THQ VP is confident that technology in the upcoming system will significantly curb handheld piracy.
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/23676
THQ's executive VP of global publishing Ian Curran has had a look at the anti-piracy technology in Nintendo's upcoming 3DS, and he believes that it will be a significant step forward in the fight against handheld piracy.
While pinning his company's recent inability to "shift any significant volume" on the Nintendo DS squarely on piracy, he admitted that the Nintendo DSi was a little better in combating pirates (Nintendo doesn't believe the DSi has been cracked yet). However, Curran believes the Nintendo 3DS is on another level entirely. "I actually asked Nintendo to explain the technology and they said it's very difficult to do so because it's so sophisticated."
Many publishers have been hit hard by devices like the re-writeable R4 cartridge, which has been outlawed in Japan and has been the subject of several recent piracy sting operations around the world.
Curran pointed out that the 3DS raises the piracy stakes even higher, due to its increased cost of development. "It's going to probably cost us more to do [game development] all in 3D - so we want to make sure we get a return on our investment when we do it."
Oh do sod off. THQ games are generally rubbish. That's your real problem, especially on the DS.
In countries like China or Korea where everything is pirated I don't see the point of even bothering to release product in those markets.If you ever expect to curb piracy, you have to first make software legitimately available. Nintendo is at an advantage here though since they make money on hardware. In countries with high piracy rates, game companies seem to price their software way too high for the local market (even higher than their core markets)... perhaps they should take a page from the PC industry and lower their prices. In any case, digital distribution should make the effort worthwhile since they won't have to factor in manufacturing costs.
If you ever expect to curb piracy, you have to first make software legitimately available.
Nintendo needs to be 20 steps ahead of pirates to make sure they are ok.
Specifically, the culprit is said to be a technology known as eFuse -- developed by IBM several years ago -- which allows circuits to be physically altered at the silicon level on demand.
Well, maybe if Nintendo designed a better user interface, one which didn't do things like restrict which save data cold be copied, and if they had more games with user-created features, people wouldn't have a need to hack...
People would hack stuff just because they can. Rationalizing it doesn't prove any point. Some guys will hack it just to put Linux on it for the hell of it.That's true. People wouldn't need to do it though, and so I think less people would.
Well, maybe if Nintendo designed a better user interface, one which didn't do things like restrict which save data cold be copied, and if they had more games with user-created features, people wouldn't have a need to hack...
I am all for a system that will automatically brick a system if unauthorised programs are run. People have hack their systems won't have any right to complain, and all licensed games will be thoroughly tested to make sure they don't cause problems.
If Sony makes a PSP 2, I wouldn't be surprised if they use this technology. The piracy on the PlayStation Portable is worse than any other system I have seen.
What I'm looking for is something where if you run a program on your 3DS that specifically tells your 3DS to go into brick mode, then it does it. If you don't want your DS to go into brick mode, then, obviously, don't run programs that do that. Likewise, if you don't want to format your hard drive, don't run a program that formats your hard drive.
Of course, no Authorized Nintendo programs would contain this code. So long as you follow the directions and only use/download authorized Nintendo programs, you'll be fine. However, it's completely unfair and unrealistic to expect Nintendo to build and cater the device around what unauthorized programs any individuals may try to run on it.
Hahahahaha, sorry I had to laugh. Did you know that Q and A i the very last line in the budget when it comes to making a game and the very first line when it comes to cuts? I would bet real money that some company, even possibly Nintendo themselves, should such a mechanism be implemented, would brick your system with a legit game.
Also what about counterfeit games? For all intents and purposes they look, feel, and seem legit when you buy them thinking its a second hand/new game. Would you feel happy that your system got bricked because you got conned into purchasing a game that you thought was legit? You would have been boned twice over with no fault of your own. You would be a victim twice over.
We have all heard the stories of DRM gone wrong with games from Ubisoft ****ting a brick because it missed a packet. Sony Music CDs rootkitting your computer. Securom denying access to legitimate users to their own game. Hell, even Steam freaks out once in a while. If such reversible, widely used DRM can go wrong, just imagine a potential mayhem with something as irreversible as an eFuse.
First, IIRC the Sony one got the company sued because what they were doing was ruled illegal (since they didn't inform users of what they were doing. As for something like eFuse, I am confident that Nintendo would do enough thorough testing before using it that it would only brick systems that deserved to be bricked because someone was tampering with it or the game.The PSP has system updates all the time, sometimes things go wrong. Instead of going it to recovery mode, they now brick themselves. When you update a device, you always run the risk of bricking it and to increase the chance of that happening runs contrary making a solid product. This is especially true of Nintendo who have a long and illustrious history of making basically bomb/kid survivable products.
