CD-keys for PS3? Rumors of sony implementing this

[mikel632]

http://www.justpushstart.com/2011/01/20/ps3-piracy-at-an-end/


Umm didn't hackers find the PS3 crypto keys which will allow people to install stuff without digital signatures?....This means you could totally bypass this...this will not end piracy...this will just make it very annoying to people who actually buy legitimate copies. This also means that when you first buy a game you will not be able to play it unless you are connected to the internet...how else will the system check if any other consoles have used the serial key.....i really hope this is a Rumor and not actually going to happen. Otherwise sony is going to lose a HUGE part of their customer base

[Lord Xenu]

No they won't. Really, think about you. Until recently, you couldn't pirate anyways. So having to put in a one time activation code is not THAT big of a hassle. For how many codes people are putting in for dlc, psn cards, and so on it will really be no different. It's also not hard to have the PS3 set up for the internet wireless or hardwired. It also doesn't mean you have to be connected every time to play your game. You only need to once to activate it. Sony logs the serial to the game, bridges the gap, and thats it. Sony is trying to protect themselves. There is nothing wrong with their decision at all.

[Ghost Assassin]

:meh: I don't see it as a problem unless you're hacking your consoles. Which I'm not totally against unless you're doing it for piracy. Then you're a tool. I'm glad that Onlive won't have these kind of problems.

[Lord Xenu]

I'll be honest, I've had consoles hacked for me. Not for piracy but the home brew. It's great to know that the every day guy can make a game and have people enjoy it is awesome. My PS3 however, sits untouched. Only there for me to play my games and watch my movies. If people want to be angry about it, maybe they should be mad at geodouche for proudly and loudly announcing he hacked the Gibson. Not to mention he did it in the most sloppiest of ways and didn't cover his bases. So good one slop job. This buds for you... moron.

When it comes to the whole PS3 thing. I've never even thought about hacking it. There was never a reason. While all companies try to nickel and dime you, Sony has been more than generous to both those who do and don't have Playstation Plus. Free online play, discounts continuously, free games. All of that makes me not upset about their implementing a serial code system. I'd feel the same if MS wasn't eating 60 bucks to simply host your games. Nintendo follows that as well.

[KicknGuitar]

Each disc will also be locked to a specific serial key, meaning that both parts are required to play the game on your PS3. When you enter your serial key and corresponding disc it will send a signal to Sony telling them that your game is legitimate
I have two issues with this,

I don't always play my games on my system. I let friends borrow them, I bring them over to their house etc etc... now I need to enter a serial key (probably once per console) and be hooked up to the internet.

Luckily, PS3 does have wifi built in, but that means I need to make sure every person I go to has an account and the settings for wifi...

This will not end piracy or decrease it, as former DRMs and piracy prevention techniques have weighed only as a slight delay before major busts.

There's one way they could end piracy. By not giving two fucks about money they wouldn't have made in the first place.

[Ghost Assassin]

Game sharing is one of the things I thought they wanted to cut down on. I'm not an expert on EULA's, but isn't that something that most put in their agreements? That you can't share the software with others who haven't purchased a license to use the software.

[Lord Xenu]

You are SUPPOSED to only be able to use it on your account and your OWNED console. Unfortunately, it has been completely taken advantage of. There isn't much Sony can do about it either. It's too late to turn it around.

[mikel632]

This wont cause any harm are you kidding me?!?! You are forgetting about one thing man....The USED GAME MARKET...BYE BYE GAMEFLY bye bye gamestop used section!!

[Lord Xenu]

If anything, it would only help Sony to not have the used game market. In fact that would give all the companies money. I used to shop used all the time. Now, the whole 5 dollar difference isn't such a big deal to me as well as many other gamers. Not to mention those who are ripped off by Gamestop and various other retailers. The publishers don't get any money either from used game sales so... yea.

