StarForce
Note: This page was copy pasted from the Crappy Games Wiki on Miraheze instead of imported due to the Qualitipedia wikis being deleted.
StarForce was a digital rights management technology widely used in CD-ROM PC games in the mid-2000s, now seldom used in the west, it was developed by StarForce Technologies, a Russian software developer with headquarters in Moscow.
Why It Sucks
- The main reason behind StarForce's controversy and hate is the severe side effects the software brings, most notably breaking the user's computer. When a game using StarForce is installed on your computer, the DRM installs its own device driver onto the OS which has a high tendency to cause system instability and computer crashes. On Windows 7 in particular, if a game using StarForce is installed and the computer is turned off, on the next start up, the system will not boot up properly and forces the user to restore the OS. Not even removing the driver before shut down will prevent the DRM from destroying the Windows 7 installation. Reports of StarForce destroying the installation on later versions of Windows such as Windows 8 and 10 also exist. Players were forced to use virtual machines just to play the StarForce protected games without breaking their system32 (unclear).
- It was said that when reports of these system breaking issues surfaced, StarForce Technologies denied these claims and held a contest for $10,000 to prove that StarForce breaks systems. However, they required you to demonstrate it in some Muscovite office complex, under their supervision, which probably explains the fact that there are no winners.
- It was also said that when Stardock Software released their video game Galactic Civilization 2 and decided not to include DRM in the game in hopes that player will simply pay for a good game. And when StarForce caught whiff of Stardock Software's experiment (which turned out to be successful), they actually pirated Galactic Civilization 2 and then posted a list of torrent sites where one could warez the game. All in attempt to get their twisted message across: without DRM like StarForce, people can pirate any game like Galactic Civilization 2.
- This DRM also works absolutely terrible with games themselves. It often doesn't recognize the serial numbers, its own drivers and completely refuses to work properly. All these problems also prompted some people to create programs that remove StarForce DRM from the games, including Fstarforce, Starfucker and Starforce Nightmare, but unfortunately, they became ineffective due to the lack of updates.
- The StarForce drivers aren't uninstalled when certain StarForce protected games were uninstalled from the system. Also, earlier versions of DRM (prior to 3.05) don't offer 64-bit support or Windows Vista support. As of June 2005, 64-bit usage was incredibly low, and Vista wasn't around, however this issue was never resolved for games using StarForce older than version 3.05[1].
- This issue was rectified in most newer games, and StarForce eventually issued a Driver Removal Tool on their site to further address this problem.
List of games using this DRM technology
| Game name | Release date | Developer | Publisher | Version |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Sins | FR: May 13, 2005
UK: May 20, 2005 |
Monte Cristo | FR: Monte Cristo
UK: Digital Jesters |
3.4.71.19[2] |
| Adrenalin Extreme Show | RU: October 21, 2005
DE: June 4, 2006 FR: February 23, 2007 |
Gaijin Entertainment | 1C Company | 3.4.77.3 |
