Game News Bioware releases Mass Effect copy protection info

[El Dee]

Tags: BioWare; Mass Effect

<a href="http://www.bioware.com/">Bioware's</a> Derek French releases details about the copy protection for the upcoming PC version of Mass Effect on the<a href="http://masseffect.bioware.com/forums/viewtopic.html?topic=628375&forum=125&sp=3"> official forums</a>:
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<blockquote>Mass Effect uses SecuROM and requires an online activation for the first time that you play it. Each copy of Mass Effect comes with a CD Key which is used for this activation and for registration here at the BioWare Community. Mass Effect does not require the DVD to be in the drive in order to play, it is only for installation.
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After the first activation, SecuROM requires that it re-check with the server within ten days (in case the CD Key has become public/warez'd and gets banned). Just so that the 10 day thing doesn't become abrupt, SecuROM tries its first re-check with 5 days remaining in the 10 day window. If it can't contact the server before the 10 days are up, nothing bad happens and the game still runs. After 10 days a re-check is required before the game can run.</blockquote>
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The good news? The game can be played without the disc. The bad news? Well, that depends on your stance on copy protection.<br>
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Spotted at: <a href="http://www.rpgwatch.com/">RPGWatch</a>

 

[SuicideBunny]

so it will take 10 more days to get cracked... interesting.

 

[doctor_kaz]

so it will take 10 more days to get cracked... interesting.

Nahh. It will still be cracked in a couple of days probably (at most).

 

[Licaon_Kter]

ooo...keygen...roflmao...

anyway the no-disc-in-drive sounds nice

 

[Kraszu]

ooo...keygen...roflmao...

anyway the no-disc-in-drive sounds nice

Key gen will not work becouse you have to connect to server, and it can have all legal cd-keys, so while key gen will generate mathematically correct cd-key it will not be in data base of server, that is how battle net works.

 

[Herbert West]

No big deal. SecuROM has been cracked every single time. Crackers will simply rebuild the relevant game files without any trace of DRM stuff.

The idea of playing without the DVD is very good since we can keep our discs in pristine shape. However DRM phoning home after 10 days isn't to my liking.

 

[Jaesun]

There seems to be quite the shit storm about this on the Bio bords. lulz. I guess you better get used to this since SPORE will have this CP as well.

I am curious if this is going to impact the sales of the game GREATLY, as most of the various gaming boards are really in a fuss and do not like this.

What is also crazy is the digital download also has this CP.

 

[Jedi_Learner]

If we have played the game and finished it - and want to play it again in 5 years or so, will the servers for the game still work?

Yes, or we will release a patch to remove the system if the servers need to shut down.

Heh. Hehe. Hehehaheheh. Ehehehe, hahahahaha, aaaaahahahahahahahaha, AAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

 

[Starwars]

On one hand, it's not really a problem for me since I stay online most the time anyways. But it's just a bit of a shit move when one thinks about it. I mean, if I buy the fucking game, I want it to work wherever I happen to be and regardless of whether my Internet connection is up and stuff. It's just shitty that someone *buys* Mass Effect, and then Bioware still has it on a leash.

Whatever one thinks of the protection, I really don't think it's a wise move by Bioware at any rate.

Still, cracks will likely be available so it's not a big deal. It's just a matter of principle, and the fact that this stuff won't deter pirates anyway.

 

[Licaon_Kter]

I am curious if this is going to impact the sales of the game GREATLY, as most of the various gaming boards are really in a fuss and do not like this.

not a chance, remember Half-Life2 and that download/check some files while connected to the internets for 5 hours? how did that impact sales?
the same "internet required" method applies

@Kraszu: or maybe they just check the key ( hash it or whatever )
but since there will be literally millions of key in stores all over the globe, matching one key could be easier... imho

 

[Kraszu]

@Kraszu: or maybe they just check the key ( hash it or whatever )

but since there will be literally millions of key in stores all over the globe, matching one key could be easier... imho

Try to use gey generator to get on bn. It must produce plenty of codes otherwise pirates will get original code of somebody else to often, so they make code whit enough to make key generators rather pointless. Pirates will work over it like whit steam anyway they would not want to realise version that has inconveniences of original copy.

 

[tunguska]

No big deal. SecuROM has been cracked every single time.

