976 réponses à ce sujet

[Maugrim]

Does this mean if I finally get lucky and Amazon gets me the game a day or two early as others have reported that I won't be able to play the game?

[Jazharah]

makenzieshepard wrote...
Does this mean if I finally get lucky and Amazon gets me the game a day or two early as others have reported that I won't be able to play the game?

Yes. As it should be.

[Shadow Warior]

What about the people without an internet connection? Do they get grounded?

Its all good until you can afford it, after that you will start to complain.

[ladydesire]

FellowerOfOdin wrote...

the_one_54321 wrote...

FellowerOfOdin wrote...
If you do not have an internet connection nowadays, at least every few days, you should not be playing video games.

Period.

The only reason you aren't getting mobbed by angry responses is because the people that would want to point out how ridiculous that statment is don't have a constant internet connection to be posting on the forums with.

People complaining about the case simply did not catch up with nowadays' games. Back in the times where internet was expensive, hardly available and in general, very rare, something like DRM would be bad for customers. 

It's 2011 now. I can't play games with my 5 year old graphics card either. You either catch up or get lost on the way...and you will not be missed.

Stop saying that broadband internet access is cheap and readily accessible to everyone; there are a lot of countries where this is not the case, and gamers in those countries have a right to complain about online activation and periodic verification of ownership. I was hoping to hear that we were getting a simple disc check again, so imagine my disappointment to find out that I will have to be online periodically to verify, and I do have reasonably priced broadband internet.

[Maconbar]

Khayness wrote...

Chris Priestly wrote...

Release Control (does not use securom)

I love it. It sounds somewhat familiar.

I am just glad that they aren't using Reaper- level DRM.

[Gabriel S.]

No disk check? YEEPEE!

[Maugrim]

Jazharah wrote...

makenzieshepard wrote...
Does this mean if I finally get lucky and Amazon gets me the game a day or two early as others have reported that I won't be able to play the game?

Yes. As it should be.

There are no horses, high or otherwise, in DA2.

[Sylvius the Mad]

Fernando Melo wrote...

What about dial-up/minimal connections?
The login checks are light - it would not be a problem on dial-up, and should not hog up bandwidth or create a noticeable impact on an connection that has a limit imposed by your ISP.  You are likely using more bandwidth currently just by surfing on this site.  Note: There are other online features in DA2, including uploading your character portrait and stats to this site, etc like in DAO - and those will add to your online usage.  But the login checks themselves are minimal.

I had a problem with ME2 connecting to the Cerberus Network.  It wouldn't let me see the main menu until it had downloaded relevant information from Cerberus, but if my bandwidth was already being used by something that was designed to use all available bandwidth this process of launching ME2 could take as much as a minute after seeing the menu background before I actually got the menu shown to me.

Ultimately, this stopped being a problem since I had to Alt-Tab out of ME2 every time I launched it anyway just to get it to use multiple CPUs, so I would just free up bandwidth for a couple of minutes while I launched, but really that shouldn't have been necessary.

I'm hoping this authentication check can happen in the background while the game runs so as not to delay actual gameplay.  If it fails the check, disable the game for next time, but don't make we wait for authentication when I haven't failed yet.

[StingingVelvet]

I am opposed to all DRM and am disappointed by this news.



It will be cracked, pirates will get DRM-free versions and thus it just annoys paying customers, so what is the point?

[Sylvius the Mad]

I do like that there's no disc-check, though. That will allow me to keep my DAO disc in the drive so I can jump back and forth between the two games.

[Inzhuna]

Hm, I'm a bit concerned about this release date check. What's the release date for Central Asia, since I'll be there in March?..

[Ryzaki]

StingingVelvet wrote...

I am opposed to all DRM and am disappointed by this news.

It will be cracked, pirates will get DRM-free versions and thus it just annoys paying customers, so what is the point?

I guess so that there's not another incident like pirates playing ME2 a week before legitimate users can.

[Fraevar]

Only thing I have a really big problem with here are the recurring online checks. I don't care if you don't use SecuROM, this is a bad idea, period. People do travel with their laptops, afterall. I'm really disappointed with you. An EA.account based system akin to Steam with a fully functional offline mode after authentication would have been far more tolerable. Or, failing that - just use Steamworks, since you're already using online authentication. You're creating a reason for people to go look for ways to bypass your systems if they are facing an extended period of time offline. I hope you realize that.

