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BioWare Backs Down From Draconian Authentication

lowlylowlycooklowlylowlycook Registered User regular
edited May 2008 in Games and Technology
BioWare Backs Down From Draconian Mass Effect Authentication

So says kotaku.

Forum mods everywhere rejoice.

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«13

Posts

  • Macro9Macro9 Registered User regular
    edited May 2008
    Well then. That's back on my to buy list.

    Macro9 on
    bO0v7.png
  • bigwahbigwah Registered User regular
    edited May 2008
    Macro9 wrote: »
    Well then. That's back on my to buy list.

    Same.

    bigwah on
    LoL Tribunal:
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    "Hope he dies tbh but a ban would do."
  • CouscousCouscous Registered User regular
    edited May 2008
    Bitching does work. Only allowing authentication on three computers still sucks.

    Couscous on
  • DroolDrool Registered User regular
    edited May 2008
    It's a good move, but people are still going to rage about 3 activations.

    Drool on
  • LewiePLewieP Registered User regular
    edited May 2008
    Good.

    LewieP on
    SavyGamer.co.uk / Twitter
  • Nimble CatNimble Cat Registered User regular
    edited May 2008
    Good news.

    Hopefully they take it out of Spore as well.

    Nimble Cat on
  • cloudeaglecloudeagle Registered User regular
    edited May 2008
    Random griping on message boards actually produced some tangible good?

    Never thought I'd see the day.

    cloudeagle on
    Switch: 3947-4890-9293
  • MagicPrimeMagicPrime FiresideWizard Registered User regular
    edited May 2008
    Compromises people, Compromises

    MagicPrime on
    BNet • magicprime#1430 | PSN/Steam • MagicPrime | Origin • FireSideWizard
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  • The_ScarabThe_Scarab Registered User regular
    edited May 2008
    bigwah wrote: »
    Macro9 wrote: »
    Well then. That's back on my to buy list.

    Same.

    I own the 360 version but I think I'll still be picking up the PC one now.

    I mean before when they had the DRM it was a no chance affair but now Im gonna go for it. The interface changes is the main thing really.

    The_Scarab on
  • HenroidHenroid Mexican kicked from Immigration Thread Centrism is Racism :3Registered User regular
    edited May 2008
    Wow, that certainly didn't last long. Thank you for being smart, Bioware.

    Henroid on
  • KhavallKhavall British ColumbiaRegistered User regular
    edited May 2008
    Now it's...


    Ok well now it's still on my list.

    Khavall on
  • LewiePLewieP Registered User regular
    edited May 2008
    Although yeah, I think the 3 activations is still bad. But a lot less bad

    LewieP on
    SavyGamer.co.uk / Twitter
  • HenroidHenroid Mexican kicked from Immigration Thread Centrism is Racism :3Registered User regular
    edited May 2008
    LewieP wrote: »
    Although yeah, I think the 3 activations is still bad. But a lot less bad

    That's something I don't mind at all.

    Henroid on
  • The_ScarabThe_Scarab Registered User regular
    edited May 2008
    The 3 activations thing is fine. All they need to ensure is that deactivating doesnt mess up like Bioshock did for a while (the main problem being that deauthenticating wasnt working)

    I mean my 360 version of ME allows only one simultaneous install, if you think of it in that way.

    The_Scarab on
  • DroolDrool Registered User regular
    edited May 2008
    cloudeagle wrote: »
    Random griping on message boards actually produced some tangible good?

    Never thought I'd see the day.

    It was probably the dozens of threads on their own forums rather than random forums. Also there are plenty of BioWare people who read PA and post around here, they know the reach of an angry PA strip.

    Drool on
  • GoombaGoomba __BANNED USERS
    edited May 2008
    Good.

    Goomba on
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
  • PeewiPeewi Registered User regular
    edited May 2008
    This goes for Spore as well.

