Quantcast


Spore and Mass Effect PC forces players to stay online photo

BioWare's technical producer Derek French has announced a surprising new copy protection scheme that requires the user to be online at regular intervals while playing both Mass Effect and Spore on the PC. If you are not online to validate your copy of either game every ten days, your product will stop working. Wait ... what?

After the first activation, SecuROM requires that [Mass Effect PC] re-check with the server within ten days (in case the CD Key has become public/warez'd and gets banned)

... After 10 days a re-check is required before the game can run.

I'm not really a PC gamer, but my gut instinct on this is that it's a stupid idea and I can see something going wrong. People are already reacting pretty badly to the news online, and I can see the backlash escalating, along with any number of problems that can arise from expecting paying customers to continually prove that they're not pirates. 

This just doesn't sound like a great idea to me.

[Cheers to John Berger]








More gaming stories around the web. Got news? Submit yours to tips@destructoid.com

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. Likes PS2, iPod Touch, Silent Hill 2, Metal Gear Solid, Dynasty Warriors 3 Meet the rest of the team



Post a comment! You can also post a photo below:

Comment with Facebook





Click connect and comment instantly!

Comment with Dtoid





New? SIGN UP - it takes 5 seconds

126 comments | showing # 1 to 50
prev
next 50 comments

Y0j1mb0's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/06/2008 20:25
Y0j1mb0
You hear that? It's the deathcry of PC Gaming.
Eschatos's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/06/2008 20:27
Eschatos
I really don't see a problem with this. It only checks twice, when you install it and ten days later. PC gaming is far from dead.
TheRemedy's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/06/2008 20:27
TheRemedy
I wouldn't mind the whole needing to be online to play, but having to re-enter my cd key if I haven't played for ten days is rather ridiculous.
bluexy's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/06/2008 20:30
bluexy
Well jokes on them, the only reason to play Mass Effect past 10 days is to do their shitty planet hopping/resource mining sidequests.

SO FUCK YOU SecuRom!
John B's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/06/2008 20:30
John B
You're welcome, Jim. The real pain in the ass about this is that "Mass Effect" isn't even an on-line game!! I can understand doing this for something that requires Internet access, like "Battlefield 2142", but Internet access being required for a single player game? WTF!?

Quite frankly, I've had it just out of principle. I'm not buying either of these, even though I can afford them. Bethesda and Stardock got it right by adding value to entice purchases without copy protection. Hell, I'll even give Microsoft some kudos in that they only require one authentication of "Flight Simulator X" and it's done.

I am sick and tired of these gaming companies treating me like a potential PIRATE instead of a potential CUSTOMER.
Maurice Tan's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/06/2008 20:32
Maurice Tan
Worst idea since StarForce. 10 days of Spore should be enough to see all that's there to see though :P
John B's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/06/2008 20:34
John B
@Eschatos:

Stop it with the false information. BioWare stated IN THEIR OWN FORUMS this this is NOT a "twice-and-done" activation. This game requires activation once every 10 days for as long as you want to play the game.

In particular, Chris Priestly of Bioware stated this in his one thread.

Q: Why does MEPC need to reactivate every 10 days?

A: MEPC needs to authenticate every 10 days to ensure that the CD key used for the game is valid. This is designed to reduce piracy and protect valid CD keys.
ghnvt's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/06/2008 20:34
ghnvt
This is what is killing PC gaming, just put the game on steam and get it over with. Bioware made plenty of money selling this game on the 360.
Eschatos's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/06/2008 20:37
Eschatos
@John B:

My bad, I read the original article someone linked to in the clogs and it made the CD key check sound like what I described. I've changed my mind, that really sucks.
John B's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/06/2008 20:39
John B
@Eschatos:

No problem. They should have clarified that themselves in the article. It was only by going to their forums (which was linked from their site) and searching around that I saw the "official" post that stated that this is a mandatory, repeating issue.

Hopefully, enough of a firestorm can be brewed by this (it hit Digg as well) that BioWare will realize what a bunch of dicks they're being about this.
niacin's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/06/2008 20:41
niacin
meh who will have a computer that can run these games and not have a broadband connection. As long as it doesn't take an age to check or slows down my computer I don't really see the problem.

And how the hell is trying to stop piracy killing pc gaming, surely it's piracy that's killing pc gaming. I remember when half life 2 came out everyone bitched that you had to validate your copy through steam but did it really affect the sales? I don't think it did.
BlackDove's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/06/2008 20:42
BlackDove
WELCOME BACK TO EA!

YOUR ROOM IS JUST LIKE IT WAS, WE HAVEN'T CHANGED IT!

*SMOOOOOOOOCH*
Spartacus's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/06/2008 20:43
Spartacus
So if your computer can't get online for 10 days, you're screwed? That's ridiculous.

PC GAMING IS NOT DYING, BTW
Mikescool's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/06/2008 20:44
Mikescool
y don't they just release this through steam or steam only download, then you can't really pirate it.
animateria's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/06/2008 20:45
animateria
Blame it on rampant piracy.

