So who's getting mass effect

Actually I remember reading that Bioware or the publisher backstepped on the DRM scheme.
 
They took out the "check your game is real" every ten days thin. But the older stuff is still there I believe.
 
I would buy it but I'm not very interested in plastic coasters. I say this because the game is only a game as long as EA says so.

The current DRM is...

1) Upon install it authenticates with an online server. If EA ever takes it down you can never install again. Sounds farfetched? Take a look at thier history of shutting down servers for online-games. As an example see: http://www.ea.com/information.jsp be sure to take note of the date of the notice and the year of release of the games...

2) The authentication server will only authenticate to 3 different sets of hardware before you get to start calling EA support and begging for them to allow you to play your game. Hope you don't upgrade your hardware much... (none of us here would do that would they?) (Although, given the recent court decision regarding First Sale doctrine applying to software as well... this could be the source of a class-action. Could be amusing :) )

3) The SecuRom used will prevent the game from launching if you're running 'offensive' programs. Like Microsoft's Process Explorer.

There's a host of other issues with SecuRom and other invasive (invasive used in the sense of they get into the guts of your OS) copy protection systems, but they won't impact as many people as the above will.
 
Khanmots said:
I would buy it but I'm not very interested in plastic coasters. I say this because the game is only a game as long as EA says so.

The current DRM is...

1) Upon install it authenticates with an online server. If EA ever takes it down you can never install again. Sounds farfetched? Take a look at thier history of shutting down servers for online-games. As an example see: http://www.ea.com/information.jsp be sure to take note of the date of the notice and the year of release of the games...

2) The authentication server will only authenticate to 3 different sets of hardware before you get to start calling EA support and begging for them to allow you to play your game. Hope you don't upgrade your hardware much... (none of us here would do that would they?) (Although, given the recent court decision regarding First Sale doctrine applying to software as well... this could be the source of a class-action. Could be amusing :) )

3) The SecuRom used will prevent the game from launching if you're running 'offensive' programs. Like Microsoft's Process Explorer.

There's a host of other issues with SecuRom and other invasive (invasive used in the sense of they get into the guts of your OS) copy protection systems, but they won't impact as many people as the above will.
Click to expand...

You're not exactly telling the whole truth here.

#1. You make it sound like nobody will able to play ME within a year or two. Now honestly ask yourself this question? Do you think it's in Biowares best interest to have a game unplayable when it is part of a triology that will be released over the next several years? Does Bioware have a history supporting or not supporting their games?

Secondly, the link you posted only shows that EA took down their online matching servers for sports games. Practically every title on that list has a replacement. For example NHL 07 was replaced. Here's the real shocker....you can still play all of those games in that list. You can even set up your own multiplayer games. What you can't do is use EA's online matching service anymore. You try to spin it though like this is some how proof that we won't be able to play ME in a year or two. Your argument here is so weak I wonder if you even believe what you're saying.

#2. At least you got your facts straight on this one. I don't like or agree with the 3 activation limit either. All I will say though is that I've been a very happy Bioware customer for 10 years now. They have always supported their products way beyond what any other company out there does. If you need an example then go visit the NWN bioware forums and you will find that they are currently working on patch 1.69 for a game that is 6 years old. (and it's a considerable patch that is requiring quite a bit of testing and dev time)

Personally I just cannot see Bioware letting their customers down on this one. If EA turns out to really drop the ball on this one and people really can't play their game anymore. I know that Bioware will make it right. For them not to would be completely against everything they have done for the last 10 years and would utterly destroy any chance of ME2 and ME3 having any success. Who in their right mind is going to buy ME2 or ME3 when ME isn't even playable anymore.

#3. You're mistaken here. I'm not going to waste my time going to find the post on the official boards, but you can have whatever program you want installed on your computer. When you go to launch ME though you need to first shut down the 'offensive' program. A reboot isn't even required. Derek specifically mentioned that you can have MS processor Explorer installed but that you just need to close it before you run ME.

There's too many internet drama-queens out there trying to make this into a much bigger deal than it is.
 
#2 on his list is more than enough reason not to support this game. This activation limit thing needs to be opposed.
 
Responding to Frek... (not quoting everything to try to keep this shorter)

#1)
You talk a lot about Bioware... as much as I love the company, and as much faith as I have in them, they're not making the decisions anymore. That's EA.

And yes, those are all sports games... and EA disabled the online matching servers to 'entice' people to purchase the latest and greatest iteration that's nearly the same as the old one. Your point is? If EA ever thinks that it makes sense to disable the server they will. (Perhaps after ME2 and 3 are out and they're wanting to 'entice' people to move to the new big thing?)

