Help me create the perfect DRM

[Deadman Walkin]

The idea would work well, but I know something very similar. I am very big in the jailbreak scene for the iDevice, and Apple sort of does the same thing to stop you from downgrading your device to make it easier to break out of jail.

Below is the specifics of how they do it, skip it if you don't want it.

Spoiler

What they do is they look at your devices ECID (custom to your device and firmware only) to tell whether you are currently running the latest version. If you are not, then you can't do anything, however some geniuses found a way to capture your ECID, and either a) you can change a few files in your host file so when iTunes asks whether the ECID is valid, it goes to a jailbreaker guy named saurik who approves it. Or b) you can run that server yourself and say it is valid every time.

This is where it merges with your idea. That "code" is basically the unique ECID, and the email address/ save games are basically apples verification. Of course the perfect DRM would have to find a way to make it impossible to capture that code and make the game not run unless it could connect to the server.

However, we all know that this WOULD work, so long as you had connection to the internet. That is the best idea I can come up with, maybe someone could go on a littler further?

 

[Mr. Gency]

include pictures of naked women and i am sure it will sell. and we won't even need drm then. i assure u it will sell. it's the fact of life sex sells

Please take this tread seriously.

But in case you are serious

Spoiler

Its when looking at pics like these I wish I wasn't partially colour blind

Well it's a picture of a guy from Star Trek facepalming made out of a lot of other facepalm pics.
(what you said implys that you can't tell what it is)

That is an EPIC facepalm. and thanks for showing how to FINALLY do the blasted spoiler box

Your welcome and I'm glad to help.

 

[Mr. Gency]

The idea would work well, but I know something very similar. I am very big in the jailbreak scene for the iDevice, and Apple sort of does the same thing to stop you from downgrading your device to make it easier to break out of jail.

Below is the specifics of how they do it, skip it if you don't want it.

Spoiler

What they do is they look at your devices ECID (custom to your device and firmware only) to tell whether you are currently running the latest version. If you are not, then you can't do anything, however some geniuses found a way to capture your ECID, and either a) you can change a few files in your host file so when iTunes asks whether the ECID is valid, it goes to a jailbreaker guy named saurik who approves it. Or b) you can run that server yourself and say it is valid every time.

This is where it merges with your idea. That "code" is basically the unique ECID, and the email address/ save games are basically apples verification. Of course the perfect DRM would have to find a way to make it impossible to capture that code and make the game not run unless it could connect to the server.

However, we all know that this WOULD work, so long as you had connection to the internet. That is the best idea I can come up with, maybe someone could go on a littler further?

Well, I updated the OP, so take a look at that and tell me what you think.

 

[Mr. Gency]

No amount of DRM would work forever, as many have said. It's just going to get cracked anyway, and it punishes those who do not pirate, too (no internet=no play). Though the amount of people with a computer and no internet is rather low, servers crashing, etc. is an annoyance.

Simply put, better policing of pirating is the sole answer. But considering how much people belittle crimes caused on the internet, this is gonna take awhile.

But I want this DRM to be temporary. So it just has to delay the pirates long enough for a reasonable amount of people to by a legal copy.

 

[Mariena]

the best drm form is the one arkum asylum had. Gimped game features.

This is exactly right. The best DRM is one which can delay piracy for a long time (thus getting sales from those who are willing to buy the game if they can't get it for free) without punishing paying customers. Covertly sabotaging the game in case of verification failure is the best way to achieve this.

I have to agree with this.

"The best DRM is one which can delay piracy for a long time (thus getting sales from those who are willing to buy the game if they can't get it for free) without punishing paying customers." Precisely.

DRM like in AA, or the FADE used in the OFP/Armed Assault series, seems the way to go.

Developers like Bohemia Interactive Studios and others remove copy protection software after a while. By then, "nobody" buys the game anymore and the game has dropped off the "pirate frontpage". If every developer did this, you would always be able to play your game, even when the activation server has gone offline.

I hate to go off topic, but, why did you quote him, then copy and past what he said then added some quotation marks for good measure?

QFE. That's why. It needs to be quoted again, because it hits the nail on the head.

 

[YuheJi]

store all the game data externally ie a game server which will require the user to be connected to the internet which will then store the data in the RAM (I suppose it eliminates the user needing a hard/soft drive ^.^)

for the user to play the game, the user must install Spy ware/Rootkits so that the server has overall control of the data on the RAM preventing copying and any other unauthorised use of the .tmp information

self termination of the internet connection without warning will force the data stored in the RAM to delete itself.

any flaws?

Any flaws?

You just described a fucking malicious virus.

