Did Atari not learn anything from EA and 3 activation limits?!

[Golgatha]

Postings on Blues News

Keep the 1 star reviews coming on Amazon.com


So we get Tages and a non-revocable 3 install limit. No sale!

Damnit, I loved Escape from Butcher Bay too! Still own it, which is a rarity for me. I would've purchased this game (much like I would've purchased FEAR 2) if the DRM wasn't so anti-consumer.

(On the verge of bankruptcy in 2007) Will ATARI be around to give extra installs once you've used your 3 up?

(They were also delisted in 2008) ATARI delisted from NASDAQ on March 26th, 2008

Here's to hoping this DRM fiasco bankrupts them in 2009.

 

[mindcycle]

Wow, that's a ridiculously stupid move on Atari's part given what's already gone down with activation / install limit DRM. I was actually considering buying this as well, but not anymore.

 

[Lonyo]

I had pre-ordered it. I wouldn't care about SecuROM if they had a revoke tool, but no revoke means I cancelled my pre-order.

 

[Golgatha]

Originally posted by: mindcycle
Wow, that's a ridiculously stupid move on Atari's part given what's already gone down with activation / install limit DRM. I was actually considering buying this as well, but not anymore.

Yeah, I was looking forward to this game, but with some reservations due to FEAR 2 and the Securom issues of the last couple of years. It's sad that I can't get overly excited about new game announcements anymore because of anti-consumer BS, which seems to be taking over like a virus in the games industry lately.

 

[mindcycle]

lol

We implement this protection in an effort to avoid early piracy.?

Are they serious? Screw your customers now and into the future, customers who are willing to pay for your product.. in an effort to avoid early piracy? Good luck with that..

 

[Golgatha]

Originally posted by: Lonyo
I had pre-ordered it. I wouldn't care about SecuROM if they had a revoke tool, but no revoke means I cancelled my pre-order.

Especially with 3 installs. That's really limiting. I just got to thinking about if this game got released say 1month ago and I purchased it without knowing about the DRM. For me it would go like this.

Install on my Q9550 system (1 install).

Just upgraded to a Core i7 system a few days ago (2 installs).

Thinking about upgrading to a hardware RAID controller, which would require reinstalling my OS and programs (3 installs).

At this point I'd have to not change anything on my system for my game to not become a paperweight. Given ATARI's last couple of years of lackluster business, and them nearly going bankrupt a few times over the last few years; I have a realistic expectation that I wouldn't be able to reinstall my game at all in the near future. This is also assuming I want to keep the game after playing through it. I might like to resell it at some point too.

 

[Golgatha]

Originally posted by: mindcycle
lol

We implement this protection in an effort to avoid early piracy.?

Are they serious? Screw your customers now and into the future, customers who are willing to pay for your product.. in an effort to avoid early piracy? Good luck with that..

Google "dark athena tracker" and you get a page full illegal downloads for this game. Securom is good for what end again? To piss off your legitimate customers? Keep the honest folks honest?

 

[ZzZGuy]

Was going to buy both Riddick games, now I'm buying none.

 

[mindcycle]

Originally posted by: Golgatha
Google "dark athena tracker" and you get a page full illegal downloads for this game. Securom is good for what end again? To piss off your legitimate customers? Keep the honest folks honest?

I don't think it's been confirmed that it uses SecuROM. Some people are saying it's TAGES + Internet Activation + Solidshield. Similar to what is on STALKER Clear Sky or X3: Terran Conflict if you buy them off Steam. Look for TAGES on my list here for a detailed explanation: http://forums.anandtech.com/me...ey=y&keyword1=drm+list

Anyway it goes, it's a definite kick in the face for those of us who were looking forward to this release. There are threads all over the net now of people who canceled their pre-order after hearing about this. So how is this good for Atari?

 

[Golgatha]

Originally posted by: Lonyo
I had pre-ordered it. I wouldn't care about SecuROM if they had a revoke tool, but no revoke means I cancelled my pre-order.

I think I have re-installed EFBB around 7 times over the years. A revoke tool would push me towards buying this game by a longshot because I'd love to try EFBB with modern graphics. The original game still looks pretty good with AA and AF turned up though.

 

[Golgatha]

Originally posted by: mindcycle

Originally posted by: Golgatha
Google "dark athena tracker" and you get a page full illegal downloads for this game. Securom is good for what end again? To piss off your legitimate customers? Keep the honest folks honest?