[mikel632]

Dude are you F****** kidding me...ya you may be right about gamestop ripping off...but what about gamefly and buying used games off of ebay and craigslist...you cannot argue with that....and with game companies freakin releasing half of a game and then making you pay money for the rest via DLC is total bullcrap...I'm not saying I'm all about piracy or anything but i think DRM is F'ing retarded...and this isnt even going to stop piracy...with the crypto keys being found, you can install anything without sony's digital signature..so this can be bypassed...

[KicknGuitar]

First of, it's the customer that's getting ripped off.

Without going into how any of these publishers try to squeeze every single penny out of a product, you should know the sole reason they have these "rights" is because of an exaggeration of the original copyright intended to protect the artist not exploit the product for money for a big company.

Ever heard of a mixtape, you know, the one you making your girlfriend or boyfriend? Don't do it, it's illegal... facacta.

In short, I strongly believe in, I bought the item. Its mine, and Ill do what I want with my property. You don't want me to have it, then don't distribute it.

[Tyrokiller]

I'm not totally up to tune of how the PS3 works but I'll assume that you can recover your account to another console like xbl? If so then Sony could just assign the key straight to your username which means that recovering when over a buddy's house should be possible; although it would then mean that if your account is stolen you're screwed. Still at least a benefit in this system is that Games Companies will be making the money they deserve rather than being screwed over by used game sales. (One of the big things killing the Industry; akin to piracy)

[zvow]

But since the ps3 has been cracked wide open, can't any protection just be stripped out? The only people that would have to succumb to restrictions like 'cd keys' would be legitimate buyers.

Kind of like PC games. The DRM is stripped from the pirate versions.

[Tyrokiller]

If the CD-Key had to be registered through use of the internet then I don't believe it can be circumvented so easily, at the very least I believe they would have to first create a dummy server to act as the authing server. (It would stop the most lazy people from using false goods, plus it would stop them from using the product online)

[zvow]

But you wouldn't need a dummy server if the disc's data is intact and resigned to run on the PS3 without needing any sort of registration. Since the PS3 is so completely compromised, the game can be repacked/resigned after being stripped of any DRM.

PSN could be used to ensure that the key is verified every time you try to play online multiplayer games, but I can see potential circumventions to this, too.

[Tyrokiller]

But you wouldn't need a dummy server if the disc's data is intact and resigned to run on the PS3 without needing any sort of registration. Since the PS3 is so completely compromised, the game can be repacked/resigned after being stripped of any DRM.


Good point didn't think of that, well they could use the steam method and hold back some vital data which requires you to be online all the time in order for the product to be useful?

[zvow]

Good point didn't think of that, well they could use the steam method and hold back some vital data which requires you to be online all the time in order for the product to be useful?

This too can be circumvented in many ways depending on the method used.

All of these methods are punishing legitimate users, who may (understandably) decide to buy the game on a competing platform.

[mikel632]

@Zvow

That is exactly what i was talking about..anyone can get by it with the crypto keys...only legitmate users will be punished...i could understand if they did this from the start..but doing it after we already have a way around it is just punishment to everyone...........i hope this is just a made up rumor..sony cant be that stupid

[Lord Xenu]

Dude are you F****** kidding me...ya you may be right about gamestop ripping off...but what about gamefly and buying used games off of ebay and craigslist...you cannot argue with that....and with game companies freakin releasing half of a game and then making you pay money for the rest via DLC is total bullcrap...I'm not saying I'm all about piracy or anything but i think DRM is F'ing retarded...and this isnt even going to stop piracy...with the crypto keys being found, you can install anything without sony's digital signature..so this can be bypassed...

Relax there guy. Keep in mind, you are posting in an open forum. You will get differing opinions.

[Onetrack]

As someone on Slashdot said, instead of hitting console users with some more draconian DRM or even something as simple as serial keys.. have them type in some random word from the manual as they used to back in the old days.

I personally think ps3 users will see this as a GREAT inconvinience as they're just used to putting in a game and playing.. honestly the floodgates are wide open.. theres lots of homebrew now that everything can be signed.

