StarForce Nightmare - Is it a pain?

DCL · Post by **DCL** » Fri May 13, 2005 11:49 am

If this topic breaks any forum rules feel free to delete.

Ok I'm one of those nuts who refuses to put the Starforce virus on my computer. I noticed on a site that shall remain nameless something called StarForce Nightmare (and another one with an obscenity in the name).

I just was wondering if anyone uses this (to keep SF of of their computer but still play their SF protected game) and does it work and if it does work is it a pain to use?

I mean from what I understand this program disables access to the CD/DVD Atapi devices. Sounds kind of dangerous. And also a hassle to have to turn your CD/DVD on and off just for one game.

Just kind of curious. I am thinking about buying a couple of SF protected games and just wondering how effective and easy something like StarForce Nightmare is for a starforce hata like me.

Jeff Jones · Post by **Jeff Jones** » Fri May 13, 2005 12:22 pm

FYI,

SFN does not delete or remove Starforce from your PC. It just makes it so SF will recognize a disc image as valid. So if you're looking to play a SF game without SF installed, this isn't the answer.

DCL · Post by **DCL** » Fri May 13, 2005 12:30 pm

Oh bummer.

Oh well thanks for the info.

JayG · Post by **JayG** » Fri May 13, 2005 1:28 pm

From what I gather, Starforce Nightmare is only useful for piracy . The program is still on your harddrive, so for those of us who had problems it's no use. Jeff's right, but a lot of Starforce games have been cracked if you want to buy any. Personally I've managed to avoid Starforce games so far, mainly because PC gaming is so bad at the moment for us RPGers.

DCL · Post by **DCL** » Fri May 13, 2005 3:41 pm

JayG wrote:Jeff's right, but a lot of Starforce games have been cracked if you want to buy any.

That's what killing me is that the SF protected game I really want, Silent Hunter 3 has been cracked but it's been at 1.0 for the SF crack forever. And I have a feeling it's going to stay that way. 1.1 came out nothing. 1.2 same thing. 1.3 zip. And now 1.4 and still only the 1.0 crack.

Oh well if by some miracle there's ever a way to play the latest version of SH3 minus SF it will be a purchase. I was kind of hoping SF nightmare would do the job but no luck it seems.

The wait continues.

baron calamity · Post by **baron calamity** » Fri May 13, 2005 6:23 pm

I have Starforce on my system from games that use it and its never cause a problem.

Zekester · Post by **Zekester** » Fri May 13, 2005 9:09 pm

Do what I do, and play SF games on someone else's computer

ChrisGrenard · Post by **ChrisGrenard** » Fri May 13, 2005 9:15 pm

I broke my anti-starforce oath for the new Splinter Cell.

Honestly, havn't had any problems... but you never know

Jeff V · Post by **Jeff V** » Fri May 13, 2005 9:32 pm

Just curious, why do you want to support Starforce by buying a sold by a publisher that uses it?

DCL · Post by **DCL** » Sat May 14, 2005 1:49 am

Jeff V wrote:Just curious, why do you want to support Starforce by buying a sold by a publisher that uses it?

For me that's a great point. I guess one good thing about the difficulty of cracking it, is that it makes it easier to keep my resolve up.

But for the one or two games I really want I will wait for a price drop. Yeah they'll still get my money but they won't get as much of it.

No it's not as good as a boycott but, boy, there's some games that are just too good.

baron calamity · Post by **baron calamity** » Sat May 14, 2005 7:36 am

Jeff V wrote:Just curious, why do you want to support Starforce by buying a sold by a publisher that uses it?

It was on my system before I heard it was "bad." Its never caused an issue with anything so I keep buying games that have it. If that changes, I will re-evaluate it.

JonathanStrange · Post by **JonathanStrange** » Sat May 14, 2005 9:41 am

Zekester wrote:Do what I do, and play SF games on someone else's computer

Ditto. Then got tired of that, installed on mine, no problems...

so far

Jeff V · Post by **Jeff V** » Sat May 14, 2005 10:18 am

DCL wrote:No it's not as good as a boycott but, boy, there's some games that are just too good.

