DRM/SecuROM?

[War Consigliere]

I've had a hankering to jump back into a few games of SMAC and since I've been unable to find my original discs, I bought the version of SMAC+X being put out by a group called "Sold Out Software".

Running the installer, though, I noticed that the installer wasn't the original one. The back of the box noted that there's DRM, but no indication of what type.

I've had to reformat two hard drives before to rid myself of SecuROM malware infections, and I'm not willing to render my PC unusable by putting it on there again. I sent a query to the manufacturers, who said that they didn't know what sort of DRM was on their discs, and encouraged me to load it up to see if SecuROM was there.

I'm not asking for cracks - if I was interested in going down that route it would have been easier to get a ripped version than to buy the game again - but can anyone tell me whether the Sold Out Software version of SMAC+X is free of the SecuROM malware, or have I just purchased two dud discs?

 

[Buster's Uncle]

...I don't recall any reports of anything like that; it's been on the market for almost a year.

 

[vyeh]

I've had to reformat two hard drives before to rid myself of SecuROM malware infections, and I'm not willing to render my PC unusable by putting it on there again. I sent a query to the manufacturers, who said that they didn't know what sort of DRM was on their discs, and encouraged me to load it up to see if SecuROM was there.

...I don't recall any reports of anything like that; it's been on the market for almost a year.

The DRM on the new issue is SecuRoM. One that has complaints and some litigation. There are several slightly different versions of SecuROM being used on different games.

War Consigliere,



I use Mac, so I have not tested the Sold Out Software.

There was a report in another thread in this forum that there are reports that SecuROM is used by Sold Out software.

I have included a post by Lefty Scaevola on the issue. He is a senior mod at CFC and you can PM him if he doesn't see this post.

If you go to the post, you will see the rest of the thread.

Please note that I am not saying anything negative about Buster's Uncle's comment. He spends most of his posting time at WePlayCiv and I'm sure the issue of SecuROM did not come up.

It did come up at CFC and I did want you to know that.

I strongly urged you to read the thread for yourself and ask Lefty Scaevola for more information. (I am trying to avoid a potential issue by sending the matter to a senior moderator.)

Let me repeat. I do not know the answer to your question. All I am doing is pointing you to someone that might.

It may be that after the initial reports, SecuROM is not used in the Sold Out software, so I want it to be crystal clear that I am not suggesting that Buster's Uncle is wrong.

 

[Lefty Scaevola]

The most recent published version of SMAC+X has SecuROM DRM. There are different versions of SecuROM. Some of the earlier ones have litigation about it somehow trashing the controllers or drivers of optical drives if you have more than one. I know (technically proficient, computer student) gamers who have no problems with more recent versions, such as the SecuROM on the PC version of Mass Effect. To get one free of DRM you would need to find a old or used copy from before then (designed for Win 98) and go through the process of patching it and making compatible on your current box.
I have the original versions running on old Win98 (SMAC) and WinMillenium (SMACX) boxes.
I have never had to reformat a hard disk or reinstall an operating system, and in various places have 3 win98 boxes, 1 WinMillennium box, 2 WinXP boxes, and 1 Win7 boxes running, thus I do not have much problem with backwards compatability. I even have a old Win95 box in a closet, in case I should develope an overpowering urge to play Warlords II.

 

[War Consigliere]

Thanks, guys.

SecuROM's a particularly evil and insidious form of malware that locks me out of my DVD drive and disables all my virtual drives, then auomatically reinstalls itself when you disable it, so the only way to get rid of it is to reformat everything and reinstall from scratch.

Evil, evil piece of malware.

I appreciate the help - now I know better than to install this one. As this is the third game in a row that I've paid for and can't install, I can't see myself ever buying a PC game again.

 

[vyeh]

I am glad that Lefty Scaevola was able to help you. I had remember reading that there was some controversy when the Sold-Out software had come out and I was able to find the post with a search of the term "SecuROM."

I think I happened to remember it because the SecuROM seemed like such a nasty piece of software, especially since there was an official patch for SMAC (not SMAX) that removed the need for the CD to be in the computer!

If you are interested in playing SMAC, you might check eBay. Perhaps with the release of the Sold-Out version you can find an old CD without SecuROM sold cheap.

 

[War Consigliere]

The fun bit is that if you buy the commercial release it'll stuff your computer three ways from Sunday, but a pirated version - which I'm not advocating - wouldn't.

