Bad News

[hansolo77]

Just found that somebody posted a torrent up at ******* with the latest version of GameEx complete with instructions on how to unlock the full version without paying. I'll tell you, some people got a lot of nerve. If the software is good enough that you have to get a full version for free, you really need to pay for it. This software is great. After trying it for about 10 minutes, I knew I wanted a registered copy and paid my dues. Tom, you need to work out some kind of back-end function to authenticate a registered user. Perhaps while installing, you could have it ask your "registration code" and it checks it online. Then if it's correct, it downloads an apparent "random" code of like 30 alpha-numeric characters that saves in the registry. Then, every time GameEx starts, it checks the code for authenticity before running. Of course, you would need an algorithm, and those are usually crackable. If you kept the authentication online it would solve the problem, but a lot of people don't have online ability with their machines. Try to think of something! I'd hate to see this software become redundant and my donation become a nothing more than free money to you.

[Brian Hoffman]

Just found that somebody posted a torrent up at ******* with the latest version of GameEx complete with instructions on how to unlock the full version without paying. I'll tell you, some people got a lot of nerve. If the software is good enough that you have to get a full version for free, you really need to pay for it. This software is great. After trying it for about 10 minutes, I knew I wanted a registered copy and paid my dues. Tom, you need to work out some kind of back-end function to authenticate a registered user. Perhaps while installing, you could have it ask your "registration code" and it checks it online. Then if it's correct, it downloads an apparent "random" code of like 30 alpha-numeric characters that saves in the registry. Then, every time GameEx starts, it checks the code for authenticity before running. Of course, you would need an algorithm, and those are usually crackable. If you kept the authentication online it would solve the problem, but a lot of people don't have online ability with their machines. Try to think of something! I'd hate to see this software become redundant and my donation become a nothing more than free money to you.

Well this is devistating news. But Id hardly think that the software will become redudant and everyones donation become nothing more than free money to Tom.

This maen less people will see the startup screen that asks for a nonimal contribution to the project. They really are not benifitng by cracking GAMEEX as 99.9% of the features are included with the regular d/l. The Warez kiddies the download this software most likely wouldnt have paid for the software anyways.

I personally dontated cause I love this app and this board, The nag removal was an added bonus and made regular use bearable.

[Tom Speirs]

I do appreciate you letting me know, but could I ask anyone who supports GameEx, pm's or emails me when this happens with full details and where I can find the torrent etc. Like I said I appreciate it but posts like this dont help me solve the problem, and in general makes things a lot worse. Everyone who reads your post will go get the torrent now. There are things in place for this kind of thing, but sharing them dont help.

Tom.

[iano]

Just found that somebody posted a torrent up at ******* with the latest version of GameEx complete with instructions on how to unlock the full version without paying. I'll tell you, some people got a lot of nerve. If the software is good enough that you have to get a full version for free, you really need to pay for it. This software is great. After trying it for about 10 minutes, I knew I wanted a registered copy and paid my dues. Tom, you need to work out some kind of back-end function to authenticate a registered user. Perhaps while installing, you could have it ask your "registration code" and it checks it online. Then if it's correct, it downloads an apparent "random" code of like 30 alpha-numeric characters that saves in the registry. Then, every time GameEx starts, it checks the code for authenticity before running. Of course, you would need an algorithm, and those are usually crackable. If you kept the authentication online it would solve the problem, but a lot of people don't have online ability with their machines. Try to think of something! I'd hate to see this software become redundant and my donation become a nothing more than free money to you.

Now i really am pissed. £14 is too much for anyone to pay for a frontend with more features than you can wave a stick at ? GameEX is a mini os in itself ! Don't get me wrong - i'm no angel and have little sympathy for MS but this sickens me because the development of GameEx is done out of love. The first time i donated way more than the nominal fee simply because i thought there was nothing to touch it and i donated just recently again. But like Han says there is a dilemma - i don't have my arcade cab (to be) hooked up to internet partly because i don't want to pay for Norton twice and don't have the technical knowhow anyway. Hopefully Tom can find a solution. But does this mean GameEX will now be bundled with ROMs (dodgy situation) ?

EDIT: Sorry i was writing the post before i seen your response.

[Tom Speirs]

I do appreciate you letting me know, but could I ask anyone who supports GameEx, pm's or emails me when this happens with full details and where I can find the torrent etc. Like I said I appreciate it but posts like this dont help me solve the problem, and in general makes things a lot worse. Everyone who reads your post will go get the torrent now. There are things in place for this kind of thing, but sharing them dont help.

Tom.

If someone could actually help the situation, and get me some decent info on this I would appreciate it. I cant access *******.

Cheers.

Tom

EDIT: I dont know if this is a problem or not yet, but just for the record, if it did become a problem ever, Im passionate as people know, and I would go fully commercial with the software most likely, no holds barred. That would be a shame, as things would change.

[bkenobi]

Does that mean that Tom will have to change his security measures on the code? I'm just wondering if this will change anything for the users of GameEx as far as extra software that will come with future versions and potentially slow down the FE. Perhaps the owner torrent tracker would be amiable to removing the link to that torrent? Just a thought...

Out of curiosity, has anyone checked to make sure that the "hack" is real and not just a virus or adware program. I know that eDonkey and torrents in general are rampant with these types of downloads.

[headkaze]

I've just edited out the name of the torrent site from this thread. I think it's best to not mention it. I could not find this torrent on Google so I don't think it's a huge problem. I'm gonna lock this thread as I think it's best to keep this sort of thing off the forums. If you do find GameEx on a torrent site, please e-mail Tom and let him know about it.