Results 1 to 15 of 15

Thread: Earthbound (SNES) copy protection

  1. #1
    Great Puma (Level 12) skaar's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    #vbender
    Posts
    4,724
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts
    Xbox LIVE
    SkaarDragoon

    Default Earthbound (SNES) copy protection

    I came across this article recently:

    http://www.infinitelives.net/2008/10...l-destroy-you/

    Perhaps the most prominent example of cartridge-based DRM was in the SNES classic Earthbound. Those that had Super Nintendo disc copiers would find that their illegal copy of Earthbound seemed to play fine. What they didn’t know was that the game was spawning way more enemies than normal, making the entire game an endless annoyance. And to those intrepid pirates who slogged their way through anyway, Earthbound had a special treat for them—the game would freeze in the middle of the battle with the final boss, taking the time to instead delete whatever saved games it could find.
    I had no idea they had done anything like this, and I think it's freaking brilliant. Now my QUESTION is - does this affect people playing through the game on an emulator?
    <Sothy> its the internet <Sothy> who cares

    Quote Originally Posted by Daltone View Post
    This is a classic gaming site and the most active thread is a load of people wanking off to my little pony.

  2. #2
    ServBot (Level 11)
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    FL
    Posts
    3,239
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    DRM with a sense of humor. EA should take note.

    I've played halfway through on my PSP, but didn't notice any more enemies than normal. Then again, I was playing the NewGame+ hack. Still, I'm sure people would have noticed it in emulation by now. I also never noticed any problems on my cart while using GameGenie, the only way I could finish anything as a kid.

    I did, however, wonder if my game got screwed up. The GG codes I used maxed out everyone's HP to where it was displayed with random garbage graphics, and one day I mistakenly shoved the SNES and it froze. After that, I heard three beeps randomly while playing, and figured it was screwed up. Years later, I realized that meant my chicken hatched.

    I'd like to know if there's a way to trigger this "hardcore mode" on a legitimate copy.

  3. #3
    Great Puma (Level 12) Custom rank graphic
    Tupin's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Posts
    4,469
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    1
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    10
    Thanked in
    10 Posts

    Default

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmyoV1bkXNI

    There's a video of it, and no, it doesn't affect emulators because people removed the anti-piracy measure on most dumps.

  4. #4
    Peach (Level 3) aclbandit's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    Columbus area, Ohio
    Posts
    718
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    Haha, that's pure EVIL and pure AWESOME! The funniest DRM story I've ever heard, I think.

  5. #5
    Cherry (Level 1) Starwander's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Posts
    292
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    This is truly justice! I love it.

  6. #6
    ServBot (Level 11)
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    FL
    Posts
    3,239
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUJP0-3Nt1I

    That one has the Pro Action Replay code in the description, C0283480.

    You have to wonder if it can be on for most of the game, then turned off at the final battle.

  7. #7
    Strawberry (Level 2) CDiablo's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Posts
    415
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    Awesome! I womder if Mother3 has the same type of protection.
    Bury me with my money......*dies*

  8. #8
    ServBot (Level 11) roushimsx's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    Oklahoma
    Posts
    3,030
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Tupin View Post
    There's a video of it, and no, it doesn't affect emulators because people removed the anti-piracy measure on most dumps.
    I'd think that the lack of problems through emulation has more to do with the emulators than with the dumps. Perhaps early dumps needed to be patched/hacked/intro'd, but with the rise and dominance of Good* sets out there, I think most people have a clean dump.

  9. #9
    Apple (Level 5) Shadow Kisuragi's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Posts
    1,071
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    That's one of the best DRM devices I've heard of or seen...
    For the person that mentioned EA using humor with DRM - would you honestly want all of your hard drive wiped for pirating?

  10. #10
    Pear (Level 6)
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Posts
    1,327
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by CDiablo View Post
    Awesome! I womder if Mother3 has the same type of protection.
    It doesn't, I've played through the whole thing without any problems.

  11. #11
    ServBot (Level 11)
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    FL
    Posts
    3,239
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Shadow Kisuragi View Post
    That's one of the best DRM devices I've heard of or seen...
    For the person that mentioned EA using humor with DRM - would you honestly want all of your hard drive wiped for pirating?
    Would you pirate a game if it did?

  12. #12
    Strawberry (Level 2) CDiablo's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Posts
    415
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by NayusDante View Post
    Would you pirate a game if it did?
    I think that total hdd deletion would be brutal, but I wouldnt even purchase a game with the ability to do that. No matter how well it was tested, I'd be worried that it might f up.
    Bury me with my money......*dies*

  13. #13
    ServBot (Level 11) roushimsx's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    Oklahoma
    Posts
    3,030
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Shadow Kisuragi View Post
    That's one of the best DRM devices I've heard of or seen...
    For the person that mentioned EA using humor with DRM - would you honestly want all of your hard drive wiped for pirating?
    Shit, just buy Pool of Radiance: Ruins of Myth Drannor and install it somewhere other than the default directory. Don't bother patching it up. When it comes time to uninstall, goodbye hard drive!

  14. #14
    DP's favorite trollbait Custom rank graphic
    Kitsune Sniper's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2003
    Location
    Calexico, USA
    Posts
    13,853
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts
    Xbox LIVE
    FoxhackDN
    Steam
    Foxhack

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Shadow Kisuragi View Post
    That's one of the best DRM devices I've heard of or seen...
    For the person that mentioned EA using humor with DRM - would you honestly want all of your hard drive wiped for pirating?
    I really don't think any company would be that stupid. Destroying another person's data would be grounds for a huge civil lawsuit.
    Quote Originally Posted by Edmond Dantes View Post
    I can't tell if we're discussing My Little Pony or Neon Genesis Evangelion anymore.
    eBay Auctions / GameTZ profile / DP Feedback / Youtube / Twitter / RateYourMusic

  15. #15
    Great Puma (Level 12) skaar's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    #vbender
    Posts
    4,724
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts
    Xbox LIVE
    SkaarDragoon

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Kitsune Sniper View Post
    I really don't think any company would be that stupid. Destroying another person's data would be grounds for a huge civil lawsuit.
    Hey, if you were using some kind of aftermarket illegal device to connect a virtual copy of the game to your system to pirate a copy of someone's software, and it ONLY targeted data that it had full access to and had created (ie saved data) - you're fair game.

    If you're going to live by the pirate code, you die by it!
    <Sothy> its the internet <Sothy> who cares

    Quote Originally Posted by Daltone View Post
    This is a classic gaming site and the most active thread is a load of people wanking off to my little pony.

Similar Threads

  1. WTB: Complete copy of earthbound
    By wingzrow in forum Buying and Selling
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 05-05-2011, 12:45 PM
  2. Copy of Earthbound for trade.
    By Gamingking in forum Buying and Selling
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 02-15-2010, 11:32 AM
  3. Help needed, copy protection password for old star wars flop
    By biscuitbrain in forum Classic Gaming
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 01-06-2006, 07:49 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •