StarForce
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| This article was copied (instead of imported) from the Crappy Games Wiki on Miraheze 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's NOT an All-Star
- 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 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 force the user to restore the OS. Not even removing the driver before shutting 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 players would simply pay for a good game. And when StarForce caught a whiff of Stardock Software's experiment (which turned out to be successful), they pirated Galactic Civilization 2 and then posted a list of torrent sites where one could watch the game. All in an attempt to get their twisted message across: without DRM like StarForce, people can pirate any game like Galactic Civilization 2.
- This DRM also works terribly with games themselves. It often doesn't recognize the serial numbers, or its drivers and completely refuses to work properly. All these problems also prompted some people to create programs that remove StarForce DRM from the games, but unfortunately, they became ineffective due to the lack of updates.
- The StarForce drivers aren't uninstalled when certain StarForce-protected games are uninstalled from the system. Also, earlier versions of DRM (before 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 |
Microïds 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 |
| Sudeki | EU: March 25, 2005 | Climax Studios | Climax Group | 3 |
| 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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