I'm fairly certain he was being sarcastic.

As for the OP, I don't think there is anything you can do with any DRM that can make it uncrackable. Pirates will always find a way to crack it, compile all of the data, and put it up for download. Most pirated games are played offline. They would find a way to circumvent the need to download the rest of the game. I don't think any DRM can't be cracked.

 

[Mr. Gency]

the best drm form is the one arkum asylum had. Gimped game features.

This is exactly right. The best DRM is one which can delay piracy for a long time (thus getting sales from those who are willing to buy the game if they can't get it for free) without punishing paying customers. Covertly sabotaging the game in case of verification failure is the best way to achieve this.

I have to agree with this.

"The best DRM is one which can delay piracy for a long time (thus getting sales from those who are willing to buy the game if they can't get it for free) without punishing paying customers." Precisely.

DRM like in AA, or the FADE used in the OFP/Armed Assault series, seems the way to go.

Developers like Bohemia Interactive Studios and others remove copy protection software after a while. By then, "nobody" buys the game anymore and the game has dropped off the "pirate frontpage". If every developer did this, you would always be able to play your game, even when the activation server has gone offline.

I hate to go off topic, but, why did you quote him, then copy and past what he said then added some quotation marks for good measure?

QFE. That's why. It needs to be quoted again, because it hits the nail on the head.

Fair enough, I suppose.

 

[Mr. Gency]

store all the game data externally ie a game server which will require the user to be connected to the internet which will then store the data in the RAM (I suppose it eliminates the user needing a hard/soft drive ^.^)

for the user to play the game, the user must install Spy ware/Rootkits so that the server has overall control of the data on the RAM preventing copying and any other unauthorised use of the .tmp information

self termination of the internet connection without warning will force the data stored in the RAM to delete itself.

any flaws?

Any flaws?

You just described a fucking malicious virus.

I'm fairly certain he was being sarcastic.

As for the OP, I don't think there is anything you can do with any DRM that can make it uncrackable. Pirates will always find a way to crack it, compile all of the data, and put it up for download. Most pirated games are played offline. They would find a way to circumvent the need to download the rest of the game. I don't think any DRM can't be cracked.

It just has to be able to stall the pirates long enough for people to buy it legally.

 

[Reaper195]

the best drm form is the one arkum asylum had. Gimped game features.

I remember that. The inability to attack. Mirror's Edge had the same thing, where you weren't able to run fast enough to make a jump on the second level.

 

[Mr. Gency]

None of you play Dj Max Trilogy I take it. Get a USB that stores all your profile data and isn't accessible via the computer. The game needs the USB in to start. Still no cracks of it to this day so I assume it's a good method.

The closest thing to it being cracked is this:http://www.bemanistyle.com/forum/f140/how-share-your-dj-max-trilogy-profile-key-friends-over-internet-51778/

Which doesn't allow simultaneous play anyway.
Here's an image of the USB.

Spoiler

To install the game you don't even need a serial but for the game to start and to save any progress you make you need the USB connected the whole time you are playing.

I seen wallpapers on PS Store, but that's it. Frankly, I think that's brilliant. Though, I still want to let players be able to let friends borrow it.

 

[Deadman Walkin]

Well, I updated the OP, so take a look at that and tell me what you think.

Sounds better, but in truth, the most probable way to stop the code from being captured would be to force them to install software thats job is to prevent it. However, many many people wouldn't be happy with that. They would have to find some insane and crazy way to sneak the code out the internet, haha that sounds like a virus. A backdoor virus to be specific.

 

[Mr. Gency]

the best drm form is the one arkum asylum had. Gimped game features.

I remember that. The inability to attack. Mirror's Edge had the same thing, where you weren't able to run fast enough to make a jump on the second level.

What about the dating sim? That one was probably the funniest (on paper, anyway).

 

[Mariena]

None of you play Dj Max Trilogy I take it. Get a USB that stores all your profile data and isn't accessible via the computer. The game needs the USB in to start. Still no cracks of it to this day so I assume it's a good method.

The closest thing to it being cracked is this:http://www.bemanistyle.com/forum/f140/how-share-your-dj-max-trilogy-profile-key-friends-over-internet-51778/

Which doesn't allow simultaneous play anyway.
Here's an image of the USB.

Spoiler

To install the game you don't even need a serial but for the game to start and to save any progress you make you need the USB connected the whole time you are playing.

Popularity of the title makes a lot of difference to whether it will be cracked or not .. I don't know how popular that DJ Max Trilogy is, but it doesn't look like it's anywhere near mainstream. Combine that + a dongle, and scene groups most likely won't bother.

