Catching Pirates
Hey guys, I wanted to explain how downloads will work starting with the either the next update or the one after that, since I'm sure some of you are curious.
Very little is actually changing for you.
Instead of the Patreon download link sending you to GoFile, it'll send you to the new Juicy Genie Games website. Your access will be verified through Patreon, so there's no new account to make, no password to remember, and no weird extra hoops.
This is not DRM. There's no launcher, no always-online requirement, no spyware, and the game isn't going to phone home or monitor what you're doing. I'm just as against that as you are.
It's simply a cleaner, more secure way for me to distribute Patron builds directly.
Patreon link → Patreon verification → download.
That's basically it. Same game, same offline experience, just a much better download system.
Comments (13)
OK, but how exactly is this going to stop the speed pirates? Unless there is something extra being added to the download that would let you track/identify whose it is, how would them logging in to get it from the new site affect their ability to share it? Forgive me but I am one of those Gen X cynics who was brought into the digital world with the notion of being distrustful of everything.
Yes... There is something being added to each download. It's not a tracker. It's a simple 8 digit code added to one of the many game scripts indiscriminately. It won't track anything. It won't affect your game. You'll never even know it's there. And if you look for it, you'd never be able to find it. Even with Claude. lol I register this for each user. So I know who is uploading the pirated copies.
Is there any difference between the patreon version for paid subscribers as opposed to the free one that will be released later?
The free one is out now. I dropped it early because it was pirated. Is there a difference? No. Patreons get a cheat menu. And a faster release.
No spyware in 2026... How is this possible??? 😳
I'm doing it very cleverly, keeping everyone's privacy as a top priority.
Personally, I don't mind some pirating. I know people can't afford games. But that's why my game is already free. I'm already looking out for people who can't afford games. So when they pirate the Patreon version, that's when I get upset, because that's my subscribers reward. You're stealing from my subscribers. Normally, I don't think about this sort of thing, but this past Patreon was released on about 6 different sites within 2 hours of release. That's the fastest it's ever been pirated across the board like that. So as this game is getting more popular, I'm going to have to start paying attention and trying to protect my Patreons who are supporting me in making this game.
Well, it is a bit tricky. I completely get your point, and I completely understand the commecial part of it, but I mean all of us have played leaked games, as it is rare that games are released in a public version fast enough to satisfy the hungry masses. But as said, I completely get your point, and personally I also get annoyed that somebody would sub here, only to secure early access to releases for the ever complaining non-subs. But then I again, I do however, not get so annoyed when other games, that I do not sub to, get released early due to piracy... I know, double standards. I guess I'm only human ;) Love your work, and I will remain a non-parating-sub here!
If it helps get rid of the pirating , all the better
So is this verification thing going to be there for good or will it dissapear once the version goes public... or are you doing away with the public version all together
The public version will still probably be uploaded to my site. But you won't have to go through Patreon to get it. This is really only for the Patreon Subscribed Members Copies. It's likely I'll also put the Public version on GoFile too, just so I Can put it on the Few Pirate sites I do control.
Sounds like a great way to keep it clean
Personal Copy? Lovely. And what about a personalized Annika for each of us? 🤤😋😏