| Age of Pirates: Caribbean Tales | NA: September 12, 2006
EU: September 20, 2006 |
Akella | 1C Company
Playlogic |
3.7.16.04 |
| American Conquest: Divided Nation | FR: January 2006
WW: February 2006 |
GSC Game World | CDV Software Entertainment | 3 |
| Area 51 | NA: June 8, 2005
EU: July 1, 2005 |
Midway Studios Austin | Midway | 3.4.76.00 |
| Bandits: Phoenix Rising | NA: March 28, 2003
UK: May 16, 2003 |
Grin | NA: Tri Synergy
UK: Singularity Software |
3.03.036.001 |
| Bet on Soldier: Blood Sport | September 28, 2005 | Kylotonn | Digital Jesters | 3.5.10.01 |
| Beyond Divinity | DE: April 1, 2004
NA: April 27, 2004 EU: April 30, 2004 |
Larian Studios | EU: Ubisoft
NA: HIP Interactive UK: Digital Jesters |
3.3.36.01 |
| Blitzkrieg: Rolling Thunder | November 2004 | Nival Interactive | NA, EU: CDV Software Entertainment
RU: 1C Company |
3.4.50.01 |
| Blitzkrieg 2 | RU: September 23, 2005
NA: September 28, 2005 UK: October 14, 2005 |
Nival Interactive | RU: 1C Company
NA, EU: CDV Software Entertainment |
3.4.77.02 |
| Brain Lara International Cricket 2005 | July 21, 2005 | Swordfish Studios | Codemasters | 3.06.10.6 |
| Breed | PAL: March 19, 2004
NA: April 9, 2004 |
Brat Designs | CDV Software Entertainment | 3.3.33.06
3.3.33.08 |
| Broken Sword: The Sleeping Dragon | NA: November 17, 2003 | Revolution Software | NA: The Adventure Company | 3 |
| Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood | NA: October 6, 2005
EU: October 7, 2005 |
Gearbox Software | Ubisoft | 3.6.10.03 |
| Chaos League | EU: August 8, 2004
NA: March 8, 2005 |
Cyanide | UK: Digital Jesters
EU: Focus Home Interactive |
3.3.37.02 |
| Chrome: SpecForce | August 19, 2005 | Techland | EU: Techland
DE: Koch Media, magnussoft Deutschland |
3 |
| City Life | FR: April 14, 2006
UK: May 12, 2006 NA: May 30, 2006 |
Monte Cristo | FR: Monte Cristo
UK: Deep Silver NA: CDV Software Entertainment |
3.7.13.01 |
| Codename: Panzers - Phase One | DE: June 16, 2004
NA: October 1, 2004 |
StormRegion | CDV Software Entertainment | 3.3.38.01
3.3.38.02 |
| Codename Panzers - Phase Two | EU: July 22, 2005
NA: July 25, 2005 |
StormRegion | CDV Software Entertainment | 3.4.77.00
3.5.10.01 |
| Cold War | NA: September 28, 2005
EU: November 11, 2005 |
Mindware Studios | DreamCatcher Games | 3.6.10.03 |
| Colin McRae Rally 2005 | PAL: September 24, 2004
NA: October 28, 2004 |
Codemasters | Codemasters | 3.04.049.001 |
| Cossacks II: Napoleonic Wars | CIS: April 4, 2005
UK: April 15, 2005 NA: April 26, 2005 |
GSC Game World | CDV Software Entertainment | 3.4.65.11 |
| Crashday | DE: February 23, 2006
NA: December 20, 2006 RU: March 20, 2006 PL: March 3, 2006 |
Replay Studios
Moonbyte Games |
Atari Europe | 3.7.13.01 |
| Cross Racing Championship 2005 | October 4, 2005 | Invictus Games | Invictus Games
Take-Two Interactive |
3.4.76.00 |
| Curse: The Eye of Isis | NA: October 20, 2003
EU: November 14, 2003 |
Asylum Entertainment | NA: DreamCatcher Interactive
EU: Wanadoo Edition |
3 |
| Cycling Manager 3 | June 2003 | Cyanide Studio | GMX Media | 3 |
| D-Day | July 6, 2004 | Digital Reality | US: O3 Entertainment
EU, BR: Monte Cristo UK: Digital Jesters, Global Software Publishing |
3.04.040.003 |
| Dead to Rights | NA: November 10, 2003
EU: November 14, 2003 |
Namco Hometek | Light & Shadow Production | 3 |
| Demonic Speedway | 3 | |||
| Domination | NA: March 2, 2005
PAL: June 24, 2005 |
Wargaming | DreamCatcher Games | |
| Dreamfall: The Longest Journey | NA: April 17, 2006
NOR: April 28, 2006 UK: May 26, 2006 |
