PSX: Copy-protection measures on Spyro the Dragon 3

Hi all, this is an article I always found interesting. It's about one of the games in the Spyro series, and some of the details of the copy protection system - as explained by the developers.

Interestingly enough, these guys found it hilarious to make the game unwinnable if it was determined that the game had been copied.

https://web.archive.org/web/2015062...w/feature/3030/keeping_the_pirates_at_bay.php.

(Hopefully this is in the right place)

 

Thanks for sharing, this was a nice look behind the curtain

 

I'm confused, wasn't PS1 copy protection at the console level? Why would individual games have to provide copy protection? I've heard of stuff like this with PC games since the protection is at the game level at least with game releases prior Steam/UPlay. For consoles however from Saturn to 360 I've only experienced having to mod only the console for backups, not patching games themselves?

 

You had your basic copy protection provided by the console, which was then circumvented by modchips. Those had certain, detectable side effectsthough, which Spyro (and others) reacted to to implement yet another layer of protection on top. This, then, lead to the advent of "stealth" chips lacking said effects.

 

Additional protection was added to detect cd-r, using subcodes data (search for libcrypt on Google).

 

interesting read, thanks for posting it up

 

I actually forgot that game was by Insomniac. It's cool how a studio could go from making something like that to making Resistance.

 

It's worth noting libcrypt was never used in North America, and I don't think it was used in Japan either. I think only PAL territories had libcrypt protected games.

 

Makes sense, as the other protections were disabled when detecting the pal bios. (the story goes, Sony Europe didn't like the idea of original games not working on a chipped console).

The switch to libcrypt seems to be the result of that.

 

It's probably not so much that they didn't like the idea and more likely that it would be illegal under EU or Australian law.

 

I doubt it, if you have modified the product - you cant expect everything to work as if the device wasnt modified.

All warranties void if tampered with, etc.

 

I'll have to read up on this more later on, but love this screenshot x3

 

I see you that screenshot and I raise you this screenshot.

 

You know, I've considered running an old crack of Serious Sam 3 to try and play it with the giant scorpion.

 

I tried it once. It's fun for a few minutes but as soon as he gets anywhere near close to you, you're dead.

 

The levels on serious sam are way too linear to allow the scorpion being an unintended challenge.

I've never been able to trigger it, even though I own the game I wanted to see it.

 

Wow it's hard enough to drive like that after your character has had a few drinks. I think playing it like that for any more than a few minutes would make me feel ill.