Hardcore Save/load

Alright I'm trying to make an RPG using save/load codes where once you die you're dead and have to start all over. Making the save/load code itself is no problem. The problem is how do I stop people from, after dying, simply loading an old code and merely losing one game's worth of training?

I've been thinking about this for quite some time and have brought this question to about a dozen other people, and most conclude, and even I am nearly reaching the point of saying that this is simply impossible to do with what blizzard provides you (without using some pretty crazy hacks). But, if you can think of a way to do this, I'd love to hear it.

Do you mean loading an old code at any time or after they're dead?

Its impossible. There is no way you can force a player to not use an old CD Key.

I meant after they're dead. I have no problem if they load an old code before their character is dead. If you find a solution that stops them from loading an old code PERIOD that would still be great though.

It's impossible to do that. Why would you want to do such a thing anyway? If it were possible, that destroys the whole point of saving. But if you insist on doing something like that, remove the save/load functionality entirely.

Is it singleplayer? You could use Gamecache to store information about heroes' deaths if it was singleplayer and then it would be possible to check whether that hero was ever dead or not.

If you could save a gamecache over bnet, you would have no problem.
The problem is, you cant.

If you could save a gamecache over bnet, you would store infomation about that code saying its null and viod, so it is not usable again, then when people save, dont give them that code, and if they try to load, dont load it cause that code is gone.
Something like that anyway.
Its easily possible on single player, just not on multiplayer.

For single player you would save a list of all the codes that dont work, when people try to load, check if its any of those codes, if it is, dont load.

If there was a way to save games automatically without the player's consent, then I would've suggested this:

For every save code use a randomly generated code to go with the save code, (with certain restrictions to how it must be made if it is a number, through formula; and, if possible, having the actual code somehow tied in with the generated code) and use that generated code with every subsequent save on the same hero. Then, if the hero dies, call a forced save (save functions seem disabled in multiplayer, though) with the filename being the generated code. On every load, check if the generated code is saved to determine if the hero is dead.

Yeah, it would be a lot of work to do even if saves did work in multiplayer, and players would easily be able to counter it, but eh... just an idea.

And what if the player deletes or changes the name of saved game?

A good example on why you would want to acomplish that:

Diablo II

If you don't care if they load an old code, then why don't you just NOT give them a code if they die? That way the only way they can load is to load an older code...

That's 1 possiblity or if the player want to use "-save" detect if the hero is dead and if the hero is dead generate an invalide code.

Kind of strange quoting myself. However, changing the save game is just as easy as changing the game cache. If either method worked, neither would be 100%.

Exactly. That was a great game which I still play a little (of course I played hardcore mode). Hardcore mode has much different (and I believe more fun) gameplay than softcore. It brings the element of risk up, and makes it so every character is not level 99. It also forces you to enjoy the game as a journey to reaching a high level, not the destination of reaching it.