The Crysis developers are pissed and said they will never make a PC exclusive. COD4 developers also showed dissatisfaction with the number of pirated copies of their game.

Piracy is making developers make drastic measures.

I do hope they find a better way than this though.
killatia's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/06/2008 20:45
killatia
and to think i was thinking about getting the pc version. oh well theres always the good old 360 version.
AgentMOO's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/06/2008 20:46
AgentMOO
How does this stop piracy? The pirate versions on bit torrent will all be cracked to remove this check.
liquidninja's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/06/2008 20:47
liquidninja
The best way to reduce piracy is too make sure the game is worth paying for.

Anyone remember when some guy tried to leak HalfLife2 code?
Misanthrope's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/06/2008 20:47
Misanthrope
Did Baldur's Gate even needed a cd key, let alone all this nonsense? Talk about a bait and switch. I know people don't want PC gaming to die but commercial games on the PC shouldn't be supported if you have to tolerate 10 more layers of BS and the same lines when it comes to delays, bugs and tons of other excuses since we now they can't get it right on consoles anyway.

Im gonna be burning my Bioware pc games in a ritualistic matter.
adultswim810's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/06/2008 20:49
adultswim810
yeah pc gaming is not dying. i dont see the point in this anyways, anything is crackable and this will just piss off people who buy it legally. i give it a week max until it is cracked.
wardrox's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/06/2008 20:50
wardrox
DRM: Allowing corporations to sell you something they still own.
BlackSunEmpire's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/06/2008 20:51
BlackSunEmpire
I agree, this could be blamed on pirates, but the reality is that once these games are released, there will be hacks that authenticate your game without connecting to the central server, probably within a few days.

DRM seems to do a better job at pissing off those of us that don't pirate games than it does at preserving a companies profit margins.
fromagex's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/06/2008 20:54
fromagex
aren't there still parts of the US that only have access to dial up? or no internet? what about them?
Metamorphic's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/06/2008 20:55
Metamorphic
Does Jim ever have anything good to say? Or at least without ego.
John B's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/06/2008 20:57
John B
Does Jim ever have anything good to say? Or at least without ego.

Coming from he who intentionally just did a thread-crap just to take a childish pot-shot at one of Dtoid's writers? Exactly who's the one with the ego, again?
handdyman's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/06/2008 20:58
handdyman
Nice, I'm sure this will help sell more copies.
braulio09's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/06/2008 20:59
braulio09
metamorphic, check out his splatterhouse remake news.

mikescool, yes you can. audiosurf is getting pirated a lot and it's on steam.
Maurice Tan's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/06/2008 21:00
Maurice Tan
"Blame it on rampant piracy."

Wow, thanks for that RIAA/MPAA spokesperson. Just ignore the fact that piracy creates more future consumers than any free sample that any company gives out. Ignore the free brand awareness and future sale. Ignore that teens and students who pirate it for a lack of money can turn into big spending consumers when they get a job.

Also just ignore that games can make a profit easily without any protection and that the movies can get huge awareness through piracy.
thunderleg's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/06/2008 21:01
thunderleg
So when does some guy from Bioware speak for the people from Maxis?
Brian Keljore's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/06/2008 21:02
Brian Keljore
Now I can understand why you would want to have some kind of piracy protection on a PC game, but this is just a load of crap. Every 10 days? What if you are on vacation? What if you moved and have to wait for ISP activation? What if you are routed through Cogent and their network sucks balls like it has been? Seriously, I find it all very stupid. This is as bad as being accused of a DMCA violation, only now, you are paying $50-$60 for the chance to be labeled a pirate. Being guilty until proven innocent rocks!
Jim Sterling's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/06/2008 21:05
Jim Sterling
"Does Jim ever have anything good to say? Or at least without ego."

I love comments like these. It shows me how ignorant a poster is, and as such, whether or not I need to take their opinions into consideration in the future.
B-Radicate's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/06/2008 21:05
B-Radicate
Wait. Does that mean if I didn't play it every ten days while being online that I wouldn't be able to play it anymore? 'Cause that's super ultra mega gay.
Aertyr's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/06/2008 21:12
Aertyr
The idea is good, the execution is terrible. I can understand what they are going for, but it can't effect the players experience either.
Volomon's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/06/2008 21:13
Volomon
Well just to let you know being online won't work, there been tons of games that have already done that. Hell you can pirate Half-life 2 off of steam. I mean come on. There nothing that can stop a person determined and all you do is get the ENTIRE world on you back if you say you can not do something. Other than that I'll pay for Spore, mass effect will suffer for being on the xbox and not the PS3 however. SUFFER!
sexycommando's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/06/2008 21:14
sexycommando
Ah the fruits of EA's Bioware buyout. And here I was about to start believing the rumors that EA changed from its old wicked ways.

