BioShock 2 DRM Explained
- Thread starter Andy Chalk
- Start date
Not an improvement. How many damned layers of DRM do we need? Now instead of just SecuROM, we have GFWL also? And it still has activation limits (though more generous than is the norm)? Sorry, I'm giving this one a pass. Online activation for a single player game is not acceptable to start with. Any limits on the number of activations is less acceptable. Actually, anything beyond a disk check or a serial number is too much. DRM doesn't really work, and it annoys the customer when it goes beyond a certain point. So, I won't be getting Bioshock 2 until it's in the bargain bin, where all DRM limited games belong to start with.
And I'm a bit tired of this "it's someone else's fault" double talk that come up whenever unpopular DRM is announced. The dev blames the publisher (the dev signed the contract allowing the publisher to choose the DRM, the dev is to blame also). The publisher blames the DRM provider (publisher chose the provider and agreed to the terms, they are very much to blame). Is the provider now going to blame someone else? "Satan made us do it! It was a cosmic mind control ray! The panda commanded it!" If you know the decision is so unpopular that you have to pass the buck, try making a different decision. Jerks.
And I'm a bit tired of this "it's someone else's fault" double talk that come up whenever unpopular DRM is announced. The dev blames the publisher (the dev signed the contract allowing the publisher to choose the DRM, the dev is to blame also). The publisher blames the DRM provider (publisher chose the provider and agreed to the terms, they are very much to blame). Is the provider now going to blame someone else? "Satan made us do it! It was a cosmic mind control ray! The panda commanded it!" If you know the decision is so unpopular that you have to pass the buck, try making a different decision. Jerks.
If 2K Games really wants to placate gamers, they should announce a patch to remove online verifications altogether within two years of release. I don't care about disk checks, but games you aren't playing online shouldn't require a damn internet connection.
Those who say I will just get it for the 360 are only making Microsoft happy. If the DRM was Microsoft's idea, they probably figure it would drive more to just going 360, and putting more money into their pocket.
Frankly I have been on the fence about Bioshock2. The story and setting's interesting and all, but the first Bioshock I have yet to complete because I can't just keep my interest. Now that I know 2K wants to gimp its own software I would be paying too much already for, then I will have to pass.
2: Never underestimate the flaws in the idea of activation limits.
What is really the issue here, is once again a company is showing they can't trust paying customers because in their eyes half of them are only going to pirate it and sell illegal copies. This is basically 2K acting like we are miscreants when they feel more than free to install software that has the potential to A)Give 2K a free look into our computers, and B)Basically muck up a person's system forcing a reformat, and then using up an activation if the person wants to take a risk all over again.
Whoever thought this up is a greedy halfwit, and whoever thought up DRM in the first place needs to keep away from videogames anyway.
Good job 2K, way to alienate your customers.
Addendum: Yes there are other forms of DRM out there. My main argument is against SecuROM. If it does actually stay off your computer these days, then that is better. I still don't like 2K's attitude as well as its need to let Microsoft in.
(Is it just me or is Microsoft really begging for some legit antitrust litigation against it?)
Frankly I have been on the fence about Bioshock2. The story and setting's interesting and all, but the first Bioshock I have yet to complete because I can't just keep my interest. Now that I know 2K wants to gimp its own software I would be paying too much already for, then I will have to pass.
1: "most likely never" means a good number of people are still going to get really screwed by SecuROM having issues with their Antivirus software, their firewall, their other protection programs, plus any tweaking that people have done with their system that for whatever reason SecuROM will decide is bad.Zefar said:It's always fun to see how people react to these things.
Because
1: SecuROM will most likely NEVER cause a problem for them by now. It didn't do it to me ever and I have used a few virtual driver programs.
2: Activation limits. Seeing that you now got 15 of them the odds of you losing ALL of them quickly enough is like one in a million. IF you are retarded enough.
Now most of you probably don't know that you can just contact them and ask for more. *Gasp* I know it's amazing.
This is like the internet version of Moon landing hoax.Keep em coming boys.
2: Never underestimate the flaws in the idea of activation limits.
What is really the issue here, is once again a company is showing they can't trust paying customers because in their eyes half of them are only going to pirate it and sell illegal copies. This is basically 2K acting like we are miscreants when they feel more than free to install software that has the potential to A)Give 2K a free look into our computers, and B)Basically muck up a person's system forcing a reformat, and then using up an activation if the person wants to take a risk all over again.
Whoever thought this up is a greedy halfwit, and whoever thought up DRM in the first place needs to keep away from videogames anyway.
Good job 2K, way to alienate your customers.
Addendum: Yes there are other forms of DRM out there. My main argument is against SecuROM. If it does actually stay off your computer these days, then that is better. I still don't like 2K's attitude as well as its need to let Microsoft in.
