More bad news for future players (DRM & EA)

[Obsolete]

Looks like UBI isn't the only one who wants to punish its loyal clients anymore.

Command & Con. IV

[Joram]

At this rate, Matrix is going to be about the only company I can ever buy from. These companies are killing the PC game.

[Anguille]

It seems like i am lucky to enjoy rather unpopular games...for a long time i thought that i was the one being punished...

Long live Matrix!

[Peter Fisla]

This type of DRM doesn't apply to all EA games, for example Mass Effect 2, Dragon Age: Origins and Dragon Age: Awakening, only have CD checks...and they all sold a lot of copies. Impulse driven (besides matrix games) on-line store also pretty much doesn't uses any DRM either...though there are few titles that do, so I skip those. For me no $50 game is worth messing up my computer, or allowing the publisher telling me when and I how can I play the game I already paid for! If people stop buying the games with the crappy DRM, the publishers will have to change...or go out of business.

[Josh]

I had a very very bad experience with DRM copyrighted music, it was all legal and it was all paid for... and I couldn't do anything with it... [:@] And while it's been two years ago I'm *still* pissed off by it [:@]
And here's the weird thing... because I couldn't upload the legal files to my Mp3 player I had to download *illegal Mp3's*, and they worked without a problem...
So this puzzles me to this day... here I am a paying, law obeying citizen, who gets screwed by the companies with their DRM/Starforce programs... while the illegal copies/illegal downloads work without a hitch... Something's not right about that.
Personally I don't like illegal stuff, you want it, you pay for it, because other people worked for it. But as I don't want DRM/Starforce rubbish anymore on my pc, *or* an internet connection is a must if you want to play it, I don't buy it. Period.

[Knavery]

I heard that C&C4 sucks anyway. Let them use it and I'll keep my hard-earned dollars.

[GoodGuy]

ORIGINAL: Peter Fisla

This type of DRM doesn't apply to all EA games, for example Mass Effect 2, Dragon Age: Origins and Dragon Age: Awakening, only have CD checks...and they all sold a lot of copies.

I preordered the DD version of Mass Effect 2, so I could unlock some unique ingame items/features that aren't available in the stock version (some armor, additional weapon, etc.). Although it looked like Cerberus Network access (which is used to download free DLC) was reserved to preorders and special editions at first, it seems like all ME2 versions received a Cerberus Network card/code, now.
The DD version of ME2 requires you to go online at least ONCE in order to activate it. The DD versions also "use the retailer's protection system", according to Jack Lamden's (BioWare) statement from January, direct2drive's protection in my case, I guess.

ORIGINAL: Jack Lamden, QA - BioWare

"The Copy protection is different now.
The physical copies of the game use a disk check, there's no online checks and no activation limits.
The Steam version uses the Steam copy protection, and that's it.

The rest of the Digital Distribution builds use a non-securom copy protection method which does an online check, but I don't belive there is an activation limit."

So, I'd say the technology or base for more restrictive DRM is already in the game, at least in the DD versions (ie. online activation and Cerberus Network feature), but just not being used for other purposes than to perform an online activation and to notify about new DLC, yet, so I'm glad that BioWare seems to have a say there, currently at least.

[Peter Fisla]

ORIGINAL: GoodGuy

ORIGINAL: Peter Fisla

This type of DRM doesn't apply to all EA games, for example Mass Effect 2, Dragon Age: Origins and Dragon Age: Awakening, only have CD checks...and they all sold a lot of copies.

I preordered the DD version of Mass Effect 2, so I could unlock some unique ingame items/features that aren't available in the stock version (some armor, additional weapon, etc.). Although it looked like Cerberus Network access (which is used to download free DLC) was reserved to preorders and special editions at first, it seems like all ME2 versions received a Cerberus Network card/code, now.
The DD version of ME2 requires you to go online at least ONCE in order to activate it. The DD versions also "use the retailer's protection system", according to Jack Lamden's (BioWare) statement from January, direct2drive's protection in my case, I guess.

ORIGINAL: Jack Lamden, QA - BioWare

"The Copy protection is different now.
The physical copies of the game use a disk check, there's no online checks and no activation limits.
The Steam version uses the Steam copy protection, and that's it.

The rest of the Digital Distribution builds use a non-securom copy protection method which does an online check, but I don't belive there is an activation limit."

So, I'd say the technology or base for more restrictive DRM is already in the game, at least in the DD versions (ie. online activation and Cerberus Network feature), but just not being used for other purposes than to perform an online activation and to notify about new DLC, yet, so I'm glad that BioWare seems to have a say there, currently at least.

I guess I should have said that I bought the DVD version which is different from digital download versions, once you login and register your DVD serial you don't have to login to your bioware account and don't need internet connection again to play.

[GoodGuy]

ORIGINAL: Peter Fisla

I guess I should have said that I bought the DVD version which is different from digital download versions, once you login and register your DVD serial you don't have to login to your bioware account and don't need internet connection again to play.

Did you activate the Cerberus Network and did you install some DLC? I'm curious.
Because once you've activated Cerberus and once you've installed say the Zaeed mission pack, it requires you to login with your bioware account and auth on their server before you can access the game. Once you're in the game, you can just go offline. It does not require you to stay online to play the game.
But once you exit the game/current mission and go back to the main menu, you may need to go online again, I guess.

