PC Gamer, BioShock and activation issues.

[Acleacius]

http://www.pcgamer.com/

8/22/07 - DRMShock

By Dan Stapleton, Senior Associate Editor

Yesterday began as a joyous day. By the whim of the mailroom gods, my copy of BioShock was the first to arrive at my desk. After I finished dancing around the room rubbing it in everyone's face, we needed to install it on a DX9 and a DX10 machine to compare.

"But wait," I said. "This product requires activation. What if, by installing it here, I cripple my copy and am unable to play from home? "So Greg called the 2K support line and talked to a support rep, who told him that it would be fine as long as we uninstalled the game before installing it on another machine. Ok, that's fine... a little annoying considering the game also has a DVD check to make sure the disc is in the drive, but I can handle that.

So we installed on one machine, then uninstalled and installed on another with no problems. So far, so good. I got in about an hour of play time, but I do the majority of my game playing at home, where I've got my heavy-duty gaming rig set up, so I was really looking forward to bringing it home with me. I uninstalled the game from my work machine and happily headed home...but when I got there and went to activate, I was stopped dead by a failure message that informed me I'd installed with this code one time too many. What... the... $%~&!

Ok, still not a disaster. I've had this happen with Windows XP before—all I have to do is call the number in the manual, read off the reactivation request code supplied by the activation wizard, and they'll give me an unlock code. Well, not so simple in this case—the support number for the US listed in the manual didn't work, giving me a "We cannot connect your call at this time" message. So I called the Canadian number, which went through. After four minutes on hold, I was told that the only way they'd unlock it is if I take a photo of the disc and the manual and email it to them. Wow… even Microsoft doesn’t make you do that.

Having now jumped through all their hoops hours ago, I’m currently waiting for 2K to get around to allowing me to play my legitimate copy of the game on the system of my choosing. Meanwhile, the pirates who cracked Windows Vista’s activation in a matter of days are already at work on the game, and I sincerely doubt that the BioShock copy protection wall will still be standing a week from today. And while those pirates play their ill-gotten games without a care, those of us who came by our copies legally will have to put up with draconian obstacles that will then serve no purpose whatsoever.

Well done 2K, well done indeed.

[aries100]

There's only one way to go here to stop this. Unfortunately, it is to NOT buy this game. If we, the consumers react to this crazyness and NOT buy the PC (and the Xbox version?) of Bioshock, then maybe, developers etc. will realize that they onlu hurt themselves - not the pirates.

As for the experience, pc gamer's editor had, this goes against all that Take2 (2K) has been saying in their forums. They (Elisbeth?) clearly stated that if you un-installed the game before installing it again on another machine, then you won't have to call to get a re-activation code. She, Elisabeth clearly said that if you re-installed the game without un-installing the game more than two times, then you wouldn't need getting such a code. She also said that you would need such a code, if you re-installed the game without uin-installing. There were no mentioning of that you only could install this game two times, in total, before needing a re-activation code.

I don't seem the need for the draconian measures the editor needs to go through to get his Bioshock game re-activated. He has the re-activation code. He wouldn't have the reactivation code, if he hadn't bought the game, since he wouldn't have the activation wizard. It seems Ken Levine needs to talk some sense into the support people. I can somehow understand why game developers won't be cheated out off their money by people making illegal copies etc. of their games. (not a recommendation, though). The only people such draconian copy protection schemed hurts are the people who buy the game legally - not the pirates.... (still not a recommendation to pirate a game).

edit:

It seems that people at the 2kforums did experience the same thing as the pc gamer editor. So here's the action taken:

http://forums.2kgames.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6979

Basically it is the same thing Microsoft does with say win XP, as far as I can tell.

Here's a link to to thread (originally spotted at NMA)

http://forums.2kgames.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5527

discussion this. And I counted at least 10 people who did cancel their pre-order and another 10 or saying they were going to cancel their pre-order.

It seems that web 2.0 strikes again ;) :)

[mute]

First, its software - shit happenes. So it could just as well work as has been stated. But something bad happened during the uninstall. The request to server wasn't sent to deactivate the code.

About the procedure to make it work again is stupid. It shouldn't be done that way. I guess. The best thing to do is calling that number with MASS AMOUNT of request. Install the game on ONE computer and call the number, while your playing it on another. It will show them its a stupd way on doing things.

And of course people claiming they have cancelled their pre-orders. I am doubtful to when people shout wolf. Well, we will se. Specially on internet, but also real life. There is alot of barks but little bites when people say what they will do. :)

Me just bought me a XBOX360 yesterday and seeing how much faster the demo loaded on that machine and how great it looked on my system, i think i will go for the xbox release.

