No CD Patch

**Monarch** · 12-19-2005, 17:35

Hey...

Well I've been lurking, browsing and reading quite alot of gaming sites/forums recently and I've heard quite a bit of these 'no cd cracks/patches'. Now I probably will never use one, however that isnt to say I do not wish to know more about them.

For instance on About.com they themselves do not even clarify if they are illeagal or not, they merely say they are 'questionable'. So...leagal or not?

Also I was wondering if they effect gameplay at all. I heard they mess up downloading official patches but in-game wise would they restrict you? Not just on total war, but I occasionally play the Sims so I am interested in how the no-cd crack would affect that. I read on one website Maxis do not support users using the the patch but they didnt mension whether users using the crack would need support as a result.

PS. Apologies for probably posting in wrong area, I wasn't sure where to post this.

**hellenes** · 12-19-2005, 17:38

Originally Posted by Sovereign

Hey...

Well I've been lurking, browsing and reading quite alot of gaming sites/forums recently and I've heard quite a bit of these 'no cd cracks/patches'. Now I probably will never use one, however that isnt to say I do not wish to know more about them.

For instance on About.com they themselves do not even clarify if they are illeagal or not, they merely say they are 'questionable'. So...leagal or not?

Also I was wondering if they effect gameplay at all. I heard they mess up downloading official patches but in-game wise would they restrict you? Not just on total war, but I occasionally play the Sims so I am interested in how the no-cd crack would affect that. I read on one website Maxis do not support users using the the patch but they didnt mension whether users using the crack would need support as a result.

PS. Apologies for probably posting in wrong area, I wasn't sure where to post this.

Any site that hosts this files states that they are legal...
Its very strange that many publishers/developers scream that they are illegal while not taking any actions against sites hosting them...

Hellenes

**Monarch** · 12-19-2005, 17:42

I see, so sort of a frowned upon but no real action taken kinda deal?

About my other question, do they effect anything like gameplay? (I cant see why they would, but just asking...)

**Puzz3D** · 12-19-2005, 17:55

They alter the main exe file which is against the license, and that will prevent patches for this game from installing. The advantage for the legitimate user is that you don't risk damaging your disk if you don't have to handle it.

**Mouzafphaerre** · 12-19-2005, 18:04

.
It would be better if the developers delivered no CD patched themselves to the legitimate users rather than leaving that area for the crackers to play in. There is no guaranteed way of protecting software/games from being copied.

Anyway, CA won't let their customers use no CD patches under the current TOS and if we take this discussion a little bit too far then kek will slaughter this thread.
.

**Intrepid Sidekick** · 12-19-2005, 18:05

As the game is built and designed to run with the CD present, any game running with a "no CD patch" is not supported or tested for functionality. In fact we would actively encourage any customer to not download such a "no CD patch" and avoid using one.

Therefore, as stated in any purchased copy of the game, any issue that arises as a result of a version of the game running with such a "patch" will not be investigated or supported.

We do not in any way encourage the use of No CD patches as they often have a number of issues involved with them.

Unfortunately there are so many sites around that are constantly popping up and then fading away, often with no clear ownership or point of contact, that chasing them is often a fruitless task and a complete waste of our time and money.

In short we would encourage you to avoid "no cd patches" and use a legitimate copy of the game with CD.

Intrepid Sidekick
#C.A. Staff#

**Mouzafphaerre** · 12-19-2005, 18:16

.
Your heavy cavalry are in deep trouble Intrepid Sidekick.

Thanks for the heads up.

.

**Monarch** · 12-19-2005, 20:30

Originally Posted by Intrepid Sidekick

As the game is built and designed to run with the CD present, any game running with a "no CD patch" is not supported or tested for functionality. In fact we would actively encourage any customer to not download such a "no CD patch" and avoid using one.

Therefore, as stated in any purchased copy of the game, any issue that arises as a result of a version of the game running with such a "patch" will not be investigated or supported.

We do not in any way encourage the use of No CD patches as they often have a number of issues involved with them.

Unfortunately there are so many sites around that are constantly popping up and then fading away, often with no clear ownership or point of contact, that chasing them is often a fruitless task and a complete waste of our time and money.

In short we would encourage you to avoid "no cd patches" and use a legitimate copy of the game with CD.

Intrepid Sidekick
#C.A. Staff#

Ooh thank you. I have the legitimate copy and everything, I was just curious :)

**Puzz3D** · 12-19-2005, 20:42

Originally Posted by Intrepid Sidekick

Therefore, as stated in any purchased copy of the game, any issue that arises as a result of a version of the game running with such a "patch" will not be investigated or supported.

We do not in any way encourage the use of No CD patches as they often have a number of issues involved with them.

Modded games are also not supported, have issues involved and prevent official patches from installing properly.

**Nelson** · 12-19-2005, 23:18

I don’t think that there is any more to be said about “no CD” patches that hasn’t already been hashed over either in this thread or others in the past.

That being the case, I’m closing the curtain on this.