Does Civ IV use StarForce for copy protection?

[Varelse]

So, if I get this right,... Starforce is bad because it installs unwanted drivers to your computer and might make it more vulnerable to viruses and trojans? right?

But why would it prevent some people from even playing the game?

Because you can't play the game without installing StarForce? (if that is the copy-protection software the game uses)

 

[Lord Shadow]

Because if the game uses SF for protection, it must install it to work. What's the use of playing Civ IV if your system starts crashing often and is crippled in other ways (read what I posted earlier)?

 

[Rhymes]

Because if the game uses SF for protection, it must install it to work. What's the use of playing Civ IV if your system starts crashing often and is crippled in other ways (read what I posted earlier)?

I have personally installed the starforce drivers (without knowing) through Neverwinter nights expension, adn I have never experienced crashes or any system unstability....

Is there something I'm missing?

 

[Zurai]

Neverwinter Nights does not and has never used Starforce. NWN used Safedisc.

 

[Rhymes]

Sorry, I meant Icewind Dale

 

[darkdude]

I have personally installed the starforce drivers (without knowing) through Neverwinter nights expension, adn I have never experienced crashes or any system unstability....

Is there something I'm missing?

Apart from the fact that you're probably lucky, there's the fundamental issue that it installs operating system software without you knowing AND that is not even removed when you deinstall Starforce. That's extremely rude IMO and a very big NoNo for everybody who wants to be in control of THEIR OWN system. I try very hard to keep any system I run, in private or professionally, safe and as clean as possible, so I would really consider cancelling my pre-order of Civ4; that's the reason why I liked to know if Civ4 would be released with or without Starforce protection.

Edit: if Zurai is right about Neverwinter Nights not running Starforce, you're okay then.

 

[Rhymes]

Apart from the fact that you're probably lucky, there's the fundamental issue that it installs operating system software without you knowing AND that is not even removed when you deinstall Starforce. That's extremely rude IMO and a very big NoNo for everybody who wants to be in control of THEIR OWN system. I try very hard to keep any system I run, in private or professionally, safe and as clean as possible, so I would really consider cancelling my pre-order of Civ4; that's the reason why I liked to know if Civ4 would be released with or without Starforce protection.

Edit: if Zurai is right about Neverwinter Nights not running Starforce, you're okay then.

I get it. I'll try that starforce cleaner included in the link...

 

[NP300]

I have personally installed the starforce drivers (without knowing) through Neverwinter nights expension, adn I have never experienced crashes or any system unstability....

Is there something I'm missing?

Maybe you have been lucky. In Windows drivers run in kernel mode. This means that buggy drivers can crash Windows. I don't see any reason to believe that the Star Froce drivers have been throroughly tested. I'd guess they are not WHQL certified.

Since drivers can crash Windows, there is no reason why they should be installed with software. They should only be installed when absolutely necessary, that is, with hardware.

 

[Loppan Torkel]

Is there any way you could see if Starforce is installed on your computer?

 

[lightnng]

Oh geez. Not only am I apparently screwed because my laptop doesn't have enough video memory (although since it DOES support hardware T&L, I am hoping that I can still run the game with graphics options turned off), now there's this inane CP scheme?

I mean, my laptop doesn't even have a CD drive. It's a business machine, for heaven's sake, thin&light. I use a USB drive for installation only. I have always been able to get by with downloading the nocd cracks that appear about a week after release, but with this Starforce thing... I guess its back to Civ3 then.

What IS it with these publishers? Is it really worth it to seriously inconvenience people who pay for software just to catch the few who don't? The cost of the software already figures that in and more anyhow, and the Civ series is a money printing machine anyway. Grr.

 

[Alistic]

I hope it uses whatever screws the pirates most.

 

[Antiochus]

Let's not beat about the bush here...StarForce is a virus/trojan... and is of highly dubious legality. Quite frankly i think that if a class action lawsuit was taken up against it, it would not hold up in court.

I won't buy the game if it is "protected" by Starforce...

 

[Karnak]

I hope it uses whatever screws the pirates most.

I'm all for screwing the pirates, but not at the expense of being screwed myself. I'm not that much of a masochist.

 

[Kazper]

http://www.tgdaily.com/2005/10/01/the_war_on_game_pirates/index.html

These new protection systems do not simply protect software from direct attempts to pirate it - they also proactively search out potential piracy threats on one's system and then prevent them from working. Programs such as Nero and Alcohol 120% are obvious targets here, though I have seen far more erratic and often times seemingly random tantrums taken by these systems. These range from disabling the recording device in Windows Media Player, to preventing access to the CD drive both on the software and hardware side. I usually find myself pressing the button to open the CD drive and then having to log out of Windows for it to do what it's supposed to!

 

[Akka]

Starforce is something that detrimentally corrupt your PC, usually with little notice, and is a pain to remove. It's closer to a virus than anything.
Additionnally, Starforce is aimed at preventing CD emulation. For people like me who hate to constantly swap CD, and hate to have their CD starts spinning each time the file explorer or a game is launched, it adds another layer of irritation above and beyond the simple principle of refusing to pay someone who infect your computer with malware.

Yeah, this will probably get closed down though. Scared of piracy. They might just use it because StarForce does a good job.

It doesn't.
Like all these crappy protection software, it only elude pirates for a handful of hours, days, or at best weeks, and after that it's useless, can be quickly removed/nullified, and only bother legitimate consummers.

 

[Beam]

Getting back to the original question: is Civ IV Starforce protected? We still don't know and let's hope it isn't because it will prevent you using functions on your PC while a protected game is loaded even if they are as legal as they can be. Like burning a CD/DVD with the OEM version of Nero that came with the DVD writer I bought (got bot a CD and a DVD writer).

 

[Jaraxle]

What it seems to me is that companies are focusing on piracy in the wrong manner. It seems they are trying to stop me from burning a copy of the CD and giving/reselling it to someone on that CD. I havn't acctually seen anyone do that in ages (ok mabye years). Bit torrents or FTP sites are far more likley and all that requires is that I can see the files on the CD. Unless a anti-piracy program can stop THAT, then it seems that all a program like starforce is doing is making life more difficult for legimate customers.

 

[WillemIV]

Starforce doesn't so anything bad with your system or dvd drive.
The only problem I have with starforce is that when you cd is damaged you can't play it anymore which sux bad.

I have had 2 games with starforce and zero problems.

 

[Karnak]

Starforce doesn't so anything bad with your system or dvd drive.
The only problem I have with starforce is that when you cd is damaged you can't play it anymore which sux bad.

I have had 2 games with starforce and zero problems.

It opens the 0 ring level of the system to access from the 3 ring level. How is that not bad? It completely undoes the last five years of security upgrades by Microsoft.

That is leaving aside that it breaks the legitimate software I have for my DVD/RW drive that I only use to make backup images of my system for recovery purposes.

 

[haleigh1000]

Word of caution..If you have an older DVD-ROM drive the game may not work. Starforce does not like some older drives. I have that problem with Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory. That game is now sitting on a shelf waiting for a new drive, or computer. My drive is from around 2000-2001 if memory serves correctly.