DRM's?

[grandad1982]

Aaaaarrrrgghhhh!

After many years in the gaming wilderness (barring the guiding light of CIV) I've finally got round to building (almost finished) a new games PC.

However all appears to NOT be well in the PC gaming world. After spending a few hours browsing some new games to see what I might buy for my first new game since CIV4 I came across many worring references to DRM's and SecuROM in particular.

I have read abit about this but I'm still a bit unsure how it will effect me. For example will I need my machien to be online to play my games? Do I really own my game? Does this piece of apparent Malware decrease the security of my PC?

Also it turns out GTA4 is a pile of poo!!??? I'm very upset.

I trust this communities opinions and knowlege so please enlighten me!

 

[Adrogans]

You posted this in OT though...Just warning you.

Agree that GTA4 is crap.

 

[Truronian]

GTA4 is fantastic.

 

[Lillefix]

It's usually not a problem. But that doesn't mean DRM is a good thing.

 

[Zelig]

It's usually not a problem. But that doesn't mean DRM is a good thing.

Right.

GTA4 is fantastic.

Also right.



Not much more to say on either subject.

 

[illram]

Unfortunately there is not much you can do about it, unless you want to start pirating software.

You should be fine, but some games from various companies may not want to be installed on more than 3 computers/mobos, or uninstalled/re-installed over and over again. (Who does that anyway?) If you buy from Steam, you don't need to worry about any of that though because they do online authorization, and i believe there is a way to play your stuff w/out an internet connection if need be.

Overall I have been very pleased with Steam, I would recommend them.

 

[Onionsoilder]

The only DRM I have had problems with is the one that came with SPORE. The DRMs on things like Colonization are just fine, no issues here.

 

[Annex]

GTA4 is fantastic.

Have you played San Andreas or Vice City?

 

[History_Buff]

I know Paradox Interactive has a fantastic anti-piracy policy. You pay once through GamersGate, and then you have infinite downloads of the game. The game doesn't even ask for a CD key upon install; all you need your 'Registration Code' for is to see the higher levels of the forum, including mods, and most importantly, Tech Support. Genius.

I personally have no qualms about pirating games I've paid for to dodge DRM. Hell, the first time I played Europa Universalis (a Paradox title), it was a pirated copy, but I was enjoying it so much (and wanted the bigger experience) I went out and bought the thing. Best $60 I ever spent.

 

[Soil]

Personally I never buy games that come with DRM software. One of those is secuROM which, depending on version, can collect data on gaming habits and such. It is also annoyingly difficult to remove once the game has been uninstalled. Certain older versions of it had issues where people's admin rights were removed for their own PC.

Also, it will block the game in question if you use any disc drive emulation software. Even if you're not using the program to play the game you legally purchased.

Installs are usually limited to very low numbers and can be a nuisance if you tend to format 2 or 3 times a year. Even if it takes just a minute to sort out over phone, I don't want to be calling people to let me play a game I own. And I always wonder, what if a company goes bust and you'd like to play a game from 5 years+ back? How would you then get around the activation...

In short, it's just something to punish those who pay for their game... because there will always be pirated copies out there somewhere.

But then it doesn't affect me much. The good games come from companies who know not to shove DRM down their customers throat.

 

[QuoVadisNation]

My understanding is that there a few bittorrents that can disable SecruRoms with every efficiency; like for the game Spore. But you might want to check online first before presuming a SecruRom on anyway video game is removable.

There are few things that can be said about the good behind SecruRom. It's an abortion and causes the game to hardly ever work on VISTA 32 unless you disable security and literally re-code and tamper with your OS code to get around it. Something, given my inexperience with computers, is not something I'm comfortable with. I'm not familiar with DRM and stream to be honest.

If you're interested in purchasing a new video game; just google it and see there are floods of angry internet posts about not being able to run the game. Not seeing any means it's good to run usually. Fallout 3, in particular, is fine after the patch.

 

[truckingpete]

DRM is a blessing and a curse I guess...

blessing for the companies that make the games...curse for the gamers that cant install it multiply times on different computers...or if their main computer goes hay-wire then has to install it again...

 

[SS-18 ICBM]

GTA4 is fantastic.

Yeah, only problem was lack of replayability.

 

[warpus]

DRM is a blessing and a curse I guess...

blessing for the companies that make the games...

You think?

How many potential customers do you think DRM attracts? How many does it drive away?

If you really want to pirate a game, you will.. it's easy. Gamers are generally tech-savvy.. DRM is not a good selling point.

 

[Truronian]

Have you played San Andreas or Vice City?

Yep. They're fantastic aswell.

4 has better driving, shooting, graphics, helicopters and physics. The Online Multiplayer is also pretty ace.

San Andreas has more to do and a better storyline.

Vice City has better characters.

 

[grandad1982]

So what about upgrading hardware? What if in the next year I decide to stick in another hard drive etc? Will this effect the number of "activations" I have left.

Stupid publishers.

 

[GoodSarmatian]

So what about upgrading hardware? What if in the next year I decide to stick in another hard drive etc? Will this effect the number of "activations" I have left.

Stupid publishers.

The stupid publishers aren't clear on this. EA has for example not specified what hardare upgrades require a new activation (of the three available) for Masse Effect. I think anopther hardrive won't be much of a problem, but a new video card or a new processor will neeed another activation.

 

[grandad1982]

Thats really rubbish. Their just punishing the honest gamer! It's more than likely that I'll upgrade my graphics card in the next year or add more RAM etc.

So the corperate machien ruins sours another aspect of our lives....

 

[Mowque]

Thats really rubbish. Their just punishing the honest gamer! It's more than likely that I'll upgrade my graphics card in the next year or add more RAM etc.

So the corperate machien ruins sours another aspect of our lives....

Get over it, they are just trying to protect their product.

 

[SS-18 ICBM]

Get over it, they are just trying to protect their product.

By preventing people from installing their products on a new computer they bought. Okay, that works.