Copy protection V2

[Jeanne D'arroz]

when do I get the option to make it into an engine?

[Stormtempter]

Seconded. I though it would be like the Graphics, where the option to research the next version occurs when you level up to that level with the current one, eg:

Once 3D Graphics V2 is at level 3, you can research 3D Graphics V3.
Once 3D Graphics V4 is at level 5, you can research 3D Graphics V5.

So I spammed a bunch of games to build my woefully small experience gain per game with DRM V1 to level it to level 2, but I have no option to research Copy Protection V2.

Do I have to leave the garage and go to a new office first?

[Stormtempter]

I got it, Nachos.

You have to power through and make ALOT of games and get Copy Protection V1 up to level THREE before V2 is available to research.

I will also assume there is a V3 available, and that you'd have to get Copy Protection V2 up to level 4 before it becomes researchable.

So essentially you just have to make a ton of games, use genres you don't normally use, just to get enough experience points in Copy Protection Vcurrent so you can unlock Vnext

[Stormtempter]

Nope. Getting V3 just requires getting V2 to level 3.

I went bankrupt. So I have to go back to a previous save. New assumption is that Copy Protection is just level 3 across the board for the next version - or - its a bug that V2 requires level 3 instead of level 2 like graphics does.

[Jeanne D'arroz]

Thank you very much

[Stormtempter]

I started from a previous save and stayed in the garage, pumping out game after game after game.

It seems that while Graphics are on a 'match the level, unlock the next version' pattern, the pattern for Copy Protection is a flat Level 3.

Get any version of Copy Protection to level 3, unlock the research for the next version.

[Stormtempter]

It seems that Copy Protection caps out at V6. It can keep leveling up - I'm at Copy Protection V6 level 11, but there is no Copy Protection V7.

The good news is that piracy doesn't advance any further either, so once you hit V6, you don't have to worry about a DRM arms race anymore. The bad news is that your games will still have some minor piracy, seems to average about 25%, so your revenue is still lower than if pirate mode was disabled, but thats why its the hard mode.

It seems to me that the best strategy for pirate mode is to get a custom engine, then Copy Protection V1 as soon as possible, sell shares in your company to stay afloat. Stay in the garage well past what you normally would do, and build up a warchest of cash since your overhead is low.

Then you can slowly progress through the game normally, always giving yourself a very large cushion before advancing to the next stage. Once you unlock and implement Copy Protection V6, you can then treat it as a 'normal' game.