   CD keys:  whats the point?
  I''m not talking about those MMOG''s that can check everyones key all the time, but single player games.the key comes with the CD so if you gave a copy to someone it would be really easy to stick the key in a readme file. so how exactly do they prevent piracy? the only thing it seems to accomplish is getting people who lose their CD key to get really annoyed.I must be missing something here or people wouldn''t use them all the time. 
  Well, I think it cuts down at least a little on piracy.  Not every group of people who want to play a game will just buy one copy and share the key with each other (my friends and I fall into this category).  So at least they are making some incentive for you each to have a copy.  Some games won''t let you play mult-player with two games registering the same key. ;  Ok that makes sense.But what about the sims it had a CD key and wasn''t multiplayer! ;  It''s easy to implement, and its a hassle more for teh mighty pirates.  That''s it.They might use it during product registration too. ;  At least CD keys are only needed once. What''s more annoying are games that require you to play with the damn CD. I don''t have this huge hard drive so I can be constantly swapping CDs. ;  The only logical reason to use it is for a non-monthly-payment online game like Warcraft 3 or such... when you want to play on Battle.net, you send your CD-key and Battle.net won't let you log in if anyone is using the same key at the same time.  Pirates don't EVEN blink at making keygens.   [edited by - Nypyren on July 31, 2003 2:48:17 AM];  I think the CD-Key system is outdated.  I think it should stick around for mutliplayer games, as it seems to be effective.  However, to play singleplayer, I shouldn''t need one.  I''m an honest customer; I buy my games from physical locations, not from Juarez   What frustrates me most is losing the jewel case.  I like to put my CDs into a CD case with sleeves, because it has a low profile.  Jewel cases take up too much room.  Since I can copy a singleplayer game, no problem, I don''t see how a CD-Key even prevents anything (for singleplayer) ;  Well CD keys stop the most basic computer users who don''t even know how to find a simple single player key. That''s about it for those.Online ones work flawlessly now. Heck, Epic used CD keys as a marketing gimmick for UT2003; they let people warez for a little while and then cut off all illegal CD keys one day  Get them addicted and then force them to buy it... ;quote:Original post by Peon   I buy my games from physical locations, not from Juarez HOLY SHIT! That's the name of my freshman gym teacher!   [edited by - Dot Hack Sign on July 31, 2003 7:13:55 AM];quote:Original post by Dot Hack Sign  quote:Original post by Peon    I buy my games from physical locations, not from Juarez HOLY SHIT! That''s the name of my freshman gym teacher!   THEY LET A FRESHMAN BE A GYM TEACHER?! OH TEH NOES. 