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DRM drama over Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena photo

So, Atari has come forward and announced that Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena for the PC is going to come with some DRM. DRM in the form of an activation system. An activation system that lets you install the game as many times as you want on 3 machines, and then it stops working. As you might predict, a lot of people are upset about this.

Atari tried to assure people that it really wasn't that bad, that no one would REALLY need to install it on more than 3 machines anyway, and that anyone who hit the install limit and had a legitimate reason to put it on a 4th computer could call them and get it all sorted out. However, it's doubtful that explanation will appease anyone. PC gamers are notoriously resistant to any form of DRM, especially when replacing a component in your computer can mean using up another game install because the DRM thinks that the hardware change means you're on a new computer.

Atari claims this is to prevent "early piracy", but sadly for them it will probably just result in an increase. A lot of game comapnies have finally realized how much the inclusion of DRM hurts them, it makes me wonder why certain publishers just can't seem to figure it out.

[Via Ars Technica]


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24 comments | showing # 1 to 24

Nicojay2's Avatar
Nicojay2 at 04/10/2009 15:26
That's cool. I'm definitely buying this title as I bought butcher bay second hand and thoroughly enjoyed it so they deserve some cash from me. If the DRM pisses me off too much there's always piracy. All is well.
Shirley Temple's Avatar
Shirley Temple at 04/10/2009 15:32
I was really considering buying this game. Now I'm just gonna pirate it so I won't have to deal with DRM shit.
Zombutler's Avatar
Zombutler at 04/10/2009 15:36
Vin Diesel isn't going to shoot me, he doesn't even know me! Silly.
Chronic Logic's Avatar
Chronic Logic at 04/10/2009 15:38
They should try Steam's DRM. Or perhaps sell the game digitally.
Fury-Genesis's Avatar
Fury-Genesis at 04/10/2009 15:52
DRM or no DRM, does it matter? They're going to pirate the shit out of it anyway.

Digital distribution only or just forget about releasing on pc in my opinion.
Grimhound's Avatar
Grimhound at 04/10/2009 15:57
@Fury-Genesis: Restrictive DRM means it will be targeted specifically due to the fact that it has it. A lot of people will download it even if they never play the pirated game just as a form of protest against the measure.
Redface's Avatar
Redface at 04/10/2009 15:59
I am totally for anti-piracy, but stuff like this is stupid. There have to be better security measures that are far more user-friendly. This crap is more detrimental to the consumer than it is to pirates.
aZZmodan's Avatar
aZZmodan at 04/10/2009 16:04
Piracy doesn't kill sales...

Moronic game companies, on the other hand, do...

They're never gonna get it, are they...?

My days of bying a legitimate copy of a game and then downloading the pirated version of the same game so that I can play it without having to put up with stupidity, are over...

To the moronic game companies:
Make a great game, respect your customers and you're gonna sell a shit-load of copies. It's as simple as that.
UCHU's Avatar
UCHU at 04/10/2009 16:21
God damn it, PC game devs. I'm not a pirate if you don't call me one.
UglyDuck's Avatar
UglyDuck at 04/10/2009 16:29
The image text should have read "Atari pioneers new way to combat DRM."

Suck less. That is an instruction.
aZZmodan's Avatar
aZZmodan at 04/10/2009 16:39
Oh, and another thing...

I don't know why people keep overlooking the fact that piracy on a console is much, much easier to do. You just take the console, go to the "chiper guy", pay him 50 Euros (That's less than the price of a SINGLE AAA title, in case someone's wondering), he "hard-chips it" and you're set. Now you can put anything in it and the console will play it. There's no need to know anything, damn, you don't ever need to apply a cracked game patch. Ever. You pop in your pirated game, and, well, you play.

But, I don't see any game companies complaining about console piracy. And make no mistake, "hard-chiping" a console is very, very common...

But, no one is bitching about it... On the contrary, everyone's partying about game sales on consoles...

Mmmm, I wonder why that is...

Maybe, just maybe, when active network connections on consoles will have become mandatory and the operating systems on consoles will have evolved, there will bitching... And DRM. And stuff.

