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danny e.
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Annoying game DRM thread - (buyer beware list)

Mon Sep 15, 2008 5:36 pm

not sure about anyone else.. but I wont buy games with limited installs.
If I spend $50 on a game I want to feel like I "own" it enough to be able to resell...

so, thought it might be nice to have a thread dedicated to games with crappy, annoying DRM so people like me can take a quick glance to see which games we will not purchase rather than finding out the hard way after paying.

-------------------------
Dirt 2: SecurROM - annoying and locks up.
Bioshock: - limited installs - SecuROM - authentication required
Crysis Warhead: limited installs (3) - SecuROM - authentication required
Dead Space: SecuROM - authentication required.
Far Cry 2: limited installs (5) - SecuROM - authentication required **** "proper" uninstall refunds activations.\
FEAR 2: Steam required. Activation required. Steam account required. idiots!
GRID: SecuROM
Hellgate: London - SecuROM
Mass Effect - limited installs(3) - SecuROM - authentication required
Red Alert 3: limited installs (5) - SecuROM - authenticaiton required
Spore - limited installs(3) - SecuROM - authentication required
Stalker Clear Sky: Tages - limited installs - authentication required?
---------------------------------

Uplay = U Pay.


Assassin's Creed II
Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood
Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy
Assassin's Creed Revelations
Assassin's Creed III
Beowulf: The Game
Brothers in Arms: Furious 4
Call of Juarez: The Cartel
Driver: San Francisco
Heroes of Might and Magic VI
Just Dance 3
Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands
Pure Football
R.U.S.E.
Shaun White Skateboarding
Silent Hunter 5: Battle of the Atlantic
The Settlers 7: Paths to a Kingdom
Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X. 2 Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Future Soldier
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Conviction Your Shape: Fitness Evolved

Games I would have purchased but didnt and wont simply because of DRM:
Bioshock - limited installs - SecuROM - authentication required
Crysis Warhead: limited installs (3) - SecuROM - authentication required
Far Cry 2: limited installs (5) - SecuROM - authentication required **** "proper" uninstall refunds activations.
Stalker Clear Sky: Tages - limited installs - authentication required?
Last edited by danny e. on Mon Jul 30, 2012 12:01 pm, edited 35 times in total.
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MaxTheLimit
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Re: Game DRM thread - annoying DRM (do not buy list)

Mon Sep 15, 2008 5:46 pm

Wasn't DRM removed from Bioshock? I can't recall.
 
Scorpiuscat
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Re: Game DRM thread - annoying DRM (do not buy list)

Mon Sep 15, 2008 6:12 pm

Dont forget to post install limits, that annoys me more than than SecuROM does.
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danny e.
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Re: Game DRM thread - annoying DRM (do not buy list)

Mon Sep 15, 2008 6:58 pm

Scorpiuscat wrote:
Dont forget to post install limits, that annoys me more than than SecuROM does.

yeah, i agree with this. i really dont care about DRM that much if it doesnt have crazy "features" like install limits associated with it.

part of the reason for posting here is i figured others would know more than me.. i'm not really a big gamer.. only buy a couple a year on average.
I bought COD 4 a while back and still have not played it.
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NeXus 6
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Re: Game DRM thread - annoying DRM (do not buy list)

Mon Sep 15, 2008 7:18 pm

MaxTheLimit wrote:
Wasn't DRM removed from Bioshock? I can't recall.

I believe it was. Eventually they will remove the install limit on their games once sales drop to a certain level. People are getting worked up over this for nothing.
 
Peffse
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Re: Game DRM thread - annoying DRM (do not buy list)

Mon Sep 15, 2008 7:31 pm

NeXus 6 wrote:
MaxTheLimit wrote:
Wasn't DRM removed from Bioshock? I can't recall.

I believe it was. Eventually they will remove the install limit on their games once sales drop to a certain level. People are getting worked up over this for nothing.

...and if they don't?

Isn't it obvious why people are getting worked up? Securom amounts to a rental system.

Plus, even after a game "removes" it's DRM, how exactly does that change the CD you already own? It will still install a rootkit, or whatever annoying system they come up with next.
 
SNM
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Re: Game DRM thread - annoying DRM (do not buy list)

Mon Sep 15, 2008 8:10 pm

Bioshock still contains DRM, but the authentication server for installs automatically returns a "yes" command these days; there's no install limit.
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NeXus 6
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Re: Game DRM thread - annoying DRM (do not buy list)

Mon Sep 15, 2008 8:16 pm

Peffse wrote:
NeXus 6 wrote:
MaxTheLimit wrote:
Wasn't DRM removed from Bioshock? I can't recall.

I believe it was. Eventually they will remove the install limit on their games once sales drop to a certain level. People are getting worked up over this for nothing.

...and if they don't?

Isn't it obvious why people are getting worked up? Securom amounts to a rental system.

Plus, even after a game "removes" it's DRM, how exactly does that change the CD you already own? It will still install a rootkit, or whatever annoying system they come up with next.

