Bioshock - Widescreen and Securom Woes

[Dhruin]

A couple of issues have exploded for Bioshock. We mentioned the widescreen problem yesterday and Cult of the Rapture has responded:
We understand there has been some concern about the implementation of widescreen mode in BioShock. Hopefully, we can clarify how we’ve chosen to do this.
The first thing we want to make clear is the mode we developed the game on and the optimal mode for playing the game is the widescreen mode. 90% of our development stations were widescreen displays: artists, programmers and designers.
- BioShock was primarily developed and tuned for widescreen mode. Artists and designers worked with widescreen displays and chose a field of view (FOV) that best reflected their intentions with respect to the way the world is perceived, the perceived speed of movement of the player relative to the world and the amount of the world they wanted to be viewed for the best game-play experience. We went through dozens of iterations and finally settled upon a widescreen aspect ratio that best suited the gameplay experience.
- When playing in widescreen modes the game makes use of the full screen resolution, and does not crop or stretch a lower resolution image into a wide screen one. For example, at 720p the game renders natively to the full 1280x720 resolution.
- Once this FOV was established, we chose to keep exactly the same horizontal FOV for standard def displays, so as not to in any way alter the gameplay experience.
- Instead of cropping the FOV for 4:3 displays and making all 4:3 owners mad in doing so, we slightly extended the vertical FOV for standard def mode: we never wanted to have black bars on people’s displays. (This way, everybody is happy…) This does mean that people playing on a standard def display see slightly more vertical space, but, this does not significantly affect the game-play experience and, we felt that it best served our goal of keeping the game experience as close as possible to the original design and art vision on both types of displays. Reports of the widescreen FOV being a crop of the 4:3 FOV are completely false.
One thing we can assure you that all these decisions were made with the best interests of the game in mind. We didn’t save any money or development time by choosing this set of parameters. We did what we thought was the best thing for the game: developing and optimizing it for widescreen displays, and making the decision not to do the usual crop for 4:3 displays. As a consumer, you certainly have the right to disagree.
We understand that not all users might not be happy with these choices and we will be looking into options for allowing users to adjust FOV settings manually. But as we mentioned earlier, changes to video game code do not happen in minutes or hours. We appreciate your understanding.
A community work-in-progress workaround (http://forums.2kgames.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5927) for PC players can be found on the 2K forums.
Meanwhile, community liason Elizabeth has posted on the Securom issue (http://forums.2kgames.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5927), with confirmation that the copy-protection scheme only allows two installs if you don't uninstall first:
hey guys,

first, let me say this. you DO NOT NEED TO USE THE INTERNET EVERY TIME YOU PLAY THIS GAME. it is only the first time.

second, you can uninstall and reinstall this game, and if, by chance, you have 2 computers you want to simultaneously play this game on, you also can do that.

if by some chance you are reinstalling this game without uninstalling it first, a lot, there is a chance you may have to call securom and get a key, or deactivate some older installations.

but if you upgrade your hardware next week, you'll still be able to play the game. if you revamp your system and need to reinstall bioshock, just uninstall it before you go through the overhaul, and then do your reinstall.

calling it "hardware fingerprinting" is a bit alarmist. we do not transmit any of your data to any companies.

