Mass Effect on Steam

[RyanPaulShaffer]

I tried searching the forum, but I couldn't find any answers to a few questions I have about the version of Mass Effect sold over Steam.

1. Does it still install SecuROM on your system?
2. Are you allowed to install the free DLC from BioWare?
3. Does it have some sort of achievement system?

I would appreciate it if anybody who has purchased Mass Effect over Steam could provide me with some insight. Thanks!

 

[HunterDT]

I recently bought ME on steam. I am not sure about question 1, but I can say YES to 2 and 3! AWESOME GAME by the way!

 

[RyanPaulShaffer]

Originally posted by: HunterDT
I recently bought ME on steam. I am not sure about question 1, but I can say YES to 2 and 3! AWESOME GAME by the way!

Does it support the XBOX 360 controller or at the very least, offer gamepad support?

The one good thing about Games for Windows is that games are required to have Achievements and XBOX 360 controller support right out of the box.

I'd honestly prefer ME PC to be a GFW product and tie in with my XBOX Live account, but...well, BioWare already shot that one down.

 

[Red Irish]

Originally posted by: HunterDT
I recently bought ME on steam. I am not sure about question 1, but I can say YES to 2 and 3! AWESOME GAME by the way!

Hi Hunter, in reference to question 1, surely Steam lists any third party protection included on the game?

 

[Crizza]

SecuROM on a download service seems counterintuitive. With Steam's built in DRM, I would think that SecuROM is left off. Have there been previous Steam/D2D games that included the retail DRM?

 

[RyanPaulShaffer]

Originally posted by: Crizza
SecuROM on a download service seems counterintuitive. With Steam's built in DRM, I would think that SecuROM is left off. Have there been previous Steam/D2D games that included the retail DRM?

I have heard rumblings that the Steam version of ME has SecuROM still in it (which like you said is counterintuitive), but I need this confirmed by someone who has actually purchased it from Steam.

 

[MBrown]

I don't think the steam version has securerom.

 

[ZzZGuy]

There is 3rd party DRM installed even through steam with some games. X3: Terran conflict for example had TAGS DRM on their steam version which will limit your installs to 5, which is not on the DVD version that only requires a CD check.

With my elite google fu skills I turned this up http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_Effect

The March 2009 Steam release of the game removes the SecuROM DRM and replaces it with Valve's online distribution and DRM system, which ties the game license to an online user account.[86]

Now since it's wiki and some information on the page is out of date I do not know how accurate this is or if SECUROM will be installed [/b]then[/b] removed or if you download it you will get a "clean" copy.

 

[RyanPaulShaffer]

Originally posted by: ZzZGuy
There is 3rd party DRM installed even through steam with some games. X3: Terran conflict for example had TAGS DRM on their steam version which will limit your installs to 5, which is not on the DVD version that only requires a CD check.

With my elite google fu skills I turned this up http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_Effect

The March 2009 Steam release of the game removes the SecuROM DRM and replaces it with Valve's online distribution and DRM system, which ties the game license to an online user account.[86]

Now since it's wiki and some information on the page is out of date I do not know how accurate this is or if SECUROM will be installed [/b]then[/b] removed or if you download it you will get a "clean" copy.

Interesting info...thanks!

I couldn't view that particular wiki at work.

 

[aka1nas]

Originally posted by: Crizza
SecuROM on a download service seems counterintuitive. With Steam's built in DRM, I would think that SecuROM is left off. Have there been previous Steam/D2D games that included the retail DRM?

It's completely up to the publisher. Most games that aren't using SteamWorks will have the same/similar DRM as the retail games to avoid the 0-day groups from comparing exe's and making cracks more easily.

 

[mindcycle]

According to this post on the Steam forums it doesn't contains SecuROM, just Steam DRM. http://forums.steampowered.com...howthread.php?t=785880

 

[Qbah]

X3 Terran Conflict has explicitly stated that it uses TAGES with 5 activation limits.
Crysis and Warhead also mention SecuROM DRM as an additional "feature".
Stalker Clear Sky has TAGES and it's clearly indicated in the description (similarly to the above games as 3rd-Party DRM)
Mass Effect has no mentioning of any additional DRM, so my bet is there isn't any.

 

[Chaotic42]

Don't Alt-Tab when it's running. Trust me.

 

[RyanPaulShaffer]

Originally posted by: mindcycle
According to this post on the Steam forums it doesn't contains SecuROM, just Steam DRM. http://forums.steampowered.com...howthread.php?t=785880

Yes, when I went home after work, I googled it up, and I came upon a similar post in the BioWare forums that stated that Mass Effect on Steam only uses Steam's DRM.

So hey, at least that's an advantage of buying it over Steam...no SecuROM!