SimCity: Societies Update #3

[FM-Staalker]

Okay, look. I may be unique in this aspect, but I wasn't whining or bitching about it not working. Hell, I have the original disk to use. I was trying to let others know, as well as the crackers, that the file wasn't working. Since I obviously am not alone in this, as so far I haven't found anyone using XP2 that can make it work, I would expect it to be something they would be interested in.

I hear Vitality talk shit all the time. Read the NFO files that come with their cracks and software hacks and see. They constantly put down other groups. Hey, I used to work with some of the other groups, so I know what the scene is like. However, in a period of 48 hours I saw them release three cracks that didn't work, but they still wanted to talk shit about others who put out cracks just like them.

I have no issue with that, in fact, I don't care who says what. But if they truly want to talk smack and get respect for what they do, they should be interested in correcting the mistakes they make. If they aren't, fine, but don't go talking your shit about others.

I give them props for correcting the Soulstorm crack, the new one works great...but truthfully, the Reloaded was working fine before they even released the broken one. And I also show my gratitude for their services.

Still, the issue with the SSC crack isn't a rare few, it's everyone I have talked to. Visit the various torrent sites and DL lists that have the Vitality crack for SSC, you'll find tons of comments about it not working.

Something is wrong with it. Letting them know is a good thing, no? Isn't that really what this place is for? Get off your high horse and quit trying to defend a mistake. They made one somewhere, and even if they won't fix it or care to try and fix it...the point is, it should be made known that a mistake was made. Not to insult them, but to warn others who will try to use the file.

Now, as for the crack. It isn't a "Configuration" issue. I have four PC's in my home, and three at my office. All different set-ups, but the one thing they have in common is they are all using XP2. The crack WILL NOT work on ANY of them, and yes I spent the time installing the game and the patch to see, hoping that I could find something in my "game" machine that was off.

Maybe XP isn't the issue, but I have yet to find anyone with XP who can make it work. You really want to call that a "configuration" issue?

In addition, many of the cracking crews these days don't have the games they crack for. They just open the executes and remove the protection code. You can do that without ever opening the game up. Problem is, when something goes wrong...like this case...you don't know it until you release it and hear about it.

I'm not saying that is what Vitality did, but you can't win with an argument that

Crackers obviously don't release cracks that don't work at all.

Truth is, that is EXACTLY what they have done, and more than once this week in fact. However, they did correct the Soulstorm issue as well as another. This one they haven't fixed yet.

Peace.

[Joe Forster/STA]

Having a specific version of Windows on your PC really is a configuration issue. (Remember cracks that worked only on Windows XP but not on Windows 2000, while the original game officially supported both. The expression "configuration" might not be appropriate in this case but, you see, neither is "not at all".)

Also, if you think that professional crackers are visiting this forum and will listen to you complaints... well...

[simdude]

I managed to try it out on Win Vista 32 as well.

This is what I found:

>> on Win XP SP2 - it doesn't work no matter what I do. Kick it, curse it, throw the computer out the window, it just won't work.
>> on Win Vista 32 - it works.

The Vista however does pop up a window saying due to an issue with Vista and video memory you may need to install this update http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=940105 before it lets you play. You need to hit OK to dismiss the popup window and the game kicks in. But that might deppend on your hardware configuration, wether or not you get the notice.

Now, that doesn't help me since I use Win XP on my computer, but if others want to try it out, have Vista for this crack.

At least they should mention it's for Vista only when they put it out.

[FM-Staalker]

I wasn't complaining about the crack. I also know that the crackers don't read the board. However, as I said, others should know it doesn't work...also, word DOES get back to the crack team. Other cracks they have released and then fixed later proves it. It may not come from THIS site, but it does happen.

[DABhand]

Originally Posted by FM-Staalker

In addition, many of the cracking crews these days don't have the games they crack for. They just open the executes and remove the protection code. You can do that without ever opening the game up. Problem is, when something goes wrong...like this case...you don't know it until you release it and hear about it.

Impossible.

It would be like looking for the preverbial needle in the large haystack.

[0_0_7]

I installed the game on my Desktop - with both Systems just for testing.

On XP Pro SP2 = no go
On Vista 32 Bit Ultimate = runs without any problems!

By the way, the Microsoft Patch 94105 is a important patch for Vista with nVidia GPUs, so you should install it.

Greetings, 007

[TippeX]

Originally Posted by DABhand

Impossible.

It would be like looking for the preverbial needle in the large haystack.

have to agree there, to crack anything you usually need the entire package, with earlier protections all you might have needed was the exe+dll's, nowadays its still probably possible, but would require a lot of skill, which doesn't seem to be there in the scene recently...

back in the days, there were even cases where you have to play the game the whole way through to make sure you got 'everything', i doubt things changed that much...

to 'remove' the protection as stated you usually need a mini/maxi image to even get the executable to the original entrypoint (unless you had another method, and there were very few people who worked in that 'area'... )..

so, really @FM-Staalker - you dont know what you're on about ...

[FM-Staalker]

I did say I used to be in the scene, and it has been quite a while....so, having outdated knowledge doesn't mean I don't know what I am talking about. It just means that it isn't useful anymore.

But to play on your point, I have seen games out the day of retail release with the crack already on the iso. You really think they are playing through these games the whole way through in a day or so? Most of the crackers I know have full time jobs, but I guess these days it could be done by people who don't.

Still, it isn't impossible to remove protections schemes from games without ever installing it. It just takes the proper software. Sure, it doesn't work as often as the other way around, but then again many of the cracks I have seen lately would make you think this is the way they are doing it.

It depends on which protection module the game has, but that should be a given.

Either way, I don't want to argue about who does what. In fact, I am not even the OP. I just added that it wasn't working on XP2. Hopefully someone else will find a fix for xp, if not--oh well.

[DABhand]

Originally Posted by FM-Staalker

I did say I used to be in the scene, and it has been quite a while....so, having outdated knowledge doesn't mean I don't know what I am talking about. It just means that it isn't useful anymore.

But to play on your point, I have seen games out the day of retail release with the crack already on the iso. You really think they are playing through these games the whole way through in a day or so? Most of the crackers I know have full time jobs, but I guess these days it could be done by people who don't.

Still, it isn't impossible to remove protections schemes from games without ever installing it. It just takes the proper software. Sure, it doesn't work as often as the other way around, but then again many of the cracks I have seen lately would make you think this is the way they are doing it.

It depends on which protection module the game has, but that should be a given.

Either way, I don't want to argue about who does what. In fact, I am not even the OP. I just added that it wasn't working on XP2. Hopefully someone else will find a fix for xp, if not--oh well.

I'd say it only works with less than 1% of them.

You need the full game and protection available to unwrap the executable, dump it, find the oep, fix the import table etc

You cant do that with just a protected exe on its own. Sure there was unwrappers floating about but even that isnt enough. They need the media to find where the checks are etc.

Im guessing you used to be a curry and only heard stories.