_PixelNinja
[H]ard|Gawd
- Joined
- Feb 12, 2011
- Messages
- 1,460
On another forum, members and I were discussing about layered DRM (e.g. Steam + SecuROM + GFWL) on games -- this naturally lead us to talk about activation limits. After some research we found the following:
In other words, games that use the GFWL Legacy allow you to install the game somewhere from 10 to 20 times, which can be renewed once giving a total activation limit of 20 to 40 installations. Then you have to repurchase the game. This is not like SecuROM activations where you are limited to a certain number at a given time; you have x number of installations, period.
Here is a list of games using GFWL Legacy:
Upon discovering this I was quite upset. Some might say that 20-40 installations is quite a big number but: this is something that is not clearly mentioned on store pages, there is no mention of the exact installation limit of the game and you are basically paying for an extended rent.
So my question is the following, were any of you aware of this regarding GFWL?
Games for Windows Live
There are two kinds of GFWL activation:
- Current method: Server-Side Activation, or SSA. This binds the CD key permanently to your GFWL account, similarly to Steam. Thanks to this feature, the games do not carry activation limits! On top of this, a new GFWL feature has been added: Zero Day Piracy Protection (or ZDPP). This is their attempt to prevent pre-release copies from being played, and it can only be applied to SSA games.
- Legacy method: A simple CD key check. This still requires an Internet connection, but it does not tie the key to your account. This has an activation limit between 10-20 (usually 15), similar to the usual Microsoft products (such as Office). If you hit the limit, contact Microsoft support. With proper evidence they will give you a new key, but you are only allowed one more key. After that, you will need to buy the game again.
In other words, games that use the GFWL Legacy allow you to install the game somewhere from 10 to 20 times, which can be renewed once giving a total activation limit of 20 to 40 installations. Then you have to repurchase the game. This is not like SecuROM activations where you are limited to a certain number at a given time; you have x number of installations, period.
Here is a list of games using GFWL Legacy:
- Battlestations Pacific
- Bioshock 2
- The Club
- Fallout 3 (Plus All Five DLC Packs); Single-player only, can be completely ignored (no profile/activation needed).
- Flatout: Ultimate Carnage
- FUEL
- Grand Theft Auto IV: Complete Edition
- Grand Theft Auto 4 + Episodes
- Warhammer 40K: Dawn of War 2 + Chaos Rising
- Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights
- Kane & Lynch: Dead Men
- Lost Planet: Colonies Edition
- Quantum of Solace
- Red Faction Guerrilla
- Resident Evil 5
- Star Wars: Clone Wars: Republic Heroes
- Stormrise
- Street Fighter 4
- Universe at War: Earth Assault
- Vancouver 2010
Upon discovering this I was quite upset. Some might say that 20-40 installations is quite a big number but: this is something that is not clearly mentioned on store pages, there is no mention of the exact installation limit of the game and you are basically paying for an extended rent.
So my question is the following, were any of you aware of this regarding GFWL?