106 replies to this topic

[Dangerous_Dave]

4. Uncheck "ReadOnly", dash, your plan is foiled...

I've seen a game that has hidden/read only folder/files in it, Everytime I make it non-readonly it'd just revert back.

Un-readonly, change file, re-readonly. If it wont let you, drag to desktop first. If you still can't edit the file, make your own, copy over contents (make sure encoding is the same), save, and make read only. Use this file to replace the one you couldn't change before. If that doesn't work, I can still think of other ways, but I am starting to wonder how this topic went from "How to I protect my game" to "How do I hack this game"...

[morno]

if you use an Installer app on ur Game Maker file's you cant post them on YOYO.. you need to find another source to upload it to.

[Knightmare]

Your game will pretty much be worthless enough to have a 30 day trial. No offense, no one will bother pirating your game or cheat the system.

[AnSq]

You could use a .txt or .ini file but rename it to a .dll or something.
Most people probably wouldn't think to try to open it at all (I know I wouldn't).

Just my idea

-AndySquirrel

[Dangerous_Dave]

Your game will pretty much be worthless enough to have a 30 day trial. No offense, no one will bother pirating your game or cheat the system.

That's what we have been trying to say for nearly a month... noone listens. Its the same as the decompiler, the only people who worry are the people whos games aren't worth decompiling.

You could use a .txt or .ini file but rename it to a .dll or something.
Most people probably wouldn't think to try to open it at all (I know I wouldn't).

Thats the first place I'd look.

[Blue_eyes_zombie_2]

There is a way to do it with the registry...

I'm just in Fast Reply right now, so I'm not going to code anything, but if you were to create a registry key with the date as a value, and then get the game to check it and lock itself down if 30 days have passed...that might work.

[Dangerous_Dave]

It's been suggested, and it's nothing a little regedit can't change.

[Grundoko]

I know what can be done to fix the peoblem.

Have a server with a clock.
And on the first time the game is run, have it save the date to the server, and your pc's mac address.

Every time the game is run, it checks the server for a variable, saying weather or not the game can run.
Make it so 30 days from the time the variable was first written, it would change, so the game cannot run anymore.

Also make it so the same mac address cannot do this more then once, that way people wouldn't be able to reinstall the game for another 30 days.


I'm guessing this would be possible with some PHP scripting on the server side, and I suppose you could do the client side with 39dll to have them connect.



Anyway, correct me if I'm wrong, but I think this is perfect.

[Dangerous_Dave]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but that would require you to have an internet connection every time you start the game. I use a laptop. Sometimes I have internet, sometimes I don't. I travel between many places during the day. If a game required me to have internet connected, even though there was no online mode, then I wouldn't spend anywhere near 30 days playing this game.
Some people have no internet at all, they download the games at a friends house and chuck them on a flash drive to take home. Requiring internet access means significantly less people will play your game, and some people already struggle to get people to play their games...

[Maxinston]

How can I make my games a 30 day trial? I have GM7 Pro.

These questions have been asked too many times, first MAKE a game that worth a cent and then you can start working on its protection and 30 day trail...

[TyrantX]

How can I make my games a 30 day trial? I have GM7 Pro.

These questions have been asked too many times, first MAKE a game that worth a cent and then you can start working on its protection and 30 day trail...

This response has been given too many times. First, make an attempt to help the OP. Then, you can call him a noob if that's what you like to do.

havenomercy3, there are only few methods to make a 30 day trial easily, and people have probably already given you all of them. Whatever you choose to do, do it quietly and don't tell anyone. Confidentiality is half of security.

Edited by TyrantX, 03 September 2008 - 08:58 PM.

[Mice]

registry is probably the best method. even if though there's regedit, its very easy to get lost in the registry (meaning you DON'T name the key something like you game name)

and even if people find the key, all you need to get past that is

when you start the game, take the date, and encrypt it and stick it in, and make a savegame file (that actually works as a gamesave) but along with the savedata add the encrypted date

when you start the game check if the game has any progress, then check if the registry key is the same as the savedata (if the registry key is missing while the savedata is intact, the user editited the registry, and the game will fail to start)
then the game would check the current date with the registry key date and proceed accordingly


an exploit would be deleting the registry and the savedata, but then the player loses the save game (or maybe distribute the game with a descreet savedata)

Edited by Mice, 04 September 2008 - 11:36 PM.

[pure_evil020]

research the idea by going to www.google.com
there are programs out there that can make your game into a 30 day trial. and totally set up a registering system for you online.
but dont expect to get these kinds of services for free.... I think this is probably the most secure you will get though.

Edited by pure_evil020, 06 September 2008 - 04:57 AM.

[Dangerous_Dave]

Even comercial trial systems aren't all that secure.

[pure_evil020]

Even comercial trial systems aren't all that secure.

he is right. and the fact is, there is no 100% secure way... but comercial trial systems are probably one of the best ways to protect your game/program and the easiest if other people/software's are running the service for you Automaticly.
and even if you do have a comercial trial system in place, you can still add on other security mesures like the what other people have mentioned, if you wanna be really tight...

[Johnnsen]

Do you really thin anyone is interested after you had the chance to play a game 30 days?

[Dangerous_Dave]

Do you really thin anyone is interested after you had the chance to play a game 30 days?

Yes, if your game was worth selling in the first place.

[MetroidMan347]

This isnt exactly what you asked for but I think it would work ok.

All you do is make the free download very limited, and only make like a demo with only one boss or some such thing, and at the end of the demo use the question command. If they say yes open the purchase window and if they say no do some kinda scrolling list of better features in full version. Such as a save game capability. Hope that helps. sorry I couldn't do anything more sophisticated, I'm a little bit of a n00bie but I'm happy to help in any way I can.

Edited by MegaManFan1, 14 September 2008 - 06:18 PM.

[Xirod]

Have it write the start date to a file, then check it each time the game starts - if it is past 30 days after that the game expires.
In addition to that, have the game log the dates each time you play, and if the date & time is smaller than the one previously logged then an error message displays about the system time settings.
That way it will expire after 30 days, or expire if they try to turn back time from the last time they played.

[nsm333]

Umm....How about no?
I can just edit that file, or make a copy before I play, and paste it again later.