Larian Studios Forums Beyond Divinity (English) Technical Problems StarForce 3: Why?

I just finished Divine Divinity that ships with Beyond Divinity. Excellent game. The first thing I did (so I don't have to have the CDROM in the drive) was make an ISO image. No problem.

Today, I installed Beyond Divinity and it's 1.45 patch. Created an ISO. Wait.. what was that message during install.. StarForce 3? Oh, isn't that the bloody protection scheme that will NOT work with my CDROM's? (I have a FEW other games with StarForce that will NOT work with my drives). Why do I buy the games that won't work with my system? Why that's because no one advertises that they use a copy protection scheme SO SLICK... that you cannot even use the bloody software that it's protecting!

The ISO, of course, failed to work. So I thought.. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt. Popped in the CDROM. "No disc found". What a surprise. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" />

I've purchased, yet another... $40 set of CDROM drink coasters.

I purchase EVERY game I play. And to this day, I am still met with this instant mistrust.

I hope Larian/Hip Games, decides to make a patch one day that will allow me to actually play the game.

To think.. I even ordered the soundtrack/novella. I guess I can sit and listen to the music.. pop open a Pepsi and set it on my "Beyond Divinity" CDROM's. They aren't worth much else to me now.

Did you try emailing Larian (support@larian.com)? They should also probably see this topic on monday.

Raze: I'm just voicing my concerns, that's about all my post is worth. The same goes for contacting tech support of any company that uses protection like StarForce. They aren't going to remove it for me or anyone else. They will do what all the other companies have suggested for me to do.. buy a CDROM drive supported by their protection software.

@Akhilles: no, that's not true. Please send an email to support@larian.com. We can help you out.

Our apologies for this inconvenience.

Sorry for the harsh words, but I've had nothing but bad experiences with games and their protection schemes.

I hope you can help. I sent the URL to this message along with DxDiag.txt zipped up.

StarForce has been slashdotted. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

http://games.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=04/06/11/1920245

what brand of cd rom do you have so i can avoid purchasing it? i've never had a problem like that, and any hardware worth its silicon shouldn't have problems like that. this isn't because of the iso images is it?

Pioneer DVD drive, Yamaha CD-RW

StarForce problems are really starting to take off in the community.

Codemasters created a removal tool for StarForce.

http://www.codemasters.co.uk/downloads/displayfiles.php?showdetails=13989

So, it's not just me.

that's good to know. i'm just curious why. i don't have the problem nor do others. hopefully starforce fixes the problem. otherwise they'll be having problems.

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/badsmile2.gif" alt="" />

oh yeah. thanks for the link.

Haha, I posted that in Chat (Anything) <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />.
The problem with Starforce is not that it exists. The problem is that StarForce is buggy.

Did you try to put both cd's in the drive.
Cause i think you have that message when you put the wrong one in it.
(Not sure anymore cause i tried once a very long time ago)

FWIW, I have a SCSI Pioneer DVD drive, and have not had any problems with copy protection.

If the Starforce check fails, you should be able to create a report. This report will enable us to generate you a personal key for your game which will allow you to play the game even if your disc is not properly recognized. If you're having trouble starting the game due to the protection, please create and save this report and mail it to Larian Support.

As a sidenote: the Starforce "removal tool" is not a tool by Codemasters, it is provided by Starforce itself.

Akhilles, I don't have a Pioneer DVD drive -
but I have a Yamaha CRW-F1E => no problems with this one.

and I installed BD in German and English in that one and another Starforce game => Syberia 2, no probs in installing that either <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />
Just checked again, Syberia 2 is minimized, is in my Yamaha, works. Same with the 2 BD versions.
Though I must admit, I just use my Yamaha merely as a CD-ROM drive, it has the original drivers, but no additional burn software. Though... this can't be the cause, or could it?
Kiya

It could have something to sense his "Copy" of it, if u know what I mean, maybe it set a trigger to make it seem pirated, and that may be the reason it doesnt work.

I have applications like Alcohol 120% and Daemon tools (virtual drive, ISO copying etc).

I use them for MSDN releases as well as copying games onto the harddrive and running them from an ISO copy. Well, I did that until 3 or 4 years ago when StarForce started flooding the gaming market.

Now, I'm treated like a thief. I support gaming companies by purchasing the games, and I have to dig the CDROM out when I want to play the game.

Don't get me wrong. I absolutely understand they are protecting their product and source of revenue. But I haven't heard a single apology to me--the consumer (that's another word for the person that actually BUYS the game) for having to put up with crap like StarForce.

Cracked .EXE's were never an option for me. Primarily because I will not use something someone's hacked. I don't care how careful I already am, I won't do it.

I'm a developer. The software I use, you have to contact a webserver and it registers the software on the machine you're on. Perhaps the gaming industry could take example of this?

Sure, unique serial #'s and such would take a little more resources, but what is the aggrivation and annoyance users are experiencing with a protection scheme where they cannot even use the product.. what is it costing you?