Starforce - Their true colors revealed

[Adagio]

No, this is not another thread about how evil their software is, this time it's about how evil the people behind it are

Would you like Galactic Civilizations II for free? Then you might have been lucky enough to find a link posted in the official Starforce forum. The link was to a torrent site, directly to where you could download the game. The worst part of it: It was an Admin who posted that link, just to say that not having a copy protection will hurt the sales

I wonder if they're also helping out sharing non-starforce protected games on p2p networks. I sure wouldn't be suprised it they did

[Kassiopeia]

I'd buy GalCiv2 just to piss people championing use restrictions off, but I bought it because it's a darn good game.

[Adagio]

I have started considering buying that game too, even though I would never play it

[Solver]

I'm not much surprised, to be honest. Then again, I would also argue that this has no real effect, as I believe anyone who wants to pirate GalCiv2 or whatever other game knows how to do that anyway.

It certainly does show that the admin is one *******, though . Somehow, these companies really keep quiet about "achievements" such as having their copy protection broken the day the game is released.

[Solver]

Originally posted by Kassiopeia
I'd buy GalCiv2 just to piss people championing use restrictions off, but I bought it because it's a darn good game.

Heh, a good idea. Given some stuff that Yin wrote, GalCiv2 is now on my "possible" list. If I end up having the time and not satisfied by Civ4+Oblivion, I might just buy GalCiv2.

EDIT: Oh, the admin who posted that is from Moscow. No surprise then for sure.

[DrSpike]

The first game was easy to download. However, given the extent of the updates by all accounts it was very hard to keep up with a cracked version.

Probably it will be the same with the new version. Nonetheless, the point about the admin remains.

[Spaced Cowboy]

I just bought this game this weekend, but I did try it out first.

[snoopy369]

News posted ... please feel free to let either Illuminatus or myself know when something like this comes up that should make the news

[yin26]

Frankly, if I had time on my hands, I'd sue Starforce for lost sales. But, as the saying goes, "Fight with pigs and you'll get dirty."

Brad's path on this is exactly right. He calls the shots. He trusts that most people who play the game will enjoy it and find it worth the cost (even if they "tested" it first as a free download).

As a matter of fact, I have just now decided to boycott ANY game using Starforce. I will seek out this information before buying the game and will tell the developer that the reason I did not buy the game is because they used Starforce, which vindictively published links to illegal software in order to protect their racket.

If this means I miss out on some great games, so be it. If I'm the only one to boycott and this has no effect on Starforce, so be that, too. Plenty of great games out there. No need to fuel digital mobsters.

[snoopy369]

As long as you weren't planning on playing HOMM V, I think you should be okay then ... haven't heard of any other major games who will be using it

[yin26]

Well, that does suck. I was looking forward to that game. Time to send UbiSoft (?) my letter.

[Kassiopeia]

You're not the only one, yin, I have been boycotting Starforce games for over a year consciously, and my entire life unknowingly, not a single Starforce-riddled game sits on my shelf, and it will stay that way, even though the awesome submarine sim Silent Hunter 3 has SF.

[Solver]

Does anyone know a list of Starforce-protected games?

I haven't bought (or "tested") any Starforce games but there were none that I was interested in. Or at least no game I was interested in had Starforce.

By the way, yes, I love Bred Wardell's position. I am myself guilty of "trying" some games, but I am glad to buy good games even if I had "tried" them first.

[snoopy369]

Yes. There is a list in page 2 or so of the galciv2 news item's discussion, as well as on the boycott site (i forget the addy for a sec, give me a bit)

[snoopy369]

Here ...

Boycott Starforce

Starforce Games List