Well, if the don't then they will most likely face some sort of lawsuit from angry gamers who legally purchased the game. EA and other game publishers are looking to make as much profit as they can while their games are still selling well. DRM sucks but can you really blame them?
 
danny e.
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Re: Game DRM thread - annoying DRM (do not buy list)

Tue Sep 16, 2008 7:48 pm

hmm cant find any official place that states Crysis Warhead has a limit of 3 installs.. anyone know for sure?
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danny e.
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Re: Game DRM thread - annoying DRM (do not buy list)

Tue Sep 16, 2008 7:52 pm

SNM wrote:
Bioshock still contains DRM, but the authentication server for installs automatically returns a "yes" command these days; there's no install limit.

the problem with this theory is you're still forcing an activation. what happens when the servers are down? what happens when the company goes under?
.. typically for most games you may never play them again after 5 years.. so it might not end up being an issue the majority of the time.. but there should be nothing preventing me from going back and playing the original Doom, for example.

there are better methods to prevent piracy.. i'm amazed that the software companies havent implemented them, as if I was in charge i would.
it wouldnt be that hard to make it nearly impossible to pirate while at the same time providing no necessary internet connection or activation.. and no install limits.

the laughable part of it is that the current methods punish customers the most...
already two games that i was "for sure" going to buy I have decided not to... waiting to hear for sure about Crysis Warhead, as I really wanted that one.
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danny e.
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Re: Game DRM thread - annoying DRM (do not buy list)

Tue Sep 16, 2008 8:30 pm

seems Crysis does at least require authentication, which means I will not buy.
any game that requires an internet connection will not get dollars from me. :)
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NeXus 6
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Re: Game DRM thread - annoying DRM (do not buy list)

Tue Sep 16, 2008 8:30 pm

If the company was going under, most likely they would remove the DRM. I read somewhere that Valve would do this with their own games if that were to happen. It would be silly for any game publisher to maintain an install limit once games hit the bargin bin, so I simply wouldn't worry about it.
 
Pax-UX
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Re: Game DRM thread - annoying DRM (do not buy list)

Wed Sep 17, 2008 6:27 am

For options 2 & 3 just buy the Xbox version. The Xbox is now cheaper then a good GFX gaming cards.
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Re: Game DRM thread - annoying DRM (do not buy list)

Wed Sep 17, 2008 8:29 am

Isn't Hellgate London getting shut down anyway?
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Re: Game DRM thread - annoying DRM (do not buy list)

Wed Sep 17, 2008 8:41 am

You can't trust these companies to put out a patch removing whatever their DRM infested crap comes with. I will never purchase a game with phone home DRM.

This is a great idea. I always have to look up what DRM a game has that I want to buy has these days, and a list like this would save time. This thread should get stickied.

As to hellgate, I wouldn't be surprised. The game itself is pretty good, but the classes are just so bad it ruins the game.
 
PetMiceRnice
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Re: Game DRM thread - annoying DRM (do not buy list)

Fri Sep 19, 2008 9:11 am

Thanks for the heads up, and please keep this thread fresh in people's minds. I personally will not buy any game that requires me to authenticate it, and I definitely will avoid any game with an install limit. I was going to go out and buy Crysis Warhead, but that idea is out the window now.
 
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Re: Game DRM thread - annoying DRM (do not buy list)

Fri Sep 19, 2008 9:18 am

Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow I think was the first in the series to use crap DRM.
 
wtburnette
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Re: Game DRM thread - annoying DRM (do not buy list)

Fri Sep 19, 2008 3:13 pm

derFunkenstein wrote:
Isn't Hellgate London getting shut down anyway?


Eventually, yes. Flagship lost the money to keep their employees and the rights to the game. Namco is managing the server right now, but that's only going to last until the issue of who has rights to the game is resolved. It's too bad as I really enjoyed the game. I played it for about 9 - 10 months to the exclusion of almost everything else.
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danny e.
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Re: Game DRM thread - annoying DRM (do not buy list)

Fri Sep 19, 2008 4:38 pm

i wish i had the opportunity to sit down with the decision makers at some of these companies because they appear to be complete morons and dont get the real reason for the complaint.

I think back in the day when they first started DRM, they probably had "good" intentions.. just prevent people from copying a buttload of copies for installing without purchasing.. but somewhere along the line i think the corporate idiots thought "hey.. if we can prevent them from copying we can also prevent 2nd hand sales, so everyone who wants to play the game will have to buy the game new rather than buying from their neighbor for 10 bucks after their neighbor found they hated it". .. or at least it seems.

anyways...
http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/54837

"We assumed that consumers understand piracy is a huge problem," continued Gibeau. "We felt that limiting the number of machine authorizations to three wouldn't be a problem ... [and] we assured consumers that if special circumstances warranted more than three machines, they could contact our customer service team." 

why is 3 not a problem? there shouldnt even be any limit on copying the game as many times as you want onto backup discs.
the only thing that should be limited is that there should only ever be one game running per license... and given the amount of money they have in the industry.. the fact that they havent come up with the solution that is obvious makes me think that perhaps they really dont care to find it.. and want to push DRM until they can come up with some way of enforcing "pay per play".. which will kill them.
.. the one positive from that article is that it states they're thinking about adding a de-activiation mechanism to undo some of your previous "installs" to get the install back. If they came up with a reasonable and fool-proof way of doing that, then i'd think it'd be a big step in the right direction. But what really irritates me is that all of their DRM schemes get broken right away anyways.. so why do they keep paying the fools responsible for this crap. Throw a couple million at me and I'll have your solution in less than a year.