The big issue though... is we don't know if EA will exist 5-10 years from now. If EA goes away, so do the servers. Pick up your old games from 10 years ago... There's a lot of them for which the publisher no longer exists. If they required authentication servers I'd be hosed. But they don't. I own the game, not a plastic CD that may double as a game if some company approves.

You seem to be content to lease the game for an unknown period of time. I'm not. I know that the servers *WILL* go down. It's only a question of when. 1 year? 2? 5? 20? 50? Who knows.

Basically by changing the model from selling you the game to leasing it to you they've lowered the value of what they're selling... but without dropping the price. I wouldn't lease a car for the full purchase price, I won't lease a game for it either.

#2.
Again... it is not Bioware calling the shots! If EA says that there will absolutely be no patch to fix the activation limit, then there won't be a patch to fix the activation limit. Bioware would have thier hands tied no matter how much they persoanlly want to.

Look, I've been a huge Bioware fan forever. I own lots of thier games. I trust them to do everything that they can (and they did a lot what with their forums at getting our viewpoint to EA in terms that mattered). But there are very distinct limits on what they can and can't do now. To put it bluntly they're the child and EA is the parent. And EA gets to say NO!

#3. You're mistaken here. I'm not going to waste my time going to find the post on the official boards, but you can have whatever program you want installed on your computer. When you go to launch ME though you need to first shut down the 'offensive' program. A reboot isn't even required. Derek specifically mentioned that you can have MS processor Explorer installed but that you just need to close it before you run ME.
Click to expand...

Reread exactly what I typed. Hint... "running" != "installed" But I do like how you talk about how different flavors of SecuRom (such as that used on Bioshock) would require you to uninstall 'offensive' software. There's a reason that I refused to buy Bioshock and educated others about what its DRM did as well. Good to see that the SecuRom flavor used on ME and Sport now is less dictatorial. Wonder if the people like me who raised a fuss then had anything to do with that? Hmm.... it's doubtfull... but it is encouraging :)

Anywyas, if you don't mind leasing your games for an unknown period of time, go for it. Best of luck to you and hope everything works out. However, there's way more games out there than I can possibly manage to play... I'll focus on the ones where I'm not getting a game that'll eventually not be a game.

There's too many internet drama-queens out there trying to make this into a much bigger deal than it is.
Click to expand...

I could say the same thing about shills.
 
wasn't it just a month ago that someone shut down their DRM music servers so now a whole bunch of people can't move thier music around? Same thing will happen here. I really doubt the servers will stay up more than 5 years. Some accountant somewhere will say "its not worth it anymore".
 
No, I am not buying this game because I cant actually buy it, I can only lease it under their terms for as long as they wish me to. No thanks.
 
When news of the Mass Effect DRM broke, I had originally canceled my pre-order. When they relented on the 10 day phone home, I decided to ease up a bit and buy it.

Boycotting a game over DRM just encourages the corporate suits to have even more harsh DRM in the future. These clowns associate poor sales with piracy. I guarantee you the people who come up with these policies don't play their own games and don't care about longevity, they only care about revenue.

I'm going to buy it, install it on 3 computers, then call EA and make them remove the activation for 2 of them. Just to make them waste money on tech support. I encourage everyone else who is buying the game to do the same. If they get swamped with calls over the 3 activation limit will hurt their bottom line, which is all that matters.

Finally...
If you are going to Boycott the game because of the DRM, don't pirate it. Having principles is easy when you don't have to make sacrifices.
 
not getting a video game you want is hardly a sacrifice. theres so many others(without draconian DRM) that can be played and so little time.

EA can go fondle themselves, but not on my dime.
 
Eldragon said:
When news of the Mass Effect DRM broke, I had originally canceled my pre-order. When they relented on the 10 day phone home, I decided to ease up a bit and buy it.

Boycotting a game over DRM just encourages the corporate suits to have even more harsh DRM in the future. These clowns associate poor sales with piracy. I guarantee you the people who come up with these policies don't play their own games and don't care about longevity, they only care about revenue.

I'm going to buy it, install it on 3 computers, then call EA and make them remove the activation for 2 of them. Just to make them waste money on tech support. I encourage everyone else who is buying the game to do the same. If they get swamped with calls over the 3 activation limit will hurt their bottom line, which is all that matters.