Edit: Before anyone says anything - that's not a threat or encouragement of any kind of illicit activity, just a simple prediction based on previous examples of human behaviour. We did this dance a few years ago with ME1 PC and Spore. Can't believe we're here again.

Modifié par Delerius_Jedi, 31 janvier 2011 - 11:14 .

[Jazharah]

StingingVelvet wrote...
I am opposed to all DRM and am disappointed by this news.

It will be cracked, pirates will get DRM-free versions and thus it just annoys paying customers, so what is the point?

My educated guess would be that game studio's and publishers at least want to discourage piracy as much as they can. If nothing else it gives a (false) sense of security.
It is always a balancing act to get the DRM acceptable for paying customers however - too strict and people will actually be discouraged from buying games because of it (AC2 would be a personal example).

I agree with your opposition to DRM, then again that doesn't mean I can't understand game developers wanting to secure their goods, however futile their attempts are.

[Kloreep]

-Zorph- wrote...

Also, sounds like the Steam version would be easier to deal with. Am I right in believe this?

I have to be the fly in the ointment and point out that while that does sound right to me, it only really applies if you don't use any DLC. Unless it's different from DAO and ME2, all DLC will go through Bioware Social.

I like that Bioware is sticking with native DRM for Steam distribution, I really do. But it does seem like a bit of a half-measure to me when DLC is only ever accessible through the EA Account system. It sounds like there will be Shale and Zaeed types (e.g. the Prince) in DA2 which you won't want to launch your game without, should you have them.

BigJas wrote...

I doubt it will be a temporary measure.
The original Mass Effect was released over two years ago and I believe it still requires activation. I'm only going by the patch release notes so please correct me if my information is out of date.

As BigJas says, even the oldest Bioware game using on-line authentication, ME1, has yet to have its authentication system removed. I wouldn't hold your breath if you're hoping for Bioware to take after Egosoft.

Modifié par Kloreep, 31 janvier 2011 - 11:16 .

[Jazharah]

makenzieshepard wrote...

Jazharah wrote...

makenzieshepard wrote...
Does this mean if I finally get lucky and Amazon gets me the game a day or two early as others have reported that I won't be able to play the game?

Yes. As it should be.

There are no horses, high or otherwise, in DA2.

So get off it.

[Fernando Melo]

Some more points...

What about sunset/EA gone/20years from now?
There are sunset plans in place for all our titles.  Each one can be different, but most common solution is that the online requirement would be patched out.

Will DLC validation require a check every time?
We can talk about DLC DRM closer to launch, but no this isn't required.  Once validated (one time) you should not need to go online for this.

MarchWaltz wrote...
So if I want to install the game on my main machine and my laptop, just in case I have to play it on the lap top for some reason, I have to do within 24 hours?

There is no limit to the total number of PCs you can install on.  What this means is that within a rolling time window (in this case within any given 24h period) there is a max number of unique PCs that can run off that same account/CDkey.  In our example, a 6th PC trying to start within that same 24hr period from when the 1st PC started would not be allowed, for example.

If i get the game early from a store, I can't play?
Correct.  While it is becoming more common that e-retailers will try to ship games ahead of the launch dates so it arrives with you for launch day, and some retailers will break street dates and sell early, we are still obligated to observe the official launch dates across the various regions. 

Do I have to be online all the time?
No.  The only time this will be needed is when you first install, and if the game asks to connect again at some point in the future - we'll confirm closer to launch what that time gap is.

aries1001 wrote...
And this info on DRM does apply to EA store as well; I'd guess.

I'm not completely clear on the question.  If you mean, does this apply to a PC version downloaded via the EA Store, then yes - as mentioned before, this is for any PC version except Steam which uses its own similar system.

aries1001 wrote...
Will the server be able to acknowledge that we have installed original dlc or will it go haywire, thinking we've done something we shouldn't.

As the other DLC question above, the first time you get DLC you will need to go online but then this is no longer required to play DLC.  Whether the game itself asks in the future to go online again or not is independent of the DLC system.

[Walker White]

This does not affect me, but I am curious how the "log in periodically" requirement will affect US servicemen on deployment. Isn't a nontrivial portion of the fantasy RPG market members of the military. Heck, most PX locations sell video games. But servicemen on deployment are not going to have Internet.



I know that members of the military made a lot of noise about the always on requirements of AC II on the PC. To the point that people were asking Ubisoft why they "hate America's troops".