Also, there will be cocks.
aZZmodan's Avatar
aZZmodan at 04/10/2009 16:39
Ohhh, and what UglyPhil said.
Kaspar's Avatar
Kaspar at 04/10/2009 16:52
Haha, to think that this install limit was cracked on release day with the activation crack rolling in any time now.

Oh, companies. When will you ever learn that DRM is just a shaft in the legit users ass...
n3a's Avatar
n3a at 04/10/2009 17:38
And you'd think that by Spore or other EA titles, publishers would have learned a thing or two... Well, I'll repeat my stance as many times as it needs to get the message across: I will not buy the game.
A New Challenger's Avatar
A New Challenger at 04/10/2009 17:41
I have the original, unplayed because I've never had a machine capable of running it. Also, it's the CD version, so there are like 5 discs for the install.
Timmeh's Avatar
Timmeh at 04/10/2009 18:30
The lack of understanding that publishers have when it comes to the PC community is laughable.

If people can get an unrestricted copy of the software for free, why on God's green Earth would you think them more likely to buy it when their rights are being restricted? The gaming industry is every bit as bad as the music and movie industries. If they don't care about the user, why should the user care about putting money into a faceless corporation?

Someone should sit these people down for a chat with Trent Reznor, he seems to have the right idea when it comes to dealing with the internet.
Jetsetlemming's Avatar
Jetsetlemming at 04/10/2009 18:59
Atari was the second worst publisher during that introduction stint of game releases with machine limits behind GSC and Clear Sky (TAGES is a buggy piece of shit, worse even than Starforce, and there was absolutely no way to recover installs- you install the game three times, its bricked, and its bricked forever. Go buy a new copy.) Alone in the Dark PC only had ONE install available, and getting a deauthorization tool from Atari was like getting a condom from the vatican.

This has me worried, no matter how many promises they make of "Don't worry, guys! We're only as bad as the worst the GOOD publishers attempted last go around!" they make.
ForDaveLifeSake's Avatar
ForDaveLifeSake at 04/10/2009 21:24
i find vin diesel's lack of trigger discipline disturbing.
10BobMarleys's Avatar
10BobMarleys at 04/10/2009 22:45
I dont believe that removing DRM reduces piracy. World of Goo cost next to nothing, had no DRM, yet 9/10 installations of WoG were pirate (their numbers, not mine). Removing deadbolts wouldn't reduce burglary, someone tell me how this is different?
Emrah's Avatar
Emrah at 04/11/2009 00:43
@10BobMarleys:
World of goo numbers were exaggarated. They said it was based on IP checks, and I contributed 4 of those IP's, from different computers in different locations, but I had actually bought it. (And I wouldn't buy it if it was DRM's, I wanted to support the developers for their vision)

No-DRM may not reduce piracy, but certainly, it DOES NOT increase it (I can't provide numbers to back it up, but there's no reason it should).

As for your deadbolt analogy, it does not work. The hackers remove the deadbolt FOR you, and instance that door millions of times on the internet so everybody can enter. The only people who has to work with deadbolts is the paying customers, and hackers.
Emrah's Avatar
Emrah at 04/11/2009 00:44
*..if it was DRM'd..
kalidanthepalidan's Avatar
kalidanthepalidan at 04/11/2009 02:23
Silly silly Atari. When will you learn?
Zee's Avatar
Zee at 04/11/2009 21:49
Gee saying VIN is going to SHOOT you.. hmm not like he could take legal action against this site for saying VIN is going to murder you.. So Vin Diesel told Destructoid to feel free and USE his picture and those words... Lets see if they care at all..
MayCai368's Avatar
MayCai368 at 04/14/2009 21:58
Yes, DRM is very bothering.So I have searched many way via some article, and found that :to remove DRM, there are many methods, such as CD burning and ripping and so on.
But I don't know if it also can solve the drm from game.

there are many tool,such as there is article presents you a easy way, such as Wondershare Media Converter to convert your protected files to DRM-free ones.

here is its info:
http://www.removing-drm.com/drm-tips/remove-drm-protection.html#146
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