Jim, its a good thing that the transmogrofication discreminator code is not detectable. Those using the cracked SS codes, or Keygen'd codes will soon discover what "really" happens after that random time period expires. Talk about spyware, Whew!! LOL

(by the way, it will do no good to read this message backwards)

I confess...
 

....I also used a 'hacked' version of the aquarium (.99L). I saw it at a LAN party and had to have it right then.

I was so impressed with it - I went to the official site - then this 'unofficial' site. I started reading about the upgrades - lionfish, 3dbackgroud, etc. As soon as the new version came out - I purchased it. I posted how happy I was with the new version, and Jim even commented that I 'just missed' the cut-off date of getting it for $19 instead of the $21.95. But ya know - I figure that extra $2.95 was my punishment for running the hacked version. ;)

I do think that getting the program exposure (even if it's via hacked versions) will, in the long run, make more sales.

hacked again
 

I use sharing programs to get some divx movies, and as in another thread there's a discussion about a freshwater aquarium, I decided to try and search for it, so I could check it. I would never buy it, as I have no idea about chinese, japanese or whatever language is that, so my only intention was to have a look at it.

I didn't found it, but I've found many instances of this screensaver.
From version 99L to 1.1, cracked, with serials, and even keygens for 1.1 :(

Jim, if you are interested on where I found them, let me know via private message. I don't want to post that here and make it easier for anybody to reach them :)

We already have the 1.1 keygen. Thanks.

No, I don't enjoy coming with bad news, but here I present some anyway... :(

I was searching the web for other aquarium products and stumbled over this hacked .99 version of the SereneScreen.

I believe they are made in russia... The site is at least.

http://www.affv.nu/hemsidan/hacked_aquarium.jpg

Checking their homepage I found even more horrible versions:

http://www.affv.nu/hemsidan/hacked_3.jpg

and another one... this time the 1.1 version with Lion fish...

http://www.affv.nu/hemsidan/hacked_2.jpg

and here a closeup on the Lion fish....

http://www.affv.nu/hemsidan/hacked_lionfish.jpg

I wont put out the site adress where the screensavers can be found here, but if you want it Jim, just let me know and I can mail it to you...

If they feel such need to hack your work, they could at least try and do it with more taste.

(I promise they had some that were so ugly I didn't even bother the work of making screendumps from them...)

Holy....#$%#%@#$^&&*
MY GOD!I hate to see this......:mad: :mad: :mad:
the Aqauarium really been hacked....
so sad:( :(:(

Swede
r those hacked version really runs or just the graphical alternation?

Jim will you do something about it?

I hate it too! :mad: :mad:

But I doubt anything can be done about or?!
(Prove me wrong! Please!)

They are fully functional versions all of them. No keylock or anything. They have new fishes, or at least new "skins" for them, and they have replaced the backgrounds...

It's like they have stolen the architecture and just put some cheap surface on it...

Is this easily done Jim, or are these guys experts?
I mean will it continue to show up all kinds of hacked versions from all over?!

Should anyone be tempted to check these out (like I was) just be warned that they affect your current aquarium settings, because those damn hackers didn't even bother to change to a different registry key.

All of the versions they have put up at their website require a legitimate 99L or 1.1. key. They have even taken out the "TESTFISH" mode.

These guys obviously randomly made changes to the Aquarium file until one of the fish changed color. Then they keep testing until they find out where in the Aquarium file the fish and coral backgrounds are. These are flat graphic files within the Aquarium.

Then they replace them with the ugliest fish I have ever seen. And they aren't what I call experts, cause they change the background but leave the starfish's drop shadow or don't change/remove the coral shadow maps.

If this is what people are going to do with a Developer's Kit, I guess I am glad Jim isn't doing one. If I ever had hope for a Developer's Kit, things like this have put a nail in that coffin. This is the strongest reason yet for Jim to keep the Aquarium under lock and key. Spray paint anyone?

I have not found the Snowdrift one pictured above, but the other 4 were found at a Russian website I'm all-too familiar with. The first "hacked" version of the Aquarium they put up was the Aquarium translated into Russian with no manipulated fish. It was actually something nice (even though there has been only 2-3 legitimate sales reported in Russia in the last year and a half!!).

If a Russian version of the Aquarium was made officially available, I bet piracy would double. :(

They use the existing 99 and 1.x registry branches. In 3 of them, they did not repaint all 20 fish, so they have disabled RANDOM and set the fish to specific fish that they DID repaint.

Did I mention how ugly the fish and coral are? God.

Yes, we've known about these for some time. There are a few others around. The bitmaps and models are in a standard Microsoft format, so it's not hard to replace them.

Maybe a small encryption "something" could be used?! To make it more difficult to replace the images I mean...

OK... would take some serious mathskills to arrange maybe, but just a thought! ;)

I thought they were open and unlocked since they all worked on my computer... but I didn't think they all used my own key for it... (How rude!) :mad:

...I think the backgrounds look nice. Well, they do at least in the screenshots. Its nice to have variety. Too bad the URL wasn't posted.

I guess they're damned if they do and damned if they don't! :)

Wouldn't it be sly if they put code in it so that when you ran their version of the screensaver, it would send your registration code to them? hehe

That would be EXTREMELY easy to do. And without a proper firewall you would never even know it happened.

They can change fish textures and coral in the Aquarium but they can't find the 1.1 keygen?

What're the odds.

You must not understand the nature of the beast..

Spyder,
It's not up to me to post the URL, but since we seem to be talking about a hacked (and not cracked) version here, it is probably ok to give you a hint.
Given the fact that it is a russian website
you should have no trouble finding it through a search engine with language selection. I found it in the first attempt with altavista.

gracias ;)

just found their website so i can post little info on that (i know russian)

they changed the name from sachs marine aquarium to different name and distrubute it under that name

whole website setup for hacked versions of defferent nature screensavers and programs its called

moderator can provide with registration info and serials to all latest software (just check their forums)

if you Morgan and Jim need any more info you can contact me