I did mine, more to test it to see if it could be done, I do buy anything I tend to use.. but I like it my way.. (hence why I have a Hackintosh and not a real mac, etc..) why I jailbroke my iphone 4 etc etc. It was really simple, it worked the first time (KMEAW firmware 3.55 + rogero 7.8 + lvl2.pkg) and yeah.. games on internal / external work.. psn works, updating works, ripping a disk to the internal or external hd works... etc.

The PS3 is completely owned.. theres nothing to stop the flood at the moment. - The other night I saw a chinese site selling a 1.5tb hd for 205.00 shipped with 128 of the latest ps3 games on it. You know theres hundreds of these places shipping out these drives and I'd bet you theres now massive duplication facilities for this market.

Well that was nice.. the ps3 is doomed, developers are going to dive away from it.. it does mean that Onlive has a pretty incredible opportunity as they have literaly solved DRM by including it with every game, and getting it out of peoples faces. Things just run.

IMHO Sony being an arrogant Japanese company will attempt to punish its users.. when that fails and they admit nothing at all can be done then everyone responsible for designing the unit and developing its security will be forced to commit hari kari.

Sony better get out a new console stat.. The PS3's been out since 2006, its had a good run.. time for it to be replaced.

On the other hand, the Xbox 360's been busted since before the PS3 even came out.. it was a mere 6 months after launch that the crypto keys were intercepted on it, and it didn't kill off the 360, even with its 33%+ failure rate its still doing alright.... perhaps the amount of piracy out there really is slim to none.. :D

[zvow]

As someone on Slashdot said, instead of hitting console users with some more draconian DRM or even something as simple as serial keys.. have them type in some random word from the manual as they used to back in the old days.


:pound:

You're joking, right? A pdf of the manual and/or the relevant words you'd have to type would be on the web within minutes.

And depending on the method used, this too can be stripped out of the game.

[Onetrack]

:pound:

You're joking, right? A pdf of the manual and/or the relevant words you'd have to type would be on the web within minutes.

I didn't suggest that.. someone on slashdot did, I think thats a stupid idea.. maybe back in the old amiga days when there was no internet / email that could be considered.. but right now it would be stupidly foolish.

[zvow]

I didn't suggest that.. someone on slashdot did, I think thats a stupid idea.. maybe back in the old amiga days when there was no internet / email that could be considered.. but right now it would be stupidly foolish.

Good, you had me worried for a second by repeating that without pointing out how absurd it was.

[Onetrack]

Good, you had me worried for a second by repeating that without pointing out how absurd it was.

Lol yeah I realize that.. :D
Brain works faster than the fingers sometimes.... Remember they tried all sorts of things, from ' dont copy that floppy ' terrible rap to guilt people, to codewheels to actual physical holes in the media.. nothing worked... and its all meaningless now anyways.

Its a great opportunity for Onlive tho hey, they really should be courting some of the top tier 3rd party developers from Sony - I mean.. whats the worse you could do to pirate an Onlive game, record the stream and re-watch it?

[Lord Xenu]

I always hated the manual code word. Was the biggest pain the ass ever. At least serial codes woudl be in one place and on place only.

[downphoenix]

I dunno why console companies worry about it so much, the fact of the matter is, most pirates can't afford to buy the games.

[Lord Xenu]

Honestly, for those who will end up using it to pirate games, they would go over their cap within 2 or 3 games. Lol. 35-50GB isn't worth waiting for even on the faster connections. Also, 25 bucks AT LEAST for a Blue-Ray disc? Yea right.

[Onetrack]

Niko, not everyone has a cap, games can run from either internal or external hd. Those are cheap

[zvow]

Have you seen the listing of ps3 game sizes? Most of them are under 15 gigs, and many would fit on DVD.

