CivCity & SecuROM (!!!!!!) =(

[Cor'e =)]

Yes, this game has it.
No, i cannot run the game on a clean install of WinXP.
No, the v1.1 patch does not change this problem.
Yes, SecuROM DRM will be permanently in your OS install.
No, you'll never be able to uninstall all of it.
Yes, the Sony aliens over at SecuROM will send out a hacked unsupported game executable.

If you want all this and to run this game, here's the fix from them sent to me to try:


Subject: [Ticket#2009111310001179] CANNOT START CIVCITY ROME... =(
Date: Fri 11/13/2009 07:29 AM

Hello.

We are sorry to hear that you are having issues while launching your program.

Your issue can be solved with an updated executable.

Please perform these steps:
1. Open the folder 'G:/Game Files/CivCity/Rome/'
2. Rename the 'civcity rome.exe' to 'civcity rome.exe.OLD' in the folder above (Right-click on this executable and go down to 'rename')
3. Download this zip-archive: http://download.securom.com/support/001227/civcityr.zip
4. Extract the new 'civcity rome.exe' from the downloaded zip-archive into the folder 'G:/Game Files/CivCity/Rome/'
5. Start the new 'civcity rome.exe'

If the problem persists, please send another analysis file of the new 'civcity rome.exe' to us.
If you have any further questions feel free to contact us.
Best regards,

SecuROM Support Team
SecuROM on the web: http://www.securom.com
or via e-mail: support@securom.com

*** Please include the subject line exactly as written above including your ticket number in all communications to ensure proper handling ***


<snip>

The number of patched/hacked game executables available at SecuROM (plus the ones like this that are hidden from view) testifies to what a hugely poor failed non-functional idea Sony's SecuROM DRM is.

Any hack, (and there are so many!!) will never allow any future patches to your game to work since the SecuROM has hacked your game's executable! And it may be likely that the hacks they make for every game will be somehow limiting on which M$ OS or hardware you run your games on!!

Now, you MUST carry along an additional hacked file from Sony to re-install & play your store bought game! Surprise surprise!

Moderator Action: Post toned down. Please keep it civil.

 

[Leonel]

That's whatever you were talking about for yah!

 

[Cor'e =)]

Opps, guess we can't say ANYTHING about Firaxis for putting SecuROM on this game...


Update: Looks like that hack from Sony SecurROM may not be working yet... They're sending me more info as to why...


Can't someone on Earth get Firaxis to take some responsibility here??

 

[Maniacal]

Yes, you can, however your post had too much yelling.

And yes, SecuROM sucks.

 

[Cor'e =)]

IMO...

Firaxis sucks too for using SecuROM...

It's not like SecuROM held a them for ransom or forced them to do this...

Firaxis actually paid for this to be done to us...

 

[cardgame]

When programmers go behind your back to put crap on your computer without your consent (what secuROM does, if i correctly recall my malware-ish DRMs) I think you have every right not to pay for such service.

If you know what I mean.

 

[Maniacal]

IMO...

Firaxis sucks too for using SecuROM...

It's not like SecuROM held a them for ransom or forced them to do this...

Firaxis actually paid them to do this...

They don't have any copy protection (or maybe a disccheck) on the Civlization games. Honestly I don't care about CivCity.

 

[Cor'e =)]

Ah, You're being too short-sighted, you know that may change...

And those who would want to play CivCity are not being informed, that's why i post this. (Praemonitus, praemunitus).

(I'd like to know what CardGame means, but obviously it can't be posted).

 

[cardgame]

(I'd like to know what CardGame means, but obviously it can't be posted).

(I'd love to tell you but obviously I can't Private Message you).

 

[Leonel]

No you may not say anything against Firaxis! I'LL KILL YOU!

 

[Maniacal]

Fanboy raaaaaaaaaaaaaaage! *rat flails wildly*

 

[GVBN]

IMO...

Firaxis sucks too for using SecuROM...

It's not like SecuROM held a them for ransom or forced them to do this...

Firaxis actually paid for this to be done to us...

Publisher is the one who decides what DRM to use. Civ4's publisher 2K Games puts SecuROM on their games. Nothing to do with Firaxis

 

[Cor'e =)]

Those sly publishers, ruining a name like Firaxis!

I put a message in to Take2support, plus Sony SecuROM says they "...will need to consult our developers to offer a solution."

I sincerely hope their "solution" is future proof, i don't intend on paying for games i cannot play in the future because of some lame short-term idea like DRM.

(CardGame, )

UPDATE: SecuROM has emailed me a patch/hack that can be downloaded from the above link, it's ~12.1MBs and again replaces the game's executable. Now this works on my system, but the DVD LED stay on all the time!
I've heard this burns out the DVD drive really fast... but the game appears to run. I will not want to ruin mine or anyone's hardware, this replacement executable does not appear as an automatic SecuROM download either, so i'm guessing we're the Beta Guinea Pigs here! =(

 

[Cor'e =)]

Wellll, SecuROM stopped talking altogether despite my emails about the DVD activity LED staying on constantly, and Take2 NEVER did reply to ANY emails regarding these problems, guess they don't care...

What a let down, i sincerely hope this is NOT the future for any more of Firaxis' Games. =(

 

[damunzy]

Oh boy, seems the pirates have better customer service than a corporation- who knew?

 

[GoodGame]

They don't have any copy protection (or maybe a disccheck) on the Civlization games. Honestly I don't care about CivCity.

CivCity wasn't even developed by Firaxis, I believe. Just a name licensing.

 

[Cor'e =)]

FireFly Studios. But Take2 still should answer their support emails on this, too bad they don't. Dead Silence. Makes one wonder what going to happen long term.

@GoodGame: IMO, PrinceScamp wasn't really giving a review so much as his opinion of CivCity, and i did not get the impression he's played CivCity at all.

BTW, i've read pretty varied reviews on CivCity after my purchase and in the end just tried to play it; reviews are both directly and obtusely useful, the latter meaning any real value i find in reading them is not from accepting their general paid fan-biased commentary, but in reading either between-the-lines or surmising some truth from what-was-left-out or from decoding the marketing-speak. I certainly do not accept the values of the reviewers, such as the general opinion that gold-plates make a meal taste better, meaning better graphics can replace better game-play.

For a $10 game it has good graphics, good dynamics, and good development. Fun for any rainy weekend. I think it similar to a graphically updated Caesar III (here's where the i-was-promised-more Caesar IV people rant).
We'll probably see this on the JC Software racks soon or if it catches on then a Add-On/Expansion may come to be sold. I hope the latter since i own it, but the SecuROM DRM crap is really bad here, they'd make more money and more happy users if they fixed it.