    I wonder if they saw the newest PA comic:
    20080509.jpg

    Peewi on
    Switch: SW-6132-4331-5349 | Steam profile | I made a small video game. It's free on itch.io
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  • CouscousCouscous Registered User regular
    edited May 2008
    The_Scarab wrote: »
    The 3 activations thing is fine. All they need to ensure is that deactivating doesnt mess up like Bioshock did for a while (the main problem being that deauthenticating wasnt working)

    I mean my 360 version of ME allows only one simultaneous install, if you think of it in that way.

    I'm still not sure if there is a way to deauthenticate/deactivate/whatever your Mass Effect install.

    Couscous on
  • HenroidHenroid Mexican kicked from Immigration Thread Centrism is Racism :3Registered User regular
    edited May 2008
    Drool wrote: »
    cloudeagle wrote: »
    Random griping on message boards actually produced some tangible good?

    Never thought I'd see the day.

    It was probably the dozens of threads on their own forums rather than random forums. Also there are plenty of BioWare people who read PA and post around here, they know the reach of an angry PA strip.

    The newspost too.

    Henroid on
  • LewiePLewieP Registered User regular
    edited May 2008
    titmouse wrote: »
    The_Scarab wrote: »
    The 3 activations thing is fine. All they need to ensure is that deactivating doesnt mess up like Bioshock did for a while (the main problem being that deauthenticating wasnt working)

    I mean my 360 version of ME allows only one simultaneous install, if you think of it in that way.

    I'm still not sure if there is a way to deauthenticate/deactivate/whatever your Mass Effect install.

    Even if there is, there is many, many ways for it to go wrong.

    LewieP on
    SavyGamer.co.uk / Twitter
  • The_SpaniardThe_Spaniard Registered User regular
    edited May 2008
    I'm glad that bitching accomplished something, but my God that's only going to encourage everyone..

    The_Spaniard on
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  • CouscousCouscous Registered User regular
    edited May 2008
    LewieP wrote: »
    titmouse wrote: »
    The_Scarab wrote: »
    The 3 activations thing is fine. All they need to ensure is that deactivating doesnt mess up like Bioshock did for a while (the main problem being that deauthenticating wasnt working)

    I mean my 360 version of ME allows only one simultaneous install, if you think of it in that way.

    I'm still not sure if there is a way to deauthenticate/deactivate/whatever your Mass Effect install.

    Even if there is, there is many, many ways for it to go wrong.

    I just don't want to have to deal with the customer service if I want to install it on more than three computers. I don't know how good EA's customer service is, but I don't want to find out.

    Couscous on
  • HenroidHenroid Mexican kicked from Immigration Thread Centrism is Racism :3Registered User regular
    edited May 2008
    The_Spaniard wrote: »
    I'm glad that bitching accomplished something, but my God that's only going to encourage everyone..

    "zomg guyz wen sumthin happens dat we dun liek we just spam kk"

    Oh God. D:

    Henroid on
  • KhavallKhavall British ColumbiaRegistered User regular
    edited May 2008
    titmouse wrote: »
    LewieP wrote: »
    titmouse wrote: »
    The_Scarab wrote: »
    The 3 activations thing is fine. All they need to ensure is that deactivating doesnt mess up like Bioshock did for a while (the main problem being that deauthenticating wasnt working)

    I mean my 360 version of ME allows only one simultaneous install, if you think of it in that way.

    I'm still not sure if there is a way to deauthenticate/deactivate/whatever your Mass Effect install.

    Even if there is, there is many, many ways for it to go wrong.

    I just don't want to have to deal with the customer service if I want to install it on more than three computers. I don't know how good EA's customer service is, but I don't want to find out.

    I mean.

    Really?

    You have three gaming computers all of which must have Mass Effect on them?

    Khavall on
  • MonkeydryeMonkeydrye Registered User
    edited May 2008
    I wonder if the past DRM sceme was just a scam to get us to be ok with the 3 activations thing.

