Starforce and other computer-fucking technologies

Marty81

Despite having an awesome computer, I barely have any games for it. Every now and then I see a game in a store I might like to try, but obviously the box wouldn't say whether there was any malware like Starforce bundled with the game, so I never end up actually buying anything, just to be safe. I want to get more into PC gaming, so I have to ask: Are there any other computer-fucking "copy protection" programs like Starforce for games that I should be aware and wary of? If so, what are they? Also, is there a list of every Starforce-protected game? I figure I could print out the list and keep it in my car or something, and if I see something that strikes my fancy, I could check to make sure the game's not on the list before I buy, rather than what I currently do, which is just not buy at all.

victor_c26

Don't know how active it is, or when it was last updated, but here is a list of Starforce protected games: Link

EDIT: Here are their forums: Link

EDIT 2: Yeah, use Mordrack's links instead.

Suriko

victor_c26 wrote: »

Don't know how active it is, or when it was last updated, but here is a list of Starforce protected games: Link

EDIT: Here are their forums: Link

Well shit,

Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth

I was thinking of buying that, too. Screw that.

Mordrack

Glop is only for EU releases. Use Boycott Starforce instead.

victor_c26

Oh snap, I didn't know that. Thanks for the correction.

HarshLanguage

I empathize with the OP's desire to avoid crap like Starforce. I dislike all DRM, but I especially hate buggy/harmful DRM. But a while ago, I realized that I didn't hate Starforce enough to deny myself all games that use it. It was just too common. (Thankfully, this is changing.) So I resigned myself to having it there while I played the games, and knew I could run into problems and have to do a wipe and reinstall every few months.

So keep your data backed up and your Windows CD handy, but enjoy the games you want to play. Write a letter to each publisher too, if you want to be really proactive. Especially if you DO run into problems.

kaliyama

How long before this thread attracts some 'well, starforce doesn't make your computer go supernova. so starforce never breaks anything' troll?

Monaro

I've always had the plan in the back of my mind that as soon as I found a game I wanted to purchase had Starforce in it, I'd email the publisher informing them I won't be buying it in favour of downloading a pirated copy with the protection stripped.

I've yet to need to send that email. Came close when I was thinking about buying GRAW though.

SanderJK

That list is my shining guide, since Starforce somehow made my DVD-R stop recognizing blank CDRW's at times. Took me a long time to figure that out, and after that quite a bit of effort to get it off.

The "There's no permanent damage to your PC, so it's fair game" is the biggest bullshit argument i've ever heard.

Most virii don't permanently damage your PC either, just stop the software completely working.

Nev

I had permanent damage to my dvd-drive as a result of installing and playing starforce games.
Re-installing windows did not help.

japan

Suriko wrote: »

Well shit,

Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth

I was thinking of buying that, too. Screw that.

I'm going to pick it up for Xbox. The PC version is a buggy mess by most accounts. I actually bought it for PC, but failed completely to get it working.

V2-Gundam

I really wanted to get X3:Reunion, but then I found out about this crap. Thank god for Steam.

Dírhael

victor_c26 wrote: »

Don't know how active it is, or when it was last updated, but here is a list of Starforce protected games: Link

EDIT: Here are their forums: Link

That list contains so many errors that it would be a very bad idea to use it as a buy/buy-not guide. The main problem is that it doesn't take into account that while a game may use Starforce in one territory, it often happen to use other forms of protection in another.

Silpheed

V2-Gundam wrote: »

I really wanted to get X3:Reunion, but then I found out about this crap. Thank god for Steam.

Buy it on Steam or install the last patch before running the game for the first time and Starforce gets removed.

RoundBoy

Dìrhael wrote: »

victor_c26 wrote: »

Don't know how active it is, or when it was last updated, but here is a list of Starforce protected games: Link

EDIT: Here are their forums: Link

That list contains so many errors that it would be a very bad idea to use it as a buy/buy-not guide. The main problem is that it doesn't take into account that while a game may use Starforce in one territory, it often happen to use other forms of protection in another.

They address this on the site. This was to let publishers know that its unacceptable to include starforce in ANY region..

Look into some of the games on the list. I happen to know that Silent Hunter 3, a recent purchase by me, originally came with starforce. Ubisoft did release a no-cd patch along with the latest updates, removing the starforce install.

SOME publishers have come to their senses.