Messages

Vince, that's correct, spreading the serial will do.
And distributing a game with an online "blacklist-connection" check or something to check if a serial isn't used more than once is too annoying, that's more an option for big applications.
But that might/can even be defeated by the fact that when people really want something which is protected that way, certain people or groeps will make key generators, even on demand...

I guess for games, as an author you need to get the attention of a big group of people that really likes it and wants to pay for it, e.g. on a forum, interact with people about the game, releasing demo('s) (or maybe even a first game as freeware). (Like Dave and or Ivy from Wadjet Eye Games do)
Once these people like it, they will pay for it. A sort of community effect.
This group is, in my opinion, the mainstream to get your money.
The rest that obtains a pirated version, those torrent-crawlers, will always be there.
Even worse will be spending money on a protection for a game.
A waste of money and only a trigger for some to create a crack/keygen...

My 2 cents...

Akatosh, your completely right.

Once a stored serial number from "secfile.vgm" is entered, "agssave.temp" will be generated as unlocker in a savegame directory, mine seems to be "my documents/my saved games/Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Remake/agssave.temp.
The content is not clear for me, just the fact that this file is there, could be enough as unlocker. But there is some small info inside this file, maybe the "serial" entered when asked when starting the game. Any idea?
Then the info of this generated file, like location/dateime stamp/etc (the flag), is stored in "secfile.dat".

Side effect of this is that when you delete the "agssave.tmp" file, the game will crash as "sorry, pirated version"...
logically you will have to overwrite the "secfile.dat" file in the game directory with the original and the game will run again

So to distribute it "agssave.temp" is needed, but I think then the problem will be that a patch cannot search for something file to detect the location. This location can for example be OS dependent. That would not be the problem, that can be detected. but if there are more options, it can hardly be patched. Than one need to place this file manual.

So bypassing the serial isn't the problem (sorry Dual).
Distributing it, once it is bypassed will be a bit harder (but not impossible).

And yes, your exactly on track  

Looking forward to see this one released, looks damn good.
Now I recognize your changed avatar

And one or more portable holes would also be nifty when stuck in certain rooms, always an exit...

Snake

Spoiler

smaller room

[close]

Akatosh:
I think your right.

The easiest way:

1. Replace all the characters in the file "secfile.vgm" with for example the ALT-255 code (the most empty alt-character ) (but any char will do) and save and overwrite the file.
2. Run "SecureFile.exe" and play

Good old hex times

You can even create a patch to automatically edit that file when running the patch and done...

But:
Strange thing is that when I download an original copy again, extract it into a different directory even on a different harddisk and run securefile.exe while not using a hexeditor to edit any file, it doesn't ask anymore for a serial number?
Any idea?

I... think I've figured out a way to bypass the security.

I think not, both versions give the error message:

[report]
A Fatal error has been generated by the script using the AbortGame function. please contact the game author for support.

in "SecureFile.asc", line 74

Error: File 'protection" is active ; ) There seems to be some security problem. The version of the game you have, appears to be pirated.
[/end of report]

As far as I know, SecureFile isn't that easy to bypass/crack...

I've never seen myself, as game player, in an inventory.

...was also in King's Quest III (classic parser version: kick the cat)
...was also in King's Quest III remake from infamousadventures

Happy birthday Sektor13

You haven't examined all you can:

Spoiler

Still you've overlooked something. Hint: maybe close your cell door first while in the cell. After that you are able to continue with the "connectors" on the chains problem...

[close]

Isxek,

Spoiler

you really need to examen your cell somewhat closer again

[close]

...
And yes, you were going the right way.

Some people have expressed interest in a DVD of this; I do have a higher quality DVD version that's too big to upload, but we can probably arrange some sort of DVD copy-and-mail-it-on thing if other people are interested.

Sorry to intervene but why not make a torrent, a handy way of spreading this dvd-version?
(I also did with the 5-years-mags-collection).

Yes! Congrats with your release.
But: are you also gonna place it in the game database? (Or was my question to quickly?)

Yes, now *that* was where I was waiting for.
I've checked your erbeersite some hours ago but for then the
"Olde Tyme Synthesizer Soundtrack" wasn't placed yet.
Thanx for the upload of the kaputtnik versions, kaputtnik .
I'm off now, listening to these 4 gems.

Usually it's "find the 10 differences" but this is more like "find the 10 resemblances"... LOL.

drum roll....

Groogokk: thanx!
True, the song aren't really altered that much/remixed, just some synth reworks, but you can hear the difference.
And, as altered & used in Heed, very nicely done though [kaputtnik's version].

You've created some really awesome tracks for this game Egalotron!
Question: is this score available for download?

The songs/tracks can be found on archive.org.

Thanx & Sorry Groogokk.
I can't find any of them on that site and if they are there I guess those are the originals.
I'm looking for the remixed soundtrack used in the game & mixed by Egalotron/kaputtnik.
Hopefully the soundtrack will be placed on the erdbeertelefon website like the soundtracks from the other Ben304 games...

You've created some really awesome tracks for this game Egalotron!
Question: is this score available for download?