Or i will buy both. I don't care if other people having problem. This is a game i want to play and i only have one machine so i will never have this problem.

---
EDIT:
Reading the link to the activation systeam i think they have listen to make it better. Instead of 2 concurrent computers, you could have 5. Instead off 2 reinstall you can have 5 AND they will release a revoke application to make it sure that you as a end user can handle the license.

Hm, seems they are on the right track. I am used to handle all my licensing at work by myself thrue webpages so i am perhaps mentally there - i am bound by concurrent installation licensings, dongles and stuff and i guess i have come to accept it.

(I do not advocate copyprotection (on the contrary) but seeing how they deal with the problem i think business as usual - i will be able to play the game))!

[mute]

An interesting thread indeed. And a scary one.

Because someone is repeating themselfs 100 times doens't make things true. They might appear more true, but they aint.

The best part was a guy who wrote something like this Hadrian i think his name was:
"Dear Elisabeth, ..."
Some patronizing speaches that she was a nice gal and such, but she didn't know much about the computer. But HE. He got a friend, and this friend was a programmer, and he had said that this was a rootkit.

Hm, looking thru my logs at work, having IDS blocking our business application for a false positive for spyware and nobody was able doing any transactions, and knowing that the antivirus business are doing guestimates on new viruses to determine whats what is a virus. I am not surprised if securerom could get caught. I mean, i have had real business critical application getting caught it such filter.

Hm. My hunch is that this is a deliberate campaigning from the the lobby that think pircay is ok. Yes it must be. They are all bunch of pirate.

I have facts! ;)

Oh, this is soo funny, sad and freightning.

I know. I am stupid that don't recognize this evil thread. And i am only one of 10000 that think like this. Perhaps its soo. But i like reading some sane words in this masshysteria, even if its my own. Web2 .0 aint allways a good thing.

[txa1265]

There's only one way to go here to stop this. Unfortunately, it is to NOT buy this game.
That is a double edged sword. So this guy tried to install on a few computers within a few hours - that is still not 'usual behavior'. Heck, you *could* go put $10,000 on your credit card tomorrow, but if the maximum purchase in the past 10 years was $500, the credit card company would flag that immediately and perhaps even deny the purchase.

The other thing is what Tom Chick said in his review If it doesn't sell well, perhaps it's time to abandon hope and resign ourselves to the eternal recurrence of space dungeons and World War II. Games like BioShock are what we need. They are what we deserve. This is one of the best examples of where we should go.

And between the two I will take Bioshock with the inconvenience or cumbersome DRM.

[zakhal]

That is a double edged sword. So this guy tried to install on a few computers within a few hours - that is still not 'usual behavior'. Heck, you *could* go put $10,000 on your credit card tomorrow, but if the maximum purchase in the past 10 years was $500, the credit card company would flag that immediately and perhaps even deny the purchase.

Better comparison would be that if the limit was 500 it works only for one month so if you buy stuff for 500 this month your credit is still zero the next month even if you paid the credit bill.

And while your credit stays zero the stuff you bought with it would cease to function until you take pictures of it all and send it to an email address which you got by calling som phonesupportservice on another country that is only open few hours during the midnight.

But other than that its pretty good.

[Dhruin]

I will also take Bioshock with DRM than nothing. I don't think they made the right choices in the beginning but they are responding and I recognise their right to attempt to protect their property.

[aries100]

I'm not advocating piracy here, fra from it. I just think that maybe & perhaps 2K should have given or perhaps sent a review copy (without drm) to the PC Gamer Editor. Having PC Gamer's Edidtor being somewhat mad at 2K for not letting a Senior Editor play the game at home when he's about to review the game isn't a very smart business move - on so many levels. Ah, the power of the press...

It seems, however, that 2K (and Irrational Games?) have soften this activation thing up a bit. And that's fine by mw. However, putting DRM on Bioschock's DVDs won't make the pirates go away.... (still not a recommendation, though).

[txa1265]

All hail the power of internet whiners ... ZOMG TEH WERLD IZ END1NG!!!1

[Dhruin]

You honestly think they didn't send PC Gamer a review copy well before the retail version was released?

This guy has a genuine beef - no question. He also has an opportunity to drum up some hits by writing an article on a hot topic.

[txa1265]

You honestly think they didn't send PC Gamer a review copy well before the retail version was released?
PC Gamer was the first review of the game - their usual 'world exclusive' that is almost always based on pre-gold code played at the developer's site. So they have certainly had access.

This is something like someone trying the rumored 'flex trick' to shoot UMD's out of their PSP and breaking the screen - they knew about the possible limitation, pushed it, and got bitten in the butt.