one instance running per license is not that hard. and done correctly it would allow you to make as many backups as you want and would put no harm on the customer.. while basically elminating piracy completely... without the retarded requirmenet of online activitaion or even an internet connection.
Last edited by danny e. on Fri Sep 19, 2008 4:47 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: Game DRM thread - annoying DRM (do not buy list)

Fri Sep 19, 2008 4:43 pm

danny e. wrote:
one instance running per license is not that hard...even an internet connection.
O RLY?

How on earth would you accomplish that?
...
 
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Re: Game DRM thread - annoying DRM (do not buy list)

Fri Sep 19, 2008 4:55 pm

Company of Heroes: Opposing Fronts. I can't get my password back and I can't get a second account. What a joke. Should have bought it on steam which I may end up doing anyway because I really liked the game. I just shouldn't have to pay for it twice.
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Re: Game DRM thread - annoying DRM (do not buy list)

Fri Sep 19, 2008 5:05 pm

From what I heard crysis warhead has a 5 install limit which at least is a step in the right direction. Also IIRC the Hellgate london x64 version is an unprotected .exe so that might matter to some people.

EDIT: Also the multiplayer part of warhead has unlimited installs but you need to activate it online the first time you play it.

Source here: http://news.bigdownload.com/2008/09/19/ ... -launched/
 
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Re: Game DRM thread - annoying DRM (do not buy list)

Fri Sep 19, 2008 11:17 pm

I didn't know about the crysis warhead drm, and I just bought it.

Should I return it to walmart and say the cd is broke to get a refund?
I don't feel like installing it now.
 
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Re: Game DRM thread - annoying DRM (do not buy list)

Sat Sep 20, 2008 12:46 am

danny e. wrote:
not sure about anyone else.. but I wont buy games with limited installs.
If I spend $50 on a game I want to feel like I "own" it enough to be able to resell...

so, thought it might be nice to have a thread dedicated to games with crappy, annoying DRM so people like me can take a quick glance to see which games we will not purchase rather than finding out the hard way after paying.
-------------------------
1.) Spore - limited installs(3) - SecuROM - authentication required
2.) Bioshock - limited installs - SecuROM - authentication required
3.) Mass Effect - limited installs - SecuROM - authentication required
4.) Hellgate: London - SecuROM
5.) Crysis Warhead: limited installs (3) - SecuROM - authentication required


Where's "every game on Steam" on that list? Also, as others have pointed out, the install limit has been removed from Bioshock. I'm not sure if this fits into your idea of "crappy, annoying DRM", but Company of Heroes has online activation/verification as well.
 
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Re: Game DRM thread - annoying DRM (do not buy list)

Sat Sep 20, 2008 4:51 am

Yea, I wanted to mention "Company of Heroes" as well. I got it bundled with my GPU and it's mess. To tell the truth ist's unplayable piece of crap because of DRM. You have to either disconnect net or do some other weird things to get it going with original disc and original serial entered.

I went trough the hassle to start game few times, finished one mission and thanks, the DRM there is crap. You can't play a game you own!!! Company of Heroes sucks!
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Re: Game DRM thread - annoying DRM (do not buy list)

Sat Sep 20, 2008 5:15 am

danny e. wrote:
I bought COD 4 a while back and still have not played it.


Giev yourself a smack and get that game installed. Even though it's very linear and too short (imo) it's still a great game. The MP is really good too.
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l33t-g4m3r
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Re: Game DRM thread - annoying DRM (do not buy list)

Tue Sep 23, 2008 7:32 pm

DAMN. I shouldn't have installed warhead.
I should have just returned the thing. (and I may just yet.)

It's giving me the same stupid problem that bioshock did.
The game won't run at all because I'm running process explorer. (error 5024)
:evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil:

edit: found a "fix".
game works now.
GJ screwing the paying customer EA.
 
Pax-UX
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Re: Game DRM thread - annoying DRM (do not buy list)

Wed Sep 24, 2008 1:35 am

l33t-g4m3r wrote:
The game won't run at all because I'm running process explorer. (error 5024)
:evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil:

edit: found a "fix".

So like did you just quit out of Process Explorer??? :P
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l33t-g4m3r
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Re: Game DRM thread - annoying DRM (do not buy list)

Wed Sep 24, 2008 11:01 am

no, process explorer installs a driver, which the drm picks up on.
exiting has no effect.

try it yourself if you have spore or warhead. 8)
 
Hdfisise
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Re: Game DRM thread - annoying DRM (do not buy list)

Wed Sep 24, 2008 11:23 am

l33t-g4m3r wrote:
no, process explorer installs a driver, which the drm picks up on.
exiting has no effect.

try it yourself if you have spore or warhead. 8)


If you say the fix :P

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