[mikel632]

noone would burn them onto discs...they would play them either from an internal or external drive....also hey onetrack...i was thinking about doing a hackintosh as well....just for fun anyway...you have a specific guide that is the best to follow? I have an i5 750 which i believe is on the hardware list now that Mac can use intel chips

[KicknGuitar]

I dunno why console companies worry about it so much, the fact of the matter is, most pirates can't afford to buy the games.
Same with the fashion industry... and guess what, they don't have any of these foolish copyrights to rake in money.

Only difference is the fashion industry has enough people defending the creative process which requires "piracy;" in other words taking one idea and recreating it into something new. This isn't to say the industry has people pushing for copyright, but for the most part, America's Fashion is copyright free.

The computer/technology world is littered with the disgusting idea of current copyright. Fueled by greed. That is why you have consoles caring, downpheonix, they're stubborn or just blind.

[zvow]

This is very cool:


For those who are curious about the new PS3 security, it seems Sony has implemented something in 3.56 I mentioned here a few weeks ago that is the same as Microsoft uses to detect and ban 360's.

Essentially Sony can now remotely execute code on the PS3 as soon as you connect. This can do whatever Sony wants it to do such as verifying system files or searching for homebrew. Sony can change the code and add new detection methods without any firmware updates and as the code executes remotely there is no reliable way to forge the replies.

Whilst it is possible to patch or remove this code from the firmware this will likely mean the end of playing CFW online (as PSN can just check before login that this is active) or at the very least mean it will be even easier for Sony to detect and ban users.

[Lord Xenu]

Good job. This must be the same thing as AP2.5. Good move Sony.

[tonyhoag]

Isn't EA doing something like this? The Online Pass?

I haven't really experienced it first hand, but the way I understand it is that you get one free with a NEW purchase... after that, you have to pay $10 to EA to play online. I understand, totally. Yeah, the company/creators deserve money for the art they create. As a retailer, I can tell first hand that EA games with the playpass drop quicker. We price our stuff based on ebay, not streamlining with Gameslop.

[Dan Bernet]

No they won't. Really, think about you. Until recently, you couldn't pirate anyways. So having to put in a one time activation code is not THAT big of a hassle.


ps3 controller (http://www.r4king.com/dualshock-3-wireless-controller-with-bluetooth-for-ps3.html)
ps3 dualshock 3 controller (http://www.r4king.com/dualshock-3-wireless-controller-with-bluetooth-for-ps3.html)
ps3 wireless controller (http://www.r4king.com/dualshock-3-wireless-controller-with-bluetooth-for-ps3.html)

[Sdubya1]

Just one more way to alienate there customers.

[Tekdrake]

Sony is trying to protect themselves. There is nothing wrong with their decision at all.

Well said. Let's not forget that it's the hackers and their supporters that are mainly causing this, yet most of the people support them as if it were some kind of symbolic revolution against Hitler or something.


Same with the fashion industry... and guess what, they don't have any of these foolish copyrights to rake in money.

Only difference is the fashion industry has enough people defending the creative process which requires "piracy;" in other words taking one idea and recreating it into something new. This isn't to say the industry has people pushing for copyright, but for the most part, America's Fashion is copyright free.

The computer/technology world is littered with the disgusting idea of current copyright. Fueled by greed. That is why you have consoles caring, downpheonix, they're stubborn or just blind.

Hackers are at the level of being able to mess with PSN, ban random user accounts and develop hacks for online gaming.
But yeah, let's forget about all of that and let them do it so they can fight the good fight against copyright laws!

yeah, right....
I, personally, will be thanking Sony, if I don't see invisible soldiers, speed hacks in racing games, and not have everyone I know banned by the end of the year, but that's just me, being stupid and caring about such trivial matters.

[minago]

Isn't EA doing something like this? The Online Pass?.

with mass effect 2 if you buy a new game you get a access code too the "cerebus network" which you can use one time, that gives you the ability to buy new dlc and receive like 5-6 free dlc.

if you buy the game used you would have to pay 15$ to get the code to be able to get the same benefits.