BioShock 2 DRM Explained

[Killerbunny001]

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.

 

[ND]

I like that you assume so much, I'm experienced with computers. I know a lot about DRM because I read on it, and I happen to know someone who works in the game industry. It limits your installs, and it monitors your hardware so it can identify your computer this is a process on your PC. That process, like all processes is a task that slows your pc down because it uses resources, sure it's not slowing it down a lot but it's just one process I don't want while I'm not playing the stupid game.

2.5 Does SecuROM? decrease the performance of my PC?

No,SecuROM? does not influence PC performance. SecuROM? is a library integrated into the protected application, and recent versions of SecuROM? do not contain any stand alone applications.

Some older versions of SecuROM? install the ?User Access Service?, which allows a user to share DRM licenses among multiple Operating System user accounts. The User Access Service consumes very little memory (a few hundred kBytes) and virtually no CPU power. This service does not cause a performance decrease.

3.4 Why does SecuROM? sometimes remain active in the background, even if the protected application is not running?

By default, SecuROM? does not install any permanently active applications, services, or drivers. Some older versions of SecuROM? protected applications use a special configuration which will install a Windows Service called ?User Access Service?. This service allows a user to share DRM licenses among multiple users of the same PC.
This service is only used during the initial SecuROM? authentication upon the start of the application. At all other times, the service runs in the ?idle? mode. This means that it is passively waiting for a SecuROM? protected application to perform the respective DRM authentication during the startup of that protected application.

Current implementations of SecuROM don't run in the background (IE, while you're not playing the specified game) at all. Let alone enough to hamper performance on your computer in any way.

Your friend's information is blatantly incorrect, as, like I said, there are many different implementations of DRM. "DRM" isn't a thing itself.

You're welcome.

I only have two questions for you:

1. Who do you work for?

2. How much are they paying you to promote their SecuROM? product?

 

[squid5580]

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.

 

[Gardenia]

And it will take about 15 hours before a working pirated version in all over the net. GG guys.

 

[Leon's Hell]

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.

 

[Sixties Spidey]

Eh, doesn't affect me. I'm buying this for the PS3, so I couldn't give less of a shit.

 

[Syntax Error]

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.

 

[WickedArtist]

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.

 

[johnman]

There will probly be a crack out for this game a week before its released, so why bother, your just annoying people who pay.

 

[Angron]

Just get it on a console instead if you're really that worried about it.

except its over twice the price for a console game over a PC game now

id rather buy the game cheaper and get the DRM and that awful games for windows live

 

[CrysisMcGee]

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.

 

[300lb. Samoan]

Seems like this copyright system will really throw a wrench in second-hand sales of the game. I can't tell if they're saying it can be activated on 15 Games-for-Windows accounts or if one GfWl account can activate it on 15 different systems/hardware configs.

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). -snip-

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.

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.

 

[luckshot]

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?

 

[Chadling]

....and I refuse to buy another game for the sake of principle. This is getting old...

 

[Shycte]

What happend to "PC-Games are the future"?

I can't help but to laugh.

 

[Poopie McGhee]

Was going to get for 360 anyway, but I really wish they'd knock this all DRM crap off all together, it's annoyed me in the past and it's still lingering around.

Same here...

 

[Cargando]

Just get it on a console instead if you're really that worried about it.

You know that gaming is in a sad state when you feel obligated to buy an FPS title on the console instead of the PC version because it's just less hassle that way.

*Note: Yes, I am aware that some people actually prefer FPS games on the console. I am not one of those people.

Mmm, it is awful, all this bother. Anyway, I've never actually played much PC gaming, I was raised on the PS2, never did any gaming on the PC. Maybe I should start.

Just get it on a console instead if you're really that worried about it.

except its over twice the price for a console game over a PC game now

id rather buy the game cheaper and get the DRM and that awful games for windows live

I tend to stick to the console, It's thoroughly engraved into my mind now, like I said above, I should start PC gaming.

 

[Weaver]

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.

That's pretty cool.

 

[Asehujiko]

...2K Games Community Manager "2K Elizabeth" wrote...

2k elizabeth spewed out some blatant lies about the last game's DRM so why should we trust her word on this one?

 

[ThrobbingEgo]

I only have two questions for you:

1. Who do you work for?

2. How much are they paying you to promote their SecuROM? product?

Being employed at the "Pizza Pizza" on campus, I find these questions really amusing. You, sir, made my day.

I did some digging through SecuROM's webpage, to get their side of the story, in addition to the actual research I've been doing in my Communications Studies program. I find that, reading only enthusiast gaming sites, you don't exactly get a balanced view of DRM, or exactly what it is, or why it's used. Hell, from the comments I've read, half the people posting here didn't read the article.

I'm not saying that DRM's a good thing, but misinformation? That's always a bad thing. As is engaging in Ad Hominem fallacies.

I'm just setting the record straight, heuristically.