Copy? Right...

[Dashken]

Copyright measures are increasingly becoming bothersome to some gamers. A recent example of this was the recently launched game, BioShock.

When do we as consumers draw the line? At what point does it become too much of a hassle. And how is it in our interests when all we are getting in return is even more inconvenience?

Here's a quote from the article :-

"Gaming. Definitely one of my favorite past-times. Whenever a PC game is released, it used to evoke great anticipation and excitement in eager gaming fans. But now, they also elicit groans of dread and frustration, thanks to the dreaded copy protection that most PC games now come with. Lately, the Internet is abuzz about 2K Game's utterly stupid implementation of SecuROM (Sony's rootkit) in their latest game, BioShock. In fact, that issue is the progenitor of this very article."

Link : Copy? Right...

[PsYkHoTiK]

http://forums.2kgames.com/forums/sho...postcount=2347

It is stuff like that, which makes my blood boil.

[The_YongGrand]

Sheesh, copy protections has a history too. Take a look at Sierra's Adventure game series, they have some of the in-game 'verifications' which you need the manual book. Another one is the LucasArts' X-Wing's password entry in the start of the game.

Nowadays, copy protections are getting much silly, other than being manual-book dependent. Other than needing the DVD in the drive, you might need the Internet connection to activate the game and all the other strange methods.

I got an original HL2 copy, but the MOST annoying thing next to the Steam is, I couldn't put the HL2 in my another computer, just for offline LAN play (well, offline LAN play means both computers are not connected to Steam servers). And worse, I can't save (or manually download) those updates like in Half-Life 1, where you can even get the 1.1.1.0 patch directly, or 1.0.0.5 to 1.0.0.6.

I'm not complaining about Steam, instead, I loved the HL series too much that I think the VAC is a godsend, but not these online activation (verification is okay for online play, but not the whole game) and unflexible updates.

Online activation is troublesome for dial-up users because well, you know, is plainly insufficient.

I hate to say this, but the more they (game producers) do this, the more the customer tries to bypass (or circumvent) it. Remember a saying from a Chinese scholar, "The more rules the Government trying to impose, the more the citizens revolt" (or something like that!).

edit: I hope the Valve won't put all the silly protection system like limit no. of installs in the new Orange Box.

[Chai]

LOL, you should see those Lucas Art adventure games. You need the manual to get into the game! Or a piece of cardboard, something like that. Those were the days.

[Adrian Wong]

Originally Posted by Chai

LOL, you should see those Lucas Art adventure games. You need the manual to get into the game! Or a piece of cardboard, something like that. Those were the days.

Yeah, most games in those days required flipping through the manual to look up some kind of symbol, or twisting a cardboard wheel to obtain the keyword or symbol to show authenticity. Easily "cracked" though. Counterfeiters just had to print the same thing.

[upperme]

I am new to this forum, but I sure am glad I found it. Amen to the below-linked post from that other forum. I however, am infuriated that I didn't bother to inspect BioShock before I let Sony put another damn rootkit on my brand new gaming rig. I will NEVER support ANY Sony product or related product again. They can slide under a gas truck for all I care. I will be happily torching my gaming machine tonight and reloading.

Thanks for the bandwidth,

Jim

Originally Posted by PsYkHoTiK

http://forums.2kgames.com/forums/sho...postcount=2347

It is stuff like that, which makes my blood boil.

[The_YongGrand]

Originally Posted by Adrian Wong

Yeah, most games in those days required flipping through the manual to look up some kind of symbol, or twisting a cardboard wheel to obtain the keyword or symbol to show authenticity. Easily "cracked" though. Counterfeiters just had to print the same thing.

Meanwhile, the Bioshock's copy protection makes the game producers feel too insecure about their own security. Well, is sharing the game with family a crime as well?

[Adrian Wong]

Originally Posted by The_YongGrand

Meanwhile, the Bioshock's copy protection makes the game producers feel too insecure about their own security. Well, is sharing the game with family a crime as well?

Well, this is copy-protection taken too far. Next, they will be implementing a biometric scanning method to make sure that YOU and ONLY YOU, will be able to play the game.

[PsYkHoTiK]

That would not be suprising. And they'd probably say oh its nothing Draconian...

[Adrian Wong]

Originally Posted by PsYkHoTiK

That would not be suprising. And they'd probably say oh its nothing Draconian...

Hehe.. Imagine the game shipping with a biometric scanning dongle. Now, that would be the ultimate DRACONIAN measure!

Only the person buying it can scan his/her retina/finger and only that person can play. It would make it virtually impossible to resell the game, or even let your family play.