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General discussionList of DRM-free video games digital distributors(315 posts) (315 posts) 
(315 posts) 
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This is my favourite topic
Posted February 08, 2022
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Gudadantza: But what does mean "you can backup game files after you installed it"? What's wrong with backup your game installer and copy your CD key code? In the near past you owned your Game CD and the CD key code printed on it. Not too different. Not different at all.

If I am not mistaken the CD Key use to be added to the registry.
There's nothing wrong with that. But backing up the installed game if the games work from that site like a few retail game do then it just saves you having to enter your code.

Take Star Trek Elite Force II for example, the retail version will ask for a code to install and will not install without it, however if you backup the game installation directory after its installed then you don't need the code again as the game itself doesn't use it.

There will be some games though, like here on GOG that will use a code and will need the code backed up from the registry as well, Spellforce is one of those games here.

(I've not used that site.)
Post edited February 08, 2022 by RoboPond
Posted February 08, 2022
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Gudadantza: But what does mean "you can backup game files after you installed it"? What's wrong with backup your game installer and copy your CD key code? In the near past you owned your Game CD and the CD key code printed on it. Not too different. Not different at all.

If I am not mistaken the CD Key use to be added to the registry.
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RoboPond: There's nothing wrong with that. But backing up the installed game if the games work from that site like a few retail game do then it just saves you having to enter your code.

Take Star Trek Elite Force II for example, the retail version will ask for a code to install and will not install without it, however if you backup the game installation directory after its installed then you don't need the code again as the game itself doesn't use it.

There will be some games though, like here on GOG that will use a code and will need the code backed up from the registry as well, Spellforce is one of those games here.

(I've not used that site.)
And is really needed/worth all this hassle and workarounds just to not spend ten seconds typing a set numbers? Well, whatever, each one his own, indeed
Post edited February 08, 2022 by Gudadantza
Posted February 08, 2022
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neumi5694: If someone likes to experiment, please try to activate the key of a recently bought but still not activated game while being offline. If that works, then I don't see any problem at all.
I should be able to test that with Pandora: First Contact + Eclipse of Nashira, using the Slitherine-provided archive on an offline computer.

---

Done, it worked without complaining about the lack of network access. The key verification process seems to be fully offline.
Post edited February 08, 2022 by vv221
Posted February 08, 2022
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neumi5694: If someone likes to experiment, please try to activate the key of a recently bought but still not activated game while being offline. If that works, then I don't see any problem at all.
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vv221: I should be able to test that with Pandora: First Contact + Eclipse of Nashira, using the Slitherine-provided archive on an offline computer.

---

Done, it worked without complaining about the lack of network access. The key verification process seems to be fully offline.
Great news!
Posted February 09, 2022
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vv221: I should be able to test that with Pandora: First Contact + Eclipse of Nashira, using the Slitherine-provided archive on an offline computer.

---

Done, it worked without complaining about the lack of network access. The key verification process seems to be fully offline.
Would you mind testing the installed game on a virtual machine that never connected to the internet or another hardware that is offline?
Posted February 09, 2022
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_Auster_: Would you mind testing the installed game on a virtual machine that never connected to the internet or another hardware that is offline?
I already tried it on an offline computer that never had this game installed prior to this test. This is as far as I am going, kinky tests with VMs will need to wait for someone with more free time than I have ;)

Anyway, I fail to see the purpose of such a test now that we know that the key verification is done fully offline…
Post edited February 09, 2022 by vv221
Posted February 09, 2022
I find it baffling that something that uses obvious DRM is even taken into consideration for this list. If just online DRM "counts", then the thread should be renamed.
Posted February 09, 2022
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Cavalary: I find it baffling that something that uses obvious DRM is even taken into consideration for this list. If just online DRM "counts", then the thread should be renamed.
DRM is and always has been online since the term exists, it was used for music before it was used for games and it was always connected to a online verification.
Be aware that also some GOG games come with CD keys, since the game just works this way, can only be started after such a key has been added. But the veryfication is not online. They are still considered to be DRM free.

