The problem here is that if you go the hardware-specific route it can
sometimes be difficult to get replacement keys in the event of a hardware
crash. If you're a developer yourself sometimes you can find yourself
deluged with replacement requests, many of which are genuinely needed
through no fault of the user. And let's face it, some companies charge full
pprice for a key replacement or don't offer them at all. And if a person's
willing to give out their key and name to someone else then the one we
should really be blaming, if indeed anyone is to blame, is that person, the
one callous enough toward the dev to just give out their name and key.
Homer: Hey, uh, could you go across the street and get me a slice of pizza?
Vender: No pizza. Only Khlav Kalash.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Damien C. Sadler" <dam...@x-sight-interactive.net>
To: "Gamers Discussion list" <gamers@audyssey.org>
Sent: Friday, November 27, 2009 3:09 AM
Subject: Re: [Audyssey] Q9 and cracks
Hi Thomas,
Isn't it better though, to make it secure as possible?
I mean, you and I know better, but wouldn't it make it easier for friends
to share keys?
Friends will do anything for each other usually, even if it means being
secretive to help another friend. I've seen it in the past.
If somebody knows that all they need to do to register is find out
somebody's name and key, more people will think they won't need to pay for
it. If the key is online or hardware based, at least they can be tracked,
and it would be harder, as code cracking techniques would be necessary.
Most people wouldn't know how to do that, therefore they are forced to buy
it if they want to play it.
I would imagine more people would approach friends about keys than they
would surfing around on the internet trying to find cracks for hardware
based keys.
That's just my opinion, but if you feel different, I will change my
registration system to suit the needs of my fellow gamers. I am open to
discussions about this, since I am still thinking of and attempting to
produce new games.
Regards,
Damien.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Thomas Ward" <thomasward1...@gmail.com>
To: "Gamers Discussion list" <gamers@audyssey.org>
Sent: Friday, November 27, 2009 2:46 AM
Subject: Re: [Audyssey] Q9 and cracks
Hi Philip,
That is a really tough question. Both as a game player and developer
myself I'm faced with this very question. Here is my thoughts on the
matter.
What it really boils down to is a question of convenience for the
customer or better security for your product. As a developer who is
interested in seeing customers pay for the time and work I put into a
project I feel compelled to use some form of hardware based product ID
system or internet product activation. However, as an end user myself, of
such product registration systems, I personally hate them. I generally
find the registration system, if not flexible and easy to use, is a major
deterrent from purchasing the product. I've actually stopped using
certain products just because the registration system was too much of a
hassle obtaining new keys for all of the time.
For example, I often upgrade my computer if and when I have the cash to
do so. Since I custom build my desktops it is easy to swap out a
motherboard, processor, and memory so one day it might be a 3.0 GHZ
system with 1 GB of ram and after I finish performing an upgrade it might
be a 3.5 GHZ system with 2 GB of ram. Such upgrades are quite normal for
me. However, because a lot of software now uses hardware based
registration systems performing an upgrade like that causes me endless
frustration and agrivation, because I have to contact every developer,
explain to them why my product doesn't work, and ask for new keys.
Obviously, this is a massive hassle.
Some developers such as BSC Games, GMA Games, etc are pretty friendly
about it, know I do this, and are willing to grant me a new key if and
when I need them. Some developers, Microsoft to name one big one, tells
me I have to purchase a new license for Windows because Windows was
designed to be installed on a single computer where the hardware is
assumed to be the same without major upgrades. So that naturally effects
my desire to keep up to date with upgrades.
As a result I've had to make major changes in what software I support,
buy, and install on my computers. My desktop runs Linux because it is
cheaper,
doesn't have some draconian registration system, is easier to maintain,
and does just about everything I want it to do. Since I don't upgrade
the hardware on my laptop that is the system I install Windows on, plus
my games, and have elected to register all of my Windows software on that
system. Primary reason is that is the only way to keep from having to
e-mail every developer under the sun for a new key anytime I perform a
system upgrade on my desktop system.
While an internet product activation system isn't that bad still it bars
valid users from a clean and simple way to register his/her software. In
the end knowing what I know about both the good and bad about
registration systems Mysteries of the Ancients uses a user name product
key system. That is the product key is tied to the user's user name. It
is considered the weakest security system a commercial developer could
use, but makes it simple and easy for an honest customer to use. Since I
am not primarily writing my games for money, do it more as a side hobby,
I tend to use the honors system on such things. I feel customers who
really enjoy my work, want to contribute to USA Games for future
developments, will pay for the games and legally register them. Those
people who lack a conscience or just don't care will pirated it anyway
regardless how secure I try to make the registration system. So I tend to
try to benefit the customer rather than punishing them for what a few
unscrupulous people will do anyway.
HTH
Philip Bennefall wrote:
Hi all,
I just wanted to throw out a quick question here. As expected, there are
quite a few user keys for Q9 floating around as I am only using a
name/key registration system. Now, my question is; is it the best way to
do things, or should I adopt an Internet unlocking strategy? The product
ID/key approach is out of the question as regenerating keys for people
can become quite a nightmare, and so the only option left for me is to
make it check the registration data online. This of course forces the
user to have an active Internet connection at the time of registration,
but I think most people do these days. So, should I keep the
registration system as it is or change it for all my future products to
be Internet based?
Kind regards,
Philip Bennefall
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