Quick summary for those looking for problems playing games or using software:

If you get this error, it does NOT mean you have a debugger installed or running. It doesn't mean you have SoftIce installed. It is the SafeDisc (or perhaps other) copyright protection software in action. This software often messes up, and incorrectly decides to deny you access to the programs you paid for.

Two ways to solve the problem:
 1. Complain to the game publisher. It's their stupidity that causes this kind of copyright protection to be included in the first place. Tell them you're going to return the game to the store where you bought it because of this silly protection system. Perhaps they will send you a non-protected version.
 2. Install a crack. Cracks disable the SafeDisc (and other) protection mechanisms, allowing you to play without the CD or error messages. Yes, I know it's stupid to have to do this, since you paid for the game. However, with some companies, that's the only solution. I'd also recommend avoiding purchases from them in the future (and let them know why too!). I'd highly recommend GameCopyWorld.

If you're trying to create a crack for the game, go learn more. If you have to sit around using google to figure out how to crack a game, chances are you won't succeed. Go look for some cracking tutorials first.

------- Original Article -------

Quite some years ago (8 or 9?), I played a game called One Must Fall, a cool robot melee fighter game. Now they released a new version with cool effects, Internet play, and so on: One Must Fall:Battlegrounds. I just recently learned it was shipping (they did good job of press before it shipped, but I never heard about it after it shipped). My copy finally arrived in the mail today. I start it up, check it out, and after winning a level, the game quits with this message box:
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Protection Error
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Debugger detected  - please close it down and restart! Windows NT users: Please note that having the WinIce/SoftIce service installed means that you are running a debugger!
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OK  
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This is wrong. I work from home, as well as play games from home. I've got a few debuggers installed (not SoftICE though). At the time, I had Visual Studio closed, and hadn't been running the debugger since my machine started. But what's worse is that apparently they thought this perfectly acceptable! Note that this doesn't stop piracy *AT ALL*. Experienced crackers are going to crack the game, and serious “pirates” are going to apply patches. Having a CD check stops “casual piracy”. Having a debugger check stops wannabe crackers from cracking. That's it!

I've emailed support with my current plan of action: Try a pirated version and if that doesn't work, return it for a refund (something publishers don't like). Sigh.

Update: Well, I reluctlantly installed a crack from a game backup site. And guess what? It works just fine. No more debugger complaints (and I get to take the CD out too).

Last update: Got in touch with one of the developers. At first, they thought it was a problem with DirectX, or the video card or likewise, since their code doesn't do any checking. However, they were using SafeDisc (which is less safe than rolling your own, since there are a few tools that instantly remove SafeDisc). However, after I told them that a pirate crack makes the game run, he said he'd get me an unprotected version. Hey, at least their support is good!