EA and their DRM software

[headhunter228]

Over Christmas, I wanted to buy Mass Effect for my computer. I played it a little on the 360 and enjoyed it, so I wanted to play through the entire game on my PC. Then, I got into the product reviews. Here's one:

http://www.amazon.com/review/REQ0B4T30Q4X4/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm

So, I thought to myself, "Surely EA is getting a crapload of lawsuits over this. They won't be doing this for long." So, I decided to move on and buy Need for Speed: Undercover for my PC. I read some more reviews, and here's what I found:

http://www.amazon.com/review/RCSUNR0RGU7VU/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm

First off, the computer I was planning on installing these games on does not have an Internet connection. (BTW, I am at school right now, on their computers, not the one I have at home) These games require one just to activate. That alone made me mad. Then I found out just how malicious SecuROM was. My parents tried downloading Spore for my little brother, and their myriad virus/spyware-detection software found out about SecuROM and raised hell. It infected their computer anyway, and my parents had to format the hard drive. From what I understand, the program actually burrows it's way into your registry and can only be deleted by using third-party software or formating your computer. Even if you uninstall your game. The program even sends information back to EA. Then there's the limited activations...

I applaud EA for trying to prevent people from pirating their video games, but these steps are going too far, and even worse, they're trying to make more money off of it. I'm not even sure if this is even legal. Are these steps necessary, or is this going too far?

I, for one, am not going to be a part of their money-making schemes. I don't care how much I want the game. If it's from EA, I'm not buying it.

[SilentScreams]

Personally I've never had a problem with SecuROM, but I can tell you right now what the answer on these boards is going to be.

It ends with people getting torches and pitchforks and marching on EA HQ.

[Philonious]

Doesn't the fact that Mass Effect is now available on Steam solve these problems?

[headhunter228]

Personally I've never had a problem with SecuROM, but I can tell you right now what the answer on these boards is going to be.

It ends with people getting torches and pitchforks and marching on EA HQ.

You're probably right. I just don't like people spying on my computer. Also keep in mind that SecuROM is tied into your system configuration. If you upgrade your computer with ANYTHING, you have to reinstall your game. My computer is badly in need of upgrading, so that's one big thing I have a problem with.

Doesn't the fact that Mass Effect is now available on Steam solve these problems?

Once again, the computer I was planning on installing it on has no Internet. But I didn't know it was available on Steam. Maybe I can pack up my computer, cart it to Subway, and download it there. Problem solved.

[Dukefrukem]

Personally I've never had a problem with SecuROM, but I can tell you right now what the answer on these boards is going to be.

It ends with people getting torches and pitchforks and marching on EA HQ.

or it ends with an "m" and rhymes with cream.

[Heretic Machine]

Doesn't the fact that Mass Effect is now available on Steam solve these problems?

No, Steam does not strip out the existing DRM. If it had SecueROM at retail, it has it on Steam.

Also, the solution to this problem is to simply not buy EA products. This is actually very easy, since they haven't produced anything worthwhile in at least a decade (besides maybe Mirror's Edge). Activision is another story entirely, since they actually put out good games from time to time.

[Dukefrukem]

No, Steam does not strip out the existing DRM. If it had SecueROM at retail, it has it on Steam.

Also, the solution to this problem is to simply not buy EA products. This is actually very easy, since they haven't produced anything worthwhile in at least a decade (besides maybe Mirror's Edge). Activision is another story entirely, since they actually put out good games from time to time.

Dead Space?

[LarsenNET]

No, Steam does not strip out the existing DRM. If it had SecueROM at retail, it has it on Steam.


Not True (http://www.bluesnews.com/cgi-bin/board.pl?action=viewthread&threadid=94257) SecuROM is not in Mass Effect via Steam.

[Heretic Machine]

Not True (http://www.bluesnews.com/cgi-bin/board.pl?action=viewthread&threadid=94257) SecuROM is not in Mass Effect via Steam.

Well, that's nice then, I wish others would do the same for their Steam releases.

[Khrymsyn]

I COULD make a comment about how the pirates get to play the games without DRM.
But that's a whole can of worms that doesn't help the situation =P

[jpublic]

HM, a lot of companies strip their DRM for Steam releases. EA does for their recent spate, Egosoft did for X3 (and they had freaking Starforce!).

[boratika]

Not True (http://www.bluesnews.com/cgi-bin/board.pl?action=viewthread&threadid=94257) SecuROM is not in Mass Effect via Steam.

Yep, massive respec' for EA on this front. SecuROM stopped me from buying Mass Effect in boxed version, but I picked it up on steam. I wish Ubi would follow them. I purchased PoP on Steam, but won't be buying Farcry 2 or anything else until they drop SecuROM.


I don't know how terrible SecuROM is, but I guess I'm bit once bitten, twice shy about DRM after Starforce.

[jpublic]

I have Dead Space and Spore retail versions, and honestly, I never even noticed the DRM.

