Starforce Petition!

[chaosmaster]

And with the new Starforce Version after the new D-Tools release there wont work anything! And the Starforce Virus is still installed on your PC!

[ash2dust2]

As with any addiction, I'll buy it if its a must have. But as a rule of thumb, no I wont purchase Starforce protected games.

So far I've only bought one and that was the last one. I had to reformat and the game went on Ebay. But if 9/10 of my buddies are playing the game and the game lasts more than 6 months, then I will try once more. So far that hasnt happen. Most games are a flash and forgotten in a couple months. Oh well, at least I found a way to save some money.

[Game-Hacker]

Originally Posted by chaosmaster

And with the new Starforce Version after the new D-Tools release there wont work anything! And the Starforce Virus is still installed on your PC!

Sorry for my lack of knowedge, you mentioned Starforce Virus? What are those? I have Kasperky anti-virus installed but when installing Stronghold2 I do not get any alert so is after scanning my PC with it? Do you mean StarForce Virus as a real virus?

[Xenophon]

Originally Posted by Game-Hacker

Sorry for my lack of knowedge, you mentioned Starforce Virus? What are those? I have Kasperky anti-virus installed but when installing Stronghold2 I do not get any alert so is after scanning my PC with it? Do you mean StarForce Virus as a real virus?

Perhaps because U installed a Non Starforce protected game!

Stronhold 2 protection is:Securom 7

[dajunka]

@Grumpy.

Excellent my dear Grumpy. This is what we need, someone with a little time to maintain and monitor the thread, I would have done something along the same lines if I had more time on my hands to give it the level of attention that it deserves.

May I make a suggestion? "Yes you may comrade dajunka", thank you.

It would be great if you could maintain a list of games that have had the SF removed such as X2 the threat and all new game releases that are SF free.
This not only gives readers I quick guide to what they may buy without breaking the boycott but also will reflect the mod of the publishers, giving us some insight to if our message is getting though to their bank accounts or not.
Most new releases of late have adopted SF as their chosen protection so any fluctuation in future releases should become obvious.

Keep up the good fight Grumpy and I would like to nominate this thread for a sticky.

[expandyourmind]

Thanks for that games list I was wondering why my system developed problems after I installed heroes ww2. I will never ever purchase a product that uses starforce again.

[frisk eucalyptus]

You can add StillLife (StarForce v3.4.65.11) to the list...

[IMMANUEL]

I don't buy any starforce protected game, never ever. It's crap and one more step to a global fascism, whenever some concerns own the whole world.
But just they will be satan's slaves.
Maybe time to stop playing?

[nerva]

lol ppl
99% here cant emulate the SF and there is no crack to it, so they became angry
relax, okay games you like, forget about drivers - it didnt do any "backdoor" work
http://www.star-force.com/protection.phtml?c=91

[Grumpy]

@nerva
Unfortunately that link has no date on the page! I have read that before and it could refer to any version of Starforce? I assure you the later versions of Starforce is a whole new ball game!
Of course Starforce are not going to tell you openly about the hidden fuctions of thier protection!
A Quote from the first paragraph from that site:

Those drivers are necessary for the StarForce specific CD/DVD checking procedure, only. They do not include any hidden functionality. The drivers are active only at execution of the protected application.

If they do not include any hidden functionality and are only active at the execution of the application then why is it then you can now no longer read the dpm info from your other CD's!! So by installing the latest Starforce Protection you will be prevented from performing a function you were able to do before. In my opinion, and I am sure many will agree, that itself is a hidden function! Nowhere do Starforce mention this!
Look many can argue we are only picking up a fuss because we cant rip of games anymore! I am self employed and earn very good dollars, I dont need to steal games! But I do like to be able to walk into a shop and purchase a game which will not cause havoc to my system!
What we are trying to do here is make people aware that all is not what it seems in the Protection industry!
Nerva, you say there is no backdoor function, well clearly none that you know of!

[Fraya]

As a rule I dont buy SF protected games and I warn every gamer I know about the danger the SF drivers pose.

As for taking it to court it wouldnt be much of a trial:

Lawyer: You work for <insert game publisher>?
Witness: Yes.
Lawyer: SF protection was intentionally included?
Witness: Yes.
Lawyer: Did you research it first?

At this point whether the guy says yes or no the game company is admitting to criminal negligence =P

If they researched it and failed to warn the consumer = guilty.
If they didnt they failed to ensure their product was safe = guilty.

Contractual limited liability clauses dont apply to criminal cases only civil torts brought by the consumer

[Joe Forster/STA]

But you're viewing the situation from the wrong point of view! Suing Starforce's ass off when the copy protection breaks your PC is relatively simple, especially, if a few unlucky gamers unite and act against Starforce as a group, not only as several individuals. ("Corporate lawsuit", is that what this is called? Yes, my law English sucks, too!)

The real problem is proving that it was Starforce - and nothing else! - that broke your PC. That's why they're so eager to find people that can potentially show this to them...!

[MontyBurns1985]

StarForce 3 really sucks hard!
The only StarForce 3 protected game I have is "Splinter Cell 3 - Chaos Theory". It came together with my new Graphics card (Leadtek Winfast A6600 GT TDH).
But I will never buy such a game. This protection is very customer-unfriendly!

MfG MontyBurns1985

[whacko_kazaa]

Thanx for the list of games protected by SF. Will ensure that I don't download those. Pls. don't mistake me for writing this. I download games and not buy them 'cos, here in India they cost around 1500 bucks. No way someone's gonna pay that and also get their PC INFECTED with SF. So no more SF game downloads. Cheers for starting this topic.

[Grumpy]

@ Whacko
May I suggest you go and read the forum rules! This site is not to help you choose which games to 'download'!
People like yourself are the reason these type of intrusive protections are released!! Games are expensive in every country, what makes you think it is ok to download games just because you cant afford them!
I cant afford a Rolls Royce car but it doesnt mean I can just steal one! Developers etc work very hard to release games, so you will have to work just as hard to be able to purchase them! You obviously can afford a broadband connection therefore you can afford to buy games!
Enjoy your upcoming ban from this site!