Thanks EA, you made Spore a definite "buy" into a definite "pirate" for me.
Droll's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/06/2008 21:20
Droll
Pokemon is better than Mass Effect anyway, so you can't go wrong!
John B's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/06/2008 21:20
John B
BioWare, these are your new roommates. Allow me to introduce you to Origin, Westwood Studios, and Bullfrog.
Boolean's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/06/2008 21:25
Boolean
screw that, I'll just pirate it instead.
Rockvillian's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/06/2008 21:29
Rockvillian
I don't ever pirate games, and I'm tempted to pirate Spore now, or just not play it altogether.

HEAR THAT EA???
animateria's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/06/2008 21:30
animateria
@Professor Pew

I see what you are saying but most people who pirated aren't going to buy a copy afterwards. They will probably buy a top-end rig when they get a job, but there aren't any proof that they buy the software for their PCs.

As I mentioned, this isn't a good solution to their problems. I'm probably going to pass on both games unless they change this policy.

BTW! This isn't a free pass to Pirate the games! WTF is wrong with some of you people!
vampireblood's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/06/2008 21:31
vampireblood
I HATE consoletards commenting about how PC gaming is dead.

STARCRAFT 2!

Suck eggs!
Neonie's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/06/2008 21:32
Neonie
Wow....
OutrageousToob's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/06/2008 21:34
OutrageousToob
I'm not buying either now. I refuse to spend my hard earned money on something I can't use at my own discretion. There's no reason I should have to validate ANY game with EA, Jesus, George Bush, my mom, or ANYONE more than once. Also, I should be able to install the game(s) on as many god damned PCs as I'd like to. What if I own all the PCs? What if they're all in my house? What if EA gets obliterated by an earthquake and I've gone over the install limit? Does that mean I'm shit-outta-luck?

Seriously, fuck Mass Effect, fuck Spore, and most of all fuck you EA.

I somehow doubt that this'll prevent piracy anyway, even in the long run. It's just going to fuel the fire. Limited installs, online validations, and oddball methods of copy protection in which the consumer is given no sense of tengibility are what drove me away from PC gaming. If the same happens to consoles I'll be done with gaming in general.

Sad but true.

Oh, don't any of you find it a bit shitty that the people that make these boneheaded decisions make $100,000-$200,000 per year? At least!
Clockwork's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/06/2008 21:34
Clockwork
Definitely weird but nothing to whine about.
Tubatic's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/06/2008 21:36
Tubatic
I don't see the big deal of this being a huge negative.

I can see it being a hassle if you have internet connection issues and are subsequently jonesing for some Mass Effect.

But otherwise, alot of PC users have some means of connecting to the internet, and moreso those that game, I think.

Its a new way of trying to do something, but I can definitely see this being something that, in even less than optimal implementation, won't have a negative effect on the end consumer.

Unless its a hack piece-of-shit software like StarForce was. In which case, screw this. Only reason I didn't play City Life.
ajaxender's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/06/2008 21:39
ajaxender
Unfortunately, this is probably necessary since its a single player only game. Pirates have no reason to buy single player games, since theyre unlikely to ever need validation (until now).

However, its a cd key checking system. There is no way in hell that someone wont find a way through this. It may take them a little longer (ala Bioshock) but they'll get it done.
Aertyr's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/06/2008 21:41
Aertyr
Anyone who complains and says "I'm going to pirate now instead" is obviously short tempered. They have a right to protect their product, and chances are you would've just pirated it anyways. I'm no different, I pirate too but Bioware deserves my money on this one and if I have to do a short validation every 10 days I can deal with that. I can also understand your frustration and they should definitely look into how they are going to pull this off before they do it.
OutrageousToob's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/06/2008 21:41
OutrageousToob
*tangibility
welkstar's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/06/2008 21:44
welkstar
Looks like I'll have to head out to Californiway and find me some internet.
Jetsetlemming's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/06/2008 21:45
Jetsetlemming
I just love to see publishers go out of their way to cater to the pirate audience by making their gaming experience so much easier and hassle-free than the legit customer!


Wait, no I don't.
prev next 50 comments

Comment with Facebook





Click connect and comment instantly!

Comment with Dtoid





New? SIGN UP - it takes 5 seconds

Comments policy

Destructoid is an open discussion community. You don't need to "audition" to post a comment - just speak your mind. We respect differing opinions on the site, so have at it. Be smart, funny, insightful, clueless, or cute -- but back it up with substance. Keep your cool, keep it fun. We only ask that you act respectfully and above all: don't be a troll and ruin it for everyone else. Don't bring down gamers or we'll, you know, gently shoot you in the face and stuff you into a flaming mailbox. Each comment is your opportuntity to make this community awesomer. Is that even a word?

Avoiding the banhammer only requires common sense: spamming, trolling, racism, NSFW stuff, and other forms of sucking will not be tolerated. If anyone is griefing please report abuse. Be good. Don't suck!