AntiPiracy - Protect your maps against map piracy

[Mutant117]

Hello people,
it has taken a long time for me to realize this module and I know it's a bit late to put some effort in creating something like that for UT2004. But better now than never.

Short Description:
AntiPiracy gives the mapper a simple opportunity to save the map's original name and original author value.
The protection will disable online(/lan) play on a map, if someone else changes the mapname totally, so that the original mapname string cannot be found anymore. This gives clans the ability to add tags behind, or before the mapname, as long as the original mapname won't be touched.
Moreover if the author value has been changed, the supervision also disables online(/lan) play. So this value mustn't be touched, even tags or further author names aren't allowed either.
Offline play won't be supervised, so for offline usage only, everything can be changed as usual.
Look the readme up for more information, and to get to know how to set up protection.

Finally, I want to thank Wormbo for multiple helps on that project.

Download:
Here

[Crusha K. Rool]

Ok, then MDK can download it directly from here. :>

[Làámßø]

wow...I really like this as that is one of my UT pet peeves.....clans and other admins taking my name out of the map name and / or removing parts of the name to suite there needs!

...also...is there a way to protect the music in the map as well.....I use the Music Fix Mutator (XxxXMusicFix06BETA) in all my Arena maps! ... and when you design a theme map that goes with a certain song....then, to find it ripped all the hell and the song ripped out and replaced with some funky grunge/rap crap it tends to piss me off!!!! lol sorry, venting there!

Thank you for this, downloading now!

[Làámßø]

well, no download link available atm

...I guess I'll come back later and dowload as soon as a good link is available!

[unrealloco]

that link did work laambo i had to refresh it for it to start
heres a mirror on my site
http://wickedhq.com/index.php?option...tid=22&cid=293

[Mutant117]

well, no download link available atm

...I guess I'll come back later and dowload as soon as a good link is available!

I added a new dl-link to Gamefront (former Filefront).
I don't know how long the file will stay there, the same is for Megaupload...
So feel free to add further mirrors.

EDIT: Thanks unrealloco for your link.

[Eliot]

So what's avoiding the pirates from just removing the whole package from the map? :P

[Crusha K. Rool]

So what's avoiding the pirates from just removing the whole package from the map? :P

Did you read the readme already or is that even after your read?

[Leo(T.C.K.)]

I'm sorry but this is BS. Sometimes server admins will have to alter the mapname, in case mismatches or stupid errors like map having a space in its name, I have seen that happen. With this it will allow noobs to abuse this. But seriously, why should you care. If the yrename the map the author field stays the same and you are being credited, unless they are smartasses such as Kaal who steal others work, but in that case they could T3D export it and get rid of the package, like he used to do. So really, this makes no sense to me personally. But I also in my own maps allow others to reuse my work, as long as they credit me. I didn't have many map releases but in the ones I had I did exactly that.

[unrealloco]

oh well.....

I'm sorry but this is BS. Sometimes server admins will have to alter the mapname, in case mismatches or stupid errors like map having a space in its name, I have seen that happen. With this it will allow noobs to abuse this. But seriously, why should you care. If the yrename the map the author field stays the same and you are being credited, unless they are smartasses such as Kaal who steal others work, but in that case they could T3D export it and get rid of the package, like he used to do. So really, this makes no sense to me personally. But I also in my own maps allow others to reuse my work, as long as they credit me. I didn't have many map releases but in the ones I had I did exactly that.

[Crusha K. Rool]

I'm sorry but this is BS. Sometimes server admins will have to alter the mapname, in case mismatches or stupid errors like map having a space in its name, I have seen that happen. With this it will allow noobs to abuse this. But seriously, why should you care. If the yrename the map the author field stays the same and you are being credited, unless they are smartasses such as Kaal who steal others work, but in that case they could T3D export it and get rid of the package, like he used to do. So really, this makes no sense to me personally. But I also in my own maps allow others to reuse my work, as long as they credit me. I didn't have many map releases but in the ones I had I did exactly that.