really, the only people who will be concerned about any of these security measures are those who are rapidly putting bioshock on many pcs... if you use the game as you normally do, you won't notice this at all.
Finally, Ken Levine commented (http://forums.2kgames.com/forums/showthread.php?p=122353#post122353) on the 2K forums about these issues:
Sorry about all the conflict. IG development people (specifically Chris and Rowan who are both on vacation) were trying to take a day off today (we've been working about six months 6-7 days a week). I'm trying to see what everybody's concerns are and consult with the staff.
I know people are frustrated, but we are dealing with internet time here. It wasn't until 7 pm EST that I was able to even talk to anybody in our Australian studio, which is open today (9 AM their time).
I hear you that not everybody was thrilled with the PC launch. And I'm trying to collect information and see what the facts are. PC game development does not function in a matter of seconds or hours, especially when most of the team is on vacation. But I hear you, and we're looking into the issue. I'll only ask you have a bit of understanding as to the time scale that software development issues must occur in.
Who are IG? It's 2K Australia, Ken. ;)
In general Bioshock news, Shack is the latest site with an interview (http://www.shacknews.com/featuredarticle.x?id=525):
Shack: How does it feel to have the game hit such a critical mass of hype? It seems like suddenly the buzz shot through the roof.
Ken Levine: There's a book called The Tipping Point, which is not about gradual change, but a point where things radically change. It talks about prime rates, where things go off a cliff, up or down, and the reasons why. BioShock, and I think video games in general, I think we in the industry misunderstand how gamers think. We think most gamers are like us--journalists and developers--where we scour every page for information, but in reality, most gamers think about games like we think about Diet Coke or Oreos.
More information. (http://www.rpgwatch.com/show/newsbit?newsbit=6090)

[woges]

Its all gone monty python!

Its just silly.

[Stanza]

I agree, it's quite amusing. But it's a long ways from being a dead parot.

And I do hope they widen the FOV for widescreen. Then everyone can complain how widescreen is fisheyed at the edges.

[Thaurin]

Lol, I love reading forum threads like these. It's amazing how people can go on and on about why their opinion of things is better than the other guy's opinion of things, and even the developer's view (all accompanied by a dramatic THAY LIED TO US!!!1 of course). In the end, it seems the 4:3 players are getting the worse end of the deal, because they have more vertical viewing range!! :D I want my option to have black bars on the top and bottom of my screen, damn it!! I'm missing out on Bioshock's immersive view of how the game should be! (For the record, apparently bigger vertical viewing distance does not matter as much as bigger-- than intended-- horizontal viewing distance in terms of atmosphere/claustrophobic feel...)

Hehe, what a mess. :)

[Guhndahb]

we will be looking into options for allowing users to adjust FOV settings manuallyI consider user-adjustable FOV a necessity in FP games. I'm rather surprised and disappointed that they omitted it. I hope they rectify that.

As for activation: I loathe activation schemes, but I'm significantly in favor of activation schemes that allow one to manually deactivate an installation (like Adobe, and, I guess from this information, Securom) versus ones where you cannot (Microsoft Windows). Of course, I'm left with the same concern I have with any game that I buy that requires online activation (part of my dislike for Steam). Will I be able to install and play it in 10 years? 20? I play 20-year-old games now, so I may just want to do so 20 years from now. So, all in all, I'm very disappointed about this. Despite buying it, I may have to resort to black-hat means to play it someday. :(

It's safe to say I'm regretting my early purchase a bit. In my personal media blackout to avoid spoilers, I wasn't aware about activation and didn't notice the fine print on the box. But that's my own failure to perform due diligence before purchase. Ah well, live and learn. I'm sure I'll perk up once I start playing it in a few months. ;)

[txa1265]

The bottom line is this - people playing the game in their usual settings will not notice a thing. I tend to play 1900 x 1200 and switched to 1024 x 768 to check this out and could confirm the difference - by comparing screenshots!

Also, the activation system is based around preventing people from installing on 12 machines at once. Is there a legit reason to install a game on more than 2 systems at the same time within a short time period?

[Guhndahb]

Also, the activation system is based around preventing people from installing on 12 machines at once. Is there a legit reason to install a game on more than 2 systems at the same time within a short time period?Hi, txa1265. I'm not sure if you are asking a previous poster or myself, but I would say no. In fact their allowance of allowing two is pretty nice. I only need it on one system at one time. But that isn't my point.

