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Hackproof Arcade
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gaffner:

--- Quote from: Ophelius on April 06, 2010, 03:21:06 am ---Thanks everyone for the feedback. Cryptology has always fascinated me and I've learned that even the most thought out ways to get someone to stay out will always have a weakness(Troy). I'll most likely distribute the software freely and if someone really likes the game and wants a collectors item for their collection, they can buy my arcade. The game should be finished soon, so I'll post it when it's released.

--- End quote ---

Seems like the best way to go... if your game is all that and a bag of chips, people will want more, and you can charge them for the new and improved second one (because really, who would want the first one if there is an even cooler sequel).
Malenko:
I toss 5 dollars out to indie game makers all the time to support their projects, Im sure if your game is good (and or if my nephews like it) I would do it again.
XCVG:

--- Quote from: Gatt on April 06, 2010, 02:47:16 am ---
--- Quote from: XCVG on April 05, 2010, 11:58:40 pm ---Forget about it. Pretty much anything can be hacked. Although not really in this case, DRM usually just pisses people off and does nothing to stop piracy. Unless your game is really good and gets extremely popular, there probably won't be a lot of interest in pirating it anyway.

Maybe use a physical method of keeping people from transferring the games off? Put the computer in a case secured with odd screws that are impossible to find drivers for. And use a nonstandard connector for the HDD, too. Maybe if you wanted to go excessive, put some chip smashers in.

Not trying to come off as a jerk, just saying it the way I see it. I can totally understand where you are coming from.

--- End quote ---

Sadly...

The case with odd screws wouldn't slow anything down,  doesn't matter if the case is intact,  hacksaw it and pull the HDD.  A nonstandard HDD Cable would be exorboriant,  you'd have to contract with one of the drive manufacturers,  and they'd require a significant order.  Chip smashers wouldn't make any difference either,  what you want is the drive,  the chips are irrelevant as they'd be fairly standard x86,  so no mysteries there.

About the only option is something that'd trigger a thermite reaction on the HDD if the case were opened.  Even that would only slow things down,  as they'd either find a way to hack the OS or hack through the networking ports.  Of course,  if the thermite reaction gets out of control,  could lead to some interesting lawsuits too...

--- End quote ---

HDD Cable: Desolder the old connector, put on your own and CHANGE THE PINOUT! Recase. Or maybe mod one of those little IDE flash things?
Chip Smashers: Maybe a giant magnet that wipes the HDD would be a better shoice.
Thermite: I like that idea ;D

Now I really want this game :lol
CheffoJeffo:
While I certainly understand the desire to protect your IP (I have had mine stolen, with attempts to resell, twice in the past), many of the proposed measures, if implemented, would result in me (and I suspect the majority of collectors) having no interest in buying your cabinets.

How could I possibly invest that kind of money in a game sold by "some guy on the Innertubes" when he has specifically chosen an architecture and security measures that would prevent me from fixing it when it fails.

Am I just supposed to trust that you will be around to provide support and replacement parts ?

There are a number of security measures already used by arcade machine vendors that are trusted AND supported (so look into those), but the simple fact is that I don't see any opportunity for you to make money buying prebuilt cabs and then assembling the components by hand.

OTOH, if you make a great game that is affordable, PC-based and cab-friendly, I see a decent opportunity for you to make some coin.


EDIT: Is this for your version of Astrosmash ? And you are looking for ways to protect that IP from, say, being copied by someone else and then sold for a profit ?  >:D
Epyx:

--- Quote ---I know there's always a way in, even with security dongles and net verification, but at least it deters most people who can't use hex editors.
--- End quote ---

The problem is the people who are going to be spending the time hacking/copying/distributing are not your customer base anyways...the harder you make it for those people the more you piss off the real customers. In my opinion, take a page from Stardock games...no protection and therefore no challenge for hackers...yet they have a loyal and large customer base and due to their business model are one of the most profitable publishers out there.

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