PSA: Do NOT download Sonic Gather Battle

[PAC-BANZAI]

It's very dangerous!

https://www.reddit.com/r/SonicTheHedgeho...&ref=share
https://mobile.twitter.com/CapperTSU/sta...8164537344
https://mobile.twitter.com/BlueParax/sta...8854342657

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[Evil Yoshi Toes]

Is this a creepypasta?

[PAC-BANZAI]

Is this a creepypasta?

No, it's actually real and is very bad.

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[Action Lemon]

What does it do to computers?

[PAC-BANZAI]

What does it do to computers?

I put links and a video for a reason....

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[VinnyVideo]

I haven't actually played it (and I don't recommend doing so), but apparently the game contains some very questionable software. Even though it's a freeware fangame, the game contains some draconian DRM that borders on malware.

Course clear! You got a card.

[PAC-BANZAI]

I haven't actually played it (and I don't recommend doing so), but apparently the game contains some very questionable software. Even though it's a freeware fangame, the game contains some draconian DRM that borders on malware.

I added some twitter posts to the OP so you can get a basic run down of what happens. To put it likely, it ain't good.

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[Evil Yoshi Toes]

I did a little more looking into it and yeah, it's pretty weird. It's bad enough that the developer is stalking your searches out of some paranoid fear that someone might steal his precious Sonic the hedgehog sprites, but trying to traumatize cheaters and sprite rippers with those nightmarish visuals is very unnecessary and makes me question his mental stability. Couldn't he have just had the game lock up and shut down? Or just not have done anything at all because it is a fan game so who cares?

[FieryExplosion]

Truly, this is a bizarre situation. It's copy protection taken to places no sane being should ever go. Nothing is worth this level of privacy invasion. Whoever did this SERIOUSLY needs to get a harsh reality check.

Spoiler

Wanna see more of my sprites? Check out my website (and DeviantART) here!
http://fieryexplosion.weebly.com
http://fieryexplosion.deviantart.com/

Credits for my avatar: Ploaj, Teawater, Royce, Super_Yoshi

[PAC-BANZAI]

Truly, this is a bizarre situation. It's copy protection taken to places no sane being should ever go. Nothing is worth this level of privacy invasion. Whoever did this SERIOUSLY needs to get a harsh reality check.

"B-BUT MAH SPRITS!"

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[fireball3k]

excuse my bad words, but holy s***. this is the stuff of nightmares.

is anyone gonna complain if i use this as the basis for a story?

[DustinVG]

excuse my bad words, but holy s***. this is the stuff of nightmares.

is anyone gonna complain if i use this as the basis for a story?

the creator, maybe

My Webs Site

join my discord join it join it right now i'm not gonna ask again

[fireball3k]

then i'll be sure to put drm on my story so that he can't read it

[Turly Gang]

Sonic Gather Battle? More like...more like Sonic Forces battle to...Gather...your...personal information, AMIRIGHT?

[Snessy the duck]

And I thought Denuvo DRM was bad! This is downright ransomware! I seriously hope the creator realizes this is an awful idea and removes it.

My Switch friend code: SW-5399-6466-3493

[OssieTheOstrich]

Sonic Gather Battle? More like...more like Sonic Forces battle to...Gather...your...personal information, AMIRIGHT?

Failed joke 0.5/10

List of projects I eventually plan to finish after the indefinite hiatus is over, assuming I don't abruptly cancel them:

Spoiler

Mario's Rather Unusual Trilogy (Mario's slightly unusual Boss Rush (Completed), Mario vs. Some Unusual Foes (In development), Mario's VERY Unusual Final Frontier (In development))
Sonic's Foray into Random/Unusual Zones (spin-off of Unusual Trilogy, in development)
Angry Birds Slingshot Frenzy (In development)
Super Mario Flashback: Really Good Edition (In development)
Super Hilda DX (In only conceptual phase)

Yes, I am aware that I have about 6 or so fangame projects currently in development at the same time. And yes, I am also aware that all of this is very ambitious.

+ List of projects I'm helping out with in some small capacity during my hiatus:

Spoiler

Super Mario Bros Dimensions 2 (as a spriter, only for Mario's sprites)
MFGG Community Fangame Project 3 (as a spriter)
WordGirl ReWired (as a artist)

[Vitiman]

Please don't bump threads unless you have something to contribute to the discussion with.

[OssieTheOstrich]

This is waaaaaaaay worse then Sonic Mania's DRM situation.

List of projects I eventually plan to finish after the indefinite hiatus is over, assuming I don't abruptly cancel them:

Spoiler

Mario's Rather Unusual Trilogy (Mario's slightly unusual Boss Rush (Completed), Mario vs. Some Unusual Foes (In development), Mario's VERY Unusual Final Frontier (In development))
Sonic's Foray into Random/Unusual Zones (spin-off of Unusual Trilogy, in development)
Angry Birds Slingshot Frenzy (In development)
Super Mario Flashback: Really Good Edition (In development)
Super Hilda DX (In only conceptual phase)

Yes, I am aware that I have about 6 or so fangame projects currently in development at the same time. And yes, I am also aware that all of this is very ambitious.

+ List of projects I'm helping out with in some small capacity during my hiatus:

Spoiler

Super Mario Bros Dimensions 2 (as a spriter, only for Mario's sprites)
MFGG Community Fangame Project 3 (as a spriter)
WordGirl ReWired (as a artist)

[Arkenova]

I knew of this for sometime. The news spread all over the Sonic community like wildfire and imo, I'm glad the guy got banned from SAGE because this is direct illegal territory, all because he was afraid that someone was gonna be 'stealing his sprites' and whatnot. What an idiot.

Pity, this could had been an awesome fangame but nope.

Another thing, the 'second-level protection'? I find it oddly funny because not of the creepypasta levels but it basically means 'Welcome to Die' material to the player.

Indie Game: DragonBlossom
> Currently looking for: Additional help with animations/enemy/boss designs and additional level design assets.
Please PM me on here or on Discord if interested!

[Jaden1291 the Toad]

Really, a fangame programmer goes too far.. to the point he put RANSOMWARE in his own fangame? No offense, but holy question block-ians - that was a very ridiculous move in the world of fangaming, just because he doesn't want anyone to steal "his own" sprites. His own sprites? Nah. They were just taken from other people and official Sonic games.

I've heard about this issue when YouTube recommended me a video regarding Sonic Gather Battle. I didn't watch it, but many weeks later I starting thinking about the issue so I searched it up on Reddit. Through that search, I also found out about its creepypasta behavior. Thank goodness I was notified about the issue so I didn't have the urge to download it.

Shame that a great fangame is ruined with malicious DRM just to prevent the so-called "stealing from the fangame creator himself". I believe this issue won't carry over to MFGG's community because there might be a Submission Rule saying that no malware should be embedded in fangames, I think.