Key generation system / selling your games
by Isaac Barbosa · in Torque Game Builder · 11/13/2008 (9:21 am) · 29 replies
Hi,
I have been looking through the forums but can't find anything helpful on this:
How to protect my game to be able to sell it? Should I use an external tool as trymedia tools or publishers protection systems? or there is a built-in method to achieve this?
I think this is a matter to GG to help the whole community, I think is a resource as:
Have you finished your game? Then protect it and get ready to sell it.
Any help with this will be greatly appreciated.
-isaac
I have been looking through the forums but can't find anything helpful on this:
How to protect my game to be able to sell it? Should I use an external tool as trymedia tools or publishers protection systems? or there is a built-in method to achieve this?
I think this is a matter to GG to help the whole community, I think is a resource as:
Have you finished your game? Then protect it and get ready to sell it.
Any help with this will be greatly appreciated.
-isaac
#22
But that's talking about dedicated pirates who just refuse to pay for games, whatever their reason. The other group are the "oh, it's being offered for free at such-and-such location, so I'll get it there" - the people who WOULD pay for the game if that was their only option, who don't want to get it free badly enough that they search for it on warez sites, or who don't want to risk downloading cracks and ending up with goodness-knows-what on their system.
I'm only interested in something that lets the user play for an hour or X levels, then asks them to pay to continue playing, and only allows them to play if they enter a valid registration code. While it will be circumvented by some, most will make the decision at this point to either buy the game or stop playing. One thing's for sure - you'll have more success with this method than not having a key generation system at all and saying "hey, if you like the game, can you throw $20 my way?" ;)
11/18/2008 (3:22 pm)
It's inevitable that any decent game is going to be cracked. And whatever system you come up with to guard against piracy will just be seen as a challenge.But that's talking about dedicated pirates who just refuse to pay for games, whatever their reason. The other group are the "oh, it's being offered for free at such-and-such location, so I'll get it there" - the people who WOULD pay for the game if that was their only option, who don't want to get it free badly enough that they search for it on warez sites, or who don't want to risk downloading cracks and ending up with goodness-knows-what on their system.
I'm only interested in something that lets the user play for an hour or X levels, then asks them to pay to continue playing, and only allows them to play if they enter a valid registration code. While it will be circumvented by some, most will make the decision at this point to either buy the game or stop playing. One thing's for sure - you'll have more success with this method than not having a key generation system at all and saying "hey, if you like the game, can you throw $20 my way?" ;)
#23
This is not a discussion on hackers or pirates activities... I want to know, if possible, exact steps to achieve a single goal: How can I set up a system just like the one is used by Chris or those used in "rake in grass" games?
Due to my lack of knowledge I need help with specific steps to be able to sell my game myself. I know that if a portal takes the game they will use its inhouse system.
Thanks!
11/19/2008 (11:45 am)
Still not answered :(This is not a discussion on hackers or pirates activities... I want to know, if possible, exact steps to achieve a single goal: How can I set up a system just like the one is used by Chris or those used in "rake in grass" games?
Due to my lack of knowledge I need help with specific steps to be able to sell my game myself. I know that if a portal takes the game they will use its inhouse system.
Thanks!
#24
You link a .lib to your project, then create a few encryption certificates. The default allows the game to be played for a limited time, or with limited features. You give your customers a buy button and a location to enter a registration key. When the key is entered the full game is unlocked.
Several on-line vendors (such as Plimus) allow you to upload your encryption certificate (it's a key string really) to their site and will generate valid licenses as and when customers purchase the game through them.
There are extra options such as locking games to specific computers or requiring keys be validated on-line, however I'm not keen on those options. Also the on-line activation option requires use of a companies servers (at a cost) and if you went that route you'd need to allow for off-line activations via phone, again at a cost.
There are plenty of other alternatives out there too, but if your main reason isn't so much piracy as it is to allow a limited demo to be unlocked by customers, it should do the job fine. You'll always end up with a cracked version been distributed anyway, so spending too much time on a protection system seems counter productive. Just make sure you use a custom build to avoid the generic un-wrappers.
11/20/2008 (7:25 am)
If you don't mind paying for a product, have a look at SoftwarePassport. As with all protection, it isn't uncrackable, but it will do what you want.You link a .lib to your project, then create a few encryption certificates. The default allows the game to be played for a limited time, or with limited features. You give your customers a buy button and a location to enter a registration key. When the key is entered the full game is unlocked.
Several on-line vendors (such as Plimus) allow you to upload your encryption certificate (it's a key string really) to their site and will generate valid licenses as and when customers purchase the game through them.
There are extra options such as locking games to specific computers or requiring keys be validated on-line, however I'm not keen on those options. Also the on-line activation option requires use of a companies servers (at a cost) and if you went that route you'd need to allow for off-line activations via phone, again at a cost.
There are plenty of other alternatives out there too, but if your main reason isn't so much piracy as it is to allow a limited demo to be unlocked by customers, it should do the job fine. You'll always end up with a cracked version been distributed anyway, so spending too much time on a protection system seems counter productive. Just make sure you use a custom build to avoid the generic un-wrappers.
#25
11/20/2008 (7:41 am)
Thanks Gary I will check up for Plimus.
#26
11/20/2008 (10:01 pm)
Plimus is a web vendor, Isaac... they dont force you to use their stuff, but allow you to use whichever you want... or thats what i know so far. 
#27
11/21/2008 (9:29 am)
I actually had some issues integrating their system into TGB and thus went with the custom solution. If I remember correctly, the mouse disappeared whenever the plimus prompt came up.
#28
I think that I will test it soon since it doesn't requires so much brain.
12/07/2008 (12:27 pm)
I think that I have found a method to make a game unbreakable. Actually is now only an idea to implement and test, and I'm wondering if this is something that can be sold?I think that I will test it soon since it doesn't requires so much brain.
#29
12/07/2008 (2:56 pm)
Have a look at www.phoenix-sentry.com and try out their developer edition. Around $99. Think you will find the registration key system of use.
Torque 3D Owner Chris Jorgensen
Cascadia Games LLC
My activation system is super simple. I just wanted to make it inconvenient for the lazy thief to steal. The pros I figured I couldn't stop so I didn't bother.