I have two main problems with activation. The first (inability to manually deactivate, like with MS Windows), while my most vehement complaint, is not relevant here if the information is correct. If I can deactivate it before I install it on a new system, I'm content with this issue. Although they need to remain flexible because of things like crashed HDs where you cannot uninstall. But I assume they handle that gracefully. So no issue there with Bioshock.

The second, however (long-term installability), is a complication of nearly all activation schemes. Many people may not care about the latter issue, but I do. There are other arguments against me on this one, but none of them satisfy me.

Well there's a third issue with some, that of being able to loan a game to a friend as long as you uninstall it first, something I strongly believe should be allowed, but that's a complicated issue and is only possibly relevant to Bioshock (I haven't read the EULA) and not at all with the activation system.

As for the FOV thing, I wasn't making a big deal about it. But I do feel that all FP SP games need to make FOV user adjustable, even if only from a console. To me, it's as much a personal taste thing as is brightness or difficulty.

[txa1265]

I actually agree with you - my point is more that the internet is practically exploding with the cries of users unable to install a single copy of the game on all 20 of their BFF's computers ... ;)

Seriously, every activation system sucks. They are all short sighted and view games as disposable commodities that are single owner rather than the (sometimes) pieces of history that we collect and seek many years after the companies that published them are dead. I recently got a nice Realms of Arkania box on Goozex - what would I have done if that required internet activation?

[magerette]

I recently got a nice Realms of Arkania box on Goozex - what would I have done if that required internet activation?

There was an Internet then? :)



Sorry, couldn't help being a smarta$$. Actually, that was part of the point,right?

[xSamhainx]

me, I hate widescreen.

It should be banned =[

[zakhal]

me, I hate widescreen.

It should be banned =[

Must be horrible considering with two eyes you are fixed to widescreen. Perhaps you should try using an eyepatch ARrrrr.. ;)

[Lucky Day]

just for clarity Ken Levine's apology this morning was specifically on the Widescreen issue

The subject tag was "A note from Ken on the widescreen concerns"

Not a big deal but I was incorrect when I emailed you Dhruin that is was on both issues.

I'm sure if he was aware of the other issue at the time though he would have included that too. ;)

Nice doublespeak coming out of 2k though.

Elizabeth's comment clears up a technical misunderstanding but she's not getting to the root of the issue.

I agree with you guys ghun and txa to a point but this particular game is possibly the worst choice for SecureROM to introduce this new "feature".

The game has optimizations for Vista, the new, hardly used OS. People are trying out the game on their Vista machines to test out the Dx10 features.

Then they go back to their regular OS, put it on their laptop for work o-), then put it on their kid's computer because they'd prefer to let them screw their own machine up while you you screw yours up and its asking for trouble. Especially if Junior wants to check out how it runs on his Vista as well.

It begs the question is if this wonderful new sales saving added value (2 installs max) was one of the reasons there was no Multiplayer option.

[Prime Junta]

@Lucky, I doubt too many people have a bunch of computers beefy enough to run Bioshock nicely just lying around the house.

[GhanBuriGhan]

And BioShock isn't a game the kids should play anyway :)
I must say I was concerned at first, but with the details clarified (uninstalling frees up the installation slot again) I am fine with this. As for the play it again in 20 years issue - well thats legitimate, but I am fairly confident that by that time some sort of abandonware site will be able to help us out of our misery ;)

[Dez]

Its just silly to activate a product I already own. And what if the company goes bankrupt five years later? Or what if the publisher is no more after ten years and I want to reinstal the game? what then?

With the older games its no issue. Its sad that game industry has chosen this path. It doesn't really serve customers' intrests'. I'm not actually quite sure what are we paying anymore.. I buy the disc and stuff but I need their permission to use my product.

[txa1265]

There was an Internet then? :)



Sorry, couldn't help being a smarta$$. Actually, that was part of the point,right?

Yeah, I know - I was just making the point about the fact that some of us are playing much older games where the companies are long since defunct.

