GameBurnWorld

CD GAME COPY PROTECTIONS

FADE

FADE is a protection scheme developed by Code Masters to protect their PC games against commercial pirating. The first game that really used this protection was Operation Flashpoint, it originally only used the protection in this game in the manner of a CD Key authentication method for online play. The protection didn't affect single player game-play. Later, "official patch updates" from Code Masters included the more advanced aspects of FADE. When FADE is activated, it does not affect major technical parameters of the game, it affects the game-play type aspects of the game. This may include (but is not limited to) the following: reduced accuracy of some weapons, reduced weapon performance, increased enemy hit endurance and increased player injuries. The message "Original discs don't FADE" will appear if the game is detected as being copied. If someone tries using an illegal version in which an attempt was made to remove or disable the FADE copy protection, games such as Operation Flash point might easily exhibit signs of instability. Removing copy protection includes changing program code in many various areas, which leads to increased application instability. Many illegal versions are known to contain such instabilities, causing the game to crash during various game-play events. Code Masters have stated that these are the major aspects of the FADE protection technology and that they are triggered by using counterfeit versions of the game, which strangely includes No-CD cracks, trainers and even cheats! Recently there have been some complaints from genuine Operation Flashpoint customers who own the legitimate CD who are having these exact problems.....it just shows that in most ways Game Copy Protections aren't always the best way to protect games from commercial pirates, instead their hurting themselves where it hurts the most.....the customers. If you want to learn more about the official release of FADE click here.

Detection Of The Protection

Detection of this protection is unknown at this stage, if anyone has a known method of detecting this protection please let us know here. The only way I guess that you will find out of the game is using it or not is if you burn the game and you get the "Original discs don't FADE" message, then you know what the protection is!

Burning/Backup Solution

There are several different methods you can use to successfully burn/backup your game, as follows:

Basically, because this form of protection only initializes when a counterfeit or "copied" game is recognized then the best way to get around this protection is to make a 1:1 copy that emulates the original. Because FADE isn't just the only protection used on the game this can be quite difficult, as you have to get around SafeDisc 2 or SecuRom *New* etc. protections. The best method to backup the FADE protected games is with Daemon Tools (you can emulate the games protection) or Alcohol 120% burning software (you can also emulate the game or make a 1:1 copy). BlindWrite can also successfully burn a game with this protection on it. CloneCD can also burn a game with this protection on it successfully with certain CD Writers. *Remember, if you experience problems with burning the game at high speeds, (2 speed +) (both the read and write process), then burn the game at lower speeds such as 2 speed and under (both read and write process). A lot of the time burning the game at slow speeds will solve problems of the install not working, or the burner not bypassing the CD's protection.

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