The only way this would work is if the console or dvd drive or system has nvram that recorded the license code ( or whatever it is ) and made some type of hash from the disk to go with it. That way when the same disk is inserted the same hash is created and verified against the license number. If it exists they can play otherwise no.
Sounds like digital suicide. How long before this gets cracked and everyone has a full blown nvram full of game licenses? About two weeks.
I've seen that the usual slashdot crowd is a little lax on history. Here are a few tidbits that I know:
1. Gaming accounting systems started around 1978. It was a Bally that started it, I believe. Running on a PDP11 in the back room. Keeping meter, drop and win percentage histories as required by gaming control.
2. Slot machines have been hooked up since that time using plain serial lines. Most use a form of encryption for the amounts and ticket validation ids.
3. This server based gaming thing isn't new but its just now starting to get approvals from GLI and NGCB ( gaming commisions in the US. ) The hard part has always been getting a hard drive into the dumb terminal. My guess is they finally found a way around that. That way they could just download the paytables ( not the personality which is the hold percentage which is heavily regulated BTW ) and not all the graphics and game code.
I do know that the NGCB looks at trend analysis of payoff data to confirm hold % over a period of time.
I have to balk at that because even if you required a double entry text field that would more than likely catch those typos that the user entered. It is in fact the user interfaces fault for not assisting the user in performing his/her job effectively and efficiently. After all what is a user interface for if not that??
What do you think a UI is?? I know a GUI is graphical but I think you making an assumption here that all UIs are GUI..Am I right?
I have used 300 baud modems, I bought mine in 1986. That was when you could watch (litterally ) watch your programs download character by character. Aww those were the days.... I don't miss that much.
This must be bad UI code. Three letter acronyms for entry without verification? You got to be kidding me. This is just an accident waiting to happen. At least some type of pull down or grouping by category would have been better. What is wrong with the designers of this software??
You don't mention if you're in the US, but most US cities have an Attorney General that you can speak with that will answer most of your questions regarding transactions like this. If nothing else your attorney general will be able to point you in the right direction of who to contact about this.
Look them up under your local government yellow pages. There might also be a consumer advocate group that you might want to speak with.
If the contract states specific resolutions and they are not being met then it is fraud and open for litigation.
Seems like a system trying to protect someone from themselves eh? You'd be surprised what you have to do in order to get a gaming card their. They won't let the ticketing systems on the boats just yet ( at least that was the last I heard ).
I wonder if they also keep certain books from the schools there too.....
As a designer of one of the leading slot ticket system I know first hand the back end uses of tickets. They can't track people unless they have a player card inserted at the same time. There are so many regulations about using barcoded tickets that it boggles the mind. The hold percentages for slots vary from one jurisdiction to another. For example the hold percentages, the amount the slot will take in, is 97% or higher in Reno and Las Vegas ( depending on personality chip installed ) but in New Jersey its completely different ( I don't recall right now what the exact percentage was but it was much higher. )
There is a personality chip inside slot machines ( its a little eeprom ) that controls the percentages for each play. Yes its true that the machines know if you've won or lost before they spin the wheels but its just for fun anyway right?
I think everyone is missing the point with gambling. Its more about the experience than about the money. Any poor slob any poor his life savings into a machine. ( Some jurisdictions, like Kansas City, prevent users from making this mistake, or at least try to ) But how often can you go out and be treated like royality at a restaurant or other establishment. Any casino is all about appearance, customer loyalty, and then about the almighty dollar.
I'm just presenting a different point of view having been in the casino industry for 13 years now.
I came to work after being off with a major flu. My card didn't work to get me in the door and I had email that said that someone couldn't find me in the company email list anymore. I went to get my mail from the front office and my mailbox wasn't there. This was all before anyone told me.
I was told that it was due to restructuring of the company. I just happened to be the most well paid programmer on staff. Let that be a lesson...don't stick your head up too high - you might get it chopped off.
I was the most loyal employee they had. Others had left and come back again, sometimes twice. They were kept and I was booted.
Why be loyal to any company anymore? There is no reason, financial or otherwise, to be. I hear that it used to be that way. Now everyone is out for the almighty dollar.
Having worked in the industry for over 12 years, and that working with a group of professional technical writers ( all with master degrees in writting) I can tell you that most of it is pure druggery. If you like rewritting the same paragraphs over and over and then only rewritting someone elses copy over and over should you consider going that route. Why not put your energy into something like research into new computer fields such as human-computer interaction or robotics. It would seem a waste of your talent to use those skills on something like writting documents. I admire those that can sit and write the same documents again and again..but only because of the sheer determination of staying awake. All of the writers I have worked with ( which counts over 12 people...some from JPL ) really don't like doing it that much.
Remember that your time here is limited and you should find something that you really like to do. Then be the best that you can be at it. I prefer writting software and user interfaces...why? because after all these years I find that I like helping people to use computers easily. I didn't find this out overnight. Neither will you. I wish you luck and good fortune.
Slashdot Mirror
Right. I rejected the idea of pressing different disks with different IDs because of the logistical problems and related costs.
The only way this would work is if the console or dvd drive or system has nvram that recorded the license code ( or whatever it is ) and made some type of hash from the disk to go with it. That way when the same disk is inserted the same hash is created and verified against the license number. If it exists they can play otherwise no.
