The Witcher II DRM . . . SecuROM

[Bateluer]

http://www.shacknews.com/article/68117/witcher-2-uses-securom-wont

CD Projekt revealed that The Witcher 2 will utilize SecuROM copy-protection for its retail release, deciding it was the least intrusive way to protect its content from piracy. Though they are aware some gamers will groan at the decision to use SecuROM, CD Projekt noted that the game will allow for "unlimited installations on an unlimited number of computers" and allow "play on up to five computers at once." The game requires an internet connection for the game's initial activation. According to the presentation, this will ensure that The Witcher 2 cannot be played before the game's May 17 release.

The Witcher 2 will also be available on digital distribution platforms, including DRM-free on Good Old Games (GOG.com).

Only for retail locations. Better buy it on GOG guys. Also, it won't be region censored, and will have 16 endings. Bam!

 

[Dumac]

It won't be region sensored?

Amazing. Even with all those

Spoiler

titties and dwarf cock?

 

[Mike Gayner]

By "region censored" you mean "too graphic for soft American eyes"?

 

[zinfamous]

By "region censored" you mean "too graphic for soft American eyes"?

The jealousy swells within you.

 

[wanderer27]

Wow.

Talk about major league hypocrisy:

http://www.bit-tech.net/news/gaming/2011/04/11/gog-drm-drives-gamers-piracy/1


I pretty much agree with the gist of the article, but this (Securom) announcement just trashes any integrity they may have had . . . .




.

 

[damocles]

That article is spot on (hypocrisy aside).

 

[sigurros81]

Why are people bitching about this? Unlimited installations and only initial internet activation required, what else could you ask for.

 

[rivan]

I didn't enjoy the original Witcher that much (probably my own fault for not giving it the time it seemed to deserve), but I might buy it from GOG just to make a point.

 

[Martimus]

I preordered it on GoG, and since it is the only DRM free option, I will definitely be getting it there. I am glad that they went with no-DRM on their digital versions at least. The publisher usually makes the decisions on DRM at the retail level, so if they are going DRM free on their own publishing site, this SecuROM DRM probably wasn't their decision.

 

[skace]

CD Projekt created the Witcher and also GoG. While they are against DRM, it seems they are using no-DRM as incentive to get it from their distribution service. Sneaky, but possibly smart, hard to say.

 

[wanderer27]

Why are people bitching about this? Unlimited installations and only initial internet activation required, what else could you ask for.

Some people don't like Rootkits/Spyware/Malware/Big Brother/Etc. on their computer.

It's an argument that goes on here quite a bit, and there's just no making people see the sense (or lack thereof) of not having these types of applications intruding on their daily lives.

 

[Chiropteran]

Wow.

Talk about major league hypocrisy:

http://www.bit-tech.net/news/gaming/2011/04/11/gog-drm-drives-gamers-piracy/1


I pretty much agree with the gist of the article, but this (Securom) announcement just trashes any integrity they may have had . . . .
.

I don't see the hypocrisy, it looks like the article exaggerated.

The real quote was from another article, this is what CD Projekt said-

"BT: Will we see DRM in The Witcher 2? There must be an interesting conflict between The Witcher team and the Good Old Games team at CD Projekt. The Witcher 1 had TAGES DRM, which was later removed in a patch, but GOG is almost militantly opposed to DRM…

CDP: We're really extending the policy of GOG.com (Good Old Games) and we believe now that DRM is not the best way to combat piracy. Even if there will be DRM, it won't be as strong as in The Witcher 1, and definitely not as strong as recent times and recent trials have shown us. It's not our story, no, definitely not."

So, they didn't actually say it wouldn't have any DRM, just that it would be less than Witcher 1 originally had. BitGamer took that to mean no DRM at all, which isn't what they said.

 

[Mem]

Why are people bitching about this? Unlimited installations and only initial internet activation required, what else could you ask for.

There're still a few people that don't have internet access in some countries so could be a problem for them,as to SecuROM and DRM in general?.... well as long as there is piracy you will have software companies having some form of DRM protection,as a gamer its no big deal for me since I have lived with DRM for a long time now,StarForce,TAGES,SecuROM etc...I have used them all.

I can honestly say I've had no issues unless you count the time Bioshock registration servers were overloaded and temporary shut down for a few hours on the first day.

I'm well aware DRM can be a pain in the neck for some gamers not to meantion PC issues with what DRM can do,however I've pre-ordered "The Witcher 2 " and don't care what DRM it uses,end of the day something you have to live with if you want to play PC games nowadays,having said all that I'm no DRM fan but what else can software companies really do?

 

[AstroManLuca]

Wow, I didn't realize CD Projekt owned GoG.

Regardless, I do agree with the article. Way I see it, there are two types of piracy that DRM tries to stop:

1. Coding experts cracking the game and releasing it onto the internet for everyone to download as they wish, and
2. Casual sharing of the game discs, allowing two or more people to play the game after buying just one copy.

With a few exceptions, DRM rarely seems to do anything to stop the first one. A few games out there really have stood up to cracking attempts, but in most cases it doesn't do much to stop crackers.

And the second one, well, that works for some games but not for others (and apparently it doesn't apply to The Witcher 2 since it allows unlimited installations).

What doesn't make any sense is that they are using DRM at all. Pirates will just put the DRM-free GoG release version online, and the unlimited installations and generous limit of 5 simultaneous instances on the retail version won't stop casual sharing either.