If a mapper makes the mistake to name the map wrong, then it's his problem if the map isn't played online. But instead of just renaming the stuff yourself would the appropriate way to contact the mapper (the protection comes with a field where the mapper can specifiy his contact details which will be written to the log if the protection becomes active) and inform him about his mistake so he can publish a clean version that works. Just renaming the map is BS. Besides that this thing still allows the map to be renamed to avoid version mismatches, the protection just makes sure that the original map name stays part of the file name. So if the map is released as ONS-MySuperMap, you could still rename it to ONS-MySuperMap-XYZClan without having any issues.


And there are more than enough smartasses that remove your name from the author field and put their name there (the amount of ripped maps on Ballistic Weapons servers is just unbelievable) and exactly because of those guys was this protection actually started. And if you try to contact those guys as author of the map and ask them to change that, they will just tell you to get off.
According to Mutant did he include some kind of protection that should prevent simple copy-pasting of the map contents into another map, so no idea about that point.

If others want to reuse my work, they should at least contact me first and that's what this encourages as well. If they ask kindly and provide credit and seem like nice guys, there is no problem with giving them a clean version of the map without that protection.

[Eliot]

Did you read the readme already or is that even after your read?

Yes, I have and I even read the Source code and don't see what's avoiding anyone from just getting rid of the embedded dependencies. Besides there is a far better method to protect maps(like they do in Warcraft 3 World Craft editor which just crashes the map from being opened in UnrealEd :P), something which my UE Explorer program does for UT2004(not released for exploitable reasons xD)

[Crusha K. Rool]

Well, if someone wants to be even more sure, they can simply delete all other Brushes from the release map after rebuilding, so at least nobody can apply changes to the BSP.

[Leo(T.C.K.)]

But who cares about these idiots? As long as they don't make money off it or not publish it in major sites (where you could prove its your work instead of his) and have it at his server only it's fine. Don't turn this into DRM inside a game for free mods crap, seriously. But okay, it's your choice, but if someone did this to Unreal or UT, I would definitely disagree.

[Sly.]

But who cares about these idiots?

There are people who edit maps, delete the original author and put their names in the original author's place, completely rename the map and put some clan tags on walls and use it on a public server without even asking the mapper which is imo pure impudence! MDK was just one "victim" of such people and there are more.

This tool is a neat idea and it's optional anyways.

[Leo(T.C.K.)]

I had to deal with worse problems than that, but yeah they are assholes, but I don't necesarily agree with this tool, that's all, due to the problems I mentioned. And most of map releases were without it anyway. If you find out someone is stealing your maps, deal with it personally, that's what I did, or spread the word about the stealing, but this "tool" is too much imo.

[Mutant117]

@Crusha and Sly, thank you dudes for the kind words.

@Leo(T.C.K.),
as Sly said, it is optional. You don't need to use it if you don't want it. It has been designed for those mappers who don't want their maps to be treated like many others. The problem is that you cannot do anything against that, that's where this tool steps in.
As far as I remember exporting a map will save the whole map as T3D file, so the protection too. But mappers can delete their BSP-Architecture to make it sensless for mapping pirats to export or copy the archi. But you can still mess up the original map and the worst is if the author and/or the mapname will also be changed beyond recognition and here we go again, this tool steps in.
Clans can still delete Emitters/Effects from maps, add clan symbols and add a tag behind/before the mapname, to avoid version mismatches. So it is as flexible as without the protection, except that the core part of a map (author/mapname) is steady, so that the original mapper can always be retraced.

[Sly.]

Actually, having this tool in use is just like having a cooked map in UT3 (almost, isn't it?).

[Mutant117]

Actually, having this tool in use is just like having a cooked map in UT3 (almost, isn't it?).

I haven't worked that much with UT3, but I think the effect may be quite the same, but cooking is more powerful.