Finally...
If you are going to Boycott the game because of the DRM, don't pirate it. Having principles is easy when you don't have to make sacrifices.
Click to expand...


I think a wide scale boycott on a game like this would be more effective than you give credit for.

I have no plans to pirate this game. (or any other game for that matter But along those same lines, stopping your boycott of a game because they gave into one of your 3 demands just teaches companies to say they're going to do 3 horrible things, then take away one of them and your still happy with 2 horrible things.
 
sorry to say but none of you have made the decision any easier for me lol... I think the best bet is to wait until it's released, read some official reviews and what forum people say then take it from there..

thanks
 
vengence said:
I think a wide scale boycott on a game like this would be more effective than you give credit for.

I have no plans to pirate this game. (or any other game for that matter But along those same lines, stopping your boycott of a game because they gave into one of your 3 demands just teaches companies to say they're going to do 3 horrible things, then take away one of them and your still happy with 2 horrible things.
Click to expand...

A wide scale boycott would certainly be effective, but I am not convinced a wide scale boycott is achievable. Getting an internet rally of dedicated PC gamers to boycott the game is reasonable. However getting the casual gamers, the people who don't even know DRM exists, to boycott the game would be required. These people represent the majority of sales of any title.

Getting companies to give in a little is still a victory. You cannot expect DRM to go away overnight. Instead we need to keep moving the line of what is "unacceptable" further towards our goal.

Personally, I have no problem with one time online-activation. My only beef is with how I cannot control which PCs are "activated" without calling support.
 
Eldragon said:
Personally, I have no problem with one time online-activation. My only beef is with how I cannot control which PCs are "activated" without calling support.
Click to expand...

I agree with this. Companies do need to protect their stuffs...and one time activation is reasonable. Periodic activation is not. Limited installs is not. Of course what happens in 10 years when you dust off an old game and their activation servers dont exist anymore? Starcraft and System Shock 2 are some of my fav games I still play.

Maybe they will be responsible enough to release a no more activation patch.

Hmmm, thats wishful thinking...isn't it?
 
Eldragon said:
When news of the Mass Effect DRM broke, I had originally canceled my pre-order. When they relented on the 10 day phone home, I decided to ease up a bit and buy it.

Boycotting a game over DRM just encourages the corporate suits to have even more harsh DRM in the future. These clowns associate poor sales with piracy. I guarantee you the people who come up with these policies don't play their own games and don't care about longevity, they only care about revenue.
Click to expand...

They gave up on it requiring online authentication at least once every 10 days due to cancled preorders and community outrage.

Finally...
If you are going to Boycott the game because of the DRM, don't pirate it. Having principles is easy when you don't have to make sacrifices.
Click to expand...

I have yet to play bioshock on any system pirated or not. I won't play Mass Effect or Spore on any system either. There's way more games out there than I can play, so I focus my time (and my money) on the ones that don't hose me.

If a patch is released that changes the DRM, then I will reconsider. However I fully expect that by that point there'll be a whole new set of new shiny games competing for my time... so it's by no means a sure thing.

I have no problem with companies wanting to protect thier stuff and implementing a copy protection schemes. It's when those copy protection schemes *WILL*, at some unkonwn time, prevent me from legally playing the game that I have a problem.

Personally I feel that this 3-install authentication system isn't designed to combat piracy but rather to squash the secondhand market. (And maybe to help 'entice' people into buying a newer EA release). There's far simpler (and more effective) ways to combat piracy.
 
i've been waiting for a while to play this, i'm getting it.

all this DRM anticopy crap really is a drag though, according to the producers we're all criminals because we have the POTENTIAL to copy a game even though a majority of us probably dont.
 
3 times activation won't help against second hand market becouse you can call their tech support and get new activation from what they promise.

Anyway if DRM servers stops then all we need to do is getting some nice crack for it if Bioware doesn't make patch to solve this.
 
Michaelius said:
3 times activation won't help against second hand market becouse you can call their tech support and get new activation from what they promise.
Click to expand...

Maybe.

But I can just see how those tech support calls would go:

Them: Hi, this is EA support, how can I help you?
You: Hey, I just purchased this game and it says all the activations are used up and to call you.
Them: Could you tell us where you purchased it from?
You: ebay
Them: I'm sorry, the EULA states that the license doesn't transfer from the original owner. You'll have to contact the seller about getting a refund. Have a nice day!

Or another scenario..