That's still way less restrictive and more viable for people with unstable Wi-fi connections or laptops. I think the Cerb Network thing is acceptable and also a good idea regarding the need for authentification for free download content or future additional paid content, as pirates will only be able to play the stock version.

I enjoyed both ME1 and ME2, but I'll pass in case ME3 will contain a more restrictive DRM.

[SuluSea]

ORIGINAL: Anguille

It seems like i am lucky to enjoy rather unpopular games...for a long time i thought that i was the one being punished...

Long live Matrix!

Here, Here!!!!!

[mbar]

I'm with you on the DRM thing. I like being able to "just play the game." I even find CD checks annoying. I tend to gravitate to "unpopular" games and companies too. Fortunately most of them either don't have DRM right out of the box or patch it out after the game has been successful for a year.
 
That said, it ticks me off to see torrent sites with WitP:AE for download. I just want to google information about the game and instead I find lots of torrents and warez downloads.[:-] Don't do that to Matrix! I don't want them going down the DRM route.

[Peter Fisla]

ORIGINAL: GoodGuy

ORIGINAL: Peter Fisla

I guess I should have said that I bought the DVD version which is different from digital download versions, once you login and register your DVD serial you don't have to login to your bioware account and don't need internet connection again to play.

Did you activate the Cerberus Network and did you install some DLC? I'm curious.
Because once you've activated Cerberus and once you've installed say the Zaeed mission pack, it requires you to login with your bioware account and auth on their server before you can access the game. Once you're in the game, you can just go offline. It does not require you to stay online to play the game.
But once you exit the game/current mission and go back to the main menu, you may need to go online again, I guess.

That's still way less restrictive and more viable for people with unstable Wi-fi connections or laptops. I think the Cerb Network thing is acceptable and also a good idea regarding the need for authentification for free download content or future additional paid content, as pirates will only be able to play the stock version.

I enjoyed both ME1 and ME2, but I'll pass in case ME3 will contain a more restrictive DRM.

I did create Cerberus Network account and got their DLC but play ME2 without the need being connected at all. I only have registered the game, and got all the DLC and always play off-line just fine... I think this is the difference between DVD and DD version of the games. This was one of the reasons why I went with DVD version, the other is...well...I still need to back up the DD files...so I might as well use their DVD disk instead of doing myself on my DVD disk.

[Arctic Blast]

ORIGINAL: Obsolete

Looks like UBI isn't the only one who wants to punish its loyal clients anymore.

Command & Con. IV

It would be more obnoxious if they were taking the whole catalog down that road, but Mass Effect 2 and Dragon Age have pretty light protection, and Battlefield Bad Company 2's DRM is actually pretty decent as well.

It sounds like they went half way towards building C&C 4 in to a persistent campaign universe. Frankly, if they're going to require a constant connection, they should have gone all the way with it. Make a persistent campaign map that's affected by every scenario outcome, where players can jump in to any open slot they want to. Sort of an MMORTS.

[sullafelix]

I'm a bit confused. I do realize that many of these companies are not US ones but didn't the supreme court just rule that there is no such thing as " renting" software? I was under the impression that the ruling had to do with different DRMs and that they came down on the side that you actually own the siftware that you buy, so a company can't make you jump through hoops to play " your" game?

[DampSquib]

Yep,your spot on about ME2 & Dragon Age..didn't know about Battlefield BC2.
I thought i would buy Arma2 instead..I held of buying that,but after a trip to RYG & a
Good lurk i found out it's patched out.Maybe they will patch this out if sales drop.....
or a long wait until it's on GOG.

You are THE ARCTIC BLAST from RYG...[:D]

[Arctic Blast]

ORIGINAL: DampSquib

Yep,your spot on about ME2 & Dragon Age..didn't know about Battlefield BC2.
I thought i would buy Arma2 instead..I held of buying that,but after a trip to RYG & a
Good lurk i found out it's patched out.Maybe they will patch this out if sales drop.....
or a long wait until it's on GOG.

You are THE ARTIC BLAST from RYG...[:D]

Indeed I am.

Apparently I'm Internet famous? Woohoo! [:D]

Just for clarity's sake, the BC2 DRM works like this :

-If you have a physical copy, you choose whether it works as a SecuROM disc check or online activation.
-If you pick the online option (or buy it digitally) it activates, then doesn't do anything online for the next 20 years (seriously).
-You can have 10 active installs at once (11 if you set a system to use a disc check, really) and when you uninstall the game, it automatically does all of that activation revocation stuff without you having to use another tool to cover that.
-Like with previous Battlefield games, playing MP requires signing in to BF Online.

[DampSquib]

Apparently I'm Internet famous? Woohoo! Yep...[&o]

It's just a great site for info be it DRM...or tech bits.
Got rid of SuckRom with the tool from there then like a tit reinstalled it with a completely different game..so now i am UNCLEAN again..oh well.

http://reclaimyourgame.com/

[freeboy]

yep, have to a gree, I have 16 gigs on my apple iphone, muy stuff, locked there cause it did not get bough tfrom apple, I must hack my phone, in the next month as I go to sprint..
I was supe rpissed at apple for months, frustratingto be a "good guy" and get caught in a net that does not catch the theives!
 

[DampSquib]

Deleted.

[Terminus]

ORIGINAL: Joram

At this rate, Matrix is going to be about the only company I can ever buy from. These companies are killing the PC game.

You people have been whining about this for years, and it hasn't happened yet. Grow up and get over yourselves.