Originally posted by sigma:
Quote:

Pretty easy to burn a cd, even protected ones.



HL2 requires an online verification process between a CD-Key and a user-registration before you can play. It is far more than a simple CD-Key check like your average CD-crack can prevent. Not only do you have to go online to verify your CD-Key but you must also download particular files that decrypt certain and unique files within the game before it is playable. You do not even have the entire game in a playable state on your CDs until you verify the key through the developer.

While it is possible for someone to share their CD-Key and login information only one of you will be able to play at once, and if the same key is used on a suspicious number of machines of significantly different hardware configurations (more than your average person would be upgrading) the game will be unplayable. And even if shared with one or two people online one may play at once -- not just online, but period. While the game does play offline, if your internet is active, it will communicate to Valve that you are playing even just single-player and Valve can see if someone else is playing single-player at the same time -- unless the two of your are playing with your internet unplugged.



Given 2 weeks, maybe 3, where will be a working way around getting online. If you have seen the stuff that they have for Photoshop CS, or Macromedia Studio MX 2004. It does all that, Special files are needed, and such. There are also more basic programs like ace mp3/wma converter that has the same technology. Also look at Dr. Divx. Dr. Divx has to be one of the hardest programs crackers have found to crack next to programs like Catia VR5, which takes like 45 minutes of little edits here and there, and swapping files around. I mean, 99% of CEG members have no clue what Catia unless you look it up online. That program is insane! But someone figured it out. Same as Photoshop, MX 2004, Dr. Divx. They will figure this one out and then valve will be right back at spending thousands of dollars for a technology that will be cracked in a matter of a few short weeks. I bet it took them over 2 yrs to make their technology. And it will take 2 weeks to crack.. Its sad, how hard we must work to protect our stuff. They had 10-20 people working on it, while right now I am sure over 1000 people are working on a crack already. Bet I can find one online within the next few days, that atleast lets me play single player.

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