The new forums will be named Coin Return (based on the most recent
vote)! You can check on the status and timeline of the transition to the new forums
here.
The Guiding Principles and New Rules
document is now in effect.
Oh yes, "evil" EA is gone for good...
Posts
Exactly. When developers used Starforce nobody said they were "evil" or that they were trying to screw over the customers. They simply said Starforce sucks and gave feedback that it was unacceptable. This lead to it being dropped. Same situation here. The companies aren't evil or trying to screw over the customers, they're just using the latest copy-protection scheme. While I may disagree on the severity of the issues, I don't disagree with giving negative feedback. Just don't go around calling EA "evil" because it makes you sound like a raving lunatic. (I'm using "you" in the general sense, not you specifically.)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SecuROM#Known_problems
Well, more like angry fist-shaking behind closed doors.
Actual backlash would require getting in touch with EA, getting in touch with Bioware, not buying the game, etc. Words spoken here don't really matter to EA--they're not paying attention.
this of course assumes 1) EA doesn't read the forums (they do), 2) Bioware isn't in active discussion about this security (they are), 3) People are still buying the game (they aren't), and 4) EA isn't paying attention (they are).
I was going to send them a link to this thread through their CS contact but I need to register an account to contact them
Huh? This forum? Really?
Raging in a webcomic forum thread is a pretty poor method of making your voice heard. If people really care about EA hearing them, they should email, call, what have you.
Hey, it's possible people are already doing it.
Several game companies read forums like these, believe it or not.
Officially, they have groups of people who go and read forums for feedback, or to spread messages, although this form of communication is rare. Secretly, they also have hired advertisers who spam forums to get the word out about their upcoming games and generate hype.
And finally, unofficially, several developers frequent this board. Xeiflow works for EA, for example - he is a developer for the Sims.
Let's play Mario Kart or something...
*smacks head*
That is annoying. However, this is basically that except you have to basically activate it every 10 days instead of just once, and it comes with the shitty Take Two restriction of only being able to have three copies activated on three machines.
SecuROM limits the amount of times you can reinstall their games before you need to call up a customer support line that may or may not only be open while you're at work and beg them to reactivate your key while convincing them that you're not a pirate.
The sentiments in this thread are mirrored everywhere on every gaming forum I know of.
And places like gaf, or ign, quarter to 3 etc ave large publisher and developer memberships. Heck, these forums have a few regular bioware posters.
I just remember a lot of people bitching about it.
Let's play Mario Kart or something...
I just remember a lot of people bitching about it.[/quote]
Yeah there is, but then it doesn't take long to figure out how to force it to work in offline mode so v:|v.
Also, the only people who like steam are in North America. For the rest of the world Steam really sucks.
Aye, if you use online mode you're subject to being blocked out if you lose internet connection on any given day and you can't simply switch to offline mode without being connected to the internet (that I'm aware of.) There difference really comes down to: Steam lets you install on as many computers as you like but ties the game to your account making it impossible to give away the game while SecuROM limits your installs but you can reclaim them and give your copy of the game to someone else if you want (I think). Personally, since I don't give my games away, Steam is preferable to me.
Is having the DVD in the drive still required with SecuROM? From what I understand it just checks the license key and the computer's unique ID but no mention is made of checking the DVD. If that were the case, I'd rather have a check once every ten days than a check every time I try to play a game. Having to swap DVDs is a pain in the arse and systems like Steam are great for not requiring it.
Nope, the SecuROM installs are tied to "a machine-unique identifier", so you'll have some trouble reselling them. Or installing it at all four computer upgrades from now, and before anyone says that's ridiculous, how many computers have you gone through since you first got, say, Deus Ex?
I mean, you could call Customer Support, tell them that you bought your copy used from eBay or Goozex, and get laughed at and hung up on. That's also an option.
If you uninstall while not connected to the Internet, your installation doesn't get "unregistered".
And really, you're going to trust every used game seller to make sure to properly uninstall every time?
There are a hundred and one reasons you might not go through the uninstall procedure. Corrupted windows install, busted hard drive, new PC, stolen PC, hell..forgetfulness.
edit: Also I'm sure you can call up EA and reclaim lost installations if it comes to that.
You can, but it's perfectly reasonable for someone to go through them and be unable to recover them.
Basically, it treats every install like you are giving it away to someone else for free unless you prove otherwise.
Whereas a pirated and burnt disc wouldn't. It would let you install is as many times as you want.
Hey, it's theoretically possible to get installs back if everything works perfectly and you always uninstall all your software using the uninstall program before you reformat or your hard drive starts a-clickin'. Clearly this copy protection scheme is all just fine and isn't raising unreasonable restrictions above and beyond what we've been used to for decades.
http://blog.wired.com/games/2008/05/mass-effect-pc.html
To be fair, though, I have a feeling that if you explained that to EA on the phone they might say something other than "FUCK YOU".
I mean, again, I don't think they actually did it just to fuck over customers.
For this I don't have to have the CD installed. I'm always on the damn internet anyway. I'm ok with this trade and will be getting this on the 27th.
I skipped most of this thread, but do people realize how it works? You don't have to keep turning on ME every 10 days. If you haven't played in more than 10 days it will do the check, so you just have to be online, after not playing for awhile, and if your internet is down fucking fix it and then play ME.
Actually I have a good one.
Patch in the lack of activation once it's cracked.
Some have.
But I thought we were supposed to frown on release-day patches?