The hated DRM software known as SecuROM is included as part of Crysis Warhead's Steam release -- despite the fact that Steam acts as DRM in its own right.
To its credit, Valve clearly notes that Warhead uses third party DRM and will have limited installations of up to five machines. This is contrary to publisher EA's usual methods of hiding the use of SecuROM in its products.
While Steam is usually trusted to be free of SecuROM -- a program criticized for software conflicts, RAM issues and "draconian" restrictions -- this isn't the first time that it's appeared on Valve's service. 2K's BioShock also included it -- a subject of controversy which caused much backpedaling and alleviation attempts from the publisher.
This kind of strikes me as thoroughly pointless behavior, and the continued insistence on using SecuROM by EA does very little to endear it to its customers. With the ongoing Spore controversy, you'd think that Electronic Arts would learn its lesson. Apparently it has not. SecuROM has proven itself to be utterly useless in attempting to stop piracy, and with Steam providing its own DRM, its inclusion in Warhead is without merit.
Jim Sterling serves as reviews editor for Destructoid.com, head of the Podtoid podcast, and produces a number of news stories, original features, one-of-a-kind videos. With his passionate argumentative style, controversial opinions, harsh delivery, and dedication to brutal honesty Sterling is a name that you can't help but recognize.
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Contest:
10:27 AM on 09.27.2008
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-Chris Remo
If I buy a disc copy, and then torrent it so I don't have to worry about the bullshit copy protection... is that legal?
In fact... Is this EA's new anti-piracy protection? Make the games so generic and bland that no one wants to pirate them? Brilliant really.
Really though if EA hunted down their own customers for using cracks to play the games after they paid full price I'd be stunned.
The real problem comes with online games and cracks. It's not wise to go online with a cracked exe as you might get banned. With this copy protection however it maybe the only choice.
I was toying with the idea of buying Warhead through Steam - I managed to enjoy Crysis despite its flaws. Guess I'll just pirate this instead. Nobody tells me how many times I can install a game.
There's a big difference, what Itunes does is a perfectly legit way to combat piracy, it be different if itunes put a cap on how many times you can upload a song to your ipod.
Either way, I'll personally be sure never to buy another of EA's overhyped, overpriced, piece-of-shit games again.
Damn, those games really looked like worthy of purchase, opposed to Spore and Warhead.
"I wonder what their meetings are like at EA: "I have an awesome idea, let's put securom on our steam releases" "why? they already provide a DRM scheme that works quite well" "why not?" "...FUCKING GENIUS!!!""
Why not? how about because steam doesn't screw over loyal customers enough.
NOOOOOO! BITCH! YOU BITCH!
I'm not even going to pirate it. If they think this securom shit will stop piracy, they're right. I won't even bother playing the game...
secuROM = No thanks and I really want Red Alert....:(
If NO ONE bought this game and other games with secuROM then EA would listen to us and take it off as the one thing they want is $$$ but people are sheep so I do not see this happening.
Very true!
A lot of game purchases are moms and dads running to the store to pick up them M+ games for their 10 years old and both parties would be ill informed on whats going on.
I mean, how many people actually install on more than one machine, maybe 2 or 3 at most?
I don't get what all the fuss is about, but then again, I don't really use my PC for gaming. WTF is so bad about this stuff?
Someone please explain and inform? Please?
Example:
I've had Diablo II installed on more than 5 computers as I still play it quite a bit and it has been around for a while.
Imagine that after that 5th instal you are fucked as you can not install it anymore at all so you have to go out and buy a whole new game to play.
So if you install the game then 2 months down the road buy a new comp/clean up HDD/new HDD and install again you only have 3 installs left before you game becomes pretty much useless.
This also hiders the effect of selling it used which is really shitty.
The general consensus is that SecuROM is simply a bad program. Restrictions aside, it has been accused of hogging RAM and screwing around with previously installed versions of itself. The fact that it often appears in games unannounced and installs itself subtley and without the custo
To continue:
The fact that it often appears in games unannounced and installs itself subtley and without the customer's permission is also a bone of contention. I doubt you'd like to order a hamburger and have someone sneak mustard on it, unless you really love mustard.
And SecuROM is not mustard.
Something to limit what I can do with the software I have purchased the right to use, no thanks.
Blizzard, being Blizzard, still provides it. But how many other companies are still actively selling 10+ year old software?
So you have your old software. You want to play it now, because, hey, it still may be fun. But alas, the company is no longer honoring requests to refresh installs or no longer has the authentication servers.
Aw shit. Too bad. Enjoy your coaster or useless binary blobs.
I think it has to do with the sales of used copies. They think they are loosing out on big $$ so they are smacking the hands of people who buy the game.
You cannot re-use mustard.....
No...They're just tacking on essentially a disc based version of Valve's Steam DRM.
Now in both cases you don't truly own the content you've paid money for. Again, it's all the DLC idiots that blissfully accept one form of DRM, but revolt against another that's only slightly more restrictive.
Basically, in all of these cases iTunes just doesn't get in your way. Also, Apple is very good about just clearing up ALL of your previous authorizations with little argument, as opposed to EA's stated "case-by-case" basis.
Itunes music doesn't even allow you to edit it (for mixing purposes or w/e you'd like to do with it). That's like making it so you can't mod a game.
I'm fine with the whole securom thing as it stands now. However, I don't like what this signifies as the potential "new norm".
And a fuck-load of good that's done for us so far.