Game Activation/Feature Unlock/Demo Versions

[alphawiz]

Can anyone tell me whether or not there is a plugin out there that would do any or all of the following?

- Allow for certain features in a game to be locked or limited in order to have a playable demo
- Add a "Register/Activate Game" option (say on the main menu) that would go to a code entry screen to enter an activation code) and unlock the games full features
- An external tool to generate a code for entry.

If so, what is it? If not, would anybody be interested in writing one? I'm thinking about an 8-12 character alphanumeric code or serial number that could be sent to people who purchase the game in order to activate the full version instead of sending them a link where they could download a full version after playing a demo version similar to how shareware can be activated with a registration code.

 

[KillerGin]

Use STEAM. That is exactly wha they do.... as it pertains to game keys.

You can upload a demo as well. That is exactly what I have/do.

 

[MushroomCake28]

This would require having a server that connects with the game, and security measures. I am not aware of any plugin that does that, and if there's one I highly doubt it would be a free one. Those are kinda on another level than simply coding a menu in-game. Furthermore, you would likely need to pay monthly for the server, plus the fact that those are VERY COSTLY to commission (compared to other plugin commissions).

Your best bet is a game launcher and distributor, like Steam. Steam allows for a kind of "server" connection experience and can "control" piracy to an extend (although it is really easy to buy the game legally, take the file and distribute them illegally).

 

[alphawiz]

If I could figure out how to put an entry in the opening page menu, I'd do it myself. I don't want to have to pay Steam to issue codes and keep track of who buys my stuff. A simple registration web page and a paypal button are all I want or need. I just need something to set a couple of variables in the game to determine if a feature is on or off if it's registered or not and have a way to turn that value on or off with a serial number/code that I provide

 

[MushroomCake28]

If I could figure out how to put an entry in the opening page menu, I'd do it myself. I don't want to have to pay Steam to issue codes and keep track of who buys my stuff.

First of all, with steam you can issue activation codes for free, but that's useless in the context of what you want to do (since you want people to activate your game with a code. Activation code with steams are code that allow the user to get your game for free on steam. Unless you sell your game somewhere else and give the client the steam code, it is useless, especially since Steam has to pre-approve codes before giving them to you). And yes, Steam tracks who buys your stuff. I don't think you could get the names of who bought it (I never tried), but you can get when they bought it and where they are located, and other profile info (which is really what you need for marketing research, the name of the person doesn't matter).

Second, you think that setting up a server to keep up with registration is simple? No, it is not a simple coding task and no coder here will likely do it for free. What you are asking is for someone to code a secure server with a secure way to access it, ask the server to send secure (encrypted) information to the game, and have the game interpret the data from the server. Then the game needs to be able to communicate with some Paypal API, which if is gets cleared, sends the data to the server. Leaving aside that hosting a server costs money since I highly doubt that you'll build one yourself, server are much more complicated to code than RPG Maker plugins.

 

[alphawiz]

Actually it wouldn't be that big of a deal to set one up.. One MySQL table in a database for name, email address and the generated code, time and date of purchase. But either way, that is outside the scope of what I am asking here.

I'm not asking anybody to do that part anyway. ALL I'm looking for are these features for a plugin :

* if file data\regkey.txt exists, read it and call a validation routine and if true is returned set a variable to true or 1 or "Registered" or something similar and if not, have it default ot false, 0, or UNRegistered etc

* If a false value is returned have a Menu item on front page to open a window for text entry to enter info like a name and/or email address and a string of letters/numbers for the code.
(The text entry page listed in the previous item It could even use the name/number entry functions already built in to RMMV for all I care)

* save that info entered to an external file .\data\regkey.txt

* A way to call a validation routine that I can write myself (to validate the code is valid) and take a return value and set a variable ID to true or false (or maybe 1 or 0)
- I'm just talking about a "blank" function that will work so long as it returns a True/False or 1/0 value. I wouldn't ask someone to come up with a validation routine or decryption sequence for this.

I'd write the decrypt and validation routine myself and drop it into the plugin. Coding something myself would not be an issue. I just haven't had a whole lot of luck getting RMMV plugins that I attempt to write to work for some reason, which is why I am asking.

Surely somebody here remembers shareware and crippleware and how you could uncripple it with a code. I've written things like this before for windows apps, I just haven't had a lot of luck getting it to work with RMMV because all the tutorials are TOO specific and I can't find anything that has just general knowledge and reference info. Hence the request.

 

[MushroomCake28]

If you're a coder than it's a different story and a lot more feasible (sorry about assuming otherwise, most people aren't coders here hence why I said it would be very hard for a non coder to handle such a task).

* if file data\regkey.txt exists, read it and call a validation routine and if true is returned set a variable to true or 1 or "Registered" or something similar and if not, have it default ot false, 0, or UNRegistered etc

Leaving a key in a plain txt file isn't really the best practice, but I suppose having a super security system might be overkilled for RPG Maker. Furthermore, calling a validation routine kind of suppose that the plugin is at least adapted to the server you have/will create. Since public plugins usually have general purpose, I doubt you'll easily find one that can do specific tasks like that.

I think it would be better if you write that plugin yourself (it shouldn't be too long compared to the time it will take you to setup the server side of things). I do hope you can find a plugin for this, but I don't think there's a lot of chance you'll be able to find one. Server and key validation isn't something most people in this community are doing.

 

[Creative Ed]

I don't know if someone will help you with a plugin like this, but in case they don't, there's always other ways you can achieve something like this with plugins that already exist.

1- For the registration you could get this from yanfly and link the player directly to the registration page in your website from withtin the Title Menu:

External Links (YEP) - Yanfly.moe Wiki

www.yanfly.moe

2- You could then use this plugin by SRD and create a "Input serial number" option on the title, which will call common event that allows the player to Input a Number, through the Input Number Command for the player to input the serial number that they were given through the registration process.

Title Command Customizer – MV Plugin – RPG Maker MZ Plugins

sumrndm.site

3- You can also add this plugin by Yanfly to allow Keyboard input for the Number:

Key Number Input (YEP) - Yanfly.moe Wiki

www.yanfly.moe

4- You can then use this plugin cross-save variables & switches, which will allow you to setup switches and variables that will affect every aspect of the game in all saves, unlike normal variables that have their value assigned only on saved games.

Sync Save Data

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DuzcHOjnS0In RPG Maker, all of the game data is isolated within each save file.This means that you can turn on a switch in one game, save the game, then load

himeworks.com

5- So you'd just store the number that the player input in a cross-save variable, and setup a cross-save switch that could be called something like "IsSerialKeyValid?". Then you just place that switch blocking access to the "premium content". So if the player inputs a valid serial key, this switch will be set to true and it would affect every save file of the game, or any new game the player starts, unlocking the blocked content.

6- You could setup your serial keys in a way that would be easy to both generate and check by the game.
Like, if you set up a 12 number serial key, you can check if the 3rd, 5th and 10th numbers are a multiple of 3, or check if they're even, or check if the sum of all the numbers is equal to 50, or all of these conditions combined or something. Setup a pattern that only you know and it's not easy to figure out.

And there you go, you got an activation feature, achievable through already existing plugins.

Hope this helps.