Steel Beasts Pro Personal Edition also has a dongle for authentication. Considering it's a hardcore/realistic armored warfare simulator, and it uses a dongle for protection, it isn't worth the effort. Thus, it remains uncracked. Not sure why they bother though with all this protection, because they're not out to make real profit from SB PPE .. they get all their money from militaries that use their Professional version (for incredible sums of money).

 

[Mr. Gency]

Well, I updated the OP, so take a look at that and tell me what you think.

Sounds better, but in truth, the most probable way to stop the code from being captured would be to force them to install software thats job is to prevent it. However, many many people wouldn't be happy with that. They would have to find some insane and crazy way to sneak the code out the internet, haha that sounds like a virus. A backdoor virus to be specific.

If I were in charge, I would police it for a while, it's a part of my personality. Hell, the only time I ignored my thread is when I fell asleep at the computer (to be fair, I seem to only make threads late at night).

 

[Akalistos]

I came up with an idea for a DRM. It has problems and I want you all to perfect it. Also, I'm not looking for some hypothetical DRM. I want to show Ubisoft (and ofter publishers) this and see if they will replace their current DRM with it.

Spoiler: The original idea

What if every game had a unique code and you have to make some kind of account to download the rest of the game. So every pirated copy has the same code, as a result every one of those copies are treated as the same game. That means everyone shares the same saves (which in some cases is game breaking). Also if more than a certain number of copies (lets go with four) are played at the same time, everyone is locked out of the game for ten minutes (I'm pretty sure that'll cause a lot of inconvenience by the time the pirated copy gets downloaded around fifteen times (and I'm confident that piracy wouldn't be a problem if only fifteen people downloaded it).

Spoiler: (2 updates) The current idea

(2 updates)

What if every game had a unique code and you have to make some kind of account to download the rest of the game. You must go to your e-mail and sign in before you can download, and you must be signed in to the same e-mail every time afterwords (you can change which e-mail is need, though).

Once registered, the game it self get's something added to the game's code to show that it has been registered, the same thing happens on the servers so if an unregistered version of the same code is found again, we call the cops or something. So if a pirated copy has the registered version of the code, nothing happens as long as only a certain number of copies are used at a time. This is so players can play from multiple computers and let friends borrow it.

If more than a certain number of copies (lets go with four) are played at the same time, everyone is locked out of the game for ten minutes (I'm pretty sure that'll cause a lot of inconvenience by the time the pirated copy gets downloaded around fifteen times (and I'm confident that piracy wouldn't be a problem if only fifteen people downloaded it).

I want this to be temporary. Like with Alpha Protocol.

[HEADING=1]Instead of gunning down my idea, justify my reason for making this thread by telling me how to improve it.[/HEADING]It sadden me that I must highlight the above statement.

I want to get rid of DRMs as much as the rest of you. But a DRM is like a wound, it can't just disappear, it needs time to heal. I'm just trying to apply disinfectant.

To anyone who says "The only good DRM is no DRM" is MISSING THE POINT.

Nope, bad idea. When i bought a game, i want it full. No delay.

 

[azukar]

Can I get some support for the idea that

the best DRM is the type employed by Stardock, in Galactic Civilisations II etc.

You pay for the game, and you OWN THAT COPY. You can install it on as many computers as you like, but only one will have the serial number needed to download the tonnes of updates they bring out.

Oh, and make games good enough that people don't really want to steal them.

 

[minus_273c]

Basically you're describine what Steam does already.

 

[brunothepig]

the best drm form is the one arkum asylum had. Gimped game features.

This is exactly right. The best DRM is one which can delay piracy for a long time (thus getting sales from those who are willing to buy the game if they can't get it for free) without punishing paying customers. Covertly sabotaging the game in case of verification failure is the best way to achieve this.

Yep. Piracy can't be completely stopped, and any DRM that requires people who legally bought it to inconvenience themselves in any way is a failure. Because, as has been said, piracy won't be stopped. Hell, if worst comes to worst someone would make a keygen. Which from what I can see destroys your current DRM plan?
So, in summary, inconvenience the pirates, not the buyers. Remove some stuff, let the game sell for a while, before someone inevitably pirates a full copy. I'm sick of DRM with install limits, or that requires an account on various clients (hotmail included) or that needs a constant internet connection (yeah, fuck you Ubisoft).

 

[Mr. Gency]

snip

snip

I updated the OP once more, check it out.

 

[Tharwen]

For your system...

Sorry, but that won't work. Pirates would either remove the requirement for a key, or generate their own ones and play with them instead.