    Monkeydrye on
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
  • LewiePLewieP Registered User regular
    edited May 2008
    Is it unreasonable to want to play an old game again?

    I think what I resent about limited activations is that it is a move towards games being practically disposable.

    LewieP on
    SavyGamer.co.uk / Twitter
  • CouscousCouscous Registered User regular
    edited May 2008
    Khavall wrote: »
    titmouse wrote: »
    LewieP wrote: »
    titmouse wrote: »
    The_Scarab wrote: »
    The 3 activations thing is fine. All they need to ensure is that deactivating doesnt mess up like Bioshock did for a while (the main problem being that deauthenticating wasnt working)

    I mean my 360 version of ME allows only one simultaneous install, if you think of it in that way.

    I'm still not sure if there is a way to deauthenticate/deactivate/whatever your Mass Effect install.

    Even if there is, there is many, many ways for it to go wrong.

    I just don't want to have to deal with the customer service if I want to install it on more than three computers. I don't know how good EA's customer service is, but I don't want to find out.

    I mean.

    Really?

    You have three gaming computers all of which must have Mass Effect on them?
    My brother has a gaming computer that he might want to play it on so that is two computers. That leaves one, and one of the computers could easily seriously fuck up or need to be replaced for some other reason such as pretty much all the parts being obsolete. I could also see myself eventually getting a laptop that could play Mass Effect at the lowest settings.

    Couscous on
  • MrMonroeMrMonroe Registered User regular
    edited May 2008
    Hurraz are in order. As I said in another thread, publishers react to eflame like this.

    Here's hoping EA has decided to forget about this avenue for good instead of bundling it in with the next Madden to set a precedent.

    MrMonroe on
    STEAM ID
  • CouscousCouscous Registered User regular
    edited May 2008
    MrMonroe wrote: »
    Hurraz are in order. As I said in another thread, publishers react to eflame like this.

    Here's hoping EA has decided to forget about this avenue for good instead of bundling it in with the next Madden to set a precedent.

    That would require EA to release a new Madden for the PC.

    Couscous on
  • HenroidHenroid Mexican kicked from Immigration Thread Centrism is Racism :3Registered User regular
    edited May 2008
    titmouse wrote: »
    I could also see myself eventually getting a laptop that could play Mass Effect at the lowest settings.

    Considering the picky system requirements regarding the video card, I don't see that happening.

    Henroid on
  • ZxerolZxerol for the smaller pieces, my shovel wouldn't do so i took off my boot and used my shoeRegistered User regular
    edited May 2008
    Still not a fan of the whole activation deal -- remember how long it took 2K to release the goddamn deauth tool for Bioshock? -- but I'll deal. GG Bioware for not being complete toolbags. <3

    Zxerol on
  • CouscousCouscous Registered User regular
    edited May 2008
    Henroid wrote: »
    titmouse wrote: »
    I could also see myself eventually getting a laptop that could play Mass Effect at the lowest settings.

    Considering the picky system requirements regarding the video card, I don't see that happening.

    Then replace Mass Effect with Spore.

    Couscous on
  • KhavallKhavall British ColumbiaRegistered User regular
    edited May 2008
    titmouse wrote: »
    Khavall wrote: »
    titmouse wrote: »
    LewieP wrote: »
    titmouse wrote: »
    The_Scarab wrote: »
    The 3 activations thing is fine. All they need to ensure is that deactivating doesnt mess up like Bioshock did for a while (the main problem being that deauthenticating wasnt working)

    I mean my 360 version of ME allows only one simultaneous install, if you think of it in that way.

    I'm still not sure if there is a way to deauthenticate/deactivate/whatever your Mass Effect install.

    Even if there is, there is many, many ways for it to go wrong.

    I just don't want to have to deal with the customer service if I want to install it on more than three computers. I don't know how good EA's customer service is, but I don't want to find out.

    I mean.

    Really?

