News
Far Cry 2’s DRM is Strict and Sporeish
Warlords Hate Piracy
by Coop
Apparently ready to take on the slew of boycotts and anger that followed EA’s announcement that Spore and Mass Effect would use SecureROM, the stringent and strict Digital Rights Management system that limits the amount of times a user is allowed to install a game, Ubisoft has revealed that Far Cry 2, their upcoming sequel to the hit PC shooter, will use a similar system. Actually, it’s nearly identical, allowing for five installations on three different systems (which can be reimbursed by contacting the company or uninstalling the game). Already, the hate has begun, and gamers are promising to either pick up the console version or ignore the game entirely until Ubisoft revokes the DRM with a patch.
I’m still torn on DRM. I understand the need for it, in a world utterly obsessed with piracy and complete moral ambiguity regarding it, but no DRM has been able to prevent it. Spore, which was the flagship title for the “draconian” system, was cracked and available on piracy websites over a week before it’s release, and all SecureROM does is give people who want to legitimately play it a hard time. Still, I don’t agree with many forum posters who appear to be in the “companies need to stop trying to prevent piracy” boat, because that will just lead to further decline of PC gaming. Telling Best Buy to stop installing security cameras because people are still going to steal doesn’t make much sense, and it doesn’t make much sense to tell developers to stop trying to protect their games. Then again, maybe it’s just the price they pay for PC development, just like console developers need to worry about Gamestop and used game sales.
What do you think about SecureROM? I love PC gaming and haven’t had any issues with it so far, but understand the reluctance to allow for a product you purchased to be regulated in such a way. Will it prevent a purchase, or is it just a necessary evil?
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Comments
PC's are a way of the past, just pick up a console people...
Though I completely understand companies trying to protect their game and their investment so I do not know why people are so up in arms about the issue. If you should get mad at anyone, get mad at the people doing the piracy.
The problem with DRM like this Voyou is that it only affects the people who are legally purchasing the game, which is making more and more people turn to piracy.
There has got to be a better way to deal with piracy than this.
oh ok i did not realize this, i have not purchased a PC game in a long time :)
Mike is right, it seems like legitimate customers are the ones continually being screwed by harsh anti-piracy measures. At the same time, I understand the need for publishers to take measures to protect games against piracy, but it doesn't seem to be doing any good thus far. It's a tough issue that won't have an easy solution, and while it doesn't affect me personally I just don't think this will help at all.
I completely agree that in a world where Half-Life 2's source code was leaked, that publishers have the right to protect their games. However I will say that if they are going to make it this hard for legitimate customers to re-install their owned copies of PC games then I say the $60 standard price tag needs to be lowered back to $49.99.
Charging me 60 bucks per game and then locking it up when I reinstall it over a few years period is not a very consumer friendly action. Thank god Im buying FarCry 2 on 360. PC gaming has been dead to me for about 3 years.