(Is it just me or is Microsoft really begging for some legit antitrust litigation against it?)
The PC hasn't had second hand sales since like the early 90s. That's right, when we buy a game we're god damn stuck with it, yet another reason piracy on the PC is so high. We can't just turn in the game for a sizable refund and buy another, we have to be very careful with our money because bought is bought -- forever. Also, we can't just rent games and most games now don't even get demos (or the demos are like 3 minutes long).300lb. Samoan said:
Trust me, if they could do this on consoles they would. And I bet you next gen we're going to see some crazy lockdowns. Why? Because gaming companies have turned into mega-corporations fueled by the whiniest dick-bags in existence. They cry that no one buys their games, even when their shit. They whine that people steal steal them and then as a result punish no one but the consumer. They actually complain how much money they lose on second hand sales, and I KNOW they want those gone.
But you know what? Fuck them, they're enormous douchebags and they feel they can wring money out of their consumers with inflated prices, shitty DLC and online subscription fees. When someone FINALLY turns around and dicks them back (eg: gamestop and used games) they just whine and whine about it. Fuck them, they deserve worse.
When the innocent until proven guilty ideology stops working fuck the system because the system is not for the people. I`ll pirate this one for sure.
Hey I know the ideal way t ocombat piracy. It is guaranteed 100% foolproof. Don't make any games. Other than that you guys are hosed and there will always be pirates no matter what securoms and doodads you use. So quit pissing on the paying customers please.
I don't understand why they keep on wasting money with the DRM's, they do get cracked within a week. I was reading an article that stated that Crysis was cracked four days before it's release. Although I think Bioware are onto something with Mass Effects excluded content been put into a free DLC.
I read an article over at Destructoid that it will require GFWL to save your game. Kinda defeats the purpose of having a single-player experience. Sure, your computer will be connected to the internet 95% of the time, but say goodbye to your game when your ISP suddenly encounters a problem.
I'll join the wave of dissatisfaction here.
I can live with disc-checks and even a 15 activation limit, really. I am even inclined to overlook a questionable DRM software for the sake of a game that's worth it. However, I do not want GFWL, and I refuse to be forced into using it.
I might have to apologize to myself later on for missing out on BioShock 2, assuming the game will be as good as it promises. But having only my PC as a gaming system, I know I'm not going to get it. Simple as that.
I can live with disc-checks and even a 15 activation limit, really. I am even inclined to overlook a questionable DRM software for the sake of a game that's worth it. However, I do not want GFWL, and I refuse to be forced into using it.
I might have to apologize to myself later on for missing out on BioShock 2, assuming the game will be as good as it promises. But having only my PC as a gaming system, I know I'm not going to get it. Simple as that.
Pirates sail the digital seas. Will they ever find a way to circumvent them? I doubt it. On the consoles they can disable the mod chips, which prompts people to sell there system on craiglist.
But Pc's don't work that way. Which is why I'm not very surprised that they go to such lengths.
Also, Piracy isn't theft, technically. Because you aren't actually taking anything. You're copying it. It's still theft though since you are getting something for free.
But Pc's don't work that way. Which is why I'm not very surprised that they go to such lengths.
Also, Piracy isn't theft, technically. Because you aren't actually taking anything. You're copying it. It's still theft though since you are getting something for free.
Off-topic: games really need to get back to old-school shareware style demos. I downloaded Doom on XBox Arcade and it was fucking pathetic. One level? Seriously? That whole first episode made that game legendary and there's no reason the xbox release couldn't include atleast multiple levels in the demo, plus an updated engine. It was sad.AC10 said:
On-topic: It might make you happy that a game story in my neighbor hood still sells second-hand PC games, generally for under $10 and titles from the Doom 3/Far Cry 1 era.
looking at www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/97615-BioShock-2-System-Requirements-DRM-Revealed
the list of things it has to do when you install seems annoying and pointless
also "15 activations on it. If you reach 16, contacting Microsoft will get the key reset" then why have any activation limit at all, since i could, according to them just get the key reset
any time companies make me jump through pointless additional hoops to use a product i have purchased makes it seem like im just renting it...and to hell with that, i dont pay $50 to rent
edit: "you can create an offline profile for the Single Player portion of the game" why should i need to create a second profile to play when my internet is down?
the list of things it has to do when you install seems annoying and pointless
also "15 activations on it. If you reach 16, contacting Microsoft will get the key reset" then why have any activation limit at all, since i could, according to them just get the key reset
any time companies make me jump through pointless additional hoops to use a product i have purchased makes it seem like im just renting it...and to hell with that, i dont pay $50 to rent
edit: "you can create an offline profile for the Single Player portion of the game" why should i need to create a second profile to play when my internet is down?