Them: Hi, this is EA support, how can I help you?
You: I'm trying to install Mass Effect and it says all the activations are used up and to call you.
Them: Could you provide your name and the CD key?
You: Yeah, I'm so and so, and the CD key is such and such
Them: I'm sorry, the EULA states that the license doesn't transfer from the original owner, and this key is already associated with someone else. Have a nice day!

Or the most likely scenario of all... (going by Bioshock)

Them: Hi, this is EA support, how can I help you?
You: I'm trying to install Mass Effect and is says all the activations are used up.
Them: I'm sorry, but you'll have to contact SecuRom to get another activation, they're the 3rd party company that tracks that.
You: ....
<dialing SecuRom>
Them: Hi, this is SecuRom support, how can I help you?
You: I'm trying to install Mass Effect and it says all the activations are used up. I called EA, but htey said to contact you.
Them: I'm sorry, but EA is who you need to contact, I dunno why they said to contact us.
You: ....


Anyway if DRM servers stops then all we need to do is getting some nice crack for it if Bioware doesn't make patch to solve this.
Click to expand...

You do realize that if you live in the US that thanks to the DMCA that is quite illegal? As illegal as outright pirating it is?
 
Khanmots said:
Or the most likely scenario of all... (going by Bioshock)

Them: Hi, this is EA support, how can I help you?
You: I'm trying to install Mass Effect and is says all the activations are used up.
Them: I'm sorry, but you'll have to contact SecuRom to get another activation, they're the 3rd party company that tracks that.
You: ....
<dialing SecuRom>
Them: Hi, this is SecuRom support, how can I help you?
You: I'm trying to install Mass Effect and it says all the activations are used up. I called EA, but htey said to contact you.
Them: I'm sorry, but EA is who you need to contact, I dunno why they said to contact us.
You: ....
Click to expand...

True story. And this when the game was released and brand new...imagine if it was 2-3 years old?
Them: Hi, this is EA support, how can I help you?
You: I'm trying to install Mass Effect and is says all the activations are used up.
Them: I'm sorry, but your'e fucked. Would you like to purchase Madden 2015?
 
Monkey God said:
True story. And this when the game was released and brand new...imagine if it was 2-3 years old?
Them: Hi, this is EA support, how can I help you?
You: I'm trying to install Mass Effect and is says all the activations are used up.
Them: I'm sorry, but your'e fucked. Would you like to purchase Madden 2015?
Click to expand...

funny and probably true...
But i agree with Techx, for now its a wait and see game
Look at X3: Reunion 2.0, they originally had StarForce, much worse then SecureRom. But the 2.0 version was release without it. i bought it.
Looked at Bioshock, read the reviews, the game was - meh.. didnt pirate nor buy it.

Boycott it for now. Stardock guys say it right: those who pirate arent our customers, we do things for those who buy our games. Why would we want to make your life more difficult if you are a paying customer?

When they take the fun out of the game, and replace it with tech support phone time, then whats the point of buying the game? Unless the game is called "piss of tech support" :D
 
Monkey God said:
True story. And this when the game was released and brand new...imagine if it was 2-3 years old?
Them: Hi, this is EA support, how can I help you?
You: I'm trying to install Mass Effect and is says all the activations are used up.
Them: I'm sorry, but your'e fucked. Would you like to purchase Madden 2015?
Click to expand...

Didn't they discontinue Madden for PC?:D Hopefully the Sims 4 will be out instead.;)
 
It comes out tommarrow doesnt it? You bet I'm getting it. I was playing games like these when DOS was the hottest thing out there. Anyone remember Starflight?
 
I can't wait to pick this one up. I am hoping it is on store shelves for the weekend. I never played Mass Effect on 360 so this will be my first run through the game.

I have seen some benchmarks and it looks like I'll be able to hit 1680 x 1050 without issue, and hopefully I'll be able to add some anti-aliasing as well.
 
The_Piper said:
It comes out tommarrow doesnt it? You bet I'm getting it. I was playing games like these when DOS was the hottest thing out there. Anyone remember Starflight?
Click to expand...

Yes, in the States. We in Europe have to wait until next week for some reason
 
Consider yourself lucky to have only one week delay.

In Poland it comes month later due to difficulties in making full voice-acting localisation.

Of course EA sell online version of game earlier but it costs more than a boxed one (or rather same but you don't get discounts unlike normal game shops) so I'm not spending 10 bucks more to have only cd-key instead of full box with books, DVDs etc.
 
I made the mistake of pre ordering the game from Go-gamer.com. I get an e-mail from them yesterday morning saying
'were sorry.... yadda yadda yadda" the game is currently on backorder we expect to have it out to you within 30 days. WTF? I preorder and the game is backordered already? What a load of horse hockey.
 
