Mass Effect 1 and DRM

[runzwithsizorz]

I really want to play Mass Effect 1 (played ME 2), but will NOT buy the game if I am only allowed 3 installations on the same computer! I understand any upgrade to the computer (changing the vid card, adding ram) will invalidate one installation. I would buy retail DVD, as I have also heard the Steam version does not have a patch and the resolution can't be maximized.Also, I don't believe the Steam version allows mods. Are my fears well founded, or has the limit to installations been corrected?

 

[blackened23]

Mass Effect 1 doesn't use SecuROM for installation limits. At least, the Steam version I have doesn't.. Also, while I don't buy secuROM games you can easily bypass those limitations with a command line parameter or you can contact tech/publisher support to have them raise the limitations. This isn't something that i'm defending, because I don't buy SecuROM games -- but you can bypass any SecuROM installation limit even if you pass it. It's a hassle but is fixable.

Anyway, ME1 does not use SecuROM so there is no limit.

 

[you2]

I have the original dvd and have installed it 3 or 4 times over the years without issues. Btw do not forget to get the free DLC; it is fantastic.
-
I'm replaying 1 and 2 leading up to 3 which i recently purchased. Gotta tell you when i first played ME1 i thought the game play was fine but on this replay I'm finding it rather 'stiff' and 'awkward'. Also I hit a mapping glitch I don't remember on previous play through (fell through the map into the void)

 

[Bateluer]

I think the Steam version patched the limited installs out . . . and I think the original boxed version did too.

 

[mmntech]

Steam version hasn't had third party DRM in ages. It did at one point but EA did away with SecuROM on Steam for most games a while back.

 

[Red Hawk]

The disc version of ME1 does use SecuROM, though as Bateluer said I believe it got patched out. The Steam version does not have any DRM besides being tied to Steam. It's harder (though not completely impossible) to mod the Steam version, and the Steam version does come with the patch and you can max out the resolution, where did you hear otherwise?

 

[Elixer]

If you buy the game, I see nothing wrong with using hacks that remove the protection.

That is why pirates will always have a advantage over the people that actually buy the game.

 

[AlexAL]

Mass Effect 1 has free DLC?

 

[Red Hawk]

Mass Effect 1 has free DLC?

On PC, yes, the "Bring Down The Sky" DLC mission is free.

 

[mmntech]

If you buy the game, I see nothing wrong with using hacks that remove the protection.

That is why pirates will always have a advantage over the people that actually buy the game.

It's still illegal under the DMCA. Though a perfectly valid counter argument is that it's unethical to lock someone out of a game the legally purchased. That's the argument a lot of casual gamers made after the Spore debacle. Which is why EA stripped SecuROM from their games.

 

[blackened23]

If you buy the game, I see nothing wrong with using hacks that remove the protection.

That is why pirates will always have a advantage over the people that actually buy the game.

EA doesn't use SecuROM anymore. I certainly agree that SecuROM is a blight that needs to be eliminated, the only publisher i'm aware still using it is Rocksteady (Batman series). I certainly never purchase their stuff because of this, and instead nab them from free nvidia codes only. SecuROM and GFWL are the two worst things to have happened to PC gaming in the past 10 years IMHO.

If you ever do have issues issues with secuROM know that you can bypass it, although it will be a hassle. A hassle you shouldn't have to deal with, but you can contact the publisher and have them raise any such limit.

 

[blackened23]

Steam version hasn't had third party DRM in ages. It did at one point but EA did away with SecuROM on Steam for most games a while back.

Yep, this. ME1 hasn't used 3rd party DRM in a long while. You're safe, it's a great game as well.

 

[runzwithsizorz]

I was probably reading old posts when I googeled Mass Effect 1. I thought the ridiculous DRM schemes had been removed, but just thought I'd double check anyway.
Thanks for the input.