If you think this thread should be removed, feel free not to read it any longer.
Post edited February 09, 2022 by neumi5694
Posted February 09, 2022
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Cavalary: I find it baffling that something that uses obvious DRM is even taken into consideration for this list. If just online DRM "counts", then the thread should be renamed.
What kinds of copy-protection should be considered as DRM is quite controversial.
I know many people think offline CD-key is one form of DRM, but I don't want to exclude it in the thread.

I list it with a clear warning message, so anyone who hate offline CD-key will not buy it on that store, while some others may find the information useful.
Posted February 09, 2022
From the opening post: « No, I am not joking. Steam do have many DRM-free games. »
So it’s obvious from there that the definition of DRM is going to be twisted in several ways in this thread.
Post edited February 09, 2022 by vv221
Posted February 09, 2022
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Cavalary: I find it baffling that something that uses obvious DRM is even taken into consideration for this list. If just online DRM "counts", then the thread should be renamed.
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neumi5694: DRM is and always has been online since the term exists, it was used for music before it was used for games and it was always connected to a online verification.
Be aware that also some GOG games come with CD keys, since the game just works this way, can only be started after such a key has been added. But the veryfication is not online. They are still considered to be DRM free.

If you think this thread should be removed, feel free not to read it any longer.
I do not really agree. A CD copy protection was DRM, Starforce, Securom, Safedisc... or even physical devices for games like Steel Beast Professional.
All of these were DRM Modes and some of them some of the worst examples of them. And If I am ot wrong practically all of these shit were offline.

In the past some AAA games used to have three layers of DRM or copy protection, a standard CD Check, a Code or a CD key (online or Offline) and probably some shit like Starforce or similar. Being the CD Key the harmless way of things.

About the available GOG CD keys in some older games (present in your account library) use to be legacy ways to have the old multiplayer functional. I consider it more legacy and/or preservation than any other thing. Because I doubt they are very active actually.

Greetings
Post edited February 09, 2022 by Gudadantza
Posted February 09, 2022
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neumi5694: DRM is and always has been online since the term exists, it was used for music before it was used for games and it was always connected to a online verification.
Be aware that also some GOG games come with CD keys, since the game just works this way, can only be started after such a key has been added. But the veryfication is not online. They are still considered to be DRM free.
Pardon?
Manual lookup is DRM, keys are DRM, disk checks are DRM, those technologies Gudadantza listed are DRM. DRM existed before the Internet, so no way it "always has been online since the term exists".
As for those GOG games, which have indeed existed since GOG launched, the keys are only for multiplayer, which was why GOG had its no DRM stance just for singleplayer.
Post edited February 09, 2022 by Cavalary
Posted February 09, 2022
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neumi5694: DRM is and always has been online since the term exists, it was used for music before it was used for games and it was always connected to a online verification.
Be aware that also some GOG games come with CD keys, since the game just works this way, can only be started after such a key has been added. But the veryfication is not online. They are still considered to be DRM free.
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Cavalary: Pardon?
Manual lookup is DRM, keys are DRM, disk checks are DRM, those technologies Gudadantza listed are DRM. DRM existed before the Internet, so no way it "always has been online since the term exists".
As for those GOG games, which have indeed existed since GOG launched, the keys are only for multiplayer, which was why GOG had its no DRM stance just for singleplayer.
Agreed these are all DRM in a technical sense. Even if the term "DRM" hadn't been invented yet, it is clear looking retrospectively that product keys, codewheels, etc. should qualify. I think the reason something like this would be permitted, so to speak, is because if it is a one-time offline activation without additional restrictions, it is somewhat trivial to get past and then have a DRM-free game afterward. Don't get me wrong, I object in principle to all DRM; it is just that subjectively this type of DRM doesn't "bother" me if it is offline and trivial. I still think Matrix Games or anything else should be fully DRM-free without any such product keys.
Posted February 09, 2022
I know people won't listen to me, but if you want a flamewar about what is DRM and what is not, there are a lot of old GOG threads where you can discuss there.

About the topic of this thread, only GOG staff can change it, so I can do nothing about it. :-/
Posted February 09, 2022
Stumbled upon this article about early DRM on a quick search.
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This is my favourite topic
Community
General discussionList of DRM-free video games digital distributors(315 posts) (315 posts) 
(315 posts)