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Hackproof Arcade

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Ophelius:

I'm creating an arcade cabinet using my own game which I plan to sell, but would like to make the game unplayable unless it's played on the arcade itself. Since it's PC based, anyone can simply connect the hard drive to their own computer, find the files and distribute the game. Here's what I thought would work:

-Every arcade cabinet has a hidden file. In the file there's the motherboard serial number which is encrypted.
-The game when launched would decrypt the file and compare the machine's serial number it's being played on with the file's serial number.
-If they match, run the game.

Any way to hack this you think?

SlayerAlex:

Yes

DJ_Izumi:

They'd just have to search the machine to find that hidden file and then distribute it with the rest of the software.

How many units do you expect to sell?  Cause if you have any professional arcade publishers they'd be doing the security for you.  ARe you just gonna hand build original machines to sell your game and sell them directly yourself?  In that case you have a great security feature: Complete Obscurity

Ophelius:


--- Quote from: DJ_Izumi on April 05, 2010, 07:39:12 pm ---They'd just have to search the machine to find that hidden file and then distribute it with the rest of the software.

--- End quote ---

No, because every computer's machine number is different and won't match the file if it's different from the original machine.


--- Quote from: DJ_Izumi on April 05, 2010, 07:39:12 pm ---ARe you just gonna hand build original machines to sell your game and sell them directly yourself?

--- End quote ---

I'll be building and selling them directly myself. I won't be building the arcade shell. That I'll be buying pre-built to save me time.


--- Quote from: DJ_Izumi on April 05, 2010, 07:39:12 pm --- In that case you have a great security feature: Complete Obscurity

--- End quote ---

Not sure I understand what you mean here.

DJ_Izumi:


--- Quote from: Ophelius on April 05, 2010, 07:58:28 pm ---No, because every computer's machine number is different and won't match the file if it's different from the original machine.
--- End quote ---

You didn't say ANYTHING about the software polling the motherboard to actually check to see if the serial number remained the same.

Either way, serial numbers can be spoofed so the motherboard will start reporting the serial to match the machine it was pirated from.

Also, that part of your code could just be removed.  That's how No CD cracks for games work afterall.  They just remove the part of the executable that checks and alters it so it always gets a false positive. :P

Let's be honest here.  You're running on off the shelf PC parts with no additional security hardware.  It's not gonna happen.  If major corporations can't make games that can't be pirated without them forcing them to dial home across the internet for verification, one guy sure as heck isn't going to succeed where they failed.

Considdering the costs of say, security dongles to make the software work, like what major flight simulation companies use and such, what you really need to do is ask if the costs of security outweigh potential losses to piracy.

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