What about unlocking an iPhone for use in your country? A side effect this is that you can now run non-app store code. You are opening up a perfectly legitimate function on a device that was locked to reduce competition, in the process, which is unavoidable allows for the potential to run open software.
I have unlocked an iPhone before, but they also gives you the funniest thing, a rival app store that contains mostly free open software.
This is why I support something like eFuse. People tampering with their iPhone/iPod Touch and then bitching when a update bricks or otherwise damages their system. Apple has the legal right to decide what software can be used on their devices, same with Nintendo/Sony/Microsoft. If that means bricking systems that try and get around this, so be it. I am all for indy games, but all three console manufacturers provide support for that now.
I am willing to admit that there is potential risk in something like eFuse, but if it can help cut down on piracy and counterfeiting (unfortunately that will always exist), then I think it could be good for both publishers and consumers in the long run.
I highly doubt something like that would hold up in court. If Nintendo had a legal argument against people running unauthorized software they'd have been able to get devices like the R4 banned. They can make it hard to do, but they can't brick the device you bought (I don't buy the whole "software is just a license and not an actual good" argument, but you can't seriously argue that when I buy a piece of hardware I don't actually own the hardware) just for doing something with it they don't like.
Pirates [...] don't cost Nintendo any money.
I highly doubt something like that would hold up in court. If Nintendo had a legal argument against people running unauthorized software they'd have been able to get devices like the R4 banned. They can make it hard to do, but they can't brick the device you bought (I don't buy the whole "software is just a license and not an actual good" argument, but you can't seriously argue that when I buy a piece of hardware I don't actually own the hardware) just for doing something with it they don't like.
If you use a product in a manner that is inconsistent with the instructions and that product breaks, you think the manufacturer of the product should be held liable?
I highly doubt something like that would hold up in court. If Nintendo had a legal argument against people running unauthorized software they'd have been able to get devices like the R4 banned. They can make it hard to do, but they can't brick the device you bought (I don't buy the whole "software is just a license and not an actual good" argument, but you can't seriously argue that when I buy a piece of hardware I don't actually own the hardware) just for doing something with it they don't like.
If you use a product in a manner that is inconsistent with the instructions and that product breaks, you think the manufacturer of the product should be held liable?
If the manufacturer intentionally bricked the product because I did something with it they didn't like that may or may not be legal, but they're in no position to know which, then you're damn right they should be held liable.
Even if that argument were to hold up in court, which I'm not convinced it would, that would require Nintendo to clearly and explicitly warn people not to do it. I think that would be a bad move on Nintendo's part. Hackers will find a way around this measure, because they always do, and all Nintendo's warning would serve to do is inform DS owners that it's possible to do those things, calling attention to an issue Nintendo would most likely prefer not to be that publicly known.
The official seal is your assurance that this product is licensed or manufactured by Nintendo. Always look for this seal when buying video game systems, accessories, games and related products.
This warranty shall not apply if this product: (a) is used with products not sold or licensed by Nintendo (including, but not limited to, Non-Licensed Game Enhancement and Copier Devices, adapters, software, and power supplies [...]; (c) is modified or tampered with;[...]
Connect ONLY accessories designed and licensed for use with the Nintendo DS to any external connections.
wordswordswordsI am under no illusion that Nintendo loves me. If so, I would expect them to mail me free games instead of making me buy them.
Do you blame IBM because you typed "format C:" at the DOS prompt?This is an utterly ridiculous comparison. One more analogous to your proposal is, Do you blame IBM because you typed "wolf3d" at the DOS prompt, and the computer instead executed "format C:"? Damn straight you do. If you did actually type "format C:" then no, they should not be responsible (as long as they provided you with a way to reinstall the original software!). As oohhboy has pointed out, Nintendo sells hardware. They have the right to do whatever necessary to prevent piracy short of denying you access to advertised functionality. If they want it otherwise, then they should rent the hardware instead (and see how far they get with that). Banning you from online service for hacking the online component of a game is fine -- that's a service. Denying warranty service after you ran a virus is fine. Programming in a way to have your system break on purpose is not.
I am under no illusion that Nintendo loves me. If so, I would expect them to mail me free games instead of making me buy them.
I have faith in Nintendo that if I were to legally obtain an officially licensed game that bricked my system that Nintendo would repair/replace.
And you are correct - companies can not dictate what code I can or cannot run on my device. So, if I'm stupid enough to download and execute code on my device that bricks it, then that's my decision and my fault. The company can make recommendations - and if I choose to follow them or not is up to me. But if I don't, then I can't blame the company because I'm an idiot and did the exact opposite of what they suggested.
