So an interesting story developed over the last few days when it was discovered that a StarForce forum moderator posted a link to a torrent of Galactic Civilizations 2 in response to a comment about the game not having any copy protection - with the clear intent of proving what happens if you don't use StarForce in your games.

Stardock Systems, the developers of the Galactic Civilizations series, posted their comments outlining their position on DRM and stating that the game is selling extremely well despite not having any DRM.

In other StarForce news, Aspyr have announced that they won't be including StarForce in the North American release of SpellForce 2 after an outbreak of negative attention when the controversial copy protection system was used in the demo.

cool response by stardock

They seem like decent chaps, pity their games don't seem to be multiplayer for the most part.

Our company also makes utility software. We've been around a long time -- 14 years now. Our software gets pirated. We don't like it but piracy is a fact of life. The question isn't about eliminating it, it's about reducing it and trying to make sure that people who would buy your product buy it instead of steal it.

I'll buy things that stand out above the rest, a movie I've enjoyed or a TV series that got me hooked. Hats off to this game developer for having a clue!

Stardock Systems ftw!

almost makes me wanna buy Galactic Civilizations II just to support there methods.


rock on to them!

Well done Stardock Systems!

I would still like to know if Starforce is a cheaper alternative to say SecureRom or Safedisc, for developers and if that is why it's used instead of the latter two.

Our license allows you to install the game onto as many machines that you own that you want as long as only one copy is being used at once. How many sales are lost because people want to have a game on their laptop and desktop and don't want to drag CDs around so choose not to buy the game?

Just a small part of my reasoning for disliking StarFarce (second only to the intrusive nature of their software and side ffects of uninstalling it). Even when you take the greatest of care with a CD/DVD, you still end up scratching it by changing it out of drive caddies.

Someone should have posted a link to all the torrents of games that do come with starforce protection.

hats off to stardock systems for knowing what needs to be done.

EDIT - and i think thats an awesome idea. post a link to a torrent of every starforce protect game and stick it on their forums

last edited by DM at 16:49:39 14/Mar/06

I can't say I've EVER bought a game just because of the copy protection or the fact I could run it with a purchased copy. A game is either worth buying or it isn't. Anything that stops me playing a game isn't going to help give more of a reason to buy a game, it's going to take away a reason - since any game I haven't purchased because of reviews, predictions etc, I haven't made a decision on buying already. Getting in the way of convincing me it's worth buying? That's just stupid.
But in fact, knowing that copy protection is on a game might even damage it's sales as far as me purchasing it goes.

But in fact, knowing that copy protection is on a game might even damage it's sales as far as me purchasing it goes.

I'll never buy a game with Starforce on it after my PC became a hardlocking heap of scrap after installing the last Splinter Cell game. I advise others not to either.

It was the article about this on slashdot that made me go out an buy Galactic Civ 2. I'd been kind-of interested in it up until then, but never enough to fork over the cash.

http://www.penny-arcade.com/images/2006/20060315.jpg

heh