Considering how technology has recently advanced for the FS series, one would at least wonder how FSX is going to run in order to combat piracy such illegal duplicates and such. I remember back when FS2002 first came out. People kept abusing the CDs since you could run FS2002 without the CDs. Nowadays, even when the CD is required, there are programs out there in the net [some of which are unknown to us] that can enable an individual to duplicate even the DVDs.

I am bring this up because I am a bit concern on how piracy can greatly influence our experience with FSX in the future. For example, I own Half-life 2 and I love it. The one thing I hate about it is the fact that I need constant internet connection in order to even play it. However, I understand that this measure by the developers was necessary in order to combat piracy of such an awsome game.

So, how do you think the pirateers of today will affect the sim of tomorrow?

The problem is whilst in places like the US or Britain with good broadband access that might be feasible the rest of the world can't cope.
I live in a country where ADSL is seen as posh! A lot of people still use dial-up and broadband is as mythical as honest politicians!
I think some kind of verification code is the answer that just quickly confirms online and allows the program to run. I'm sure the crackers out there will find a way round it eventually but it'll keep most on the level.
You'll never be able to stop piracy. It is one of those things and the race between hacker and security expert is always led by the hacker...

There are ways to spoof such programs Mouse. When I was doing my IT diploma a lot of what we did was security and encryption (almost 2 years in fact) and I learnt a lot of stuff that would shock and amaze people.
I have a number of theories as to how to cut down piracy but as I've only ever released stuff I've done as freeware I'm probably not the voice of authority.
With Vista and its new security devices (particularly hardware ones) things will move up a step but it won't be long before the hackers and crackers are ahead again.
There aren't any simple solutions. I can remember back in the days of the ZX Spectrum when copying a game just needed a tape-to-tape deck and a company introduced a device you had to hold to the screen to decode the security program so you could access the game (Elite), so a company made a device that you plugged into your Speccie and pressed the button on top and could save the game from that point. So once you'd gone past the security you saved it and when you loaded her from tape again you'd bypassed the security!
It is a never ending race...

1. Develop an operating system that is designed for scanning what is being installed into it which also verifies the software.

2. Develop hardware which works with the security features designed into the OS.

3. Market the security features to large firms who are tired of having their investments stolen.

4. As the market grows the cost will drop allowing smaller software companies the opportunity to have the same protection.

5. Eventually the cost will drop to a level where any software producer can afford the protection.


Hmmmmm... I wonder if that is has already been done or in the works 

Ha ha ha Ben! Broadband doesn't even exist over here!

Quote:

Indeed. This also applies to mobile phones.*

*PS. They appear to be called cell phones nowadays. I expect it will soon be possible to play FSX on the blasted things.

I always thought "cellular" referred to part of a living organism which contains cells... ...!

Alcatraz was cellular...
...that contained lots of cells...

Mobile phones are still a mystery to me...
...like the cells in my aged body... ...!

Paul...In a cell...somewhere... 8)...!

Quote:


It still doesn't explain the change in the cellular composition of my Liver after six pints of John Smith's Special Brew......!

...That's what I need to know...
...urgently...
..trust me... ...!

Paul...Hic.... ...!

P.S.  Notice that this thread has migrated from Piracy to the effects of Rum...  ...?