AfterDawn: Tech news

Ubisoft releases 'illegal' No-CD crack to fix game bugs

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 18 Jul 2008 2:04 User comments (26)

Ubisoft releases 'illegal' No-CD crack to fix game bugs The games developer Ubisoft recently released the latest PC patch for its hit game Rainbow Six Vegas 2 but with the release came problems for all users who had purchased the game via “Direct 2 Drive”. The patch works fine for users with a physical copy of the game, but those who downloaded it legally from D2D could not load up the game.
The Ubi forums were hit with thread after thread with gamers asking for a fix for the issue and many threads noted correctly that an illegal No-CD crack created by the scene group RELOADED would fix the problem. Ubisoft moderators however, made sure to warn anyone who posted such suggestions that No-CD cracks/fixed .exe are unofficial and illegal and would not be tolerated in the forums.

Later in the day, Ubisoft released its own patch to solve the problem and it it. However, some users ran the patch through a Hex editor and found that Ubisoft's "official" patch was in fact the RELOADED No-CD crack, just renamed.



Now, this would not be so big of an issue if not for Ubisoft's own terms of use. Their licenses state specifically that cracks are illegal in the United States and that users using them will violate their license. That is also not to mention that forum users had been punished just a day before.

There has been no official statement yet from Ubisoft, but a community manager has locked threads on the official Ubi forums and added this statement.

“We're looking into this further as this was not the UK Support team that posted this, however if it is an executable that does not need the disc I doubt it has come from an external source. There'd be very little point doing so when we already own the original unprotected executeable.

As soon as we find out more about this we'll let you know.”


Since the Hex editor screenshot surfaced, Ubisoft has taken the patch down and users with a D2D version of the game still cannot play.

You can view the original picture here:


The original thread is here: R6Vegas2_Fix.zip is the same as the ReLoaded no-dvd crack

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26 user comments

118.7.2008 14:12

So if people "steal there work" and distribute it they get bitchy and sue yet they take other peoples work and claim it as there own. Pathetic.

218.7.2008 14:20

Guess Ubisoft will be scene-banned now :)

318.7.2008 14:25

this is priceless

418.7.2008 14:30

IF you cant't beat em...join em!

518.7.2008 14:48

ahh Ubisoft... you cant lie to the L33t!!! We sniff out your lies!!!!
Us > U

UbiSoft = Pwnt

618.7.2008 14:53

Ubisoft wants it both ways.

718.7.2008 14:53

Priceless. So say I downloaded the game illegally I could use this "official" patch to play the game.
I'll be downloading this "Official" Patch.

818.7.2008 15:28

Ha, I love stories like this. XD

Originally posted by iluvendo:
Ubisoft wants it both ways.

Sounds kinky.

918.7.2008 15:35

i like ubisoft and everything.

but

Reloaded owned their asses on this one.

madd ownage here!

1018.7.2008 15:36

game developers don't know how there own exe work.. so they have to use cracks from user made sources.. haha..

1118.7.2008 16:38

Where can I download this "Fix"?

1218.7.2008 20:21

its pretty bad when the people they call pirates fix the big corps gaming problems for them and then ubisoft or some company calls pirates a drain on the whole gaming industry. This is the funniest thing i've heard in a while. So are pirates really the big problem? or companies pushing out games to fast not fixing the bugs and glitches and beta testing long enough?

1318.7.2008 21:20

I don't know what is more pathetic: Ubisoft using someone elses work or their game players actually bitching about Ubisoft breaking their own EULAs and License Agreements when they provide a fix for something.

1418.7.2008 21:50

Originally posted by TXMarine:
I don't know what is more pathetic: Ubisoft using someone elses work or their game players actually bitching about Ubisoft breaking their own EULAs and License Agreements when they provide a fix for something.
Ubisoft are quick to punish members who even mention CD cracks in their forums. Threads get locked, deleted and members get banned. Yet hypocritical Ubisoft have gone and done the exact same. Paying customers are often given the "suck it up and wait it out" response to the demand of bugfixes but when Ubisoft decides to steal other's work in claim it as it's own, meaning that paying customers are unaware that they are now breaking the law by using illegal software, the servers that host the games are now also being used for illegal software, something that they are very strict about regulating.

