jutland.
> >> How about that? So we as community will reduce your damage."
>
> >> Ok, so here I go : I, Eddy, somewhat sound of body and a bit less of
> >> mind, hereby publicly declare that I will under no circumstances buy
> >> Jutland as long as it has server activation.
>
> > Me, neither!!!
>
> >> Let's see how quickly he eats his words
>
> > He's already over $1,000. Even the mighty Euro won't save him.
>
> Three here. We are around $1.800 - and counting. Maybe all this talk about
> how DRM help companies has some truth in it - when Mario is around.

Pffft - anyone who believes he's a man of his word should have his
head examined.

Incidentally, over at GameSquad it looks like the Italian navy has
completely sunk the opposition, with the remnants now hoisting the
white surrender flag or slinking away beyond the horizon - not that
the outcome was ever in doubt in this Disaster Guns fight

Greetz,

Eddy Sterckx
 >> Stay informed about: Uncrackable activation schemes ... 

On 18 jan, 16:32, Giftzwerg <giftzwerg....DeleteThis@NOSPAMZ.hotmail.com> wrote:
> In article <c4798300-928e-4f85-8b6c-46b457e2c6e1
> @c23g2000hsa.googlegroups.com>, eddyster....DeleteThis@hotmail.com says...
>
> > > I wonder if there is a link between this line of reasoning and the fact that
> > > Brad Wardell is one of the best AI programmers out there...
>
> > Could be, I dunno,
>
> > But I do detect a positive correlation between the harshness of the
> > DRM employed and developer attitude towards customers. The harsher the
> > DRM, the more hostile the customer relations are.
>
> > But correlation doesn't imply causality, so I'm just wondering if
> > there's no simple cause and effect here, but that *both* are effects
> > of a cause called "the personality of the developer" ...
>
> ... and we're all thinking, right now, "Gee, I'd like to invite Brad
> Wardell over for a beer, and give him some money for a game," whereas
> our thinking about Jim Rose is more along the lines of, "I'd like to key
> his Audi."

I sometimes wonder how their beta-team works under the hostile
scrutiny of a "boss" like that. Let's make this clear : I'm not even
sure they have a beta-team *at all* but let's just assume they have
one.

Now, over at the Panther Game beta forum Arjuna asked for some input
on a new feature / idea he has. I posted saying that I thought it is a
bad idea. I could be wrong, I could be right, but imagine a beta bunny
telling JR this brand-new idea of his stinks ? He'd be keelhauled.

I gladly donate my time making the Panther engine better and in return
I get some input on the direction the engine takes, but what possible
motivation could a beta bunny for JR have ? Unless he's into SM of
course.

Greetz,

Eddy Sterckx
 >> Stay informed about: Uncrackable activation schemes ... 

In article <13f90ac8-57fa-4349-83f0-a5f60cc09948
@i3g2000hsf.googlegroups.com>, eddysterckx.DeleteThis@hotmail.com says...

> "Well, I am thinking to buy ten copies of Jutalnd for every one of
> your that publicly say that you will not buy Jutland.
> How about that? So we as community will reduce your damage."
>
> Ok, so here I go : I, Eddy, somewhat sound of body and a bit less of
> mind, hereby publicly declare that I will under no circumstances buy
> Jutland as long as it has server activation.

Me, neither!!!

> Let's see how quickly he eats his words

He's already over $1,000. Even the mighty Euro won't save him.

--
Giftzwerg
***
"The IAAF ruled Monday that double-amputee sprinter Oscar Pistorius is
ineligible to compete in the Beijing Olympics because his prosthetic
racing legs give him a clear competitive advantage."
- New York Times
 >> Stay informed about: Uncrackable activation schemes ... 

On Jan 18, 5:12 pm, "Bloodstar" <george.washing....RemoveThis@microsoft.com>
wrote:
> Brad Wardell is a complete idiot.
>
> by Bloodstar AD 2008

Brad W has runs a very succesful software company which - amongst
other profitable activities - publishes games via Stardock Central,
and developed the very succesful Galactic Civilizations 1 and 2.
None of their published titles have invasive DRM. And Stardock central
is a smoothly running digital distribution method.

Brad is generally seen as one of the better strategy game AI
developers.

Jim Rose runs SES, a software company which has 1 (one) mediocre
strategy title out. Distant guns has one of the most invasive DRM
possible (server chaining), which has apparently caused major issues
for paying customers recently.