So the "good" is just the machine itself and thus it is only required to exist and manipulate electricity, and the carts which receive electricity. The "service" is the non-good data in the machine itself and the data on the card and subject to the provider's whim to let you access (as is the case with Steam), and while illegal to stop it for false reasons, the onus is on the affected party to seek redress, which the content provider is banking on nobody doing out of intimidation of taking on a large company or realizing they'd have to admit to piracy at the outset and would immediately lose said lawsuit.
Also agree that oohhboy is wrong with that whole pirating isn't hurting anybody. It spreads from one user to the next, at first a few people might be doing it but if unchecked then millions more will follow.
You're theory about "it's a good and not a service" doesn't hold up as well. There's clearly a service agreement when you purchase the console, if you disagree, fine go make your own nothing stopping you. Any company has the right to protect it's profits.
Do you blame IBM because you typed "format C:" at the DOS prompt?This is an utterly ridiculous comparison. One more analogous to your proposal is, Do you blame IBM because you typed "wolf3d" at the DOS prompt, and the computer instead executed "format C:"? Damn straight you do.
If I had illegally downloaded what I thought was Wolfenstein, tried to run it and, instead, it formatted my hard drive, no I wouldn't blame IBM. Because that would be stupid.Of course it would; I'm not arguing with you there. But what you proposed is if somebody ran legitimate (by iD Software), but not IBM-approved Wolfenstein Shareware, and it instead triggered the system to format the hard drive. Big difference.
If I had illegally downloaded what I thought was Wolfenstein, tried to run it and, instead, it formatted my hard drive, no I wouldn't blame IBM. Because that would be stupid.Of course it would; I'm not arguing with you there. But what you proposed is if somebody ran legitimate (by iD Software), but not IBM-approved Wolfenstein Shareware, and it instead triggered the system to format the hard drive. Big difference.
While this part doesn't seem to apply to the DroidX, I'd be interested in hearing something like this for the 3DS or future home systems
The problem there is that if it ever got traced back to Nintendo, they'd be in a world of hurt. One, distributing their ROM in that matter would not be good from a copyright standpoint. And two, the damage caused. Some music companies (or their proxies) have tried similar approaches.
UncleBob believes the best defense is a good offense.
None of this UncleBob help fight counterfeiters. They would have the means and ability to identify and strip out any such code.
After 1) and 3) they are going to rationalise that it is 2). Instead of a message saying don't pirate games, go kick your friends arse for give you one or the seller for selling one, it will all look like a hardware failure.
Once again none of this asks what happens with the false positives.
Bloody hell UncleBob, you are acting like some back country sheriff that has received some federal funding and access to the arsenal of national guard surplus. You got the gear and just itching to use it because you can. "Lets go bust down the very next house we can get a warrent on".
There are perfectly legitimate reasons people use homebrew; it's not all piracy. I choose not to to update my Wii to the newest firmware because the imported games I own would be rendered completely unplayable by the loss of homebrew functionality. Because of this, Nintendo is losing money: there are several VC and WiiWare games I'd buy if I had access to the Shop Channel.
There are perfectly legitimate reasons people use homebrew; it's not all piracy. I haven't been able to update my Wii to the newest firmware because the imported games I own would be rendered completely unplayable by the loss of homebrew functionality. Because of this, Nintendo is losing money: there are several VC and WiiWare games I'd buy if I had access to the Shop Channel.
There are perfectly legitimate reasons people use homebrew; it's not all piracy. I haven't been able to update my Wii to the newest firmware because the imported games I own would be rendered completely unplayable by the loss of homebrew functionality. Because of this, Nintendo is losing money: there are several VC and WiiWare games I'd buy if I had access to the Shop Channel.
Like I said before, if it were just honest homebrew, I don't think Nintendo would really care that much (if at all).
Like I said before, if it were just honest homebrew, I don't think Nintendo would really care that much (if at all).Does Nintendo still care about people using/creating unlicenced software for their systems? I don't think they were none too happy about Tengen's unlicenced NES games, and I believe they even attempted to stop them in court. But I don't know for sure.
Like I said before, if it were just honest homebrew, I don't think Nintendo would really care that much (if at all).Does Nintendo still care about people using/creating unlicenced software for their systems? I don't think they were none too happy about Tengen's unlicenced NES games, and I believe they even attempted to stop them in court. But I don't know for sure.
Now picture you are Nintendo thinking about the next DS model and Kotaku just posted a step-by-step guide to copying DS games and playing them with a flash cart (which they did.) What's the solution?
