Ugh More Vista - GDF Files?

Has anyone else looked into GDF files for Vista?

It's Microsoft's new Game Explorer's "resource
file" for lack of a
better term. Stores icons and (I believe) ESRB info. I think
it has to
be contained in an executable and wondered if there are any
third-party
applications that support these fantastic new features!

Shot in the dark.



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Oops,

GameExecutables {type: multiple elements of type
GameExecutable, optional}
This element is used to define a list of executables that
are required for
an application to run. It is very important that the
application list out
all of the executables that it installs or extracts
(including copy
protection which is extracted at runtime) in this section to
ensure proper
behavior with parental controls.

Parental Controls includes a feature called General
Application
Restrictions, which allows a user to execute only those
applications that
have been specifically approved by the Administrator. This
blocking is
achieved at the CreateProcess layer using Software
Restriction Policies in
Windows Vista.

When General Application Restrictions is enabled, the
executables listed in
the application's signed GDF are automatically
exempted/allowed based on the
Games Parental Controls settings.

-------------------------------------

So if one were to install an application without listing the
executable?
Could you bypass the dreaded parental controls?

Looks like the whole thing is just an xml file with
encrypted elements for
the ratings services - strange that they say it supports
multiple ratings
services but don't say which services. Also, I don't see
that the ratings
services are curbed to localization. IOW, perhaps you can
use a non-esrb
service to get a better price. Interesting because it would
force global
competition and I suspect that the ESRB's BS pricing for PC
games would be
leveled overnight if this were true. 

--Al





-----Original Message-----
From: dirgames-l-bouncesnuttybar.drama.uga.edu
[mailto:dirgames-l-bouncesnuttybar.drama.uga.edu] On
Behalf Of Adrian Woods
Sent: Friday, January 19, 2007 1:31 PM
To: dirgames-lnuttybar.drama.uga.edu
Subject: [dirGames-L] Ugh More Vista - GDF Files?

Has anyone else looked into GDF files for Vista?

It's Microsoft's new Game Explorer's "resource
file" for lack of a
better term. Stores icons and (I believe) ESRB info. I think
it has to
be contained in an executable and wondered if there are any
third-party
applications that support these fantastic new features!

Shot in the dark.



_______________________________________________
dirGames-L mailing list  -  dirGames-Lnuttybar.drama.uga.edu
http://nuttybar.drama.uga.edu/mailman/listinfo/dirgames
-l

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-l

I don't know much about the game explorer, but there's been
a bit of
articles about it and overall it does not sound good for
indie developers.
It sounds like it's going to cost thousands of dollars to
get your game
reviewed by the ESRB to have it appear in the Game
Explorer.

Here's one opinion piece I was able to dig up just now:

http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story
=12314


On 12/20/06, Allen Partridge <allen.partridgeiup.edu> wrote:
>
> Oops,
>
> GameExecutables {type: multiple elements of type
GameExecutable, optional}
> This element is used to define a list of executables
that are required for
> an application to run. It is very important that the
application list out
> all of the executables that it installs or extracts
(including copy
> protection which is extracted at runtime) in this
section to ensure proper
> behavior with parental controls.
>
> Parental Controls includes a feature called General
Application
> Restrictions, which allows a user to execute only those
applications that
> have been specifically approved by the Administrator.
This blocking is
> achieved at the CreateProcess layer using Software
Restriction Policies in
> Windows Vista.
>
> When General Application Restrictions is enabled, the
executables listed
> in
> the application's signed GDF are automatically
exempted/allowed based on
> the
> Games Parental Controls settings.
>
> -------------------------------------
>
> So if one were to install an application without
listing the executable?
> Could you bypass the dreaded parental controls?
>
> Looks like the whole thing is just an xml file with
encrypted elements for
> the ratings services - strange that they say it
supports multiple ratings
> services but don't say which services. Also, I don't
see that the ratings
> services are curbed to localization. IOW, perhaps you
can use a non-esrb
> service to get a better price. Interesting because it
would force global
> competition and I suspect that the ESRB's BS pricing
for PC games would be
> leveled overnight if this were true.
>
> --Al
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: dirgames-l-bouncesnuttybar.drama.uga.edu
> [mailto:dirgames-l-bouncesnuttybar.drama.uga.edu] On
Behalf Of Adrian
> Woods
> Sent: Friday, January 19, 2007 1:31 PM
> To: dirgames-lnuttybar.drama.uga.edu
> Subject: [dirGames-L] Ugh More Vista - GDF Files?
>
> Has anyone else looked into GDF files for Vista?
>
> It's Microsoft's new Game Explorer's "resource
file" for lack of a
> better term. Stores icons and (I believe) ESRB info. I
think it has to
> be contained in an executable and wondered if there are
any third-party
> applications that support these fantastic new
features!
>
> Shot in the dark.
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> dirGames-L mailing list  -  dirGames-Lnuttybar.drama.uga.edu
> http://nuttybar.drama.uga.edu/mailman/listinfo/dirgames
-l
>
> _______________________________________________
> dirGames-L mailing list  -  dirGames-Lnuttybar.drama.uga.edu
> http://nuttybar.drama.uga.edu/mailman/listinfo/dirgames
-l
>
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-l

On 1/20/07, Hanford Lemoore wrote:
>I don't know much about the game explorer, but there's
been a bit of
>articles about it and overall it does not sound good for
indie developers.
>It sounds like it's going to cost thousands of dollars
to get your game
>reviewed by the ESRB to have it appear in the Game
Explorer.
>
>Here's one opinion piece I was able to dig up just now:
>
>http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story
=12314
>
Wow.
Isn't this completely pointless?
Once Flash (and hopefully Shockwave) have been approved by
the admin 
account wouldn't most online content be available?

Or perhaps... Something more sinister... Moo ha ha!
If M$ doesn't allow Flash to get turned on, then they can
introduce 
their own "Flash Killer." 
God, I hope so! Microsoft attempting to rule the world is
one of my 
favorite forms of entertainment.

-- 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Lon Koenig Consulting          lonmediagods.com
(612) 965-6305                 http://www.schnoggo.com
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