Funcom | NA: Aspyr
NOR: K.E. Media UK: Empire Interactive |
3.7.16.04 |
| Ed, Edd n Eddy: The Mis-Edventures | NA: November 3, 2005
AU: November 25, 2005 |
Artificial Mind and Movement | Midway | 3 |
| Emergency Fire Response | July 29, 2003 | Monte Cristo Multimedia | DreamCatcher Interactive | 3 |
| Enigma: Rising Tide | August 25, 2003 | Tesseraction Games | NA: DreamCatcher Interactive
EU: GMX Media |
3 |
| Etherlords II | NA: October 1, 2003
EU: March 19, 2004 |
Nival Interactive | NA: Strategy First
EU: DreamCatcher Interactive |
3.03.031.021 |
| Fire Department | July 30, 2003 | Monte Cristo | EU: Monte Cristo
US: DreamCatcher Interactive |
3 |
| Fire Department 2 (Firefighter Command: Raging Inferno) | November 17, 2004 | Monte Cristo | DE: Brigades
FR: Focus Home Interactive UK: Mindscape RU: 1C Company |
3 |
| Gangland | EU: February 27, 2004
NA: March 3, 2004 |
MediaMobsters | Whiptail Interactive | 3.03.031.021 |
| Garfield | EU: November 26, 2004
NA: May 17, 2005 |
The Code Monkeys | Hip Games | 3.4.53.0 |
| Gene Troopers | December 25, 2006 | Cauldron | Playlogic Entertainment | 3.5.10[3] |
| Gooka: The Mystery of Janatris | CZ: June 25, 2004
DE: March 9, 2005 |
Centauri Production | Cenega Publishing | 3.4.37.01 |
| Gothic 3 | EU: October 13, 2006
NA, AU: November 14, 2006 |
Piranha Bytes | EU: JoWooD Productions, Deep Silver
AU: Auran NA: Aspyr Media |
4 |
| GT Legends | EU: October 15, 2005
UK: November 4, 2005 NA: January 23, 2006 |
SimBin Studios | 10tacle Publishing | 3.6.10.03 |
| GTR | March 11, 2005 | SimBin Studios | 10tacle Studios | 3.04.050.001 |
| Hard Truck Apocalypse | EU: December 8, 2005
NA: June 19, 2006 |
Targem Games | EU: Nival Interactive
NA: CDV Software Entertainment WW: Buka Entertainment |
3 |
| Heroes of Might & Magic IV: The Gathering Storm | NA: September 27, 2002
EU: 2002 |
New World Computing | The 3DO Company | 1.0 |
| Horse Race Manager | 3 | |||
| Icewind Dale: Heart of Winter | RU: November 9, 2006 | Black Isle Studios | Interplay Entertainment
RU: 1C Company |
3 |
| Instinct | August 21, 2007 | Digital Spray Studios
Newtonic Studio |
Wild Hare Entertainment
ND Games |
4 |
| Kicker Manager 2004 | 3.03.036.001 | |||
| Kill Switch | January 4, 2004 | Namco USA | Namco | 3.3.33.08 |
| King Kong | EU: November 17, 2005
NA: November 22, 2005 |
Ubisoft Bucharest | Ubisoft | 3.6.10.06 |
| Korea: Forgotten Conflict | November 2, 2003 | Plastic Reality Technologies | Cenega Publishing | 3 |
| LMA Manager 2005 | October 22, 2004 | Anco | Codemasters | 3.4.50.1 |
| Lock On: Modern Air Combat | EU: November 20, 2003
RU: November 21, 2003 |
Eagle Dynamics | EU: Ubisoft
RU: 1C Company |
3.4.77 |
| Medieval Lords: Build, Defend, Expand | UK: October 22, 2004
NA: November 24, 2005 |
Monte Cristo Multimedia | Monte Cristo Multimedia | 3.04.043.001 |
| Micro Machines V4 | NA: June 27, 2006
EU: June 30, 2006 |
Supersonic Software | Codemasters | 3.7.16.04 |
| Midway Arcade Treasures 2 | February 17, 2006 | Digital Eclipse | Midway | 3.6.10.07 |
| Midway Arcade Treasures 3 | February 17, 2006 | Digital Eclipse
Gamestar Midway Studios San Diego |
Midway | 3.6.10.07 |
| Namco Museum 50th Anniversary | NA: October 25, 2005
AU: March 27, 2006 EU: May 19, 2006 |
Digital Eclipse | NA: Namco Hometek
PAL: Electronic Arts |
3.5 |
| Neuro Hunter | September 23, 2005 | Media Art | Deep Silver | 3.6.10.06 |
| Obscure | EU: October 1, 2004
NA: April 6, 2005 |
Hydravision Entertainment | EU: MC2-Microїds
NA: DreamCatcher Interactive |