    You have three gaming computers all of which must have Mass Effect on them?
    My brother has a gaming computer that he might want to play it on so that is two computers. That leaves one, and one of the computers could easily seriously fuck up or need to be replaced for some other reason such as pretty much all the parts being obsolete. I could also see myself eventually getting a laptop that could play Mass Effect at the lowest settings.

    So even in your situation, the only time you'd have a problem is if you do end up buying another computer and something goes horribly wrong with the system.

    And that's what it would take to have to go through the ordeal of calling EA.

    Khavall on
  • StriferStrifer Registered User
    edited May 2008
    Someone in the Kotaku comments mentioned that Steam doesn't get so much flak for basically the same thing. No, Steam just doesn't get as much flak as it used to, but the key difference is that the game is tied to an account that one can take anywhere, rather than a computer. The SecuROM solution, however, allows for a one-time authentication, whereas Steam asks for a full-time connection while one is playing, and you need to connect to Steam to even get a chance to be able to have an option of starting a game. There is the problem of off-line mode, but even that requires a bit of hassle.

    Take from it what you will.

    Strifer on
    MikoSuikaLine.jpg
  • The WolfmanThe Wolfman Registered User regular
    edited May 2008
    Khavall wrote: »
    titmouse wrote: »
    Khavall wrote: »
    titmouse wrote: »
    LewieP wrote: »
    titmouse wrote: »
    The_Scarab wrote: »
    The 3 activations thing is fine. All they need to ensure is that deactivating doesnt mess up like Bioshock did for a while (the main problem being that deauthenticating wasnt working)

    I mean my 360 version of ME allows only one simultaneous install, if you think of it in that way.

    I'm still not sure if there is a way to deauthenticate/deactivate/whatever your Mass Effect install.

    Even if there is, there is many, many ways for it to go wrong.

    I just don't want to have to deal with the customer service if I want to install it on more than three computers. I don't know how good EA's customer service is, but I don't want to find out.

    I mean.

    Really?

    You have three gaming computers all of which must have Mass Effect on them?
    My brother has a gaming computer that he might want to play it on so that is two computers. That leaves one, and one of the computers could easily seriously fuck up or need to be replaced for some other reason such as pretty much all the parts being obsolete. I could also see myself eventually getting a laptop that could play Mass Effect at the lowest settings.

    So even in your situation, the only time you'd have a problem is if you do end up buying another computer and something goes horribly wrong with the system.

    And that's what it would take to have to go through the ordeal of calling EA.

    Is it too much for people to not want to have to physically call a game company and have to ask for permission to play the game that they purchased?

    It's still very silly. So I can call EA up and get my installs back. No questions asked? Then what's the point? What's stopping me from installing it on all my friend's PC's, calling EA up and make up some bullshit story about how I used up my installs? If calling them up fixes the problem... why even bother having the problem to begin with?

    The Wolfman on
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  • CouscousCouscous Registered User regular
    edited May 2008
    Khavall wrote: »
    titmouse wrote: »
    Khavall wrote: »
    titmouse wrote: »
    LewieP wrote: »
    titmouse wrote: »
    The_Scarab wrote: »
    The 3 activations thing is fine. All they need to ensure is that deactivating doesnt mess up like Bioshock did for a while (the main problem being that deauthenticating wasnt working)

    I mean my 360 version of ME allows only one simultaneous install, if you think of it in that way.

    I'm still not sure if there is a way to deauthenticate/deactivate/whatever your Mass Effect install.

    Even if there is, there is many, many ways for it to go wrong.

    I just don't want to have to deal with the customer service if I want to install it on more than three computers. I don't know how good EA's customer service is, but I don't want to find out.

    I mean.

    Really?

    You have three gaming computers all of which must have Mass Effect on them?
    My brother has a gaming computer that he might want to play it on so that is two computers. That leaves one, and one of the computers could easily seriously fuck up or need to be replaced for some other reason such as pretty much all the parts being obsolete. I could also see myself eventually getting a laptop that could play Mass Effect at the lowest settings.

