Offering high-level security against piracy and
illegal copying, Sony DADC's copy control solution SecuROM™ is now available
with new applications. Protecting 80% of top PC games worldwide, SecuROM™ is now
focussing on adding more security, convenience and expanded sales opportunities
for games publishers. Innovative applications, such as Electronic CD-Key and
SecuRelease, will be presented at the E3 in Los Angeles, from May 12 to 14,
Kentia Hall, booth 6215.
Electronic CD-Key for secure online
gaming
Electronic CD-Key is a new SecuROM™ function
based on n-CD technology. The application replaces serialisation codes on
stickers applied on retail games boxes, saving games publishers material and
handling costs, and users inconvenient manual input. Each disc is assigned a
unique invisible identification number. The code is read by the computer drive
and initiates an automatic access to online gaming. As the technology is
backwards compatible, virtually any computer drive can read the data. Ensuring
that codes are safe, Electronic CD-Key lets the widespread method of
unauthorised access to codes in stores come to an end, as they can't be seen
anymore. JoWooD Productions Software AG will be the first games
publisher to apply this convenient technology to the global games release
"Soldiers" which will hit stores in May.
Safe
distribution of beta versions with
SecuRelease
SecuRelease protects pre-release
versions of games with the same new technology. The SecuROM™ feature allows
games publishers to distribute beta versions to external testers and reviewers
prior to their sale. This system is the first to allow publishers to fingerprint
beta versions automatically, protecting these versions prior to their official
release and identifying eventual leaks.
SecuRelease discs
include a unique identification number which is read automatically during
installation of the game and then inserted into the software. "Because users are
registered, any unauthorised distribution will be identifiable in case software
appears on the Internet," says Sony DADC's Product Manager Bernhard
Wiesinger. "SecuRelease is the basis for Sony DADC's 'full-life-cycle
protection' solution offering a seamless and simple distribution of protected
pre-release versions!" Currently, there is no comparable product available which
offers publishers this kind of protection for
pre-releases.
n-CD Marketing Solution
The n-CD solution and applications for the gaming industry were created
by Sony DADC to add value to a traditional disc and to offer protection against
unauthorised copying and usage. n-CD technology links a standard CD-ROM to
premium features on the internet, e.g. add-ons, lotteries or game
soundtracks, in a way that they can only be accessed from the
original disc. This Secure Web Link allows publishers to offer their buyers
exclusive bonus content and features and receive instant feedback on online
behaviour for future marketing programs. The technology behind the n-CD
exclusivity concept is a unique disc identification number.
n-CD - Innovative direct marketing for games publishers
Proof of a successful implementation of n-CD's marketing data is
TDK's title Mercedes World Racing. Since the release of the racing game on n-CD,
over 10% of the purchasers have been visiting the n-CD bonus site, interacting
with the games publisher, registering for new promotional features or purchasing
items in the integrated e-shop. As TDK Mediactive Managing Director Heiko Tom
Felde puts it, "n-CD is the ideal tool to get to know customers, creating their
loyalty and winning them over for new releases! Cross selling can easily be
achieved by sending product news to the gaming community." Meanwhile
TDK Mediactive has successfully applied the n-CD solution to two further games
releases.
Source: SecurROM
