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torque games = free games?

by someone · in General Discussion · 06/14/2002 (1:36 am) · 4 replies

i was just wondering about hacking and piracy, there isnt really anything to stop people from making copies of torque based games and distributing it, is there? unless of course we the developers implement it ourself. ive already got some ideas i plan to implement but i was wondering if anyone else has thoughts on this subject?
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Torque Owner Very Interactive Person
#1
06/14/2002 (2:39 am)
this has been discussed over and over before on these boards...
anyway:
-if its online multiplayer, I wouldn't worry. Just authenticate the player when he wants to join a server. if the key isn't valid, or the key is on use, he cannot play. Most players will buy the game to have a key that works online.
-if you game doesn't fit in the above category, and you do want to build in some protaction, be carefull not to make it too difficult for the user.
-Don't worry about piracy so much... it'll be copied anyway, even the best security can be hacked.

Torque Owner Edward Smith
Silencersoft
#2
06/14/2002 (6:30 pm)
The muilt-player way is the best I feel... a thing is people may get a ip from the interent etc and take someones game basicly

Associate Kyle Carter
#3
06/15/2002 (11:08 am)
Do at least a little research before you suggest problems.

I'd be nicer, but this system - cd key authentication for net play - is used _widely_, and has been for years. The most popular online game right now, half life, uses the WON cd key authentication system. As far as I'm aware (I've been playing HL and CS online for the past three years or so, and tracking the gaming news), that particular problem has never come up as a serious issue.

Much more serious an issue has been people searching for working cd keys via brute force, since it can severely tax the authentication servers (and they could potentially find large numbers of online-valid cd keys, screwing paying customers).

Edit: Ward raises an excellent point. Hmm... Maybe if you filled out that customer registration card they'd have you on file... Too bad I never do. ;)

Torque Owner Very Interactive Person
#4
06/15/2002 (11:50 am)
That's a problem, but if your CD key is in use and you paid for it, you can get a new one, and your old one is is disabled. You have to provide proof you bought it tough, and some people might not have that after like a year.... but still the system works pretty good.