Then they win; it will never go away.

baron calamity · Post by **baron calamity** » Sat May 14, 2005 10:24 am

Jeff V wrote:
DCL wrote:No it's not as good as a boycott but, boy, there's some games that are just too good.
Then they win; it will never go away.

It will go away soon enough. Companies are looking at far worse options such a Steam.

Jeff V · Post by **Jeff V** » Sat May 14, 2005 10:43 am

baron calamity wrote:It will go away soon enough. Companies are looking at far worse options such a Steam.

Steam wouldn't bother me in the least. It doesn't invade my system and wreck my hardware and software. But considering the number of Starforce clients appear to be on the rise, what is your evidence to the contrary?

baron calamity · Post by **baron calamity** » Sat May 14, 2005 11:07 am

Jeff V wrote:
baron calamity wrote:It will go away soon enough. Companies are looking at far worse options such a Steam.
Steam wouldn't bother me in the least. It doesn't invade my system and wreck my hardware and software.

Steam certainly fucked over my system far worse than any other copy protection system invented. I've seen viruses that were less annoying. Plus, if 10 years from now I wanted to play a game protected with star force, I could. Where as Steam based products are at the whim of Valve. You don't know if come tomorrow you'll be able to play any thing that requires it.

JonathanStrange · Post by **JonathanStrange** » Sat May 14, 2005 11:09 am

baron calamity wrote:
Jeff V wrote:
DCL wrote:No it's not as good as a boycott but, boy, there's some games that are just too good.
Then they win; it will never go away.
It will go away soon enough. Companies are looking at far worse options such a Steam.

Agree, there's a little too much of the "We're giving you permission to play" with Steam; when I play HL2, they're there, Big Brother Dr. Breen style.

tals · Post by **tals** » Sat May 14, 2005 11:47 am

baron calamity wrote:
Jeff V wrote:Just curious, why do you want to support Starforce by buying a sold by a publisher that uses it?
It was on my system before I heard it was "bad." Its never caused an issue with anything so I keep buying games that have it. If that changes, I will re-evaluate it.

I take a similar stance - 2 of the 3 games I currently play have it. If it does break my system i'll evaluate again but as of yet it hasn't and tbh I really don't expect it to.

Tals

JayG · Post by **JayG** » Sat May 14, 2005 1:01 pm

I've had no problems with Steam, and I hope that other games use that method. I don't need the DVD in the drive, constant instant updates and a lot of support. I'll be getting the HL2 add-on through Steam, and it's great that the developers will be getting all the money.

Thin_J · Post by **Thin_J** » Sat May 14, 2005 1:15 pm

JayG wrote:I've had no problems with Steam, and I hope that other games use that method. I don't need the DVD in the drive, constant instant updates and a lot of support. I'll be getting the HL2 add-on through Steam, and it's great that the developers will be getting all the money.

That's kind of how I see that issue too.

I've been completely happy with my Steam experience.

Grifman · Post by **Grifman** » Sat May 14, 2005 1:58 pm

baron calamity wrote:I have Starforce on my system from games that use it and its never cause a problem.

Yeah, no problems here either - but I'm not saying it hasn't caused problems for others.

setaside · Post by **setaside** » Sat May 14, 2005 2:12 pm

Jeff V wrote:
DCL wrote:No it's not as good as a boycott but, boy, there's some games that are just too good.
Then they win; it will never go away.

Or if you absolutely HAVE to play a Starforce protected game ... trade for it. Buy it off of eBay. The Devs/Publishers get NO revenue from those.

Papageno · Post by **Papageno** » Sat May 14, 2005 2:22 pm

Good point, setaside. I've held off from buying any Starforce-protected games at all, but if I absolutely couldn't live without playing a particular title, I'd at least make sure the publisher wasn't rewarded for going with such obnoxious copy protection.

As far as Steam goes, it does make me very uncomfortable to think that at any moment Valve might go up in smoke and leave HL2 players high and dry. I guess if they made some guarantee that once they stop actively supporting it through Steam they'd provide a patch that would remove Steam from the game(s) entirely, that would be all right.