3.3.36.01 |
| Pac-Man World 2 | EU: March 21, 2004
NA: May 25, 2004 |
Namco Hometek | Namco | 3 |
| Pac-Man World 3 | December 8, 2005 | Namco
Blitz Games |
Namco | 3.5 |
| Parkan II | May 27, 2005 | Nikita Ltd. | 1C Company | 3.5.10.06 |
| Pax Romana | November 6, 2003 | Galilea | DreamCatcher Interactive | 3 |
| Petka 6: The New Reality | October 13, 2005 | Saturn Plus | Buka Entertainment | 3.4 |
| Petka 007: Gold of the Party | September 28, 2006 | Saturn Plus | Buka Entertainment | 4.0.13.5 |
| Petka VIII: Conquest of Rome | November 22, 2007 | Saturn Plus | Buka Entertainment | 4.70.11.3 |
| Postal 2: Apocalypse Weekend | May 31, 2005 | Running with Scissors | Running with Scissors | 3.4.72.03 |
| Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones | NA: December 1, 2005
EU: December 9, 2005 |
Ubisoft Montreal
Ubisoft Casablanca |
Ubisoft | 3.6.10.06 |
| Pro Cycling Manager 2006 | 2006 | Cyanide Studio | Focus Home Interactive | 3.7.16.04 |
| Pro Rugby Manager | c. 2005 | Scubb Interactive | 3.3.33.08 | |
| Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy | NA: June 14, 2004
EU: October 1, 2004 |
Midway Games | Midway
EU: Zoo Digital Publishing |
3.4.70.2 |
| Psychotoxic | DE: September 3, 2004
EU: February 25, 2005 NA: March 14, 2005 |
Nuclear Vision Entertainment | DE/AUT: Vidis
WW: Whiptail Interactive RU/UA: 1C Company |
3.04.071.019 |
| Radsport Manager Pro 2006 | Cyanide Studio | 3.7.16.4 | ||
| Rainbow Six: Lockdown | NA: February 16, 2006
EU: February 17, 2006 |
Red Storm Entertainment | Ubisoft | 3.6.10.07 |
| Restaurant Empire | March 26, 2003 | Enlight Software | Enlight Software | 3 |
| Restricted Area | 2004 | Whiptail Interactive | 3 | |
| RHEM 2: The Cave | November 2, 2005 | Knut Müller | Got Game Entertainment
Virtual Programming |
3.4.76 |
| Rise and Fall: Civilizations at War | June 12, 2006 | Stainless Steel Studios
Midway Games San Diego |
Midway Games | 3.7.16.04 |
| Runaway: A Road Adventure | August 20, 2003 | Pendulo Studios | Dinamic Multimedia
FX Interactive Tri Synergy |
3 |
| Rush for Berlin | EU: May 26, 2006
NA: May 30. 2006 |
StormRegion | EU: Deep Silver
NA: Paradox Interactive |
3.7.16.04 |
| Scrapland | NA: November 4, 2004
EU: March 18, 2005 |
MercurySteam | Enlight Software
Deep Silver |
3.4.50.01 |
| Second Sight | EU: February 4, 2005
NA: February 18, 2005 |
Free Radical Design | Codemasters | 3.4.62 |
| Sega Genesis Classic Collection: Gold Edition | 2011 | Sega
D3T |
Sega | 5.70.021.004 |
| Silent Hunter III | NA: March 15, 2005
PAL: March 18, 2005 |
Ubisoft Bucharest | Ubisoft | 3.4.76 |
| Silent Storm | RU: August 22, 2003
EU: November 7, 2003 NA: January 20, 2004 |
Nival Interactive | RU: 1C Company
EU: JoWooD Productions NA: Encore Software |
3 |
| Silkolene Honda Motocross GP | 2000 | The Dawn Interactive | Midas Interactive Entertainment | 3 |
| Singles: Flirt Up Your Life | NA: October 5, 2003 | Rotobee | Deep Silver | 3.3.33.06 |
| Singles 2: Triple Trouble | June 2005 | Rotobee | Deep Silver | 3.4.76 |
| Sniper Elite | EU: September 30, 2005
NA: October 18, 2005 |
Rebellion Developments | NA: Namco Hometek
EU: MC2 France |
3.5.10.01 |
| Soldiers: Heroes of World War II | NA: June 29, 2004
EU: July 2, 2004 |
Best Way | Codemasters | 3.3 |
| Spellforce 2: Shadow Wars | DE: April 7, 2006
UK: April 20, 2006 NA: May 2, 2006 |
Phenomic | EU: JoWooD Productions, Deep Silver
NA: Aspyr Media, DreamCatcher Interactive AU: Auran |
3.7.13 |
| Splinter Cell Chaos Theory | NA: March 28, 2005
