Elite / Frontier "Software Piracy" Off Topic? not really! What do you think how to prevent?

[Cyborg]

turn it around, how often you like...

Hmm…the USB Dongle is a good idea, but how kipper already said, it is only another fence, to break through…
So the online account , is the best solution at the moment, but it only works for Multiplayer Game, and for people who have a internet connection…

So perhaps we can combine these two solutions
A USB-Dongle (Install the Device driver, and enter your Key), which communicate with the internet, to get activated? (Have to be a Hardware Solution on the Device, which gets necessary information from the internet, to permit playing)???
But?? Could every Hardware be emulated???

The other way is, to sell the Game from a central point only online….to secure that only accounts get access, which have been paid already…???
But that could decrease the sold pieces of the game???

So shít will stay shít, and it is not important how often you will turn it around..

Greetings
Cyborg

 

[Steve O B Have]

Personally I think it is a case of over complicating the issue. For us at least this is a moot issue - we will not be pirating this software, we will be paying whatever the asking price is (within reason).

My question is what is wrong with the current system of game protection. All there is a need to do is ensure that there is a regulated central online point where people register/activate their games. The simple question is, how many people who have a PC capable of playing this game are not going to have an internet connection? Not many, if any.

There just isn't the need for the added expense of including a dongle for security reasons as the expense of developing and implimenting such a thing is in this day and age prohibative. I'd love to have a special edition version of the game with various things to keep me entertained from an Elite lover perspective but I think a dongle or any other sort of 'continuous activation key' is just too much.

 

[Steve O B Have]

Personally I think it is a case of over complicating the issue. For us at least this is a moot issue - we will not be pirating this software, we will be paying whatever the asking price is (within reason).

My question is what is wrong with the current system of game protection. All there is a need to do is ensure that there is a regulated central online point where people register/activate their games. The simple question is, how many people who have a PC capable of playing this game are not going to have an internet connection? Not many, if any.

There just isn't the need for the added expense of including a dongle for security reasons as the expense of developing and implimenting such a thing is in this day and age prohibative. I'd love to have a special edition version of the game with various things to keep me entertained from an Elite lover perspective but I think a dongle or any other sort of 'continuous activation key' is just too much.

I personally think that the main aim is to make it too involved and complex for the average joe user to want to bother trying to crack into the game so that they just go out and buy it.

 

[djbully]

I dont think you will ever get rid of piracy. When they think up some new copy protection there is always a way around. You can nearly always get to play the games offline but when you have to log in online then it gets harder, you need a valid serial/key etc.
Personally they have been saying that piracy is killing the games companies ever since I owned a Spectrum 48k! Well they seem to be doing fine to me. Dont get me wrong I have bought many many many games over the years. If I play a game and I know that I am going to be playing it for more than say 30mins then I have no problems at all in paying the company who made it. That has always been my policy. E.G I will definately be buying Elite IV!

 

[NextGame]

The dongle is a nice gimmick, however as has been stated, it will be "cracked" eventually.

furthermore its just another thing to go wrong with the packing and shipping of the game (cue cries of "There wasnt an ignition key in my game box", "The ignition key is plugged in but isnt responding", "my dog ate/I kicked my dongle and now I cant play the game i paid for" etc).