Do you guys think jedi academy unlike JO will came with a online cdkey verification system?

I certainly hope so. There are pros and cons, but I think it might be good to include it this time around.

I agree with Stormy. It is something they need to do IMHO. :)

No, I think it's stupid for games to have these. I don't pirate games, but I have lost CD Keys before, and it's a real hassle. For instance, I lost my UT2003 CD-key, and I used my friend's. When he came over to LAN some, we kept having problems because it didn't like both of us in the game with the same cd key. CD Keys are ok for installation, but having the game check them online is just stupid.

PLUS the fact that they always crack it anyway makes the whole thing unnecesarry, and it costs money to uphold it too.

If they do have one they better tighten its security, ive had numerous problems with pirates using my legit cd key which meant i couldnt use it.

While I sympathize with you Walwi Makno, I think you are in the vast minority. Most people who do not have valid CD-Keys are pirating (borrowing, sharing, call it what you will ... ) I had something similar to you. I keep my 'working' CD's (mix of games and actual work CD's) in a portable case in my computer bag, and somehow lost my MoHAA CD cover - I don't know how, since I still have the rest of my game covers ... anyway, it meant that when I got a new Dell desktop last year I didn't have the CD-Key. It also meant that I started a 'CD-Key Database' on my HP Jornada 728, which is sync'ed to my Dell laptop, then to my Powerbook (so I have 3 copies).

But then what if I lost my CD case *with* the CD as well as the CD-key? Would I then be justified in downloading a warez version, or installing from a friend and using a 'No CD' crack, or just copying their CD? After all, I paid for it once ...

Maybe it is because I'm older than most here (just turned 37 on the 5th), and make enough that $50 for a game isn't a big deal (although I still regret doing it for Unreal II, a mistake I won't repeat for Postal 2), but if I wanted to get the Spearhead expansion, I would just buy (probably on eBay at this point) a new MoHAA copy.

I hope LEC does *something* about security for this next version.

Mike

If anything, they might install the new safedisc 2.8 which is pretty strong to today's standards. And with that, it writes files onto the computer which are needed for the game, but also check for a legit cd key on the cd, which is made during cd processing back at the factory where it was made.

It would be a good idea, but Im sure some little twerp will crack it, or post thiers on here, they should do how Seirra did it for Swat 3 and used a unique key for net access, if any one had the same key on, you could whislte to try and play it online.

Well, with NovaLogic, they did it (not sure if Novalogic is a part of Sierra).. but I know a friend of mine tried using their uncle's CD Key for Dagger Task Force or whatever, and it wouldn't work.

Let's hope if LEC were to implement these things,they would make it so secure that you can't lose your CD-Key(it's embedded into the CD memory?)

That way we can never forget of losing our CD-Key.:D

But what about those of us who would rather play without the CD in the drive? I prefer to just buy the game, install it, and then put the CD away so it doesn't get broken or scratched. If the only the installation program checked the key, then it would be fine (yeah, I know, if you do that... then what's the point of having one to begin with).

Okay well very simple:If you bought a legit copy and used a no-cd patch that solves your entire problem.
Plus its not illegal as such because you bought a legit copy.

Heh to quote a member of our clan:

"Raven and LEC know they got ****** on JK2 you can count on a CD key or copyright protection for this one."

Why JK2 did not have a key was simple.

It was a LEC game.

All id games and Raven games have them and if LEC does not include a key this time they might ass well just offer it up for a free download.

The one good thing about this being a Quake 3 engine game is that if it does have a cd key you can pretty much eliminate the keygen/crack issue.

Many games have working keygens for them but the way id games authenticate the keys with the master server it makes them literally impossible to keygen.

Sure it will *accept the key when you enter it but the master server will decline it once you connect.

On disk copy write protection is a joke.
It’s easy to crack and simply a waste of time.

Besides people *should be able to back up copies of games they own.
Every game I buy I back up before I ever install it and I simply use the copy rather than risk screwing up the original.

As for losing your key, as with anything important write it down…

Originally posted by GhostLotus
Okay well very simple:If you bought a legit copy and used a no-cd patch that solves your entire problem.
Plus its not illegal as such because you bought a legit copy.

