G4 - X-Play

MAY

2008

BioWare, EA Remove Copy Protection

Posted By: Stephen Johnson - Friday, May 09, 2008 1:58 PM

Last week we let you in on Bioware and EA's plans to place annoying copy protection on PC titles. The plan called for buyers of Mass Effect and Spore to submit to a check of the validity of their disc every ten days or so.

Today, both companies have changed their minds. When Mass Effect comes out on May 27th, it will be verified only when downloading new content, and Spore will require validation only on a patch or game content update. Both games will be playable without their disc in the drive.

Makes sense. Problem solved. Move along.

ShackNews: BioWare Responds to Copy Protection Outcry, Removes 10-day SecuROM Check for the Troops

TAGS: PC Gaming

Comment(s)

Posted by travelmaps - Friday, May 09, 2008 2:12 PM

WOOO! thank goodness :D *feels better about planning to buy spore again*

Posted by banodyne - Friday, May 09, 2008 2:24 PM

Didn't see what the big deal was. If you bought it legit you didn't have anything to worry about.

Posted by cogadh - Friday, May 09, 2008 2:33 PM

Now that is a semi-reasonable compromise.

@banodyne - You had plenty to worry about if you don't have an internet connection, or your connection is a pay-per-bandwidth use connection, or if EA were to suddenly decide to stop running the verification servers, or if you had a legitimate reason to run the install more than three times... it had nothing to do with anyone being worried about not being a legit user, the problem was the amount of potential hassle this scheme could potentially cause for those users. Basically, legit users would be punished in an effort to prevent piracy, while the pirates, who are going to crack the protection anyway, get to play completely hassle-free.

Posted by IntelliMoo - Friday, May 09, 2008 3:22 PM

wow, companies really don't care about the pc anymore if this is true. lol (guess they figure won't be losing much)

Posted by cryfordawn - Friday, May 09, 2008 4:03 PM

V FOR VICTORY! People can make a difference on this topic and we won. There were TONS of posts from troops and people saying F U EA we are not buying either game now. I guess the billion dollar loan changed there mind when no one was going to buy either game. Victory for the people. Now if we can just close down EA!

Posted by changbang - Friday, May 09, 2008 6:00 PM

that wasnt last week you told us

Posted by 1mikeg - Friday, May 09, 2008 6:40 PM

This is irrelevant as by the time Spore sees the light of day, current PC architecture will seem ancient and amusing.

Posted by yoshiarecool - Friday, May 09, 2008 6:55 PM

I recommend steam Bioware

Posted by RottenRonnie - Sunday, May 11, 2008 2:08 PM

I feel a little better now. Im am very glad they decided not to move in the direction they were thinking. Smart move! Thank you Bioware and EA!! I will now purchase Mass Effect and Spore for PC.

Posted by craemt - Sunday, May 11, 2008 7:13 PM

http://securom.mustbedestroyed .org/phorum/index.php

Posted by Iron_Raptor - Sunday, May 11, 2008 11:50 PM

Hate to burst your bubble folks, but they didn't get rid of SecuROM, they just removed the re-activation process.

You STILL have to activate your installation to play, and it's worse than BioShock's, because you are only allowed to activate it 3 times.

Sorry, but if a game's got SecuROM, I ain't buyin it. I like a PC not having a rootkit / spyware / malware on my machine.

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