1518.7.2008 22:11

Quote:
Originally posted by TXMarine:
I don't know what is more pathetic: Ubisoft using someone elses work or their game players actually bitching about Ubisoft breaking their own EULAs and License Agreements when they provide a fix for something.
Ubisoft are quick to punish members who even mention CD cracks in their forums. Threads get locked, deleted and members get banned. Yet hypocritical Ubisoft have gone and done the exact same. Paying customers are often given the "suck it up and wait it out" response to the demand of bugfixes but when Ubisoft decides to steal other's work in claim it as it's own, meaning that paying customers are unaware that they are now breaking the law by using illegal software, the servers that host the games are now also being used for illegal software, something that they are very strict about regulating.
bro.. there are forum moderators.. there job is to keep piracy post out.. kinda like this website.. and there are program writers.. obviously a program writer knowns the works of reloaded.. and said well i can figure out a way around it... or i can use there way and rename it.. hmm well im feeling lazy and want to get a promotion by patching it so fast.. and gamers want to play.. so why not.. rewrites it and boom.. everyone is happy.. its just people doing there jobs.. ubisoft isn't one guy.. its many guys.. and im sure they enjoy smoking.. if u gamers know wha i mean. =D
-Lex

1619.7.2008 00:38

Fing Ubi needs to stop stealing other groups work!


Respect for REOLOADED!

1719.7.2008 02:19

Quote:
Quote:
Originally posted by TXMarine:
I don't know what is more pathetic: Ubisoft using someone elses work or their game players actually bitching about Ubisoft breaking their own EULAs and License Agreements when they provide a fix for something.
Ubisoft are quick to punish members who even mention CD cracks in their forums. Threads get locked, deleted and members get banned. Yet hypocritical Ubisoft have gone and done the exact same. Paying customers are often given the "suck it up and wait it out" response to the demand of bugfixes but when Ubisoft decides to steal other's work in claim it as it's own, meaning that paying customers are unaware that they are now breaking the law by using illegal software, the servers that host the games are now also being used for illegal software, something that they are very strict about regulating.
bro.. there are forum moderators.. there job is to keep piracy post out.. kinda like this website.. and there are program writers.. obviously a program writer knowns the works of reloaded.. and said well i can figure out a way around it... or i can use there way and rename it.. hmm well im feeling lazy and want to get a promotion by patching it so fast.. and gamers want to play.. so why not.. rewrites it and boom.. everyone is happy.. its just people doing there jobs.. ubisoft isn't one guy.. its many guys.. and im sure they enjoy smoking.. if u gamers know wha i mean. =D
-Lex
No, I have no idea what you mean, your punctuation makes me want to commit suicide.

1819.7.2008 03:33

Originally posted by TXMarine:
I don't know what is more pathetic: Ubisoft using someone elses work or their game players actually bitching about Ubisoft breaking their own EULAs and License Agreements when they provide a fix for something.
first of all they didnt offer a fix, they stole one. then once everyone found out it was stolen, they no longer would offer it even though it was actually fixing the provlem leaving everyone screwed.

how are you trying to defend ubi here. Biggest hypocrites ever.

1919.7.2008 03:45
fgamer
Inactive

I wonder if this could lead them into lawsuit territory. You know using an illegal patch when it's clearly against their very own EULA. I mean if I legaly downloaded a game and a company was releasing a so called 'illegal crack/patch" to fix my game, I'd be a lil woried about the original source it came from. I love Ubi to death but this really takes the cake. Even though Reloaded can in my mind be trusted, as a consumer some people aren't comfortable with using "ILLEGAL" cracks or patches. So I think this kinda opens up Ubisoft for legal issues, but I'm not sure.

2019.7.2008 12:23
13thHouR
Inactive

ubisoft don't give a fuk about their fans and never have as regardless of ppl's pc's being damaged by their game DRM at the time (starforce) ubisoft completely washed their hands of loyal fans over Orwellian controls refused to give any support banned all forum users complaining about issues in their attempt at a great cover up, and sent them off to the starforce web site where the starforce devs blatently told ppl to f'off and refused to offer support, they then posted the torrent link on their forums and advised ppl to download it as there was no copy protection and this is what would happen to all games if DRM was not used because of the ppl complaining of pc's getting totalled because of the step down to poi mode because of StarForce DRM.

