The Suffering - TTB problem

[TwoRails]

I picked up The Suffering, Ties That Bind in the bargin bin. Seems like it would be a fun game, but I'm having troubles with it. After install, and doing the usual setup (adjusting gamma, mouse settings, etc) it locked up to a totally blue screen. Had to hit the reset switch.

On reboot, I tried playing a game. It sure is a very slow loader... The game started but the mouse was inverted (by default!?!). Tried to change that, and got the solid blue screen again.

I found a patch for 1.0 to 1.1 and tried installing it. It failed.

Any ideas? or is this just a real buggy game...??

[pam123]

I checked Gamespot and I checked IGN and the game has no history of bugs at either place (translation : only one request for tech help.).
One thing I did wonder about, both mentioned the marked improvement using keyboard/mouse over the gamepad, which means the game is likely touchy about settings.
After checking Event Viewer I would uninstall/reinstall and then try default settings and I would update mouse drivers if that were possible.
HTH

[TwoRails]

Hi pam123,

After a little "research" the problem turns out to be with their copyright protection which is called “StarForce.” I haven’t researched StarForce yet, but my initial impression is that is close to Sony’s root kit.

Every hear of them?

TR

[TwoRails]

Starforce now uninstalled, as well as the game. I found a prior post of yours, pam123, warning about Starforce. This game is going back to the store!

[pam123]

I don't recall seeing the game on the "starforce boycott" list, but the list isn't complete.
Retrun the game, you got it right!

[TwoRails]

Oh I plan to! This whole mess hissed me off enough that I had to write my first "review" for PCM:

http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?t=161533

I will be watching more closely.

[wolfie]

yep starforce can do alot of heck to your computer. i will not buy a game that has that in it.

[TwoRails]

Hi wolfie

There is nothing on the box I that I found to suggest this "external" copy protection...

Does anybody know the "right" people to complain to? I believe the game was designed by Surreal, but distributed by Midway Home Entertainment.

Maybe I should write to both!?!

TR

[wolfie]

TwoRails : hello, did you take out star force before you took game out?

[TwoRails]

Yep. I removed the updated drivers per StarForce’s little utility. Not fully trusting that, I did a Restore Point rollback (I created one before the install). Then I uninstalled the game per it's utility, and did another Restore Point rollback to the RP I created before installing the game.

No problems so far, and the box is booting normally again. I found an anti-Starforce site yesterday that lists the stuff it installs. I’ll be doing a manual check for leftovers when I get the time, but with two RP rollbacks, I’m pretty comfortable.

TR