[Prime Junta]

Its just silly to activate a product I already own. And what if the company goes bankrupt five years later? Or what if the publisher is no more after ten years and I want to reinstal the game? what then?

So, what's your solution? Hardware-based copy-protection has the same problem -- they need low-level drivers that stop working with operating system and hardware changes. Give up copy-protection altogether?

With the older games its no issue. Its sad that game industry has chosen this path. It doesn't really serve customers' intrests'. I'm not actually quite sure what are we paying anymore.. I buy the disc and stuff but I need their permission to use my product.

The reason it's not a problem for older games is rather interesting. There was one point in history where CD-ROM's were about the same size as hard disks, and CD-ROM burners were very expensive. That meant that there was no practical way of making copies, so no extra CP was needed.

[txa1265]

The reason it's not a problem for older games is rather interesting. There was one point in history where CD-ROM's were about the same size as hard disks, and CD-ROM burners were very expensive. That meant that there was no practical way of making copies, so no extra CP was needed.
And the thought of downloading 700MB over 14.4 was abhorrent ...

[Prime Junta]

Yup, there was that too. I remember when doing a ca 2 MB download of NetHack felt like a chore...

[Holly Avenger]

More worrying is that the latest version of securom copy protection that is used apparently installs a rootkit - one that cannot be removed totally from your system once in place.

And even better, if you installed the demo you've already got this lovely rootkit in place.

[Guhndahb]

So, what's your solution?...Give up copy-protection altogether?I wonder how badly this worked out for Bethesda. IIRC, Oblivion had no PC copy protection. I believe it sold well. :p I suppose if they have copy protection on Fallout 3 we'll know that their number crunchers felt they lost money going that route. (I'm guessing people already know more details on this, but I haven't read anything substantive.)

[zakhal]

Galactic Civilizations 2 has no copy protection either and it sells very well. They are allready making their second addon for it. Starforce tried to ruff them off for it:

that a website is implying that we want Galactic Civilizations II to be pirated. Absolutely not! Of course we DO NOT want our game to be pirated. We're a small company, every lost sale hurts us.

This got started because sales reports on Galactic Civilizations II have been much higher than anticipated. We've now outsold the first Galactic Civilizations in North America in the first 10 days. Last week we were apparently the #1 PC game at Walmart.

Naturally, some peple have taken the conclusion that because we don't have copy protection on our game, that we invite piracy. That is not the case, we simply think there are other ways to stop piracy than CD checks, strict DRM, etc.

What we do is provide a serial # that users can choose to enter when they install and use that unique serial # to download free and frequent updates.

Our license allows you to install the game onto as many machines that you own that you want as long as only one copy is being used at once.

How many sales are lost because people want to have a game on their laptop and desktop and don't want to drag CDs around so choose not to buy the game?

Our company also makes utility software. We've been around a long time -- 14 years now. Our software gets pirated. We don't like it but piracy is a fact of life. And not every pirated copy means a lost sale.

The question isn't about eliminating piracy, it's about increasing sales. It's about trying to make sure that people who would buy your product buy it instead of steal it.

Our primary weapon to fight piracy is through rewarding customers through convenient, frequent, free updates.

If you make it easy for users to buy and make full use of your product or service legitimately then we believe that you'll gain more users from that convenience than you'll lose from piracy.

We realize that some people or companies might feel threatened at any evidence that implies that draconian DRM schemes or CD copy protection may not make that big of a difference in sales.

For example, we were quite disturbed to discover that the company that makes Starforce provided a working URL to a list of pirated GalCiv II torrents. I'm not sure whether what they did was illegal or not, but it's troubling nevertheless and was totally unnecessary.

All software is pirated, there's no way around it. We've been making software for over 10 years. We don't like our software being pirated. Like I said, every lost sales has an impact on us. But there are other ways to reduce it than through draconian copy protection systems.

Incidentally, the site that Starforce's forum admin linked to "prove" how much our software was being pirated we visited, followed the instructions on the site to get our game removed and the links were removed within a couple of hours. We'll continue to follow-up with them.

