This does NOT work anymore. Most (all?) of their software has been updated leaving this method unusable.
In my own opinion, the registry is part of my computer, so I can edit it as I see fit. Of course, this is just my opinion.
Step 1:Download the trial software for any maker you choose.
VX, XP, and IG Maker
http://old.rpgmakerweb.com/downloadRPG Maker VX Ace
http://www.rpgmakerweb.com/downloadFor XP, VX, and IG Maker, you will receive a serial in your e-mail to activate your 30-Day trial. You won't receive a serial to activate your trial for VX Ace. After installation, run your selected software and click Activate. For VX Ace, check the "Trial" radio button. For the other three, enter your name, e-mail, and serial number you received in e-mail. This will activate your 30 day trial. After that, go ahead and close the program.
Step 2:Enterbrain's new activation software isn't very secure or hidden. It keeps all the values in plain sight and its pretty easy to find. Open up regedit. Traverse to the following location:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER > Software > CoGenMedia > DRM
Here you should see the sub folder for the maker you installed. Traverse through all the sub folders of the maker you installed. Once you reach the final sub folder, you will see various entries relating to the Trial. You should see a "Trial" value. If you have enough common sense, you'll know what to do. Due to the new activation software Enterbrain implemented, they basically gave their software for free.
step 3:???
Step 4:Profit.
Whether or not this is legal can be looked at from different points of views. I will leave it up to the administrators to take it down or not. This thread isn't to fight about the legality of this find, but to share info that I discovered and wanted to share for educational purposes. In all honesty, Enterbrain should have made sure their activation system was more secure or hidden and in their attempt to prevent their software from being cracked, they sure as hell made it easier to get it for free.