Sounds like digital suicide. How long before this gets cracked and everyone has a full blown nvram full of game licenses? About two weeks.
- Bill
I've seen that the usual slashdot crowd is a little lax on history. Here are a few tidbits that I know:
1. Gaming accounting systems started around 1978. It was a Bally that started it, I believe. Running on a PDP11 in the back room. Keeping meter, drop and win percentage histories as required by gaming control.
2. Slot machines have been hooked up since that time using plain serial lines. Most use a form of encryption for the amounts and ticket validation ids.
3. This server based gaming thing isn't new but its just now starting to get approvals from GLI and NGCB ( gaming commisions in the US. ) The hard part has always been getting a hard drive into the dumb terminal. My guess is they finally found a way around that. That way they could just download the paytables ( not the personality which is the hold percentage which is heavily regulated BTW ) and not all the graphics and game code.
I do know that the NGCB looks at trend analysis of payoff data to confirm hold % over a period of time.
I have to balk at that because even if you required a double entry text field that would more than likely catch those typos that the user entered. It is in fact the user interfaces fault for not assisting the user in performing his/her job effectively and efficiently. After all what is a user interface for if not that??
Someone may have beat me to this but I'll bite...
What do you think a UI is?? I know a GUI is graphical but I think you making an assumption here that all UIs are GUI..Am I right?
I have used 300 baud modems, I bought mine in 1986. That was when you could watch (litterally ) watch your programs download character by character. Aww those were the days.... I don't miss that much.
This must be bad UI code. Three letter acronyms for entry without verification? You got to be kidding me. This is just an accident waiting to happen. At least some type of pull down or grouping by category would have been better. What is wrong with the designers of this software??
This isn't only funny but true. Its already happened before.
To wit (since I live in Nevada):
www.google.com -> nevada attorney general bureau of consumer affairs
They will take any complaint about problems with warranty and other fradulant claims regarding, and especially, intrastate commerce.
I meant that there was usually an AG office in each major city...excuse me.
You don't mention if you're in the US, but most US cities have an Attorney General that you can speak with that will answer most of your questions regarding transactions like this. If nothing else your attorney general will be able to point you in the right direction of who to contact about this.
Look them up under your local government yellow pages. There might also be a consumer advocate group that you might want to speak with.
If the contract states specific resolutions and they are not being met then it is fraud and open for litigation.
Seems like a system trying to protect someone from themselves eh? You'd be surprised what you have to do in order to get a gaming card their. They won't let the ticketing systems on the boats just yet ( at least that was the last I heard ).
I wonder if they also keep certain books from the schools there too.....
As a designer of one of the leading slot ticket system I know first hand the back end uses of tickets. They can't track people unless they have a player card inserted at the same time. There are so many regulations about using barcoded tickets that it boggles the mind. The hold percentages for slots vary from one jurisdiction to another. For example the hold percentages, the amount the slot will take in, is 97% or higher in Reno and Las Vegas ( depending on personality chip installed ) but in New Jersey its completely different ( I don't recall right now what the exact percentage was but it was much higher. )
There is a personality chip inside slot machines ( its a little eeprom ) that controls the percentages for each play. Yes its true that the machines know if you've won or lost before they spin the wheels but its just for fun anyway right?
I think everyone is missing the point with gambling. Its more about the experience than about the money. Any poor slob any poor his life savings into a machine. ( Some jurisdictions, like Kansas City, prevent users from making this mistake, or at least try to ) But how often can you go out and be treated like royality at a restaurant or other establishment. Any casino is all about appearance, customer loyalty, and then about the almighty dollar.
I'm just presenting a different point of view having been in the casino industry for 13 years now.
I came to work after being off with a major flu. My card didn't work to get me in the door and I had email that said that someone couldn't find me in the company email list anymore. I went to get my mail from the front office and my mailbox wasn't there. This was all before anyone told me.
I was told that it was due to restructuring of the company. I just happened to be the most well paid programmer on staff. Let that be a lesson...don't stick your head up too high - you might get it chopped off.
I was the most loyal employee they had. Others had left and come back again, sometimes twice. They were kept and I was booted.
Why be loyal to any company anymore? There is no reason, financial or otherwise, to be. I hear that it used to be that way. Now everyone is out for the almighty dollar.
Makes me sick.
Having worked in the industry for over 12 years, and that working with a group of professional technical writers ( all with master degrees in writting) I can tell you that most of it is pure druggery. If you like rewritting the same paragraphs over and over and then only rewritting someone elses copy over and over should you consider going that route. Why not put your energy into something like research into new computer fields such as human-computer interaction or robotics. It would seem a waste of your talent to use those skills on something like writting documents. I admire those that can sit and write the same documents again and again..but only because of the sheer determination of staying awake. All of the writers I have worked with ( which counts over 12 people...some from JPL ) really don't like doing it that much.
Remember that your time here is limited and you should find something that you really like to do. Then be the best that you can be at it. I prefer writting software and user interfaces...why? because after all these years I find that I like helping people to use computers easily. I didn't find this out overnight. Neither will you. I wish you luck and good fortune.