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BioShock chock full of goodness, crippling DRM

9:08 PM on 08.22.2007, Nex 46 comments

BioShock chock full of goodness, crippling DRM photo
     Piracy

BoingBoing brings us word of one of the very few flaws in 2K's beloved BioShock, the presence of an insidious DRM scheme within its PC release. While the article begins with the amazingly bias heading of "2K's BioShock is easily the most overhyped game so far this year", it does manage to raise some interesting points regarding the completely overlooked issue of what sort of content protection crippleware 2K managed to inject into its magnum opus in both Steam and retail box versions of the title.

It seems that BioShock has been coated in a crunchy candy shell courtesy of SecuROM, a DRM scheme that only allows for the title to be installed on two seperate systems. To enforce this limit, the software actively reports back to the home offices and prohibits any further installation and use of the game once the two PC limit has been reached. Of course, the dubious tactics employed here cause reputable anti-virus programs to freak the hell out and warn people away from even the demo version of the title.

In response to the outcry this has caused amongst techie gamers, 2K has been shuffling the blame off onto SecuROM's customer service wonks, and almost unsurprisingly, SecuROM has been herding those same bleating sheep back towards 2K.

It would be socialist of me to decry 2K for attempting to secure their own intellectual property, but in a world where DRM schemes are broken before they're even released attempting to lock down a beloved product with a system as draconian and debilatating as SecuROM is just underhanded. Shouldn't they have enough faith in their product's mass appeal that they wouldn't have to punish buying customers in an effort to lock out the almost negligible number of people who have the technology and know-how to don the silicon eyepatch of piracy? 

[UPDATE: As regards those of you saying it's as simple as uninstalling the game before reinstalling it, well it isn't that easy. I quote the BoingBoing piece linked above:

You're required to right click the game in the steam menu and choose 'delete local content' before you can transfer the game to another PC. If you delete the game without following this procedure, you may end up in the same ordeal as retail buyers.

Besides that, it should be your property to do with as you see fit once you've purchased it, hence you should be able to install it on as many machines as you'd like.] 


Next page: More 2K games stories




Neonie's Avatar
Neonie at 08/22/2007 21:09
Dose that mean Macs can't install it? GREAT!
Zero Iscariot's Avatar
Zero Iscariot at 08/22/2007 21:10
It's good to be a console gamer...
Nyteshade's Avatar
Nyteshade at 08/22/2007 21:10
The stupid part of this is that Steam itself was created to solve the pirating issue, yet now they're shoving protection through protection. It'll be on the torrents sooner or later, but I just bought it over Steam and bit the bullet.
Hoygeit's Avatar
Hoygeit at 08/22/2007 21:12
I think cbotwell is correct.

If you uninstall it, it will remove an activation.
It's limited to 2 PCs at one time.
Netrat33's Avatar
Netrat33 at 08/22/2007 21:14
Just chill. This is no different from any digital distrubtion (minus steam) This has been around forever.
allisonaxe's Avatar
allisonaxe at 08/22/2007 21:16
umm, that picture is wrong: the rubber chicken with the pulley in the middle is surprisingly useful.
Nyteshade's Avatar
Nyteshade at 08/22/2007 21:23
Note: Steam just updated, and the update had only one fix, the installation and removal of BioShock. Not sure if it's actually fixed, but since I'm currently on the middle of the game, I don't feel like re-installing it right now to test.
Deus's Avatar
Deus at 08/22/2007 21:25
I think developers that don't have any DRM stuff in their games like Stardock (Galactic Civilizations II) and Paradox (Hearts of Iron II, Europa Universalis III) have it right.
Racoon's Avatar
Racoon at 08/22/2007 21:29
God that's what the problem was? It took me an hour to install the game and that was only after I had uninstalled AVG from my system, it kept on saying it was some sort of trojan. What a pain in the ass.
pakokonka's Avatar
pakokonka at 08/22/2007 21:34
I can't uninstall if my HD dies, the PC version ASKS for a crack to be pirated.
Hoygeit's Avatar
Hoygeit at 08/22/2007 21:34
Hehe whoops. Read the update, sorry Nex.
Velt's Avatar
Velt at 08/22/2007 21:47
This is plain and simply stupid.