Update: Starforce has removed the URL to the illegal files.

http://forums.galciv2.com/index.aspx?forumid=161&aid=106741&c=1

[Guhndahb]

Wow! What an enlighted attitude! I agree with everything they said in there, and I'm guessing they did their homework and aren't just full of suppositions like I am. I kinda want to buy the game just to support people like this even though I don't want to play the game. :D

[Lucky Day]

More worrying is that the latest version of securom copy protection that is used apparently installs a rootkit - one that cannot be removed totally from your system once in place.

And even better, if you installed the demo you've already got this lovely rootkit in place.

there is no proof to the rumour that it installs rootkit.

After the fiasco with it's previous rootkit on it's Audio CD's, Sony is attempting to be completely open on how all their DRM software works.

This SecureROM leaves software behind after installs which they advise can easily be removed. I wish people would quit accusing them of installing rootkits (previous history not considered) unless they have proof.

Sony is now in the position that Jack and the Box found themselves in after their food killed two people. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_in_the_Box) (in their case they've now become the model for fast food safety.)

I doubt half the people who accuse them of installing a rootkit even knows how one works.

[Nonymous]

there is no proof to the rumour that it installs rootkit.

Ignore the rootkit behind the curtain. (http://forums.2kgames.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6628&page=8)

Seems that its not a rumor anymore. Also, there are several more links/threads about this then just that one.

2K/Irrational really seems to have shot themselves in the foot on this one.

[Dez]

Give up copy-protection altogether?

Yes, it is exactly what I want. Like someone else pointed above, I also respect benthesa for not putting any copyprotection software on Oblivion. In the nutshell its a conflict of intrests. Whose intrests are more important? Is it those people who loyally buy your games? Or do you try to maximize the possible profit and make sure that burning the game is more difficult. The former keeps your customers happy and lessens the ammount of possible tech problems in the future, while the latter pisses of only those people who have bought your product. Maybe in the short term your game will sell more, but longer term effects on your reputation can be devastating. Or maybe i'm just talking lots of horse shit here and the copy protection softwares actually have an huge impact on sales, but as a customer this is how I feel. :)

Do those copyprotection software really affect much on piracy? Do they force more people to buy their games legally instead of downloading them? I've seen many copy protected games on torrent sites and they don't seem to be much of an obstacle to them.

[Lucky Day]

Ignore the rootkit behind the curtain. (http://forums.2kgames.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6628&page=8)

Seems that its not a rumor anymore. Also, there are several more links/threads about this then just that one.

2K/Irrational really seems to have shot themselves in the foot on this one.

I'll reserve judgement for now as I am hearing about a lot of false positives.

This doesn't mean that I think this is a good thing however. Some sort of SecureROM is being left behind with the demo even after the uninstall. It shouldn't have even been bundled. This is not good as I'll have to find something to clean this out.

---

update: Apparently it can be removed by editting the registry with Regedit. So this does not make it a rootkit.

It is malware IMO and I am not happy!.

[aries100]

The problems surrounding the pirating of games are these: (still not a recommendation,though):

First, off draconian copy protection will always get - ehm - cracked. (still not a recommendation). The quicker game developers etc. realize this, the quicker they perhaps will give up on these draconian measures.

Second, normal people can't play the games they have bought legally....because of this. And sometimes, and thridly, they can't even play the legally bought games on the gaming system of their choice. because of some DRM issues.

Fourth, if this continues, people will be very mad at one point. And simply not start buying new games that has DRM on them. And fifth, this would perhaps be the only language that publishers and game devs. alike understood....

[Lucky Day]

I did some more research

Two separate people can not duplicate the registry entry that the poster found who claimed the Bioshock demo contained a "rootkit" from SecuROM.

I did a find on my own registry and can not find it either.