[zakhal]

All hail the power of internet whiners ... ZOMG TEH WERLD IZ END1NG!!!1

Whine about whining. Yeah thats real smart. Would you like som cheese to go with that? :rolleyes:

[mute]

I got the PC version. I am taking chances on my computer will not explode or my cpu burns up to pieces... But i really don't want this game get ruined for i have to learn to aim with a Xbox controller! :)

And also, just to buy this game becuase of the nay sayers.

I will support you bioshock. I will support you god damn it!

[Acleacius]

He was taling about he personal bought game, the one he can put on his home computer, afaik?

Unless you guys get to keep those games as personal copies, to take home when you get a copy sent for work reviews, then yeah I could see he was writng on a hot topic.

Otherwise if it's his personal copy and he is not allowed to take the business copy home, then I am gald it happened to someone with his position and the fact his is willing to write an article about it, since so many reviewers won't write or say negetive articles about new AAA titles.

[mute]

I had trouble with the activation, it wouldn't activate. Wrote to securerom and was very irritated. I think this IS a very bad design choice, but i also want to play these games. I then continue to press activate, i think up to 30 times before my request come through. And it worked.

My biggest problem with Bioshock is with that i ALWAYS have to RUN! I hate that. Thats also the reason why i wish had gone with XBOX360... Using the Controller on the pc negates the win-win with using the mouse, and i could played it on my 80" screen instead. Gah. :)

[Dhruin]

It was 2K's mistake with an activation serve that went down, wasn't it? I don't think it was really Securom's fault.

[Acleacius]

If you mean 2k publisher, yes, though if you mean 2k/Irrational then no. :)
I think I am going to keep calling them Irrational from now on, it's to confusing to call a stuido known for great works by the publishers name. ;)

Though you could argue that due to the Activation Feature that Securom/Sony sold 2k, they were possibly not told of the flaws of the protection updating software of what it could and could not do effectively.
There for 2k was unable to properly perpare for the situation, but more info would be needed, we proabably will never get due to nda. :)

[dteowner]

A bit of necro...

So, my buddy at work went out and bought the game on my recommendation. His gaming rig doesn't have an internet connection and his internet rig can't handle the game. He did a little looking and it appears there's no way around this (like an 800 number where they can give you an activation code). Is that the case? Is he screwed?

[dteowner]

Since I haven't gotten a response, let me clarify a bit. I'm not asking for a crack or any such thing. I don't own the game, so I don't know how the activation is set up. He's a very casual gamer, so I don't completely trust his analysis of the situation and thought I'd ask about it here.

[txa1265]

I truly have no idea or I would have answered ... it just seems odd to me that someone with a system powerful enough to run the game wouldn't have net access on it.

[dteowner]

Chalk it up to paranoia. His gaming rig is also his music studio system, so he's being 100% sure of not losing all his songs to some buggie.

[MudsAnimalFriend]

So, my buddy at work went out and bought the game on my recommendation. His gaming rig doesn't have an internet connection and his internet rig can't handle the game. He did a little looking and it appears there's no way around this (like an 800 number where they can give you an activation code). Is that the case? Is he screwed?
Googling on "bioshock offline activation" leads to the rather coldly worded:

http://www.2kgames.com/bioshock/support/general_3.htm

Which sounds a little like they're saying "we'll only fix if broken".

it just seems odd to me that someone with a system powerful enough to run the game wouldn't have net access on it.
Why? Powerful hardware and connectivity aren't mutually inclusive, quality Internet service provision isn't universal and many people simply don't care for the 'net. From a purely gaming perspective some folk don't care for multiplayer either.

Personally I find it creepy that the industry is moving in a direction which insists on everyone's system being connected to a public - and hugely insecure - network.

[txa1265]

Why? Powerful hardware and connectivity aren't mutually inclusive, quality Internet service provision isn't universal and many people simply don't care for the 'net. From a purely gaming perspective some folk don't care for multiplayer either.

True, but I wasn't talking broadband - all you'd need it a dial-up connection for validation. That said, even Microsoft has made phone activation possible.

[Dhruin]

That support bit is a little coldy worded but (sorry, dte) given that an internet connection is marked as a requirement on the box, at least they offer a solution.

[dteowner]

Dewayne found that webpage, too. The game supposedly insists on doing a patch hunt via the internet before it will allow you to do the activation. Seems kinda strange. Anyway, since he bought it on my recommendation (and, yes, the box does mention the internet requirement in bolded fine print), I'm going to buy it from him. I don't really do shooters, but hopefully it will be good enough to maintain my interest some day in the future. I'm looking forward to installing it and seeing how the whole system really works since Dewayne isn't exactly a gamer and might not realize a way around the problem if there is one.