We pirate in south america becase we cant buy games in stores, they dont bring any.
But in this case since it is in steam (digital distribution), you can pay for the game and enjoy the benefits of having a legal copy anyway (i did it with hl2 and wow).
BUT, having a legal copy of a game that screws your system is not funny. It takes away the privileges of having a legal copy, it gives you the trouble you are not looking forward to have since you payed for the thing.
Origim's Avatar
Origim at 08/22/2007 21:49
As much as I hate the two PC limit I am counting myself lucky at this point. Neither my anti-virus or my Firewall threw a fit when I installed. I'm not to worried about the limit for myself personally as I can only see myself playing the game on this machine. It still sucks they put the limit on.
savagesaladin's Avatar
savagesaladin at 08/22/2007 22:00
@sunami88

Twice.
BlackDove's Avatar
BlackDove at 08/22/2007 22:02
Grab some popcorn, that 2k thread is the definition of entertainment.
Ocelot's Avatar
Ocelot at 08/22/2007 22:26
Glad I rented this fucker on Gamefly for the 360. It's not like the greatest game ever. Adding DVR bullshit always keeps me from purchasing a program, no matter how awesome. I would never have even played Oblivion had it had that shit. Fuck. :)
The Grudge's Avatar
The Grudge at 08/22/2007 22:43
Yeah, that DVR stuff is bullshit. Wha?
Founder's Avatar
Founder at 08/22/2007 23:00
DAMN YOU TIVO! GET OFF MY COMPUTER!
Sharpless's Avatar
Sharpless at 08/22/2007 23:03
It's not really that bad now that they've explained it, but I agree, there shouldn't be any limitations to it. What if something honestly goes wrong and you get locked out of it? DRM is being chased out of the digital music world, hopefully it'll get phased out of visual media, too.
Ocelot's Avatar
Ocelot at 08/22/2007 23:11
@nex hey, I meant DRM but yeah, why the fuck not? They're recording our gameplay so they can... figure out... how we would react in that environment. So that when they create a... bathysphere (lol i love that) and stick us down there qwith mutated experiments gone wrong *cough*escapefroml.a.ripoff*cough* then they will know what to expect from us.

Or I could have just gotten the letters mixed up.

It could happen...
Oni's Avatar
Oni at 08/22/2007 23:33
Also, he did it at 9:00 AM EDT
Adrian's Avatar
Adrian at 08/22/2007 23:59
Yet another case where the pirated product is far more convenient than the real thing (read: dvd's and region checking).

DRM only hurts their clients.

It will die soon enough, just keep on making noise.
KaL YoshiKa's Avatar
KaL YoshiKa at 08/23/2007 00:42
They really want to alienate their PC users don't they..wonderfuls
doro's Avatar
doro at 08/23/2007 00:56
Eh. Wasn't gonna buy it when they said no multiplayer anyways.
ajaxender's Avatar
ajaxender at 08/23/2007 00:59
of course its easily the most over-hyped game so far this year. Theres never been a game hyped so much, as far as i can tell. Its still bloody good, but im not sure if we'll ever be able to make a game as good as bioshock was made out to be...
Tiff's Avatar
Tiff at 08/23/2007 02:08
<3 guybrush
Burnt Meatloaf's Avatar
Burnt Meatloaf at 08/23/2007 02:34
I've had a problem with SecuROM where if I use MSconfig (or a similar utility) to change anything, games will not run after a reboot. I have to reboot multiple times before I can run a SecuROM game.

I boycott this crap. Yes, really.
Snaileb 's Avatar
Snaileb at 08/23/2007 07:23
Nex totally burned you dude.
Origim's Avatar
Origim at 08/23/2007 09:17
Oh man the 2K forums have gotten even more comical overnight. I'm still not sure what i think of the whole securom issue. I probably wont care until it bites me in the ass. Some goof is even claiming hes going ahead with a class action lawsuit to get his 50 bucks back.
PetiePal's Avatar
PetiePal at 08/23/2007 15:24
DRM is retarded. Still after all these years. Wait until hackers crack it, and then install DRM free.
winojesus's Avatar
winojesus at 08/23/2007 16:54
i don't understand any of this
cbotwell's Avatar
cbotwell at 08/23/2007 18:20
Point taken, that probably is more than an acceptable hassle to deal with.
Kyousuke Nanbu's Avatar
Kyousuke Nanbu at 08/23/2007 19:34
PC gaming fails again.
Eschatos's Avatar
Eschatos at 08/23/2007 20:21
This fucking sucks. Still, the game is worth it, but I want to install it on three machines, just to spite those fuckers.
Orionsaint's Avatar
Orionsaint at 08/25/2007 21:26
Haha PC gaming. They'll never get it right. That'll always be because each PC game that's released stands alone, by that I mean that each PC game released has it's own required specs and quarks to figure out. It might work on your machine. it might not. you may need to buy or install something to run it, etc. I just play the console version, no worries. That's why console gaming will always be better in that respect.
Fading Star's Avatar
Fading Star at 08/27/2007 12:50
This sucks. I probably get a copy of Bioshock for the Xbox 360.
Fading Star's Avatar
Fading Star at 08/27/2007 12:52
will
tehuberone's Avatar
tehuberone at 12/27/2007 02:52
Good post!
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