[Crusha K. Rool]

Just tried the tool. Whenever I click on "Build", it shows me a window that says "Failed to add protection." and doesn't create a brush.

[Leo(T.C.K.)]

And that is another reason, the failures to do it or what if it does it wrong and corrupts the file instead. Hope that's not the case. Can't try it myself I have uninstalled UT2004 due to need to free up space.

[Mutant117]

Just tried the tool. Whenever I click on "Build", it shows me a window that says "Failed to add protection." and doesn't create a brush.

*Head on desk*....
Yeah, it's because I of a senseless check for debugging, I forgot to remove. It will always fail to add protection.
I will upload the fixed version tomorrow....
Sorry Crusha and everyone else out there.

EDIT: Okay, forget about that, it was sth. else.

[Mutant117]

So, I could figure out the problem, it wasn't a senseless check, as I said before, this check makes pretty much sense, but I was tired yesterday...
The problem was sth. editor specific, so adding protection may fail on some maps, but not on all.
But now it is fixed, but I'm going test it on every stock map for UT2004 before I will upload it again.

[Mutant117]

So, sorry for that triple post, but the new version is uploaded and waits to be used.

@unrealloco,
it may be cool, if you update the file on your site.

[unrealloco]

updated to V.0.71 use same link

[melissa_jo]

wow...I really like this as that is one of my UT pet peeves.....clans and other admins taking my name out of the map name and / or removing parts of the name to suite there needs!

...also...is there a way to protect the music in the map as well.....I use the Music Fix Mutator (XxxXMusicFix06BETA) in all my Arena maps! ... and when you design a theme map that goes with a certain song....then, to find it ripped all the hell and the song ripped out and replaced with some funky grunge/rap crap it tends to piss me off!!!!

OMG! Pot calling the kettle black...

Lambone, the songs you embed into "your" maps are not "your" songs!
The songs are RIPPED OFF commercially-produced works, yet you have the nerve to "get pizzed" if someone alters your released map?!?

By stealing those songs, dontcha expect you're fostering, encouraging, others to also steal?

BTW, the audio playback gets distorted in-game anyhow. Those crappy, screeching, headbanger "songs" wind up sounding even even crappier than the original... so I can't understand why you would even bother to embed them. You have a wonderful imagination + great skills; the toony Lolapalooza (hammer car) map will remain a "timeless" classic, in my book... but, if I were to archive any of your recent maps, heck yeah, I would first strip out the screechy embedded "music".

[jefe]

LOL. I have to agree with that, it's very hypocritical. Maps with embedded music annoy the heck out of me. They either don't go on my server, or I remove the music and set the map up correctly to use an ogg file.

[Làámßø]

@melissa.....
1. I did not say they were "my" song/s!

2. If you don't like the audio playback of the maps designed for the XxxMusicFixo6BETA mutator....hence the "-2k6" on the end of all the maps (back in the day) that had music for your fragging pleasure (this is were we lose melissa ) then you should not be playing those maps in the first place!

3. I'm was referring to "Theme" maps a mapper may put together.....that means the Map was based off the song to begin with.....and the map came to be thanks to the song!!!!....so, if it wasn't for the song, the map would not have been made! ... that's my point with that comment!

...and to wrap it all up...... we mappers didn't spend lots of hours/days/weeks/months on a map just for some noobs/kids who think that since the game came with the editor they can change anyones map they want and "fix it" the way "they" think is better.......

...GO MAKE YOUR OWN MAPS THEN!!!!

[Làámßø]

LOL. I have to agree with that, it's very hypocritical. Maps with embedded music annoy the heck out of me. They either don't go on my server, or I remove the music and set the map up correctly to use an ogg file.

FYI....the embedded music won't work unless your running the Music Fix Mutator!!!! so there would be NO NEED to remove the embedded music...it just won't play!

[jefe]

I haven't seen any of those yet, but removing embedded wavs can reduce file size by 5-25 mbs. That dead weight can make a huge difference when waiting on the redirect.

