Rumor: Sony Fighting PS3 Piracy With Install Keys

[John Funk]

Rumor: Sony Fighting PS3 Piracy With Install Keys

Word has it that Sony's solution to its sudden PS3 piracy woes is one that PC developers have been using for, like, twenty years.

Ever since the PS3 first had its copy protection cracked via software updates [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/102890-Rumor-Hackers-Crack-PS3-Copy-Protection] foiled, so it may be trying a more oldschool approach: serial codes.

According to Dutch website PS3 Sense [http://translate.google.nl/translate?js=n&prev=_t&hl=nl&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&sl=nl&tl=en&u=http://www.ps3-sense.nl/2011/01/exclusief-sonys-volgende-zet-in-het-gevecht-tegen-piraterij/], Sony will be shipping all future PS3 games with unique serial codes, that gamers must register with the console before the game will launch and/or install. PS3 Sense further claims that each code can be used five times - which would have a massive impact not only on software piracy, but on the used game trade as well. How does GameStop know how many times someone has installed their copy of Killzone 3?

If this is true - and I stress that if, as this is an unsubstantiated rumor in all senses of the word - I can't see how this could possibly be a good idea. As widespread PC piracy has shown, install keys are hardly foolproof copy protection, and including install limits and unnecessary DRM would hurt consumers and cripple the PS3 used game trade.

For the moment, until we hear something official from Sony, I think it's safe to go ahead and think of this rumor as false. For Sony's sake, it had better be.

(Next Gen [http://www.next-gen.biz/news/sony%E2%80%99s-answer-to-ps3-piracy-serial-codes])

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[Rainboq]

[HEADING=1]*repeated face desks*[/HEADING]

SONY, JUST LET IT GO!

 

[squid5580]

I am sure Gamestop could find keygens for the games just like everyone else.

 

[Scrythe]

Why don't we just go back to the good 'ole days of code wheels [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Code_wheel]?

 

[Treblaine]

Wow, people act like Piracy is a uniquely PC problem.

Turns out as soon as it's possible on PS3 they do it to such a bad extent in such a short time, all those people who threw around the "PC Elitist" slurs will be eating their words.

 

[Epitome]

Remember that critical miss strip about Sony's reaction to piracy...

Yeah they called it :/

 

[Originality]

Wasn't this "news" mentioned, like, a week ago in the comments to Sony's announcement that they'll try and fix things?

Old news is old.

 

[vrbtny]

Anyone got the Darth Vader "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO" button.

I think it is required in this instance...

 

[deleted20220820]

DELETED

 

[Gamegodtre]

wow this sucks now i really do need to get a bigger harddrive then my 60 gig one maybe a 500gig or 1 tera

 

[Bretty]

Like this is a suprise to anyone. As a PC gamer I am wholly used to this.

Welcome aboard PS3 users, this boat is filled with hatred.

Companys will keep trying this until 'THE' method is discovered, if it ever is. Until then, blame the people pirating. If it wasn't for them, this wouldn't be an issue.

 

[Xanthious]

That is an absolutely incredible idea . . . . . to effectively kill the sale of PS3 games. I understand Sony is still butt hurt the only reason anyone bought a PSP was to play emulators and other means of free games but the PS3 is in no danger of seeing any kind of real piracy on the level of the PC, PSP, Xbox 360 or even the Wii for that matter. I've looked into modding a PS3 due to ummmm "my deep love of linux" *snicker* and it's just not worth the effort.

By all means though Sony should go ahead and go through with this spectacular idea and maybe, MAYBE, it will keep pirates from playing games .. .. .. for the first week or so but I can promise it will keep far more legitimate customers from playing PS3 games as well.

 

[Ruairi iliffe]

Is it wrong i cracked a smile when i read this?

Next up for consoles: Invasive DRM, welcome to the future

Also, If this is introduced, i can see the second hand market being hit hard, One reason you dont see second hand copys of Pc games is becuase of the whole CD key issue. Well it was when i worked Retail.

