Kevin wrote:1.) Any post that gives help/links/suggestions/whatever for working around CD-Keys or other forms of copy protection will be deleted.
I hate to come down so hard on this but I'm just looking out for the site as a whole. I love TR and I would hate to see lawsuits filed or anything else bad happen to the site.
Fairly stated Kevin, and I fully support your statement though I will play devil's advocate for just a moment.
I legitimately buy all my games (which is only 3-5 per year) and I run CD cracks on each and every one of them so I dont have to track down those damnable CDs every time I want to play for 10 minutes. Y'know, 'fair use' and all that and I lose no sleep over it.
I find it interesting how TR features front page stories about the legal aspects of file-sharing music (and could be logically extended to any digital content, including games) and that support of the editors and readers greatly falls on the side of the consumer. After all, if I purchased a game/album/DVD, then arent I entitled to make backups of it, remove the CD-check etc, all under the name of 'fair use'?
Just because something can be used illegally doesnt mean it is always used such (a common argument from Kazaa/Grokster/Napster camps). Would not the same apply here? I find it peculiar that I could probably get tons of forum help troubleshooting Grokster, but a kick in the ass for talking methodology about copying Raven Shield... (both activities are still legal AFAIK)
I guess what I'm getting at is that there are any number of legitimate uses for things like removing CD checks and work-arounds for Super-SafediscROM+ to backup your $60 game. I also agree that openly discussing them can expose TR to some gnarly problems, and its up to the TR moderators/editors to decide what will be considered taboo on this site.
Granted, the recent thread with the clueless reader trying to get a valid CDkey for UT2K3 clearly crossed the line (since he basically admitted he didnt buy the game) so he fully deserves a smacking/suspension/whatever.
But what if you bought a game whose CDkey was guessed by a keygen and subsequently released onto the net and banned? You'll receive no help from the publisher, who assumes you leaked your own key. (Highly unlikely scenario, but just to illustrate a point). Are you going to drop another $60 to buy another copy? Or are you within your rights to investigate 'alternative' solutions??
Oh one anecdote. I recently bought the PC version Grandia II in the bargain bin. It leaves a large amount of content on the play disc, so my 48XCD spins up and down every time you enter a town/shop/battle/cutscene. It's probably a result of the games console origins but it's infuriating and annoying. Using two popular utilities, I extracted the CD to the HD and run a Safedisc emulator and now the game runs fast and smooth, as a PC game is supposed to run. It's examples like this why I would like to see a *little* leniency regarding this topic in the forums...
/just my $.02 and hoping I dont get banned
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