Trusted Platform Module == End of Game Piracy?

[hyrulian]

As reported by gamesindustry.biz, Nolan Bushnell, founder of Atari, suggested at a conference that "game piracy will soon be a thing of the past thanks to a new chip", the Trusted Platform Module, or TPM. He claims that the new chip will allow the games industry to "encrypt with an absolutely verifiable private key in the encryption world - which is uncrackable by people on the internet and by giving away passwords".

Bushnell believes that piracy of games can be stopped because "games are so integrated with the code", whereas movies and music are simply viewed and heard and thus easily copyable.

Is anyone else here feeling skeptical? You surely remember the last time someone said encryption was "uncrackable", right? (AACS, anyone?)

 

[Retodon8]

It's like those console exclusives I guess.
It refers to a limited amount of time.

 

[MARVO]

http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/26/atari-founder-cries-wolf-about-piracy-ending-chip/

 

[Angel_Mapper]

They do realize hackers see statements like that as a challenge and that this will only speed its downfall?

 

[Centurion]

He just want to sell chips. I give the pirates two weeks and it is hacked.

 

[Jackal]

09 F9 11 02 9D 74 E3 5B D8 41 56 C5 63 56 88 C0

hackers on my internets? It's more likely than you think.

 

[elmuerte]

Trusted computing is dangerous, avoid it like the plague.
All that trusted computing will do is take away more rights from customers.
Trusted computing can make sure you need to upgrade your software as soon as a new version has been released.
Trusted computing will be the end of consumer rights.

http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/can-you-trust.html
http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2006/05/who_owns_your_c.html
http://www.lafkon.net/tc/

 

[gregori]

I can see this working for all of two seconds as most hardware can be emulated.

 

[evilmrfrank]

Still people are less likely to attempt emulating hardware as it is more difficult than just downloading an executable file. I'm sure its not hard but it might help

 

[Jrubzjeknf]

http://www.lafkon.net/tc/

WATCH THIS!

Apart from the message, the way the movie clip is made is amazing. I highly recommend watching this to anyone.

 

[-VorteX-]

elmuerte took the words right out of my mouth.

 

[Jackal]

The problem with your guys argument is that 70% of people who use computers, don't know any better.

70>30

While we may know what is going on and understand that this is a bad thing, marketing to Joe Blow who doesn't know a thing about computers, "Safety is number one". And that's all he cares about.

Yeah it sucks for us, but the major companies don't care about the knowledgeable people. They care about sales and people who don't know any better will buy what sounds best. Perfect example of this would be my sister and my friend Ben. Both went out to buy a PC loaded with crap-ware and Vista and all sorts of stuff they didn't need. Then they call me up to ask me what Norton is and how is it protected them from identity theft etc.

Anyways, my point is that we know better, but "we" is a smaller amount than "them".

Besides, I give it a month to get cracked and have a work around.

 

[Grobut]

This again.. i had hoped they would get the message by now, that we want nothing to do with it, because we bloody well know thease systems wont be there to help us, but to help them get their hands even deeper in our wallets.

 

[MonsOlympus]

While we may know what is going on and understand that this is a bad thing, marketing to Joe Blow who doesn't know a thing about computers, "Safety is number one". And that's all he cares about.

For some reason I keep thinking of the millenium bug, I wonder how many people rushed out to upgrade without even realizing they didnt need to

 

[Selerox]

Not on my watch.

The more I see it, the more I think "trusted" means "downright suspect".

 

[Alhanalem]

Trusted? by whom? certainly not the consumers.

 

[gregori]

They would be far better off spending the money to put this chip on computers on giving most machines a slightly better graphics card that can atleast play modern games (better than ****ty intel integrated)

 

[Crotale]

I do not purchase or use software from companies who treat their customers as if they are all idiots. The sad fact is most purchasers of game software do not have a fricking clue about this stuff, nor do they understand their rights as consumers. This is why these companies are able to get away with this bullcrap. I'd like to see some consumer advocacy groups stand up to these imbeciles.

I understand the issues caused by piracy, but there are no foolproof anti-piracy measures. When are these companies going to realize that the sun always rises in the East, the Titanic sank after it hit an iceberg and that software pirates will find a way to do what they do?

 

[Armagon917]

I think the best solution for piracy is to make fantastic games that scale well on systems. I don't buy Crytek's argument for example because that was very difficult to run well for a lot of people. Engines like Source and whatever Call of Duty 4 is using have found the sweet spot as I like to call it. Great games and easy to run. Thats the formula IMO that best combats piracy.

 

[iCQ]

wont work

Its always funny to hear that such companies are thinking that they will SELL MORE if people who CANT/WONT BUY IT ANYWAY, copy it instead (and free advertise for the companies along the way).