I don't think it's been confirmed that it uses SecuROM. Some people are saying it's TAGES + Internet Activation + Solidshield. Similar to what is on STALKER Clear Sky or X3: Terran Conflict if you buy them off Steam. Look for TAGES on my list here for a detailed explanation: http://forums.anandtech.com/me...ey=y&keyword1=drm+list

Anyway it goes, it's a definite kick in the face for those of us who were looking forward to this release. There are threads all over the net now of people who canceled their pre-order after hearing about this. So how is this good for Atari?

GameCopyWorld states SecuROM v7 + SecuROM PA.

Either way, regardless of DRM used the non-revocable 3 install limitation is unacceptable by most people I would think.

 

[AstroManLuca]

I'm guessing the number of illegal downloads of this game will go up dramatically in light of this information. I wouldn't be surprised to see people who normally buy all their games and can afford it pirating it anyway, out of protest.

I'm not even THAT opposed to DRM as long as it's reasonable. I'm okay with a one-time online activation upon installing the game (not really any different from entering your CD key, which has been going on for over ten years now). I don't like CD checks but it's not the end of the world. I'm fine with Steam. But install limits kill any game for me. The moment I see that I just look somewhere else.

 

[Golgatha]

Originally posted by: AstroManLuca
I'm guessing the number of illegal downloads of this game will go up dramatically in light of this information. I wouldn't be surprised to see people who normally buy all their games and can afford it pirating it anyway, out of protest.

This game might play decently on a console, so if I do end up getting it, it will probably be a used PS3 copy. I don't want to give ATARI money for this behavior after all.

 

[Golgatha]

Originally posted by: AstroManLuca
I'm guessing the number of illegal downloads of this game will go up dramatically in light of this information. I wouldn't be surprised to see people who normally buy all their games and can afford it pirating it anyway, out of protest.

More piracy isn't the answer, but a good way to deal with it IMO, is to buy a used console copy of the game. This way ATARI doesn't get any increase in sales, but you still get to legally play the game. I'm seriously considering getting a FragFX controller so I can play this game and FEAR 2 with proper controls on my PS3. The 3 non-revocable authentication issue really sucks hard for those without a 360 or PS3 as a backup though. It still sucks for me that I need an $80 controller to play a game with the same controls I'm used to on a PC, and with lower graphics settings to boot (Core i7, 6GB DDR3, and 4870 1GB).

 

[AstroManLuca]

Originally posted by: Golgatha

Originally posted by: AstroManLuca
I'm guessing the number of illegal downloads of this game will go up dramatically in light of this information. I wouldn't be surprised to see people who normally buy all their games and can afford it pirating it anyway, out of protest.

More piracy isn't the answer, but a good way to deal with it IMO, is to buy a used console copy of the game. This way ATARI doesn't get any increase in sales, but you still get to legally play the game. I'm seriously considering getting a FragFX controller so I can play this game and FEAR 2 with proper controls on my PS3. The 3 non-revocable authentication issue really sucks hard for those without a 360 or PS3 as a backup though. It still sucks for me that I need an $80 controller to play a game with the same controls I'm used to on a PC, and with lower graphics settings to boot (Core i7, 6GB DDR3, and 4870 1GB).

Nah, F that, I'm not paying extra to play it on my couch hunched over a keyboard at low resolution. I also have a 4870 1 GB and I want to use it!

I may consider buying the game if and when Atari decides to grow a brain and remove this DRM. Until then, I'm not putting in any extra effort to play this game.

 

[mindcycle]

Originally posted by: AstroManLuca
Nah, F that, I'm not paying extra to play it on my couch hunched over a keyboard at low resolution. I also have a 4870 1 GB and I want to use it!

I may consider buying the game if and when Atari decides to grow a brain and remove this DRM. Until then, I'm not putting in any extra effort to play this game.

QFT

 

[Golgatha]

Originally posted by: AstroManLuca

Originally posted by: Golgatha

Originally posted by: AstroManLuca
I'm guessing the number of illegal downloads of this game will go up dramatically in light of this information. I wouldn't be surprised to see people who normally buy all their games and can afford it pirating it anyway, out of protest.

More piracy isn't the answer, but a good way to deal with it IMO, is to buy a used console copy of the game. This way ATARI doesn't get any increase in sales, but you still get to legally play the game. I'm seriously considering getting a FragFX controller so I can play this game and FEAR 2 with proper controls on my PS3. The 3 non-revocable authentication issue really sucks hard for those without a 360 or PS3 as a backup though. It still sucks for me that I need an $80 controller to play a game with the same controls I'm used to on a PC, and with lower graphics settings to boot (Core i7, 6GB DDR3, and 4870 1GB).

Nah, F that, I'm not paying extra to play it on my couch hunched over a keyboard at low resolution. I also have a 4870 1 GB and I want to use it!