Jim is generally seen as a previously succesful entrepreneur with an
absolute dreadful attitude in communicating with his customers.
He could not get a job at McD's serving burgers.

Bloodstar is an 'amusing' regular poster in the war-historical group,
who in the last few weeks has gone from somewhat odd to raving
lunatic.
With every post he seems to gain a bit more distance from this planet
that the rest of us call home.

Regards,

-von Schmidt
 >> Stay informed about: Uncrackable activation schemes ... 

On 18 jan, 19:01, "Hannu Harvanpaah" <groggymon....RemoveThis@NOSPAM.com> wrote:
> "Bloodstar" <george.washing....RemoveThis@microsoft.com> wrote in message
>
> news:fmqoph$as3$1@sunce.iskon.hr...
>
>
>
> >> Antibiotic resistant flesh-eating Staph bacteria is evolving as well,
> >> what's
> >> your point?
>
> > I see that you cannot normally communicate but are prone to ad hominem
> > attacks. One more and you will end up in my jail
>
> Ad hominem attack? Really Mario, it pretty much illustrates the point in
> rather stunning clarity. Just because something is EVOLVING, does not
> automatically mean it's a good thing!

You're correct, but this type of logic, which wouldn't confuse a pre-
school toddler, goes waaaaaay over poor Mario's head.

Greetz,

Eddy Sterckx
 >> Stay informed about: Uncrackable activation schemes ... 

In article <c4798300-928e-4f85-8b6c-46b457e2c6e1
@c23g2000hsa.googlegroups.com>, eddysterckx.DeleteThis@hotmail.com says...

> > I wonder if there is a link between this line of reasoning and the fact that
> > Brad Wardell is one of the best AI programmers out there...
>
> Could be, I dunno,
>
> But I do detect a positive correlation between the harshness of the
> DRM employed and developer attitude towards customers. The harsher the
> DRM, the more hostile the customer relations are.
>
> But correlation doesn't imply causality, so I'm just wondering if
> there's no simple cause and effect here, but that *both* are effects
> of a cause called "the personality of the developer" ...

.... and we're all thinking, right now, "Gee, I'd like to invite Brad
Wardell over for a beer, and give him some money for a game," whereas
our thinking about Jim Rose is more along the lines of, "I'd like to key
his Audi."

--
Giftzwerg
***
"The IAAF ruled Monday that double-amputee sprinter Oscar Pistorius is
ineligible to compete in the Beijing Olympics because his prosthetic
racing legs give him a clear competitive advantage."
- New York Times
 >> Stay informed about: Uncrackable activation schemes ... 

> 2) JR, Mario and maybe others are watching the ng - by posting this
> they can get GameSquad to remove the link

Not that this happened, at least as I'm posting this.

If it happens, I wonder if thewy will issue a 'thank you to USENET - you
know, the shameful cretins'" and a behind-the-scenes slap to their "Mods"
(who were chasing (away) legit costumers while how to crack DG was available
*on their very own forum*.

Boy, I have no sympathy for pirates too, but they sure look like Jason
Bourne vs. the CIA.
 >> Stay informed about: Uncrackable activation schemes ... 

> 1) Show the Mario's of this world that the DRM is not hurting the
> pirates, only the customers.

To the Eddy's of this world - you may repeat your mantra as those Hare
Krishna's on some city's squares but it ain't coming to my ears stil....
))))

First your fact is not true: DRM is hurting both pirates and customers. To
what extent, I cannot know.
It is maybe individual from publisher to publisher.
Did you see any publisher going out of business for using some DRM?
Starforce was dropped because enormous pressure and many people had problem
with that.
I don't see that real, mature naval history buff's are grumbling too much
about DRM, nor Battlefront fans.
So DRM can succeed in activation form if they manage to get sales better
when you deduct those dissatisfied from final sales number.
Matrix Games has CD KEY copy protection in pace but very large fan base but
we don't know what they would do if they are STARTING right now their
company, isn't it? )))
For a startup company that goes initially with only one product it is
dilemma.

> 2) JR, Mario and maybe others are watching the ng - by posting this
> they can get GameSquad to remove the link as my sympathy for pirates
> is even less than my sympathy for SES. In other words helping SES,
> without really being seen as helping SES.
>
> There, cards on the table.

LOL so you want me to email Maddox to discipline those Russians and
Ukrainians and remove that link? )))

Maybe I can do that if you politely ask me )))


Mario
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