I just returned from picking up my pre-order from Gamestop. I'm about to install after I post this.

If anyone else who pre-ordered it goes to pick their copy up, don't forget to remind the counter tards that pre-order customers get an extra $10 off for pre-ordering. My guy didn't know about it but the manager overheard me asking and told the clerk that it the info was in their employee news bulletin for today. Here is the news link from a few weeks ago again for more information.

http://kotaku.com/385124/preorder-mass-effect-pc-get-dead-space-stuff
 
Just had the gf pick this up for me at BB, can't wait to get off work and play it. This will be my first playthrough since I don't own a crapbox.
 
Kangg said:
I made the mistake of pre ordering the game from Go-gamer.com. I get an e-mail from them yesterday morning saying
'were sorry.... yadda yadda yadda" the game is currently on backorder we expect to have it out to you within 30 days. WTF? I preorder and the game is backordered already? What a load of horse hockey.
Click to expand...

I did the same and emailed them on it, basically it was a programming error by their site folks, they didn't put enough 'inventory' into the site so the site read that they were out of stock and triggered the email to everyone. Check your status it should say something like 'processing'/'sourced'. From what the tech told me in the email they have enough to fill the necessary orders; they just need to update the site code.

**Update - Just got a shipping confirmation from GoGamer; it's on it's way.
 
I think I'm going to pick it up after work. Bestbuy.com says they have it around here. Reviews all look really good. I'd like to hear some more people's impressions though. I don't have an XBox and I wasn't too keen on the game before, but now I'm kind of desperate for something new to play. So if anyone gets a copy, tell us what you think.
 
I got a copy, installed it, double clicked the icon and........























IT WORKED! Shock of my life. The authentication that they said would be invisible, actually was invisible!!!! :p

Seriously though, the game is great. I'm super stoked on this game and can't wait to get home to play some more.
 
Been playing a little over 2 hours now. The manual is a little vague on what things in the inventory do so make sure in-game tutorials are on. Its fun and if I didn't have to go to work right now I'd still be playing. I'm running it on my laptop in my sig at 1280x720 with high character textures, medium regular ones, and everything else on like dynamic shadows, motion blur, etc. I get about 40 FPS with occasional drops which is fine since it runs smooth enough not to notice them. The controls are very good although I haven't driven the Mako yet.
 
mastercheeze said:
I got a copy, installed it, double clicked the icon and........

IT WORKED! Shock of my life. The authentication that they said would be invisible, actually was invisible!!!! :p
Click to expand...

I fully expect that to be the case when you first get it.

I fully expect that to be the case 6 months from now when you go to install it on your new computer.

The issue I (and a lot of other people) have is that we don't know when it is going to stop working. Will it stop working the 3rd time I reformat? Will the authentication server still be running 3 years from now? 5? 7?

I want to be able to play the game today. I have no doubts that I can do that, and hey look, that worked for you!

However, I also want to be able to play the game 3 years from now. That's the tricky part. You have a game with a remotely activated self-destruct mechanism. Whenever EA wants, your game stops installing.

Personally I'm not going to support that.

That said, if you want to buy it go ahead. Just don't start claiming that because we're not seeing any issues *now* that it means that those like me who are upset about online authentication are mistaken. The majority of the issues that arise due to online-activation are issues that will show up in the future... not issues that will show at launch.
 
Khanmots said:
I fully expect that to be the case when you first get it.

I fully expect that to be the case 6 months from now when you go to install it on your new computer.

The issue I (and a lot of other people) have is that we don't know when it is going to stop working. Will it stop working the 3rd time I reformat? Will the authentication server still be running 3 years from now? 5? 7?

I want to be able to play the game today. I have no doubts that I can do that, and hey look, that worked for you!

However, I also want to be able to play the game 3 years from now. That's the tricky part. You have a game with a remotely activated self-destruct mechanism. Whenever EA wants, your game stops installing.

Personally I'm not going to support that.

That said, if you want to buy it go ahead. Just don't start claiming that because we're not seeing any issues *now* that it means that those like me who are upset about online authentication are mistaken. The majority of the issues that arise due to online-activation are issues that will show up in the future... not issues that will show at launch.
Click to expand...

Heh. lil Paranoid :)

I can still play DOS games that aren't supported by the companies OR the OS (vista) This is supposed to be why you like PC gaming. No matter what, you're game is going to have some sort of work around years from now.

I can't say that about each console I buy :)
 
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