EU: April 1, 2005 |
Ubisoft Montreal
Ubisoft Milan |
Ubisoft | 3.4.71.19
3.4.76 3.4.77.02 |
| Star Wolves | RU: 2004
EU: 2005 NA: 2006 |
X-bow Software | 1C Company | 3.4.76 |
| Steel Saviour | 3.03.06.001 | |||
| Still Life | NA: April 14, 2005
EU: June 3, 2005 |
Microids Canada | EU: MC2
NA: The Adventure Company |
3.4.65.11 |
| Street Racing Syndicate | NA: January 18, 2005
PAL: March 24, 2005 |
Eutechnyx | Namco Hometek | 3.4.63.2 |
| Syberia | FR: January 9, 2002
EU: August 9, 2002 NA: September 1, 2002 |
Microïds | Microïds
NA: The Adventure Company |
1 |
| Syberia II | NA: March 30, 2004
EU: May 28, 2004 |
Microïds Canada | NA: XS Games
EU: MC2-Microïds |
3.03.033.008 |
| Taito Legends 2 | AU: March 30, 2006
EU: March 31, 2006 NA: July 10, 2007 |
Empire Interactive | PAL: Empire Interactive
NA: Destineer |
3.7.13 |
| The Ant Bully | NA: July 24, 2006
EU: August 25, 2006 |
Artificial Mind and Movement | Midway | 4 |
| The Black Mirror | NA: October 15, 2003
UK: May 28, 2004 |
Future Games | NA: The Adventure Company
UK: GMX Media |
3.3.27.35 |
| The Fall: Last Days of Gaia | November 15, 2004 | Silver Style Entertainment | Deep Silver | 3.04.062
3.50.01 |
| The Suffering: Ties That Bind | NA: September 30, 2005
EU: October 28, 2005 |
Surreal Software | Midway Games | 3.5.10.01 |
| The Westerner | December 21, 2003 | Revistronic | Planeta DeAgostini | 3.3.31.21 |
| TOCA Race Driver 2 | NA: April 21, 2004
EU: April 23, 2004 |
Codemasters | Codemasters | 3.3.35.02
3.3.36.01 |
| TOCA Race Driver 3 | NA: February 21, 2006
AU: February 23, 2006 EU: February 24, 2006 |
Codemasters | Codemasters | 3.7.13.00 |
| TrackMania | FR: November 21, 2003
UK: November 28, 2003 NA: June 24, 2004 |
Ubisoft Nadeo | UK: Digital Jesters
FR: Focus Home Interactive US: Enlight CIS: Buka Entertainment |
3.03.035.004 |
| TrackMania Sunrise | UK: April 2005
WW: May 2005 |
Ubisoft Nadeo | FR: Focus Home Interactive
UK: Digital Jesters US: Enlight |
3.4.71.19 |
| ÜberSoldier | RU: November 18, 2005
NA: March 27, 2006 UK: March 31, 2006 |
Burut Creative Team | RU: Russobit-M
NA: CDV Software Entertainment UK: Koch Media |
3.7.12.50 |
| UFO: Aftershock | EU: October 21, 2005
NA: November 23, 2005 |
Altar Interactive | EU: Cenega Publishing
NA: Tri Synergy |
3.6.10.06
3.6.10.07 |
| V8 Supercars 2 | 2004 | 3.3.35.02 | ||
| Vivisector: Beast Within | CIS: September 30, 2005
EU: January 5, 2006 |
Action Forms | 1C Company | 3.5.10.06 |
| War on Terror | 2006 | Digital Reality Software Kft | Akella
Koch Media GmbH Monte Cristo Multimedia |
3.7.14.2 |
| Wildlife Park 2 | May 12, 2006 | b-alive | 3.7.16.01 | |
| Wintersport Pro 2006 | 2006 | Cyanide Studio | Crimson Cow GmbH | 3.7.13 |
| World Racing 2 | September 29, 2005 | Synetic | EU: Playlogic Entertainment
NA: Evolved Games |
3.6.10.3 |
| World War II: Frontline Command | PAL: May 2, 2003
NA: June 26, 2003 |
Bitmap Brothers | EU: Koch Media
NA: Strategy First |
3 |
| Worms 4: Mayhem | EU/AU: August 5, 2005
NA: October 4, 2005 RU: November 10, 2005 |
Team17 | PAL: Codemasters
NA: Majesco Entertainment RU: Buka Entertainment |
3.5.05.03 |
| X2: The Threat | NA: December 1, 2003
PAL: February 6, 2004 |
Egosoft | EU: Deep Silver
NA: Enlight |
3.3.31.19 |
| X3: Reunion | EU: October 28, 2005
NA: November 10, 2005 |
Egosoft | EU: Deep Silver
NA: Enlight |
3.5.10.6 |
| Xpand Rally | EU: September 24, 2004
NA: April 4, 2006 |
Techland | TopWare Interactive
FR: Micro Application |
3.04.049.001 |
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