[headhunter228]

I have Dead Space and Spore retail versions, and honestly, I never even noticed the DRM.

Well, it showed up big time on my parent's computer. Of course, they have every anti-virus/anti-spyware program known to man. It might have something to do with the fact that they tried to download Spore off of the Internet. Do they have a different version of SecuROM on the download version, maybe?

[Deadend]

...I don't think it's smart of them to have that many AV programs running. Well, if they bought it... just pirate a copy of it, the version on the torrents has the DRM shit worked around. Sad but true, Securerom did jack shit for preventing 0-day piracy and hurts legit customers.

[boratika]

...I don't think it's smart of them to have that many AV programs running. Well, if they bought it... just pirate a copy of it, the version on the torrents has the DRM shit worked around. Sad but true, Securerom did jack shit for preventing 0-day piracy and hurts legit customers.

Well Spore did avoid 0-day piracy...with -7-day piracy :D

[MagGnome]

Well, that's nice then, I wish others would do the same for their Steam releases.

I don't understand why publishers leave SecuROM in Steam games. What does it actually do in a Steam game? Doesn't SecuROM mainly check if the disc is in the tray. What's the point of having it in a downloaded game?

Could someone explain?

[ShivaX]

What does it actually do in a Steam game?

I think a safe answer is probably: Nothing good.

SecuROM hasn't really caused me any issues that I'm aware of, but then again it seems like its pretty easily defeated by hackers as well. The day a game comes out there tends to be an .iso that you can toss on Daemon Tools to defeat the thing. Sometimes it gets more complex and you have to swap an .exe, but not often.

[boratika]

I think it limits the number of installs.

[MagGnome]

I think it limits the number of installs.

Via Steam? Is that even possible?

[Deadend]

I don't understand why publishers leave SecuROM in Steam games. What does it actually do in a Steam game? Doesn't SecuROM mainly check if the disc is in the tray. What's the point of having it in a downloaded game?

Could someone explain?

I heard the reason that it's included still is to make it harder to compare the versions without secureROM to the ones that do, figure out what is different between the various DRMs, and keep deleting those bits until you have a DRM stripped copy of the game. Which is easier to do if you have 2 different DRM schemes to compare to.

Even though it still doesn't make sense as the games are already cracked to all hell by that point.

[boratika]

Via Steam? Is that even possible?

Yeah. You can probably still download it via Steam but the install won't work when in gets to the registration part.

Another point of note is that (at least some) Steam games with 3rd party DRM don't also use the Steam DRM. So for example Far Cry 2 can be opened without Steam being opened.

[MagGnome]

Yeah. You can probably still download it via Steam but the install won't work when in gets to the registration part.

Another point of note is that (at least some) Steam games with 3rd party DRM don't also use the Steam DRM. So for example Far Cry 2 can be opened without Steam being opened.


That just seems ridiculous. These games should be marked in some way to indicate that they abdicate the great Steam DRM in favor of some shitty DRM that limits your play.

[jpublic]

The only game on Steam that I recall that tried to do an install limit was Bioshock, and they eventually patched the Steam version to allow you to de-auth when you uninstalled the game.

[boratika]

That just seems ridiculous. These games should be marked in some way to indicate that they abdicate the great Steam DRM in favor of some shitty DRM that limits your play.

They are.

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f66/boratika/steamsecurom.png

Make sure to keep an eye out.

I gather there were some games that didn't have the DRM listed and some outrage ensued, but I'm pretty sure Valve has since corrected that since.

[MagGnome]

Damn, I never noticed that. I'll have to see if anything I bought has that kind of BS attached to it.

[Telefrog]

I gather there were some games that didn't have the DRM listed and some outrage ensued, but I'm pretty sure Valve has since corrected that since.

Early on, many of them didn't. Two Worlds, for example, had no such notice when I bought it from Valve and quite a few people on the Steam forums were complaining that they ran up against the 5 install limit afterwards.

I'm glad to see they've started listing the 3rd party DRM, but why not just remove the shit if it's on Steam?

[headhunter228]

They are.

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f66/boratika/steamsecurom.png

Make sure to keep an eye out.

I gather there were some games that didn't have the DRM listed and some outrage ensued, but I'm pretty sure Valve has since corrected that since.

I am quite sure I saw that NOWHERE on the box itself when I looked at Mass Effect. It might be on the Internet, but not on the box. I would think there's something wrong with that.

[ShivaX]

Early on, many of them didn't. Two Worlds, for example, had no such notice when I bought it from Valve and quite a few people on the Steam forums were complaining that they ran up against the 5 install limit afterwards.

I'm glad to see they've started listing the 3rd party DRM, but why not just remove the shit if it's on Steam?

I imagine theres probably some sort of contract between the publisher and the guys who make the DRM. Or maybe they don't trust steam. Or just as likely its coded into the game files and they were too lazy to make a build without the DRM in it.