[dyn!o]

*Please view the attachement before reading*

Staforce - the most hated protection on the scene (besides XProtector), no doubt.

Many rumours and legends say it's uncrackable. Most of us wanted to hear it's NOT A TRUE! Why? Probably because of our nature... Crackers nature. We can't agree and admit that someone better could exist on the second side of the scene - software protection market. Maybe someone undefeated? Furthermore, we don't want even to hear that some well known and respectable russian cracker (I will help you: his nick is composed of three chars) could work for software security related company. How can he did it? Yes, many of us asked this questions. Starfoce effect was always similar: no crack or very complicated cracks including turning off IDE cables and physically unplugging CD/DVD drives.

The day came on 15.10.2004 (let's assume info file date). Then, some young team, called Ultima, ravaged the legend by completely cracking Starforce 3.3. The scene has won, again. Personally, I think they choosed this moment perfectly. Who of us didn't asked ourselves: "what if I face the day with Starforce protection inside?". Maybe some of us were just too young to ask this question.

Did you saw this relase? If not then I suggest to download it. It's not another 'copy crack' relase. They did fu***ng PERFECT job. I have found myself the following:

- java binaries modification
- MSI installer script modification
- MSI archives modification (including independent InstallShield component fragments - I wonder HOW?)
- dlls modificatiion
- own autorun application (far better than original) with 3D FXs
- own graphics
- own music (about 7 minutes track with "ultima" whispers)
- and... this something... an "intro" while running the game with an impressive message. Watch yourself, it can't be described.

I thought by so many modifications they cracked the protection, but I was wrong. It looks like they did install/art work for fun (?) because Xpand Rally was cracked only by a kind of emulation inside Starforce virtual machine (at least it looks so for a lamer like me). This is probably the first time when Starforce protection was totally fooled and works with the game, thinking it's the original one. So why they did so hard job taking care even of packaging 3 languages into single game and showing appropiate codes on the same screens dedicated to typing them? The game installs in the exactly same way like original does (even easier because of pretyped codes, also inside Starforce). One click relases - is it the future? Hope so...

Let's hope it's not the last word from such tallented team.


Best regards,
dyn!o