Grr.

Thanks, but I think I'll just pass on it unless I find my original discs some day.

 

[vyeh]

Lefty,

We have a question:

Is the Sold Out Software version the same version as the old Planetary Pack? DrazharLn did not mention Sold Out Software in his description.

 

[Lefty Scaevola]

I am not specifically familiar with sold-out software, other than it being an outlet for EA, but War Consigliere above mentions that what he bought from them says on the box that it has DRM, which was not on the original planetary pack from years ago. Busters Uncle above also notes that the Sold out Software version has been around about year, whereas the planetary pack was several years ago.

 

[Lefty Scaevola]

At another forum I found a post about settlement of the SecuRom litigation in California

I just got an email on the settlement.

Thank you for taking the time to contact our law firm about the litigation involving Electronic Arts computer games. This email is to notify you of a settlement reached between the plaintiffs and Electronic Arts.

The Case Against Electronic Arts

Girard Gibbs LLP and several other law firms filed lawsuits against Electronic Arts (EA) after the plaintiffs learned that when they installed certain computer games distributed by EA, a copy-protection program called SecuROM was installed on their computers without their consent. Among other things, the plaintiffs claimed that EA’s use of SecuROM was a trespass to chattels.

The Settlement

Recently, the parties agreed to a settlement which has been preliminarily approved by the court. You can view a copy of the settlement agreement, notice of settlement, complaint, and the court’s preliminary approval of settlement order at www.easettlement.com. The website also contains answers to frequently asked questions.

The settlement is a major step to ensuring that future purchasers and downloaders of EA computer games will not have SecuROM installed on their computers unwittingly. The settlement requires EA to prominently inform consumers if SecuROM is included with one of its games by placing prominent disclosures on its retail packaging, on its online store, and in its end-user license agreements.

In addition, the settlement will streamline support to those who currently wish to remove SecuROM from their computers. Under the agreement, EA’s disclosures will direct consumers to SecuROM’s website (http://securom.com) where support for uninstalling SecuROM and for other information on the program are readily available.

Finally, the settlement preserves your rights to seek compensation from EA if you believe the installation of SecuROM onto your computer caused you damages. The settlement agreement specifically preserves claims for breach of the end-user license agreement, breach of express warranty, and trespass to chattels or property. It also expands your rights of forum selection, so you can bring suit in a court in any state (previously, such actions would have had to be brought in California ). If you believe you may have been damaged by SecuROM, we recommend you act promptly to determine whether and how to pursue your claim, including by seeking legal representation or filing a small claims action on your own behalf.

If after viewing the EA Settlement website you have any questions about the case, please feel free to reply to this email.

Girard Gibbs LLP
601 California Street, Suite 1400
San Francisco , CA 94108
Phone: (415) 981-4800
Fax: (415) 981-4846
www.girardgibbs.com

Notice the link about support for removing it from systems (presumably after uninstalling the games it came with).

 

[chuft]

pesky DRM!

 

[Furiey]

I have the Sold Out version, it contains both SMAC and SMAX and I can confirm that it has SecuROM. It says so on the box.

 

[DrazharLn]

Sorry for giving you slightly duff information, chuft.

I'd like to say that I'm pretty sure the era of crazy secuRom DRM is probably over. A lot of modern games have a less restrictive version of it.

However, for your friend, chuft, I would recommend copying your entire SMAC directory onto a memory stick and just giving it to him/her.

I have about 5 copies of SMAC (I have no idea why, I guess they just turn up), but I always install from a copy I keep on a memory stick.

Doing this may or may not be illegal, but if you have a license for the game, I don't think anyone could say that you're doing anything wrong, morally.

 

[vyeh]

For SMAC Windows (not the expansion), one of the patches actually removed the necessity of having the game CD in the drive. In the end, I think Sold-Out software's decision to use Secure-ROM was a net negative. There are plenty of people who prefer to use legitimate software. Secure-ROM probably had the result of scaring off potential purchasers without inducing any pirates, who can find the game on the net, to purchase from Sold-Out software.

 

[candle86]

agreed I still have copies of both SMAC and SMACX the originals with no securom on them. SMAC broke and i got a copy and burned to disk, that's how easy it is lol, a pirate can get the originals without securom just as easy as i got a replacement disk (please note my original disk is still in my possession just cracked six ways till Sunday so i got a legal backup)