Bittorent Games and DRM

[Teknic]

So someone bought me Dead Space as a gift. It's been awhile since I've played some computer games. I typed Dead Space into google, and apparently it comes with SecurRom copyright protection, and I recall my system having problems in the past with that DRM.

My question is, do pirated torrented games still have copyright protection? Meaning, if I download a bittorrent game, does the bittorrent-ed game prevent SecurRom from installing, or does it just by-pass DRM once it's already installed? If it just by-passes SecurRom once installed, then doesn't that still leave the problem that DRM produces?

Note: I actually own the game as I mentioned above, so I'm not actually pirating it. I just don't want the DRM that has messed with my system in the past.



This thread has more than run its course. You can discuss piracy elsewhere.

Anandtech Moderator
KeithTalent

 

[BD231]

No DRM on that software, it's bypassed. But, you often get no ability to lan and you certainly can't join online servers. They're pretty much crippled.

 

[StormSide]

Jeez just install the game and play it..... None of this pirating talk ....

 

[DaveSimmons]

Apparently SecurROM is much less system-crashing than it was in the past, so just living with it might be better than volunteering to join a botnet.

 

[pcslookout]

Just use the portable version of the game.

 

[Rifter]

I think this is a valid thread, i myself have downloaded/torrent/usenet whatever games in the past when the DRM from the factory was causing issues. Like mentioned above though you will be unable to play online is most cases so its mostly only going to work well with single player games.

 

[tedrodai]

This is also something I may have attempted in the past, but nowadays I just say 'screw it' if the game comes with baggage like that, and I don't bother with the game in the first place. The only way to speak to companies about these types of things is with your wallet. Unless you're a devoted fan that MUST have the game, you're really not missing all that much by ignoring a few games here and there.

Anyways, to the OP -- it depends on the particular torrent you're downloading, as they can be different even for the same game, though I imagine most popular torrents would have removed any type of DRM they can.

 

[smackababy]

I am pretty sure, even if you do in fact own the game, downloading via a torrent and bypassing the DRM is still considered illegal. Sure, it is morally wrong to most, but that doesn't change the legality of it.

 

[Golgatha]

I am pretty sure, even if you do in fact own the game, downloading via a torrent and bypassing the DRM is still considered illegal. Sure, it is morally wrong to most, but that doesn't change the legality of it.

I think you've got it backwards. It's illegal to download it, but not morally wrong to do so since you own a copy of the game.

 

[shortylickens]

Nice knowing you, newb.

 

[pcslookout]

It funny how people go all out on the report button. Good to know who the ones are so I can remember them for a later time.

 

[JoshGuru7]

It funny how people go all out on the report button. Good to know who the ones are so I can remember them for a later time.

Remember, detailed lists of your enemies should always be handwritten. Typing them up gives the NSA agents monitoring your computer too much information about you because they can measure how hard you are jabbing each key when you type the names.

 

[HarvardAce]

Remember, detailed lists of your enemies should always be handwritten.

In blood, of course. As far as for the OP, most of the torrented and cracked games will bypass any checks. As others have noted, the compatibility issues that most forms of DRM use now won't cause any problems with your computer, but I agree that it can still be a pain and I will avoid those titles if possible. I know some people aren't a fan of Steam, but if the game is available via steam you may be able to register your CD key with Steam and download it from them. There is still the Steam DRM but overall it seems to be a much better option, and if you do that you aren't placing your trust in the potentially unscrupulous folks that produce the cracked versions of games.

 

[ImpulsE69]

This is also something I may have attempted in the past, but nowadays I just say 'screw it' if the game comes with baggage like that, and I don't bother with the game in the first place. The only way to speak to companies about these types of things is with your wallet. Unless you're a devoted fan that MUST have the game, you're really not missing all that much by ignoring a few games here and there.

Anyways, to the OP -- it depends on the particular torrent you're downloading, as they can be different even for the same game, though I imagine most popular torrents would have removed any type of DRM they can.

Not really true. The way most companies come off as seeing it is, if you didn't buy it, you must have pirated it, because their game should have sold millions no matter how craptastic it was. At least that's how they spin it.

I personally don't have issues downloading a game I purchased, especially to bypass the security they put on it. It's well known that pirates don't typically have to deal with the issues legitimate purchasers do because of DRM.

 

[Soundmanred]

It funny how people go all out on the report button. Good to know who the ones are so I can remember them for a later time.

You should write a portable app for it! Aren't portable apps great?!
PORTABLE APPS!

 

[shortylickens]

 

[Occ]

Um, why torrent the whole game? What you are looking for is just a no-cd crack. Probably just a couple of MB.

 

[Teknic]

Just use the portable version of the game.

You should write a portable app for it! Aren't portable apps great?!
PORTABLE APPS!

LOL
What is this portable app you speak of? This?
http://portableapps.com/node/9909?page=5

In blood, of course. As far as for the OP, most of the torrented and cracked games will bypass any checks. As others have noted, the compatibility issues that most forms of DRM use now won't cause any problems with your computer, but I agree that it can still be a pain and I will avoid those titles if possible. I know some people aren't a fan of Steam, but if the game is available via steam you may be able to register your CD key with Steam and download it from them. There is still the Steam DRM but overall it seems to be a much better option, and if you do that you aren't placing your trust in the potentially unscrupulous folks that produce the cracked versions of games.

Wow I didn't know that steam could do this. That's really cool. Unfortunately, it's not on their list of games where I can register my CD-Key with them. Thanks for letting me know about it though. Looking through the list there's a game there where my brother lost one of his installation CDs, so I'll let him know about that.

 

[Cheesetogo]

I always love how it's perfectly acceptable to discuss Marijuana and such in OT, but people get up in arms if someone's thread is remotely accepting of piracy.

That being said, I don't think Securom is really that bad, at least anymore. It doesn't seem terribly invasive to me.