[Acleacius]

One point about the old "written on the box", many retail outlets like Fry's, a big US electronic super store, put price stickers over Key Information.

Can you imagine trying to peal off a price sticker, so you could read the information, at a major software store in the US, they would probably call Homeland Security. :p

An example when I bought EQ2 Echoes of Faydwer, there was a clause on the box that said 30 Free play "Only for New Accounts".
That totally sucked considered you were buying and paying for the exact same package as people new to the game, yet you didn't get the free 30 days play.

Additionally everyone knows about the phrase "Read the Fine Print" so of course controversial statements are often hidden in fine print, by publishers.

I still remember having an debate with a guy on Watch before BioShock released, about his point that this copy protection was completely normal, walk in the park and nothing could go wrong, he turned out to be a dev. :rolleyes:
Yes, everything was perfect. :biggrin:

[Thaurin]

Yes, a dev, but not one for Bioshock if I'm right. What's your point?

[Acleacius]

Yes, I think your right but honestly I don't know either, never went back to that thread to even read it, felt like a lost cause.

Not sure which point you mean, but we're talking about activation issues, Bioshock, warnings and afair all these were related to that topic as well.
So my point seems to be there is no clear cut solution/answer in this or that thread, on how to make these dangerous protections worth risking damage to sales or customer satisfaction.

[Thaurin]

Oh, okay. It sounded like you were saying that this guy you were having a debate with being a developer somehow made his arguments less valuable.

[woges]

Have they followed up with this revoke tool yet? What about the removal of securom altogether? Any word on that as well?

[JDR13]

I'm surprised I haven't seen anyone mention the fact about Two Worlds also being an online activated game. I didn't even know it was until I finally installed it the other day.

[Acleacius]

Thaurin
Oh, okay. It sounded like you were saying that this guy you were having a debate with being a developer somehow made his arguments less valuable.
Oh, if it did I used bad wording or grammar.
I usually side with developers (90%), had no idea this guy was one, but his position seemed "flawed", being the most PC description I can think of, atm. :)

JDR13
I'm surprised I haven't seen anyone mention the fact about Two Worlds also being an online activated game.
Oh, I thought that was for online play.

[Thaurin]

On the position of online activation, I think it's all pretty useless. It will be cracked just the same and it won't be much more difficult for people who install cracked games to play it. Maybe there are other reasons for doing it, like gathering demographic statistics and more accurate popularity numbers. I'd think that'd be more useful than online activation as a crack prevention technique.

[MudsAnimalFriend]

I'm surprised I haven't seen anyone mention the fact about Two Worlds also being an online activated game. I didn't even know it was until I finally installed it the other day.
I didn't know until I installed it either, unlike Bioshock that requirement isn't listed on the packaging. They also provide phone activation but only for a limited number of countries so an Internet connection should have been listed as a requirement.

It really annoyed me because, on principle, I don't normally buy software that requires online activation. After my experiences with Steam I'm certainly not buying anything from Valve again no matter what the requirements.

[Acleacius]

Thaurin
On the position of online activation, I think it's all pretty useless.
True, also destructive.
Just as the RIAA has through their actions of suing customers, it has only served to alienate paying customers.
During the first scandals of starforce and indeed as standard procedure for the games publishing industry, they blame the customer first, very bad precedent.

[aries100]

Yes, Two Worlds also needs online activation. However, you can also activate Two worlds over the phone, something you can't do with Bioshock. Also, Two Worlds does not have any 5 install limits or such things. And since Two Worlds can be played online, much like an MMO, the activation required is for this online play.

But since you can't distinguish between single-player and online-players, all gamers are of course required to activate the game online...

[Acleacius]

Ahh, so you can't just buy Two Worlds for the single player game and avoid the online activation?

Iirc, many if not all games at least in the past have only required online activation for the online version.
First example I can think of was Dark Messiah, it's been a couple of months but I could swear I never had to do online activation as I was never interested in that version, seems it even had a separate install or exe for multiplayer.

[MudsAnimalFriend]

Iirc, many if not all games at least in the past have only required online activation for the online version.
Half-Life 2 required Steam for the single player game, which raised some controversy at the time. Mostly due to the poor state of Steam rather than the activation requirements. The only other I can recall is the RTS Earth 2160.

I can easily envisage a day when single-player games require a constant Internet connection to facilitate live advertising spam on loading screens.

[Acleacius]

Ahh, correct and I still don't have Steam. :)
I really meant and was thinking Single player only games, but clearly I wasn't accurate, though I never heard of Earth 2160, so it still could be Single player only. :)