Mass Effect - Previews @ GameSpy, IGN and Games Radar

Dhruin

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A trio of new Mass Effect PC previews have hit the 'net today, just in time for another round of DRM arguments. GameSpy's article is easily digested and breaks down the five biggest changes from the X360 version - here's the intro:
So Mass Effect will be hitting PCs real soon. BioWare came by today to graciously allow us a chance to poke around with the latest version of the port, and tape the proceedings. While not a whole lot has changed since the game was last shown at the Game Developers Conference in February, today's extended demonstration put the differences between the PC and 360 versions in stark relief. It's no exaggeration to say that Mass Effect feels much more at home on the PC; indeed, playing the game with all the interface refinements introduced in the port makes you suspect that the experience is much closer to what the designers at BioWare had probably envisioned initially. Whether it's a product of an increased amount of time to cook the systems, or simply the nature of mouse and keyboard interface is irrelevant. The bottom line is that Mass Effect will emerge from the other side of this port as a more fun and functional game.
IGN's Jason Ocampo writes a more traditional article with this mention of the DRM:
And, yes, we asked BioWare Community Coordinator Chris Priestly about the online verification system that's caused somewhat of an uproar recently. According to Priestly, when you install the game it will ask you to input the CD key that comes with it. The game will then check online to authorize the key. You won't need the disc in the drive to play, as everything is on the hard drive. About every 10 days or so, the game will recheck your activation online. The game can be activated about three times, but if you need more than that (let's say your hard drive keeps dying) you can call customer support. On paper, it sounds reasonable, but anti-piracy systems can sometimes cause a ton of headaches. We'll have to see where Mass Effect falls when it ships, but this does look like a very cool game, even if you've played the Xbox 360 version already.
...and Games Radar goes for a short format, as usual.
More information.
 
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"About every 10 days or so, the game will recheck your activation online.The game can be activated about three times, but if you need more than that (let's say your hard drive keeps dying) you can call customer support."

*About 3 times*? Don't they know?

Um...what does that mean exactly? That you can only ever authorize the game (i.e install it) 3 time and then their authorization server locks you out, unless you phone an company based on another continent ? Or that it gives you 30 days to play it then you have to re-authorize it? Or...? seems a bit vague. Sorry, if this is a dumb question - I wasn't even aware there was going to be online activation. I'm keen to play this game, but I have an innate dislike of this kind of thing and if either of the two options i listed above is correct (I hope not), that dislike might be strong enough for me to pass this game over. Piracy is not unique to Bioware - but no other game i have bought to date (including recent games) requires this.
 
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"*Um...what does that mean exactly? That you can only ever authorize the game (i.e install it) 3 time and then their authorization server locks you out, unless you phone an company based on another continent ?
It means Bioware will be ready to handle your call and that you should be ready to apply your lips respectfully.

EDIT: Bioware acquiesced (and that's cool).
 
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