My thoughts on hex editing and keygens...
| Author | Topic: My thoughts on hex editing and keygens... |
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Shock Trooper
Member # 932
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written Monday, August 15 2005 23:35
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Before reading the post, please take these two things into consideration: 1) I have paid for every Spiderweb Software game that I've played past the demo section of. Actually, I've paid for every game I've played the full version of. 2) I do not condone using cracks, hacks, serials, etc, to defraud ANYBODY, even Micro$oft. After reading the Code of Conduct I was somewhat annoyed to have discovered that discussion of hex editing was listed under infractions. I often use a hex editor to re-register my copy of Avernum 1-3 after I finish formating my computer for the billionth time. I find that it is simply a matter of convenience to hex edit a particular file, so that I can re-register my game without needing to email Jeff & Co. for a billionth time. Considering the fact that there is probably at least one other person who has purchased one of the Avernum series, who then formats their computer, WITHOUT backing up the necessary file due to momentary lapses, or the fact that their A drive is always on the blink, they don't have a CD burner, can't afford a memory stick, etc to store it on, I thought that writing a small tutorial on how to re-register the game you already own would save Spiderweb some effort of checking personal details and emailing out registration keys. [If I didn't use my method, or a keygen, spiderweb would have been emailing me a new code nearly every second month for the last three years - something I'm sure they'd not appreciate.] Admittedly, I'm likely breaching the EULA by 'reverse-engineering' or somesuch, but I really don't see an issue with what I do: I've already paid for the game, the code is NOT one that has to be unique for every user (unlike CD Keys for Starcraft, for instance) so using hex editing to re-use my old key isn't affecting anyone. Using a keygen falls under the same banner as far as I'm concerned. Whilst I can understand that giving information out on how to find a keygenerator is crossing the line, I'm wondering... Would providing a tutorial on Hex Editing four bytes of data to re-register a game you've already paid for would also be crossing that line? Certainly - one could trawl Usenet to find a registration code and its subsequent key, and defraud Spiderweb using the tutorial I was planning to write, but anyone who could do that is undoubtedly capable of finding and downloading a keygen to do the same. I'm curious to other's thoughts on this, nevertheless, until the Code of Conduct changes the half finished tutorial is staying that way. [ Monday, August 15, 2005 23:35: Message edited by: CPeters ] -------------------- Microsoft Patents Ones, Zeroes (March 25, 1998) "Asians are good at Starcraft because they're always squinting, thus they can see things sharply. Remember to always squint in war." ~ Sun-Tzu's The Fart of War Posts: 215 | Registered: Sunday, April 7 2002 08:00 |
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...b10010b...
Member # 869
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written Monday, August 15 2005 23:57
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Rules are rules, I'm afraid. If it's any consolation, Spiderweb has always been very good about giving out replacement registration codes promptly and graciously. -------------------- My BoE Page Bandwagons are fun! Roots Hunted! Posts: 9973 | Registered: Saturday, March 30 2002 08:00 |
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Lifecrafter
Member # 3171
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written Tuesday, August 16 2005 00:02
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If they did create a tutorial many people would be able to, and would, register the game illegally. Sure there is probably a lot of people who do already but by providing this tutorial the number would dramatically increase. Posts: 776 | Registered: Friday, July 4 2003 07:00 |
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BANNED
Member # 5941
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written Tuesday, August 16 2005 00:54
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quote:Such Will you dare to be honest with community? 2CPeters Considering level of knowlege of about 90% of the board users you better write some simple tool which will give ability to rewrite registration information by given reg. code & key. As far as I know this will not breach any laws. However writing an tutor is even protected by laws :) Posts: 23 | Registered: Saturday, June 11 2005 07:00 |
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Master
Member # 4614
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written Tuesday, August 16 2005 08:08
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Maybe Spiderweb could keep a database on all who register their games. Then all those who register recieve a username and password that they can use to access a customers-only section of their website and have access to these tutorials, replacement codes, downloads, etc. for the respective games that they have registered. -------------------- -ben4808 For those who love to spam: CSM Forums RIFQ Posts: 3360 | Registered: Friday, June 25 2004 07:00 |
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Shaper
Member # 5437
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written Tuesday, August 16 2005 08:20
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What would prevent people from giving away their username and password? -------------------- Nena Posts: 2032 | Registered: Wednesday, January 26 2005 08:00 |
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Nuke and Pave
Member # 24
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written Tuesday, August 16 2005 08:23
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There already is a tutorial included with your registration code: Detailed instructions on how to back up your registration. I don't understand why anybody would need hex editing instructions if they can back up the necessary file[s] with less effort and less opportunity to mess up the game. I know why you prefer hex editing, but you are the kind of person who doesn't need a tutorial for it. The people who would need a tutorial would (and should) stick to following Spidweb's instructions for backing up registration. PS Zaiu, the thing that would prevent people from sharing their key/value pairs is the same thing that currently prevents people from sharing their registered copies. [ Tuesday, August 16, 2005 08:29: Message edited by: Zeviz ] -------------------- Be careful with a word, as you would with a sword, For it too has the power to kill. However well placed word, unlike a well placed sword, Can also have the power to heal. Posts: 2649 | Registered: Wednesday, October 3 2001 07:00 |
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Triad Mage
Member # 7
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written Tuesday, August 16 2005 11:35
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I don't see what's so hard about backing up a data file or emailing spidweb. -------------------- "At times discretion should be thrown aside, and with the foolish we should play the fool." - Menander ==== Drakefyre's Demesne - Happy Happy Joy Joy desperance.net - We're Everywhere ==== You can take my Mac when you pry my cold, dead fingers off the mouse! Posts: 9436 | Registered: Wednesday, September 19 2001 07:00 |
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Master
Member # 4614
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written Tuesday, August 16 2005 12:08
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Yeah, Dolphin, you're right. You can't really stop people from pirating games as long as you can copy and paste files. -------------------- -ben4808 For those who love to spam: CSM Forums RIFQ Posts: 3360 | Registered: Friday, June 25 2004 07:00 |
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Law Bringer
Member # 335
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written Tuesday, August 16 2005 13:27
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Instead of sharing that name and password, people would probably just copy and paste the hex editing tutorial. In the end, while piracy is an unnecessary but inevitable evil, there's really no reason to make it easier. —Alorael, who operates under the assumption that a few more people would register illegally if they could figure out how to in a different way. Maybe it's not true, but it's a risk. Posts: 14579 | Registered: Saturday, December 1 2001 08:00 |
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Shake Before Using
Member # 75
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written Tuesday, August 16 2005 16:25
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The one time I did write in to Spidweb for a game replacement (for BoE), they got back to me within a day. That's pretty impressive customer service. Anyway, I don't really see how this tutorial could be anything other than the ability to register the game regardless of whether or not you've paid for it, since you either know your registration code (in which case you can just put it in normally...) or it's different (different computer, for instance) / you forgot it, in which case you need to either write Spidweb or use a method that doesn't require actually knowing your code. Obviously, any such method would be illegal. As such, this topic gets the lock. Posts: 3234 | Registered: Thursday, October 4 2001 07:00 |