[twincast]

I don't like it. I can live with it.

[Fraevar]

Walker White wrote...

This does not affect me, but I am curious how the "log in periodically" requirement will affect US servicemen on deployment. Isn't a nontrivial portion of the fantasy RPG market members of the military. Heck, most PX locations sell video games. But servicemen on deployment are not going to have Internet.

I know that members of the military made a lot of noise about the always on requirements of AC II on the PC. To the point that people were asking Ubisoft why they "hate America's troops".

The very same point was raised in 2008 when they announced mandatory recurring online checks for Mass Effect PC. The protests it sparked caused them to back off, but it seems they've forgotten again.

Modifié par Delerius_Jedi, 01 février 2011 - 08:29 .

[LaztRezort]

Fernando Melo wrote...
There is no limit to the total number of PCs you can install on.  What this means is that within a rolling time window (in this case within any given 24h period) there is a max number of unique PCs that can run off that same account/CDkey.  In our example, a 6th PC trying to start within that same 24hr period from when the 1st PC started would not be allowed, for example.
...
Do I have to be online all the time?
No.  The only time this will be needed is when you first install, and if the game asks to connect again at some point in the future - we'll confirm closer to launch what that time gap is.

I'm still not understanding, these two things seem to contradict each other in my mind.  How is the first item enforced without having check online servers at each startup?

Oh yeah, and by the way, thanks for giving us all this info.

[Fernando Melo]

Delerius_Jedi wrote...

Only thing I have a really big problem with here are the recurring online checks. I don't care if you don't use SecuROM, this is a bad idea, period. People do travel with their laptops, afterall. I'm really disappointed with you. An EA.account based system akin to Steam with a fully functional offline mode after authentication would have been far more tolerable. Or, failing that - just use Steamworks, since you're already using online authentication. You're creating a reason for people to go look for ways to bypass your systems if they are facing an extended period of time offline. I hope you realize that.

Edit: Before anyone says anything - that's not a threat or encouragement of any kind of illicit activity, just a simple prediction based on previous examples of human behaviour. We did this dance a few years ago with ME1 PC and Spore. Can't believe we're here again.

Apologies if I'm not making it clear enough- this system operates essentially just like steam, but with offline mode ON by default.  If you have a trip coming up, just login again before you travel - the clock will reset again, just like steam.

[Kloreep]

LaztRezort wrote...

Fernando Melo wrote...
There is no limit to the total number of PCs you can install on.  What this means is that within a rolling time window (in this case within any given 24h period) there is a max number of unique PCs that can run off that same account/CDkey.  In our example, a 6th PC trying to start within that same 24hr period from when the 1st PC started would not be allowed, for example.
...
Do I have to be online all the time?
No.  The only time this will be needed is when you first install, and if the game asks to connect again at some point in the future - we'll confirm closer to launch what that time gap is.

I'm still not understanding, these two things seem to contradict each other in my mind.  How is the first item enforced without having check online servers at each startup?

It's the difference between running and installing the game. The game does have to be on-line to install. Once installed, it can apparently be played off-line, some of the time.

Now, what I'm not clear on and thus can't help you with is whether these periodic "check-ins" that will be required are counted against the limit as well. With the limit being a fairly relaxed 5 in 24 hours, I don't really think that's going to be a big concern for anyone either way, unless they're abusing the system to have others playing on their account. But it probably would be good to clarify.

[Sylvius the Mad]

Delerius_Jedi wrote...

Or, failing that - just use Steamworks, since you're already using online authentication.

If using Steamworks would require that we accept Steam's appalling mandatory patching system, then I'm very glad they're not doing that.

[BigJas]

LaztRezort wrote...

Fernando Melo wrote...
There is no limit to the total number of PCs you can install on.  What this means is that within a rolling time window (in this case within any given 24h period) there is a max number of unique PCs that can run off that same account/CDkey.  In our example, a 6th PC trying to start within that same 24hr period from when the 1st PC started would not be allowed, for example.
...
Do I have to be online all the time?
No.  The only time this will be needed is when you first install, and if the game asks to connect again at some point in the future - we'll confirm closer to launch what that time gap is.

I'm still not understanding, these two things seem to contradict each other in my mind.  How is the first item enforced without having check online servers at each startup?

Oh yeah, and by the way, thanks for giving us all this info.

Good point. There does appear to be a conflict there.