I understand the point they're trying to make - release a game DRM-free and the gaming masses will be less likely to pirate your game out of protest - but some people out there pirate everything no matter what. People pirated World of Goo even after they made it available for whatever price you wanted, even free.

 

[wanderer27]

Other than the restrictions and unwanted installs, here's probably one of the best comments I've seen on issues caused by DRM:

by hairyfeet -
"As a PC repairman I'd also like to point out that some of the nastier DRM can completely brick your system forcing a reinstall or in some cases even destroying hardware. How is that possible you ask?

Simple: In the first cases many versions of Safedisc, Starforce, and secuROM will attempt to install X86 Ring 0 code into an X64 kernel which as anyone that knows anything about OSes knows that is a BIG fricking no no with a capital B for bad. Now not only does this malware install X86 ring 0 code into an X64 OS, causing all kinds of instability and system problems the uninstaller will NOT remove it and it can't be safely uninstalled from the OS, even in safe mode. So if you don't have a Windows Live CD like I do or have a dual boot setup you WILL be uninstalling and reinstalling. I hope you have your data on a separate partition or drive.

Second I have found when you mix differing versions of Safedisc,SecuROM, and Starforce (since often it will force you to have multiple versions, since they don't recognize each others "security") there is a serious risk of throwing any burners on the machine into PIO mode which happens more often with XP, although I have seen it twice so far with Vista as well. Since modern burners aren't made to run that slow what happens is every burn comes out useless until the drive motors burn out bricking the drive. I can't count how many nice new DVD burners I've shitcanned because of this problem, it really bites XP customers in the ass."

Explains why I had some drives going into PIO mode many years back and couldn't figure out why . . . . also likely the reason I lost my (lightly used) DVD drive.


.

 

[BladeVenom]

Wow.

Talk about major league hypocrisy:

http://www.bit-tech.net/news/gaming/2011/04/11/gog-drm-drives-gamers-piracy/1


I pretty much agree with the gist of the article, but this (Securom) announcement just trashes any integrity they may have had . . . .

Atari is the one who is publishing the boxed version, and the publisher is the one who decides on copy protection.

The Witcher 2 was developed by CD Projekt, and on their site, GOG, you can buy it without the DRM.

So I don't see the problem.

 

[Powermoloch]

As long it doesn't require some lame name and password login...then i'm cool w/ it.

 

[gothamhunter]

Atari is the one who is publishing the boxed version, and the publisher is the one who decides on copy protection.

The Witcher 2 was developed by CD Projekt, and on their site, GOG, you can buy it without the DRM.

So I don't see the problem.

This

People need to start realizing that there is a developer and a publisher and their views on how to distribute a game can and many times differs. Hence why it's DRM free when it's directly from CDP but it includes DRM when going through the publisher.

 

[skace]

Other than the restrictions and unwanted installs, here's probably one of the best comments I've seen on issues caused by DRM:

Explains why I had some drives going into PIO mode many years back and couldn't figure out why . . . . also likely the reason I lost my (lightly used) DVD drive.

.

Same thing happened to 2 of my drives.

 

[skace]

This

People need to start realizing that there is a developer and a publisher and their views on how to distribute a game can and many times differs. Hence why it's DRM free when it's directly from CDP but it includes DRM when going through the publisher.

My apologies, I forgot to check who the publisher was.

 

[mindcycle]

Yeah, it's Atari publishing the retail version, so no wonder they chose to waste their money and use outdated piracy protection technology (SecuROM). IMO, the mere concept of piracy protection is outdated. You can use any current form out there and your game will still be pirated every time without fail. It's just a giant waste of money for the publisher and nothing but an inconvenience for the customer. If they're really worried about retail software piracy, a simple disc check will stop 95% or more of casual pirates out there. Plus, a disc check doesn't involve installing worthless software on your machine and won't cost the publisher much to implement, unlike SecuROM which i'm sure isn't cheap. Want to load the game without the disc? But a digital copy..

At least the GOG version will be DRM free, so i'll be supporting that and buying the game there.

 

[sigurros81]

Yeah, it's Atari publishing the retail version, so no wonder they chose to waste their money and use outdated piracy protection technology (SecuROM). IMO, the mere concept of piracy protection is outdated. You can use any current form out there and your game will still be pirated every time without fail. It's just a giant waste of money for the publisher and nothing but an inconvenience for the customer. If they're really worried about retail software piracy, a simple disc check will stop 95% or more of casual pirates out there. Plus, a disc check doesn't involve installing worthless software on your machine and won't cost the publisher much to implement, unlike SecuROM which i'm sure isn't cheap. Want to load the game without the disc? But a digital copy..

At least the GOG version will be DRM free, so i'll be supporting that and buying the game there.

Sounds like you've done some serious market research on this. Would you be kind to post a TPS Report of your metrics?

 

[mindcycle]

Sounds like you've done some serious market research on this. Would you be kind to post a TPS Report of your metrics?

Haha, I like the reference. The 95% is obviously a guess, probably should have wrote "most" there. But I can PM you a link to several sites containing release nfo's for pirated copies of just about every PC game released since 1990. Just let me know.

 

[sigurros81]

Haha, I like the reference. The 95% is obviously a guess, probably should have wrote "most" there. But I can PM you a link to several sites containing release nfo's for pirated copies of just about every PC game released since 1990. Just let me know.

Sure, shoot me a PM with all these irrefutable links of yours. But how is that going to prove your point that a simple disc check is going to stop 'most' of the pirates out there.

 

[Merad]

Is the Steam version going to be shafted with Securom too?