[arbee]

BUT BUT those extra 25mbs are worth it for a mono spatialized center-of-the-map unmutable rendition of Sandstorm!!!!!!!1


If I hear embedded music in a map, I wipe the map from my hard drive. I'm pretty sure others do the same.

[Azarael]

No mapper actually worth anything uses embedded music, so a deletion is no loss.

[CMGuy]

Indeed, embedded music shouldn't be a mandatory thing.

Waste of space IMO.

[unrealloco]

i agree to a certain point on the embedded music i used embedded music on DM-Record-Store for the effect of being in a record store

[Mutant117]

That's why I only use stock music. Furthermore, I even turned off the music, so I can better concentrate on effect sounds, to locate players for example.
But c'mon, back to topic please and stay cool.
Has anyone tested AntiPiracy so far??

[Sly.]

i agree to a certain point on the embedded music i used embedded music on DM-Record-Store for the effect of being in a record store

But wouldn't that be rather part of the sound environment?

[Azarael]

I haven't tested it. While I agree with the principle of the mutator, the servers we run require frequent modifications of maps (custom Assault maps, on the whole, require a lot of tweaking and most race maps suck and need to be remade) by different authors, thus necessitating a change in the mapname. I think it's too late for a tool like this to have much of an effect on map thieves (and we know who they are) because so few people are actually releasing maps for UT now. Additionally, sometimes maps do require changes: to give examples of valid reasons, removing Emitters to stop the Linux server crash or reworking the gameplay of bad maps so unless usage of this tool is restricted to skilled, trusted mappers for use on final releases its effects would be negative. If a tool like this had existed in 2006, and race mappers had been using it to stop their terrible maps being reworked into something approaching playability, then I'd be extremely frustrated.

In the end, it's up to server admins not to host these maps (although some, again, we know who they are, are involved in this) and players not to play on servers hosting these maps.

[Mutant117]

I haven't tested it. While I agree with the principle of the mutator, the servers we run require frequent modifications of maps (custom Assault maps, on the whole, require a lot of tweaking and most race maps suck and need to be remade) by different authors, thus necessitating a change in the mapname. I think it's too late for a tool like this to have much of an effect on map thieves (and we know who they are) because so few people are actually releasing maps for UT now. Additionally, sometimes maps do require changes: to give examples of valid reasons, removing Emitters to stop the Linux server crash or reworking the gameplay of bad maps so unless usage of this tool is restricted to skilled, trusted mappers for use on final releases its effects would be negative. If a tool like this had existed in 2006, and race mappers had been using it to stop their terrible maps being reworked into something approaching playability, then I'd be extremely frustrated.

In the end, it's up to server admins not to host these maps (although some, again, we know who they are, are involved in this) and players not to play on servers hosting these maps.

You misunderstood how that tool works.
It is not a mutator, it sth. that map authors add to their map, because often the server admins are the pirats.
As described, this tool does ONLY protect the mapname and original author value, so you can still change things in maps, like removing emitters, when this protection is "installed". I considered these "necessary" changes.
So, and if you want to change the mapname beyond recognition, or want to add your name to the original author value, you can do this by asking the author and if he want to cooperate he will change the author value. In my opinion this is the right thing, to ask the author if you're going to touch the important recognition feautures of a map (mapname, author).
So please don't get a wrong imagination of what this tool is and does.

You're right that it is "too" late, but I bought UT04 in the year 2006 and I had no idea of programming back then.

[CMGuy]

Yeah indeed it seems to be too late, but should help in future maps I think.
It would be also great if we have something too to prevent unauthorized mods and muts from being used as well.
I'm a little concerned about that too, I hate it when people steal my stuff. -_-

People who steal and do unauthorized things(especially when its so damn obvious) to them are the lowest of the low and deserved to be punished. There is no decency on doing so whatsoever.

[100GPing100]

At least you mappers can have your name in your map, we coders can't have our name in our things.