I may consider buying the game if and when Atari decides to grow a brain and remove this DRM. Until then, I'm not putting in any extra effort to play this game.

I do really want to play it is my problem. I suppose the silver lining is that there is a nice backlog of games at my house, which I also want to play. I can wait until this game is cheap enough for a 3 install limit rental before I add it to my cue. I'll be sure to buy the PC version 2nd hand also and just crack it if I need to get around the installation limitations. It's just sad that these companies are forcing people to use illegal means (only because of the DMCA, but that's another debate for another time) to play their legally purchased games.

I find it ironic too, that stronger DRM just makes it more likely for people to seek out the information on how to crack or bittorrent software, because the stronger the DRM, the more likely it is to negatively effect the people who actually buy software. At this point the folks who will pirate it already never have to deal with the DRM, you've alienated and insulted your current customers, and your current customers now know how to pirate stuff too.

 

[hooflung]

I have a FragFX on my PS3. It is an awesome tool. Got the 2.0 and it plays FPS games really, really well. Surpisingly enough it plays games like RE5 and Deadspace better than the controller too. And far better than the kb/mouse can do on the PC version of Deadspace. On my 42" TV you will be hard pressed to say the PS3 sucks compared to the PC. At that res, AA isn't a horrible at all.

I will def get this game on the PS3 now. Not only because the DRM on the PC now, but because you get a remake of the original built on the enhanced engine of the second game with updated textures/graphics.

Oh, AstroManLuca, the fragFX isn't a keyboard. Not even close. One hand is a knunchuck and the other hand is a mouse. Put the mouse in your lap on the pad and viola, instant own.

 

[pmv]

Another lost sale here. If they remove it in a future patch perhaps I'll change my mind.
Do they not realise how many sales they lose with this nonsense? Don't they care?

 

[Kromis]

Wow! I was planning on buy this because I loved the first game so much but fuck that.

Fuck Atari!

I hope they burn in hell with Ford and GM

 

[zerocool84]

And I was a big fan of Butcher Bay. Now I'm not ganna even look at this game.

 

[mindcycle]

Originally posted by: pmv
Another lost sale here. If they remove it in a future patch perhaps I'll change my mind.
Do they not realise how many sales they lose with this nonsense? Don't they care?

The people making the decisions apparently do not.

What's interesting is that DRM has little to no effect on piracy rates, at least according to sales of the games mentioned in this article. http://www.cdfreaks.com/news/1...e-off-with-piracy.html

I can't imagine the CEO's or stockholders at Atari, or whoever is making these DRM choices actually understand what they are doing. They think "Piracy! Oh, no. We must fight back!" What they don't understand is that harsher and harsher DRM (activation, install limits, rootkits, etc..) don't do any better job at stopping piracy than the weaker kinds do (cd keys, serial numbers, disc checks). Either are effective at stopping casual piracy. It's the torrent's and file sharing sites they want to stop or hinder, which will never happen.

They also apparently don't care about the people who are willing to buy their products. Why doesn't anyone at Atari think.. "humm.. maybe putting all this garbage on our product will make it less appealing to people.." That would be the first thing that would come to my mind if I was running a business. What can I do to improve my product.. What can I do to make my product more appealing to the people who may want to buy it? .. Seems like such a simple idea. Less roadblocks, not more, that's how you combat piracy. See Stardock and their business practices as a perfect example of correctly dealing with your customers and their concerns (the people paying you money), not trying to deal with pirates (the people paying you nothing). Why waste time and energy (not to mention lots of money) on the people who don't do anything for your business?

 

[Lonyo]

Originally posted by: Kromis
Wow! I was planning on buy this because I loved the first game so much but fuck that.

Fuck Atari!

I hope they burn in hell with Ford and GM

What did Ford do?

 

[Bateluer]

Some organizations never learn.

 

[apoppin]

?The protection on the PC version of The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena is an activation system with online authentication required the first time you install the game on a machine. The activation code lets you install the game on up to 3 machines, with an unlimited number of installs on each assuming that you don?t change any major hardware in your PC or re-install your operating system.

If you reach the maximum number of installations you can contact the Atari hotline and if it?s a legitimate request you can get a new activation code.

3 PCs .. with an unlimited number of install on EACH and you are you complaining?

EfBB is a great games; the original didn't even use a CD key - i am almost done replaying it with the new graphics and ambient occlusion at 19x12 on a single 4870 and have gotten into Dark Athena already [make sure you use Cat 9-4]
.. you are are losing our due to DRM hysteria


Steam is a million times more restrictive DRM and yet you love guys love it; i guess there is no accounting for mass insanity on a forum
:roll: