Biggest threat to the SOW series

[Loco-S]

I have all the IL2 disks up to Forgotten battles, and I dont have 1946 ( not yet...I have it on order), reading this post left me thinking...what if. you buy the game and the cd/dvd only contains the basic info on the game, but you have to log in your CD key ( which will be tied up to your game/name and customer number) to download the part that makes the game work?..not like steam that verifies the game, but an actual and critical part of the game that without it the game will not work?....sounds like a good alternative., and that part downloaded can only be unlocked with your name/customer number?....and at no time can be the same number more than once online, hard coded on the game.

I would like that option, instead of root kits and disabling features from star force or securom.

that way, you can have the unlocking part of the game on your backup, but already tied up to the system, and only available to one account/CD key, any other combination or fake number would disable the game until the correct match be introduced at reinstall.

[robtek]

@loco-s

that seems to be a solution, but there is this one little problem:
you have to have an internet connection to make it work.
The unlocking-file must be small enough to send it by email and
crypted enough to make it safe.

[QuietMan]

a good question would be how much is gained from today copy protection at all?

music industry is a good example how managers try to use piracy to cover their own inability. After latest actions again P2P piracy gone down but same time sales dropped to record low, so what?

It is plain stupid to think that anyone who steals a sports car would buy one if he can't steal one. Porsche could easily make their cars impossible to steal buy introducing a delay of 1 hour from opening the door to starting the engine. Only small problem: Who would buy such a car?

Game distributors need to invent a lock that is as easy to use and fail save like today car locks. Beside this they need to concentrate on the people who plan to buy their products and not on the people who plan to steal it.

There are companies making billions $ from easy to use music downloads and handy tunes while the music industry is searching for a way to turn time back.

QuietMan

[6S.Manu]

Originally Posted by Loco-S

I have all the IL2 disks up to Forgotten battles, and I dont have 1946 ( not yet...I have it on order), reading this post left me thinking...what if. you buy the game and the cd/dvd only contains the basic info on the game, but you have to log in your CD key ( which will be tied up to your game/name and customer number) to download the part that makes the game work?..not like steam that verifies the game, but an actual and critical part of the game that without it the game will not work?....sounds like a good alternative., and that part downloaded can only be unlocked with your name/customer number?....and at no time can be the same number more than once online, hard coded on the game.

So hacker will crack that part of the game with a hacked critical part (stolen by a original game).

I own Company of Heroes: Opposing Fronts; if you are connected to internet you have to login as registered user (inserting cdkey during craation of the account), if not the disk must be inserted (and antipiracy system will activate).

Private lobby for online play.

I think this is the good way since many games are directed the online gameplay.

[tater]

One way to go cheaper, and still make the required revenue stream is more, paid updates.

I'd personally be fine with a subscriptive service. I've held a ww2ol account since before 2001 (I was a beta tester). I maintain it even though I don't play much because I love the idea of it, and $12/mo is no big deal to support it. The few hours a month I play are well worth the $12, I'd spend far more in the same few hours at the bar on beer.

Many in the il-2 crowd view any kind of subscriptive model as anathema, but I think it's a good idea. I remember playing WarBirds when it was $2 an HOUR. I had many many months of multi hundred dollar tabs. Worth every penny, too.

[TUSA/TX-Gunslinger]

I liked the idea of the 700 page manual.

Unfortunately, someone with too much time on their hands would quickly scan it to PDF.

I think the "check registration" at online login may be most effective.