Final games not password-protected?

[Brutemein]

I noticed that it seems there's no option to password-protect your games like there was in RPG Maker 1. Personally, this doesn't bother me, but I wondered what other people's thoughts on this were.

Basically, once someone downloads your game, they could, if they so desired, just load up your game then go through it with the playtest to cheat. Granted, some of it may not be clear since you can't name the variables, but the option is still there.

I know in a lot of game-making communities, people aren't willing to give up their secrets, but I figured since people making stuff with RPG Maker 3 all have the same limitations with resources and commands, that it doesn't really matter in the end.

Thoughts?

[marcus]

I never thought twice about protecting any of my work for the following reasons:

1: I'm too lazy to bother entering more buttons than I hate to
2: I suck at memorization and things get lost so I'll end up forgetting it
3: I honestly don't care if you wish to ruin the game experience by cheating
4: We're all amateurs and I believe we can profit off of each other's knowledge
6: The console rpgm community isn't exactly WORLDWIDE INTERNET SPANNING so anything stolen or copied will immediately be spotted
7: I can't count

Seriously, the first two reasons apply the most. That's how lazy I am when it comes to some things. I don't think there's a way to encrypt your games in rpgm3 and I never once thought about it. It's just not priority #1.

[Chuck]

I noticed it too. I thought maybe I was missing something. I never ended up using the password system in RM1 and 2 since there was no need to protect it until you were ready to distribute and i never released anything. It doesn't matter too much but it would've been kinda nice to have it.

[Rodak]

I only password sealed my first demo (The Clean Underwear Quest) because there is so much half finished and embarrisingly awful stuff in there I was too lazy to delete.

It kept me from having to waste loads of time deleting it from the demo.

My second game Videogamedrome is intended to be an RPGM2 tutorial in the end because it has many custom features (Battle System, Menus, VFX Characters, mini games, cut scenes, etc) and no password.

I was going to start a "Howdeedoodat" topic after it's finished (RPGM3 is holding it up at the moment... New Toy Syndrome or something).

But I do not mind the lack of a password.

In fact if somebody likes my scripts enough to steal 'em, I'll take it as the compliment that it is and be glad of it.

Peace.

[Omnislash024]

Yup I noticied that. Kinda lame, cause someon could just go in an edit your game and claim it's theirs.

The one thing you could do is hide a bit of code in the game that copyrights it.

[Mystic]

Burn the game to a disk and mail it to yourself. That's considered a legal government-approved copywright.

[Pandacon]

Burn the game to a disk and mail it to yourself. That's considered a legal government-approved copywright.

Appearently that doesn't really fly in court as well as it use to, at least from when I was looking up info on copywriting music.

I was also wondering this with RPGM3, but if it doesn't have it, I guess it's not a big deal, if people really want to cheat in the game they could with or without the game being password protected.

[Mystic]

That, and who cares if they ruin the experience by changing the charcters to be butch? That's their decision.

[Dyne]

I am not really worried about people stealing my game, but rather, I do not like the fact that someone can just go in, and edit the game to their liking. Making super powerful weapons, armor, characters. Starting with max gold. And so on. Kinda makes you feel that all your hard work has gone to waste if they do that...

[snake storm]

I am not really worried about people stealing my game, but rather, I do not like the fact that someone can just go in, and edit the game to their liking. Making super powerful weapons, armor, characters. Starting with max gold. And so on. Kinda makes you feel that all your hard work has gone to waste if they do that...

i have no strong feelings one way or the other. never used 'em before 'cause i always forget stuff like that. it'd be the same story with three. i set it, then i work for a few minutes on the story and i'll have totally forgotten the password. and yes, it does. big time. but passwords just mess things up for me 'cause my memory just sucks. i also try and go for unique stories so if anyone did do that and tried to pass it off as theirs, they'd be found out almost instantly. what better copyright method than the whole story itself?
if they changed one aspect they'd have to rewrite everything because nothing would fit anymore.

[Rodak]

I do not like the fact that someone can just go in, and edit the game to their liking.
Now you know how game developers might feel about things like Game Shark and Action Replay codes.

