Game trial

#1 You need to modify the engine so it sets a registered timestamp on the user's computer.

#2 If you mean the game only runs a certain number of times, or for a certain number of days after installation, you can either code something in yourself, or integrate a library from a third party.

You'd really need to add it at source code level though which requires a Pro license. Offhand, I can't think of any libraries that offer this functionality, but I'm sure there are some about.

#3 I mean a one-hour trial. Actually, I thought it can be done with Torque script or some internal mechanisms. I already have the pro license, so I have the sources too.

Thanks for your replies anyway! :)

#4 Doing it in script wouldn't be a very secure way of doing it, even doing it in engine is only as secure as someone is persistent though would be a much more effective solution.

#5 Actually, there is a good example of Reflexive Arcade, which protect all the games with the same protection method, and there are already lot of universal keygenerators, which generate serial numbers for all their games. And I am not sure that their profit is small enough. The protection is created for players, not for hackers. That is why I am looking for simple solution of it.

#6 I'm interested in this stuff as well...I did a search and found a 3rd party program:
http://www.atma-software.com/

Although I have not used it or tested it, it might be worth looking into. So far, I haven't been able to find anything else.


Garrett

#7 If I remember well, there is an "Armadillo" software and there is www.trymedia.com

#8 Why type of game are you doing? If it contains levels you could always make a second version of your game and edit the main menu/title screen to state that it is a demo, remove all the levels after the first one and when the first level is finished have it load a splash screen that states all the extras a person can get with some nice little screen caps. When they OK the new window it takes them back to the main menu for your game.

It is not time trialed, but an effective way of releasing a demo version of a game and it is something that you can do with releative ease.

#9 Making 2 versions isn't a very good idea for a casual game. For a bigger game that would be a good choice, but for smaller games its better to make a full demo, but limit the time (so write a timestamp somewhere on the computer). Even if it isn't 100% secure. 99% of your customers won't be able to figure it out. Instead of worrying about the 1% that will crack it, focus on making a good game first.

#10 As Isaac pointed out, Armadillo (also known as Software Passport, though the GUI version known by that name is a pain to use) from www.siliconrealms.com is capable of what you're asking. You need the pro version to limit by minutes ($299) though. The basic version for half that price only supports limiting by number of executions (and is missing a bunch of other advanced features too). You don't need the Torque source because it wraps the exe. You can read in environment variables to display and act upon trial time left and do some other nice things.

The downside is the docs are pretty bad, support is a skeleton crew and they've not really versioned the protection in awhile, so hackers/crackers with previous Armadillo cracking experience can crack and unwrap the game fairly quickly. But its plenty strong enough to keep casual downloaders from buying one copy and sharing it with friends and family.

Alternatively definitely look at TryMedia as a possibility, and depending on your situation you may find some digital merchants like esellerate.net that offer free DRM/Trial wrappers for items you sell through their merchant services.

#11 Would wrapping the application with Armadillo/Software Passport prevent someone from just using the exe from another TGB project and just copying the assets and scripts over?

#12 Armadillo is great. I've toyed with it in the past and it has tons of features.

@ Joseph,
If you're really paranoid you could maybe try (if you have the pro version) creating a new console function on the C++ side to make sure the EXE is the one you built. Then run that function in your TGB script(s) before the game starts. If it's not there, then it must not be your EXE.

#13 For ease of use, I'd recommend trymedia activeMark, I've tested with it with my TGB game and it works well (although I've yet to find out what the % is for using the system), you can set a time based trial, days, date etc as well as many other features (including the payment system). If you want to interface it with the code, that's a little more complicated, but for giving say a 60minute trial of the full version that expires automatically after time and shows a buy page...
devzone.trymedia.com/display/PUBLIC/Developer%2BZone

You could also you softwrap, although that doesn't seem to integrate as well without some code hacking/interaction.

This post may be of interest if you have problems using activeMark www.garagegames.com/mg/forums/result.thread.php?qt=58004

#14 Armadillo is fairly easy to use once you figure out how it works. There is some problem with TGB however and having Armadillo close your game after a time period doesn't work. Search these, Armadillo's and gamemaker's forums and you'll find more info.