Actually, according to the End User License Agreement, even if you still buy a legit copy of a game, it is still against the agreement to use any file/software/application that modifieds, edits, or in other words, changes the executable file that was originally distibuted with the game. (have to read the fine print)

another important addition would be punkbuster... although, servers should auto-update... because things get screwy if you have either a newer or older version than the server.

They will probably include it since Soldier Of Fortune 2: Double Helix includes it, which is also made by Raven Software. So it would definitely help keep the cheating and hacking down I'd think

Originally posted by Andy867
They will probably include it since Soldier Of Fortune 2: Double Helix includes it, which is also made by Raven Software. So it would definitely help keep the cheating and hacking down I'd think what hacking? what good is a wall hack/aimbot if you are playing a game that depends on a melee weapon?

i've been accused of using hacks quite a bit, so has every competitive player out there. there aren't any viable hacks for jk2. why you ask? because they don't help enough to waste your time on them.

PunkBuster is a pain in the ass but a necessity in games like Quake 3.

It's buggy and usually causes more headaches than anything but it does keep most public hacks out.

Games like JK2 or JA simply don't attract the competitive "I'm going to own your ass" crowd and hence hacks are almost non existent.

Going all the way back to 1.02 the total number of public hacks for JK2 can be counted on one hand. And none of those hacks every had any impact on the game other than the 1.02 server crasher exe.

The main problem I have with PB is the banning of CD keys by admins and unjustified Global bans.

If you don't know what either of those are, trust me you'll be complaining about them if it's integrated into JA.

Down with online cd keys :thumbs1:

If someone starts banning cd keys, im going to buy a plane ticket and shoot them.

Im not too happy about possibly being cut out of a server just because an admin had a powertrip.

And i agree that hacks and the sort are rarities in jo mp, apart from the occasional kickscript(which i still cant figure out what use it is) its pretty much clean.

So why use punkbuster if its just gonna piss everyone off and not do any good.

I agree with a CD-Key. Specially something like Half-Life's banning system, where you can ban a specific CD-Key so that lammer won't bother you again on a specific server.

CD Key = good.

CD Key banning = bad.

Global bans (you are banned by your key from the *master server, as in good luck playing online *anywhere) = very, very bad.


The problem with PunkBuster like the guy said is updating and client server mismatch is a pain in the ass. Not to mention depending on how the server admin set up PB all kinds of stupid crap can happen. I’ve been banned from a Quake 3 server because I connected with a default config and had my name as “UnnamedPlayer” the default Quake 3 name. I connected and went into the other room and when I came back I noticed I was not connected.

/reconnect

Banned.

All kinds of dumb crap like connecting as Padawan would get you kicked on most JA PB servers.

You connect to a server and there is a guy with the name “Yoda” in there, if you have the same name you get dumped for “name stealing” a PB violation.

Not to mention it allows the scanning of your cvars and can disallow certain ones if the admin chooses too.

Say you like to play with a zoomed out field of vision in third person mode when gunning, if the admin does not want to allow it you can't do it.


It’s just too damn paranoid and buggy for a game like JA that chances are will remain virtually hack free on it’s own like JK2 did.

of all the different versions of punkbuster, i'd have to say that the sof2 version is the most stable, the quake 3 version mediocre, and the wolfenstein version in last.

I don't recall any games published by LEC having CD keys or any kind of copy protection. A good copy protection system like SafeDisc costs way too much money. Since no matter what you put on will be cracked anyway, they probably see the overall gain as less than the initial cost of money to implement the thing.

i don't think u need a cd key if u need the cd to play it every time.

They Must be a way in the future to solve all this *ponders*:confused:

if u ment fix them there is. make multiplayer like jo u don't need a cd key

Originally posted by Emon
I don't recall any games published by LEC having CD keys or any kind of copy protection.

The only one that springs to mind is the fact you need JKII CD 2 to play Mysteries of the Sith.

As long as they don't use FADE (copy protection found un Operation Flashpoint), I'm happy. That was/is a nightmare.

Yeah, and that's because MotS was an expansion, they wanted you to make sure you had the original game. It was kind of lame, though, since MotS was totally standalone.