Really?! I remember when the newer Securom versions were considered uncrackable. For a while you were able to use certain CD burners with Blindwrite and Twinpeaks to emulate the varying track spiral but later it became impossible. That was around the time that I stopped buying games and just started downloading instead. I haven't been paying much attention to the plight of those who actually buy their games. If I can't backup my fragile CD then I don't really own a viable copy of the game IMO. So I'd rather just download a cracked binary sans copy protection. I am a fan of Bioware so if this copy protection is easily defeatable I might just buy a copy. Otherwise I'll wait for its release on TPB even if it takes a month or two. Copy protection schemes so screw over the legitimate paying customers. It's just sad.

 

[The Internets]

Hate to say it, but I'm totally on board with this. I used to balk at copy protection, now I could care less. I'm sick of hearing about PC games sales being negatively effected by pirating, this will only help to negate that issue--Not totally fix it mind you, but it's something.

And by the way, fuck pirates. Little weasel fucks are no different than car thieves or any other petty criminal.

 

[Jasede]

So what if I don't have internet?

 

[TheLostOne]

This sucks for military guys. We play video games in our down time. Guess how often the command lets us connect a personal computer to the internet when your deployed.

 

[The Internets]

People without Internet are even worse than pirates. Much worse.

 

[DemonKing]

Storm in a teacup really...given that almost everyone I know has an "always on" ADSL line at home now. Even in a worse case scenario where your ISP and/or Bio authentification server are down for a day or more you should still be able to play with the 5 day grace period...

It probably won't do much to stop piracy but it shouldn't harm the vast majority of legitimate users either.

 

[WalterKinde]

bit by bit they take away your right to the software until its essentially renting the thing.
How long will these servers for mass effect stay up?
5yrs?
10?
This was one of the points that was raised with bioshock sure now the securom servers work now but who is to say in a few years and in case you are a doubting Thomas , google's, virgin's video/music store went belly up and now folks have non-working drm'd files they can't play outside of a single pc.
The same is about to happen with microsoft's own music store in july or august.
Sure now you can play the music on that particular pc but pray you never change the hardware cause then they become invalid with no way to re-authorize the files.
Again its legit buyers that get the shaft.
And they wonder why p2p is on the rise.

 

[Xerxos]

If we have played the game and finished it - and want to play it again in 5 years or so, will the servers for the game still work?

Yes, or we will release a patch to remove the system if the servers need to shut down.

Heh. Hehe. Hehehaheheh. Ehehehe, hahahahaha, aaaaahahahahahahahaha, AAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Don't laugh, it's not without precedent.
(e.g. Unreal Tournament 2003 2225 patch)

 

[WalterKinde]

Is he a dev or speaking for EA?
One of the Bioshock devs made a statement like that in the early days of release in the forums and 48hrs it was deleted from the official forums and the dev never posted again.

 

[Nutcracker]

bit by bit they take away your right to the software until its essentially renting the thing.
How long will these servers for mass effect stay up?
5yrs?
10?
This was one of the points that was raised with bioshock sure now the securom servers work now but who is to say in a few years and in case you are a doubting Thomas , google's, virgin's video/music store went belly up and now folks have non-working drm'd files they can't play outside of a single pc.
The same is about to happen with microsoft's own music store in july or august.
Sure now you can play the music on that particular pc but pray you never change the hardware cause then they become invalid with no way to re-authorize the files.
Again its legit buyers that get the shaft.
And they wonder why p2p is on the rise.

Bingo.

 

[MetalCraze]

you forgot to add that you can install game only on 3 different pcs - in other words just change a single ram stick and you're out - bioshock way.
fuck ea and bioware for all this - I will torrent this shit if no "unsteam"-similar thing will appear (though steam is much better than limited installation bs)
plus the servers WILL shutdown and nobody will patch the game 100% guarantee. if the servers will shutdown in 5 years I seriously doubt bioware will patch it (if there will be any bioware by that time, studios owned by EA are known to die eventually, no matter how successful they are)
do they really believe that by fucking with the consumers they are fighting piracy? the game will be cracked on the day of release most likely - no matter what you do.

 

[Jedi_Learner]

Why torrent skyway? Why not just be a man and refuse to play the game until they remove the draconian copy protection?

 

[RK47]

cause we want to play for free dammit!

 

[MetalCraze]

cause they won't remove the copy protection
btw the same copy protection will be used for Spore. EA's rollin'