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n-CD Feature allows discs with electronic CD-Key to register automatically for online gaming
Salzburg, Austria, August 1, 2004 - JoWooD is one of the first publishers to choose Sony DADC's
n- CD Technology offering Electronic CD-Key (eCD-Key), a unique feature for replacing serialised
CDKey stickers. eCD-Key was incorporated in the latest release 'SpellForce - The Breath of Winter'.
With the development of eCD-Key, Sony DADC is focussing on turning online gaming into an ease for
users and reducing material costs for publishers.
Spell Force with eCD-Key is the new and unique way to make games more suitable to the needs
of publishers and gamers. Fritz Neuhofer, Operations Director from JoWooD, explains, "Compared to
the last SpellForce release using conventional stickers, customer support calls on the eCD-Key
release have basically been eliminated! Plus, we did not need to change any production procedures.
The ease-of-use makes me very enthusiastic about applying eCD-Key to all our future multiplayer
games." n-CD with Electronic CD-Key has also opened new protection possibilities for games
publishers. "eCD-Key does not only offer a new level of convenience, but also heightened security,"
says JoWooD's Anti Piracy Manager Juergen Schaepker. "Codes can no longer be stolen out of the box
as they are invisible to the human eye!"
This new feature is only one application of Sony DADC's innovative n-CD technology.
Electronic CDKey replaces serialisation codes on stickers applied to retail games boxes, saving
games publishers material and handling costs, and users inconvenient manual input. Each disc is
assigned a unique and invisible identification number. The code is read by the computer drive and
initiates an automatic access to online gaming. As the technology is backwards compatible,
virtually any computer drive can read the data. Ensuring that codes are safe, Electronic CD-Key
lets the widespread method of unauthorised access to codes in stores come to an end, as they can't
be seen anymore.
The n-CD solution and applications for the gaming industry, such as eCD-Key, were created by
Sony DADC to add value to a traditional disc and offer protection against unauthorised copying and
usage. n-CD technology links a standard CD-ROM to premium features on the internet, e.g. add-ons,
lotteries or game soundtracks, in a way that they can only be accessed from the original disc. This
Secure Web Link allows publishers to offer their buyers exclusive bonus content and features and
receive instant feedback on online behaviour for future marketing programs. The technology behind
the n-CD exclusivity concept is a unique disc identification number.
Sony DADC is the world's largest provider of pre-recorded optical discs with production of
over 1.8 billion discs per year, supplying a full line of high-quality products and services to the
entertainment business. Sony DADC consists of 10 manufacturing facilities in Europe, USA, Canada,
Mexico, Brazil, China, India and Australia. Services include digital asset management, authoring,
editing, copy control, graphic design, mastering, replication, packaging, postproduction,
distribution and fulfilment for CD-Audio, CD-ROM, DVD, Super Audio CD, Recordable and PlayStation
discs.
To experience the technology, please visit Sony DADC at the Games Convention in Leipzig,
August 19-22, and the European Games Network (EGN) in London, September 1-3. For further questions,
please contact Bernhard Wiesinger at + 43 6246 880 378 or email us at
securomsales@securom.com.
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