    So even in your situation, the only time you'd have a problem is if you do end up buying another computer and something goes horribly wrong with the system.

    And that's what it would take to have to go through the ordeal of calling EA.
    Both of those things are guaranteed to happen eventually. Besides that, I am still playing a lot of my old games. I have had Morrowind since 2002 and have gone through a few computers since then. I don't want to have to call or email customer service every time I upgrade a computer, especially since this won't only apply to Mass Effect but also to Spore and probably other EA PC games.

    Couscous on
  • GoombaGoomba __BANNED USERS
    edited May 2008
    The Wolfman wrote: »
    Is it too much for people to not want to have to physically call a game company and have to ask for permission to play the game that they purchased?

    It's still very silly. So I can call EA up and get my installs back. No questions asked? Then what's the point? What's stopping me from installing it on all my friend's PC's, calling EA up and make up some bullshit story about how I used up my installs? If calling them up fixes the problem... why even bother having the problem to begin with?
    Well, not many people like calling or would go through the effort.

    Or even bother trying to install it on 4 or more computers at once.

    Goomba on
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
  • CouscousCouscous Registered User regular
    edited May 2008
    Goomba wrote: »
    The Wolfman wrote: »
    Is it too much for people to not want to have to physically call a game company and have to ask for permission to play the game that they purchased?

    It's still very silly. So I can call EA up and get my installs back. No questions asked? Then what's the point? What's stopping me from installing it on all my friend's PC's, calling EA up and make up some bullshit story about how I used up my installs? If calling them up fixes the problem... why even bother having the problem to begin with?
    Well, not many people like calling or would go through the effort.

    Or even bother trying to install it on 4 or more computers at once.

    It doesn't have to be on four or more computers at once. It just needs to have been activated on three computers before the person can't play it anymore.

    Couscous on
  • RakaiRakai Registered User regular
    edited May 2008
    Now if we can just get Valve to do the same.

    Rakai on
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]XBL: Rakayn | PS3: Rakayn | Steam ID
  • KhavallKhavall British ColumbiaRegistered User regular
    edited May 2008
    titmouse wrote: »
    Khavall wrote: »
    titmouse wrote: »
    Khavall wrote: »
    titmouse wrote: »
    LewieP wrote: »
    titmouse wrote: »
    The_Scarab wrote: »
    The 3 activations thing is fine. All they need to ensure is that deactivating doesnt mess up like Bioshock did for a while (the main problem being that deauthenticating wasnt working)

    I mean my 360 version of ME allows only one simultaneous install, if you think of it in that way.

    I'm still not sure if there is a way to deauthenticate/deactivate/whatever your Mass Effect install.

    Even if there is, there is many, many ways for it to go wrong.

    I just don't want to have to deal with the customer service if I want to install it on more than three computers. I don't know how good EA's customer service is, but I don't want to find out.

    I mean.

    Really?

    You have three gaming computers all of which must have Mass Effect on them?
    My brother has a gaming computer that he might want to play it on so that is two computers. That leaves one, and one of the computers could easily seriously fuck up or need to be replaced for some other reason such as pretty much all the parts being obsolete. I could also see myself eventually getting a laptop that could play Mass Effect at the lowest settings.

    So even in your situation, the only time you'd have a problem is if you do end up buying another computer and something goes horribly wrong with the system.

    And that's what it would take to have to go through the ordeal of calling EA.
    Both of those things are guaranteed to happen eventually. Besides that, I am still playing a lot of my old games. I have had Morrowind since 2002 and have gone through a few computers since then. I don't want to have to call or email customer service every time I upgrade a computer, especially since this won't only apply to Mass Effect but also to Spore and probably other EA PC games.

    Upgrade? No, for the most part upgrades should not interfere with reinstalls.
    Replacements will.

    Khavall on
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