There has been some talk around the 'Net this week that the PC version of Fallout 3 is sporting SecuROM, the same intrusive copy protection scheme that caused so much controversy for Spore last month.
But a post on publisher Bethesda's blog claims that Fallout 3 only uses SecuROM to verify the disc:
For Fallout 3’s copy protection on PC, we use the same security model as we did for Oblivion - a simple disc check. We only use SecuRom’s disc check functionality for copy protection. We do NOT limit the number of installs. We do NOT use online authentication or any other SecuROM functionality except for a disc check when you install the game and when you launch the game. We do not install any other programs and we don’t have anything that runs in the background while you’re playing the game.
GP: Bethesda is clearly attempting to avert a consumer rebellion like the one waged against Spore. You know, the one about which EA 's CEO remarked that half of the complainers were pirates and the other half were too dumb to know any better.
Via: bit-tech.net
Comments
Re: Bethesda: Fallout 3 DRM Not as Intrusive as Spore
SecuROM in its disc-check only format is the most commonly used disc-protection on the planet, most games you own that require the disc to be in the drive will be sporting a version of it. (or one from a different company with similar functionality)
As a result, if the SecuROM usage is limited to a disc-check only (which btw, also means it doesn't really install on the HDD, it's built into the game exe, and goes away when that exe does) then I don't really have a problem with that.
It is the persistent, no-disc required online activation with limited install nonsense that you don't want on your PC and that's harder to remove than most rootkits.
Re: Bethesda: Fallout 3 DRM Not as Intrusive as Spore
commonly used != trustworthy
Re: Bethesda: Fallout 3 DRM Not as Intrusive as Spore
I never said that it was trustworthy, just that I don't really mind it.
But arguing that you won't buy it because the game has a secuROM based disc-check is a moot point since most of your current game collection will have it too. Granted, this one may be nastier than most of those, but it is still less nasty than limited activation nonsense.
(and big publishers will continue to waste money on it, makes their execs feel important)
Re: Bethesda: Fallout 3 DRM Not as Intrusive as Spore
Most of my games with securom end up installed into a vmware virtual machine, cracked, then moved over to my main PC.
These other games also don't try to restrict your sale of your game to another person.
Re: Bethesda: Fallout 3 DRM Not as Intrusive as Spore
The issue is that it isn't limited to the game's .exe, but it installs a driver to do the disk check.
Or, more specifically the issue is that it MIGHT install the driver but there's no verifiable source of information.
A disk check limited entirely to the game's executable and done when the game's exited or when the game starts playing is perfect.
"but it's easy to crack!"
Well apparently so is the convoluted mess of securom. My suggestion is to do a disk check or an at install online CD-key check using two cd-keys only linked server side that are generated from completely different algorithms (I know, horrible spelling).
People will still crack it and play it single player, but they have no chance of generating someone else's keyset.
Re: Bethesda: Fallout 3 DRM Not as Intrusive as Spore
Does it install a driver and/or service? Does it require administrator access?
If the answer is "yes" to either of these questions, then yes, it is as intrusive as Spore.
Re: Bethesda: Fallout 3 DRM Not as Intrusive as Spore
Checking at the section on Bethesda, it isn't a simple disk check, it does install a driver. However, I can't seem to verify this statement, apart from about 7 customers complaining it doesn't run because of certain programs they have installed. So it extremely likely it does install a driver and isn't like Oblivion, which only had a disk check and not SecuRom.
Another check at the forums has instructions on doing Clean Boot to stop emulation services from running, so yes there is something installed that conflicts with certain programs.
I feel sorry for developers, they'd likely get more sales but sometimes their hands are tied because of publisher decisions.
Re: Bethesda: Fallout 3 DRM Not as Intrusive as Spore
It requires a driver to be installed to check the disk.
This is actually a pretty stupid move. I wasn't planning on buying Fallout 3 for any system. But I've heard good things (it's mainly a time issue that I'm not buying it). If I had heard that they had decided to forgo DRM, I would have picked up the game for sure.
The saddest thing about these companies that put DRM on their games is that they literally PAY for the priviledge of destroying consumer goodwill. The DRM companies charge a significant amount for use of their technology.
Those guys at Stardock have it right. The people who pirate your game are going to find a way to do it anyway (with or without DRM) and are in NO WAY "lost sales". The only thing that comes out of DRM is losing people who would have actually bought your game (there are at least 12 PC games that I wanted to buy but didn't because of DRM).
Re: Bethesda: Fallout 3 DRM Not as Intrusive as Spore
I do mind a disk check, since I've had problems with SecuROM disk checks. Most recently, for whatever reason it now takes me 3-4 tries to get SecuROM to recognize my legitimately purchased Jade Empire disk. I expect that problem to continue to get worse, and it's something I'm certainly paying attention to. That's an issue. Had I known it would have SecuROM, I wouldn't have purchased the PC version of Fallout. For my own purchasing habits, SecuROM has driven me to consoles probably more than any other factor- I'm tired of the install errors, having to gather computer information, and the rejection of legally purchased media.
Re: Bethesda: Fallout 3 DRM Not as Intrusive as Spore
TBH, I don't mind a diskcheck. This works for me.
Re: Bethesda: Fallout 3 DRM Not as Intrusive as Spore
I'd like to believe them, but something tells me some they put in some hidden security (at least they think it's hidden until it rears it's ugly head to attack gamers).
Disk checks are okay. They're still not going to help piracy any (there's pirate mods that tell the program the disk's in the drive), but at least this doesn't put loyal customers in handcuffs.
Re: Bethesda: Fallout 3 DRM Not as Intrusive as Spore
Hey, Amy!!!
Try this
http://isohunt.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=85806 What is it? Instructions for removing securom.
Insanity has its toll. Please have exact change.
Re: Bethesda: Fallout 3 DRM Not as Intrusive as Spore
I don't know... Even with the reassurances, there will be people wanting to do a boycott. I don't know why they put DRM in there in the first place if a good majority don't want it there.
I uninstalled Spore because of DRM, and I don't know how to get rid of it now. It sucks.
Amy Levandoski
Re: Bethesda: Fallout 3 DRM Not as Intrusive as Spore
The only way I've heard to reliably remove SecuROM is to reformat your OS partition and re-install Windows.
Re: Bethesda: Fallout 3 DRM Not as Intrusive as Spore
There are tutorials online on how to get rid of it. You may have to download a program to let you unlock one of the files so you will be able to delete it, but that is the only complication.
Even though it is minor DRM and not intrusive like Spore, I am not buying it until the price drop happens.
How to set Xbox 360 Parental Controls
Re: Bethesda: Fallout 3 DRM Not as Intrusive as Spore
It's ugly all right. Isn't this type of problem going to cripple the PC gaming scene further? The developers need to understand how the negativity is going to affect their bottom line. Make it better, not worse!!!!
My sites Vancover Wireless Security Camera Halo 4
Re: Bethesda: Fallout 3 DRM Not as Intrusive as Spore
Like I've been saying, most viruses aren't that hard to get rid of!
300 Episodes and counting: http://www.orangeloungeradio.com/
400 Episodes, TEN YEARS and counting: http://www.orangeloungeradio.com/ | Voice of Geeks Network - http://www.vognetwork.com