I believe now, if this is not a hoax, and I don't doubt that it is not, that some other program has caused this and he has jumped to conclusions.

The fact that there is a registry entry does not imply there's a rootkit simply because no folder can be found. Its a poor rootkit that would advertise itself in the registry.

[Badesumofu]

The activation process is simply not working for me. I've checked and re-checked the serial number, read all their FAQs... it just wont activate. This sucks. I'll think twice before pre-ordering anymore games now, and probably wont but any games with this kind of copy-protection at all.

[txa1265]

The activation process is simply not working for me. I've checked and re-checked the serial number, read all their FAQs... it just wont activate. This sucks. I'll think twice before pre-ordering anymore games now, and probably wont but any games with this kind of copy-protection at all.

So you have the retail version and it won't activate ... have you called tech support?

[zakhal]

The activation server had a burb or somthing just recently. It should install just fine now.

[Badesumofu]

It worked now. That was pretty frustrating for a bit there, but the game is simply amazing.

[aries100]

There seems to have been a problem with Bioshock's and 2K's activation server. (it went down). It should, however, function now :)

[elikal]

I havent yet bought Bioshock, but as System Shock fan I wanted to. Now I hear you can install it only 2 or 5 times, is that true? I must say, if this were the case I would not buy this game. I tend to replay games, and I want to play them again, even after many years, and if the game company doesnt exist then? It does make online requests to install, right? Well, what about ppl who dont have online, does the package say it needs online connection even for normal play? I wonder.

This is a bad step in a bad direction.

[txa1265]

I know this is a controversial thing to say - and I'm not saying I agree with 2K - but having finished it, if I never play it again I will not feel that the $50 was poorly spent.

[Moriendor]

I havent yet bought Bioshock, but as System Shock fan I wanted to. Now I hear you can install it only 2 or 5 times, is that true?

It's limited to five times on different PCs (or operating systems) or if you run into a bug with the activation five times in a row (not very likely to say the least). On the same PC/hardware you can install and reinstall the game until you turn blue in the face or the DVD breaks :) .

I tend to replay games, and I want to play them again, even after many years, and if the game company doesnt exist then?

Aside from the extreme likelihood of cracks being available by then, it is not unusual for companies to remove any sort of copy protection with the final patch for a game some time (a year or so) after release. And that is exactly what 2K is planning on as well. They are going to release a patch at some point in the future that removes the activation limit. Ken Levine said so himself. Just check the official site.

It does make online requests to install, right? Well, what about ppl who dont have online, does the package say it needs online connection even for normal play?

The package says that an Internet connection is required to activate the game online. You only need to activate once. The game does not need a permanent connection to the Internet every time you play.

This is a bad step in a bad direction.

No, it isn't because pretty much every single one of your concerns = void :) .

[rooroosta]

All this copy protection malarkey has got out of hand.

[Badesumofu]

I know this is a controversial thing to say - and I'm not saying I agree with 2K - but having finished it, if I never play it again I will not feel that the $50 was poorly spent.

Agree 100%, even if the copy-protection limited you to one playthrough, it'd be a better purchase than the vast majority of other games.

[ffbj]

Uninstalling the Malware:
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/98241-13-remove-securom-malware-uninstalling-bioshock-demo

[Alrik Fassbauer]

Yup, there was that too. I remember when doing a ca 2 MB download of NetHack felt like a chore...

I remember these times as well.

I grew up - so to say - at University studying meanwhile watching the Internet actually grow. It too HOURS to download something that was 1-2 MB big ! So slow was the connection at the PC I worked with ... FTP, of course. Gopher was much faster, then.

And then the first browsers. Mosaic was my favourite one. :)

RAM was extremely expensive. Windows NT I think it was 3.5 needed 24 MB RAM minimum - which costed several hundred or even thousands of German D-Mark !

At that time, I came across a neat little program calkled "Pegasus Mail" for Netware. And I still use it today ! :) ;) (The windows version, though.)