 

[Ne1butme]

I don't own a PS3, so I'm hazy on how the installation process works. I know that some games allow for a full install to the hard drive to speed up access. But do you still need the disc to play them? This is the aspect that killed the PC game rental market. I recall a period in the 90s when some stores would rent out PC games, but no-cd hacks were too easy to find and once the game was on the hard drive, you just return the game.

 

[Danpascooch]

What fucking idiots.

Seriously? limited installs?

Does this mean you need to be connected to PSN to play anything? It must mean that since it has to be "registered"

So now not only do you have to be connected, and enter a serial, but you also can't install more than 5 times? This is going to push everyone to piracy if true, it's going to have exactly the negative effect they want. It's not like it's just going to be easy to work around this system for pirates like most DRM is, IT HAS ALREADY HAPPENED, they are implementing security AFTER IT'S ALREADY BEEN COMPROMISED by custom firmware. Seriously, do you think custom firmware will make you enter these codes? The ridiculously restricting security you're working on making is already broken. The stupidity of this system cannot be overstated.

I have a lot of friends with 360 games, we borrow each others games all the time, it's a great way to play a game you haven't played for free, and legally too. If Microsoft pulled something like this I'd literally shit a brick.

 

[Danpascooch]

That is an absolutely incredible idea . . . . . to effectively kill the sale of PS3 games. I understand Sony is still butt hurt the only reason anyone bought a PSP was to play emulators and other means of free games but the PS3 is in no danger of seeing any kind of real piracy on the level of the PC, PSP, Xbox 360 or even the Wii for that matter. I've looked into modding a PS3 due to ummmm "my deep love of linux" *snicker* and it's just not worth the effort.

They are obviously idiots for considering this DRM, but with the root key, it's going to be just as easy to pirate for the PS3 as anything else (except probably computer).

 

[Ancientgamer]

This is obviously more to block the used market than to block straight up piracy. Chances are it'll work too.

 

[JerrytheBullfrog]

Wow, people act like Piracy is a uniquely PC problem.

Turns out as soon as it's possible on PS3 they do it to such a bad extent in such a short time, all those people who threw around the "PC Elitist" slurs will be eating their words.

I don't think that "PC Elitist" has anything to do with piracy. It has to do with us PC gamers being dicks who insult consoles and people who play on them

 

[Xanthious]

That is an absolutely incredible idea . . . . . to effectively kill the sale of PS3 games. I understand Sony is still butt hurt the only reason anyone bought a PSP was to play emulators and other means of free games but the PS3 is in no danger of seeing any kind of real piracy on the level of the PC, PSP, Xbox 360 or even the Wii for that matter. I've looked into modding a PS3 due to ummmm "my deep love of linux" *snicker* and it's just not worth the effort.

They are obviously idiots for considering this DRM, but with the root key, it's going to be just as easy to pirate for the PS3 as anything else (except probably computer).

I disagree. Unless you have a Blu Ray burner or the technical know how to transfer files from your PC to your PS3 it's going to be a massive hassle. The Xbox 360 is so easy because once you have a modded console you just need to burn dual layer discs. Wii piracy I believe uses a simple SD card (but I'm not 100% certain). With the PSP you again just use a simple micro SD Card and the PC . . .well yeah it's the PC. My point being is the average consumer won't be able to easily get the games nearly as easily as they can on the other consoles.

This is obviously more to block the used market than to block straight up piracy. Chances are it'll work too.

I believe this as well. Piracy oftentimes is used as a handy scapegoat when the real thing gaming companies are trying to stop is secondhand sales. Take the PC market for instance, ask yourself does DRM more effectively combat secondhand sales or piracy. Well piracy is as thriving as ever, secondhand sales, not so much. However, it's bad PR to say your putting all this bullshit DRM on there to screw over secondhand sales, and more importantly, your customers. It looks much better to hide behind piracy and simply lie about your real motives.

 

[Plucky]

I think this comic strip will speak for itself http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2008/9/26/
Seems sort of drastic though, with Pins emerging, what if they do things that worsens the freedom of the players itself? such as disallowing people from registering foreign games on their home consoles?