Let’s be honest, a CD key just does not cut it these days when it comes to stopping piracy.
Hackers have become skilled at cracking a new game within hours of its launch – and before its launch on occasion – and rapidly distribute the illegal copies.
Some game makers, though, decided they would not take their games being copied lying down, and put some some nifty anti-piracy measures into their titles. Here are some of the best of them.
Sims 4 – Mosaic Tiles
The latest fight against piracy came from EA Games in the form of some blurred The Sims 4. When you send your Sim to the porcelain throne to do their business, the screen pixelates around their private areas – this in normal.
In the pirated version of the game, though, this pixelation does not disappear once you leave the bathroom, as it should.
In fact, it starts to grow until it covers your whole screen. Well-played, EA.
Batman: Arkham Asylum – No Gliding
Who is Batman without his cape? Just a man? Well, in Batman: Arkham Asylum – the pirated version – the game prevented you from gliding with the Dark Knight’s hallowed cape.
Besides removing a key mechanic from the game, it also made it near impossible to get anything done.
Batman: Arkham Asylum
Mirror’s Edge – Slow Down
Mirror’s Edge is all about running and jumping from building to building at high speed.
In the illegal version of the game that was made quite difficult as your character would be slowed down right before the crucial leap.
Cue falling to your death – much sadness, very tears.
Grand Theft Auto IV – Wobbly Camera
No, that is not your bad eyesight or drunken stupor, it is GTA’s anti-piracy measure.
The wobbly camera makes you feel like you are watching the game through the eyes of a bobble head strapped to the front of a car with bad suspension.
Prepare to feel dizzy and unsettled.
Serious Sam 3 – Immortal Scorpion
If you download an illegal copy of Serious Sam 3 and play the first level you will be greeted by a terrifying opponent – a large, red scorpion that is strong, fast, and just will not die.
If you do manage to get past the scorpion you will be allowed to carry on playing the game… until the game camera starts pointing to the top left and right of the screen.
If you enjoy walking in circles, then give it a go.
Know of any other great anti-piracy measures? Let us know in the comments and forum.
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First crack I saw for Batman unlocked everything, Cracked copies of copies not working correctly are simply really bad hacker groups. As someone else said, Steam Sales are the best counter measure. Make the games cheaper then we stop pirating.