Starforce Backstabs Galactic Civilizations 2

Originally posted by 03/11/2006:
Much maligned anti-piracy software developer Starforce has sunk to a shocking new low in making a case for using its product. In a posting on its company messageboards an admin (who may or may not be directly employed by the company) included in a post the link to an active torrent file trading link for the recently released Galactic Civilizations 2. The link has subsequently been removed, but the text of the post remains. The poster states "Right now several thousands of people are downloading the pirated version only from that web-site. Is it good for the sales? Unlikely." This brazen release of the url and accompanying statement smacks of the strong-arm tactics you only see in gangster movies when someone doesn't cough-up the money for "protection."

Doubtless Starforce feels itself more and more backed into a corner. The post comes in response to a note on the official Galactic Civilizations 2 site that its game was selling fantastically at retailers like Wal Mart, Best Buy and Gamestop--without need for any sort of copy-protection. This is just one more blow against the beleaguered Starforce software that is widely regarded by PC gamers as malware that can cause damage to PC hardware. While Starforce maintains these claims are unsubstantiated, and has pulled stunts such as offering a reward for anyone who would come to Moscow and demonstrate such problems, there are more than enough of them on the Net to raise suspicions.

For its part, Galactic Civilizations 2 publisher Stardock has commendably stayed above it all. A response on its website details its philosophy for handling piracy and selling games. It's one of the most proactive and refreshing approaches you'll hear: "Our primary weapon to fight piracy is through rewarding customers through convenient, frequent, free updates. If you make it easy for users to buy and make full use of your product or service legitimately then we believe that you'll gain more users from that convenience than you'll lose from piracy." It then neatly wraps up the whole matter by noting that the torrent links were easily removed by going to the offending site and following some simple instructions--nothing that required use of any draconian copy-protection software.
at the end of the day DRM sucks and any company using it should be boycotted.

BTW after a huge outcry ubisoft dropped starforce DRM over the, IMO far more obtrusive sony made DRM secuROM but hey if you make DRM it's a great time to pump the media full of stories about "piracy" to drum up business.
This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 19 Jul 2008 @ 12:33

2130.7.2008 01:58

Unfortunately the RELOADED crack creator cannot reveal his/her identity and sue Ubisoft for piracy.

So sad !!!!

2230.7.2008 09:33
PrinceFX
Inactive

lol maybe dat someone frm reloaded works in ubisoft...

2330.7.2008 09:34

Originally posted by pmshah:
Unfortunately the RELOADED crack creator cannot reveal his/her identity and sue Ubisoft for piracy.

So sad !!!!

No CD cracks from what I know are legal, its your choice though to use it in an illegal way. I know that I like No CD cracks so I don't have to carry around my game CDs for my laptop.

2431.7.2008 15:06

Quote:
Originally posted by pmshah:
Unfortunately the RELOADED crack creator cannot reveal his/her identity and sue Ubisoft for piracy.

So sad !!!!

No CD cracks from what I know are legal, its your choice though to use it in an illegal way. I know that I like No CD cracks so I don't have to carry around my game CDs for my laptop.
yeah me too.. my starcraft and diablo discs have been thru hell and back...

251.8.2008 05:23
13thHouR
Inactive

Originally posted by XMayhemX :
Originally posted by pmshah:
Unfortunately the RELOADED crack creator cannot reveal his/her identity and sue Ubisoft for piracy.

So sad !!!!

No CD cracks from what I know are legal, its your choice though to use it in an illegal way. I know that I like No CD cracks so I don't have to carry around my game CDs for my laptop.
No cd cracks are illegal and punishable by a spell in prison and/or a hefty fine just for having them on your computer in the USA because of the DMCA and many other parts of the globe.

Circumvention is not allowed. ppl. ubisoft are basically telling ppl to break the law because their DRM (Sony made secuROM) as usual is only causing problems to honest paying customers.

The great thing is that sony keeps getting paid to sell this malware/crapware which has compatibility issue after compatibility issue and we keep sucking it up.
This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 01 Aug 2008 @ 5:36

2628.1.2010 10:44

Originally posted by pmshah:
Unfortunately the RELOADED crack creator cannot reveal his/her identity and sue Ubisoft for piracy.

So sad !!!!
maybe not, but I know he's laughing his ass off right about now XD

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