I still think passwords are a bad thing. We are supposed to be here to help each other. Reviewing other peoples scripts and such can be very educational.

If someone wants a super character or massive wealth, it's OK with me. They may spoil some things, but only for themselves. Not for me.

Peace.

[Dragonsbrethren]

Now you know how game developers might feel about things like Game Shark and Action Replay codes.

I was just going to post the same exact thing.

[Rodak]

Great Minds work alike.

[marcus]

If game developers hate gamesharks then they wouldn't leave their debug codes in the game. Ever wonder why Rockstar purposefully leaves their "fun codes" in like pedestrian aggression and god mode? It's because they know that some people get a kick out of being able to screw with the world as they please. And I'll be honest, after I go through a 50 hour play through beating all the missions, side missions, and getting 100% I want to squeeze every ounce out of the game by running around the city and blowing up pedestrians armed with m16's and rocket launchers.

[Chuck]

For people that kept forgetting their passwords: Why did you put one in when you were still working on the game?

[Rodak]

If game developers hate gamesharks then they wouldn't leave their debug codes in the game.
That's why I said some.

And:

For people that kept forgetting their passwords: Why did you put one in when you were still working on the game?

I put an event (the turtle... dunno why) in the game that told me the password after I decided it needed one (explained above).

I just delete the event for the copy I upload, then promptly remove the password for storage... I know I'll forget it.

Peace.

[Draygone]

For one game I have planned, I intend to throw in a password due to a huge secret in the game that I don't want anybody knowing until they get to it. It's supposed to be a surprise, and I wouldn't want people shouting out the surprise on day one.

[Dyne]

For one game I have planned, I intend to throw in a password due to a huge secret in the game that I don't want anybody knowing until they get to it. It's supposed to be a surprise, and I wouldn't want people shouting out the surprise on day one.

Thats another good point. People can view the story! Ah well, lol.

[abner]

Yeah this actually detracts from the game A LOT.

1:reason one is that i usually base my games on novels that i have or am writing and everyone having access to the whole game databases is just not something I'm sure I'd be comfortable with.

2:The temptation to go in and tinker with the games will be too great. Dang, I just cant beat this particular boss, wonder what its weak against? OH! There it is! But wait, thats WAYY too strong, let me tweak that just a little....

It's still a lot of fun for me at the moment because my boyfriend can play the games I make and he can make the ones I will play.

wonder if there is or will be some sort of method to fixing this rather large problem in the future. Any thoughts to why they wouldn't include that?

[Mystic]

There are a couple reasons they might not include it;

1. Some people forget their passwords.

2. They might not have seen it as necessary.

3. Who cares if someone cheats on my game? They're ruining it for themselves, not me.

4. As long as someone doesn't just tweak things and claim it as their own, everything should be fine.

[Crimson Knight]

There are a couple reasons they might not include it;

1. Some people forget their passwords.
That'd be lame. That's why the other games WARN you to keep your password in a safe place for reference. Anyone who forgets after that unfortunately deserves to lose their data.

2. They might not have seen it as necessary.
I wouldn't either in RPG Maker 3's case, since there's little standing between most of the created games.

3. Who cares if someone cheats on my game? They're ruining it for themselves, not me.
That's true.

4. As long as someone doesn't just tweak things and claim it as their own, everything should be fine.
Even if they did, I'm afraid of not noticing, if you know what I mean...

10 characters...

[Draygone]

I'm not afraid of people going into the game and finding out something they shouldn't have until later, I just wouldn't want somebody coming here and shouting
"OMG, you included Elements of Darkness in your game The RPG Maker! That's so awesome even though EoD sucks!"
on day one. That shouldn't be well-known until people have gotten all the way or at least a good distance into TRPGM.

(Note, that's only an example. EoD sucks too much to be included as a bonus game.)

[Elliptical Coil]

I'd send out a pre-release message to this forum informing everyone that you are releasing a game to the public. Give a copy to the forum officers maybe as proof that it's your own original program? Who knows...