Chris Priestly
Community Coordinator
Joined: 17 Oct 2001
From: Behind an Evil desk in Marketing |
 Posted: Tuesday, 13 May 2008 06:46PM |
This thread is for fans to ask questions about Mass effect for the PC and for BioWare to try to answer them. Many questions were being missed or overlooked in previous feedback. This thread is to better collect questions and give answers.
This thread is NOT for the debating of the SecuROM or DRM systems. There is another thread for input/feedback on SecuROM and DRM issues here:
Please ask your questions about MEPC in this thread. Asking questions about SecuROM or DRM is fine, but please take the SecuROM and DRM debate to the other thread. Thanks.
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Like a great predatory piano, I sit silent in the darkness. Until it is time to attack and then I strike in a cacophony of violence and ivory keys. |
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Chris Priestly
Community Coordinator
Joined: 17 Oct 2001
From: Behind an Evil desk in Marketing |
Posted: Tuesday, 13 May 2008 06:50PM |
FAQ
Q: What is the difference between the old PC disc authentication solution and the new online model?
A: Two things have changed:
• First, authentication of discs has now gone from the physical format to the online format, freeing the need for consumers to have a disc in the drive at all times.
• Second, with online authentication consumers now connect to the Internet the first time the game is launched and are required only to reconnect if they are downloading new game content.
Q: Will EA or BioWare take any personal information from my computer during an authentication?
A: Absolutely not. We do not take any personal information from your computer. The system simply verifies that a valid CD key has been provided and assigns that activation to that PC.
Q: What happens when I’ve reached the maximum # of computers for my game and I need more, say due to theft of computer, computer crashes, etc?
A: EA customer service is on hand to supply any additional authorizations that are warranted. This will be done on a case-by-case basis by contacting customer support.
Q: Why are BioWare and EA implementing this new authentication process?
A: This serves to protect our software from piracy. It has the added benefit of allowing consumers to activate the game on multiple machines without needing the DVD in the drive when playing the game.
Q: Did BioWare and EA change their mind on requiring that the game be re-authorized every 10 days?
A: BioWare has always listened very closely to its fans and we made this decision to ensure we are delivering the best possible experience to them. To all the fans including our many friends in the armed services and internationally who expressed concerns that they would not be able re-authenticate as often as required, EA and BioWare want you to know that your feedback is important to us.
Q: If the game isn’t going to require an authentication every 10 days, will it ever require re-authentication?
A: Only if the player chooses to download new game content.
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Like a great predatory piano, I sit silent in the darkness. Until it is time to attack and then I strike in a cacophony of violence and ivory keys. |
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Chris Priestly
Community Coordinator
Joined: 17 Oct 2001
From: Behind an Evil desk in Marketing |
Posted: Tuesday, 13 May 2008 06:50PM |
Q: Will my PC (or a specific element of my PC) run Mass Effect?
A: As long as your system is above the minimum requirements, you will be able to run Mass Effect for the PC.
Q: Where do I get help for any problems with MEPC?
A: Official support for Mass Effect PC will be handled by EA. There will also be a technical support forum in the Mass Effect community for fans to help each other.
Q: What happens if I want to play MEPC but do not have an internet connection?
A: You cannot play MEPC without an internet connection. MEPC must authenticate when it is initially run.
Q: What happens if I install and activate MEPC with an internet connection, but then do not have an internet connection? Can I still play MEPC?
A: Yes. MEPC requires an internet connection the first time the game is run, but not thereafter unless you reinstall and try to reactivate. You do need an internet connection each time you try to launch the game after installation.
Q: Can I play MEPC on my laptop PC?
A: Yes, as long as your laptop meets the minimum system requirements and you are connected to the internet the first time you try to run MEPC.
Q: How many installations will SecuROM allow from my copy of MEPC?
A: Since SecuROM has nothing to do with the installer, you can install and uninstall on the same machine over and over again without any problems. SecuROM also allows you to activate the game on 3 different machines.
Q: Q: What happens if I exceed 3 activations?
A: Your first 3 activations will still work, but any subsequent activation will not work.
Q: When does this authentication check occur?
A: The check is ran automatically when you start the Mass Effect PC exe. In other words, it tries to authenticate when you start to play the game.
Q: There were some problems with authentication servers for games like BioShock. Is EA ready for the influx of MEPC players? Will we be able to play our games when we get them home?
A: Yes, EA is ready and we are confident there will be no server problems. EA has assured us that they have their authorization systems and customer support staff in place and ready for the launch of Mass Effect for PC. Anyone having issues with getting the game activated will be able to contact EA Support and get their problem resolved.
Q: When EA acquired Bioware, I knew that using SecuROM would be one of the major changes since EA is one of the most powerful Securom supporters.
A: Actually, Neverwinter Nights, Knights of the Old republic, Jade Empire, and Mass Effect all use SecuROM in some manner.
Q: How will the game servers work with the authentication?
A: Mass Effect does not have game servers, so this is not an issue.
Q: Who runs the SecuROM servers? Is it BioWare, SecuROM or EA?
A: EA runs their own SecuROM servers.
Q:You did say that SecuROM authenticates silently and we don’t need to do anything at our end to make this happen. Is that right?
A: Correct, when you go to run the game, the authorization takes mere moments during the game startup. There are no dialogs, no progress bars, nothing for you to enter or confirm. It just works.
Q: What if for any reasons my CD-Key was banned and/or doesn’t work?
A: You would contact EA Support and they will work with you to get it running again.
Q: What happens in the future if I want to play MEPC and EA has shut off the servers?
A: If that should ever happen, BioWare would address this problem.
Continued from here: Click Here
and here:
Click Here
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Like a great predatory piano, I sit silent in the darkness. Until it is time to attack and then I strike in a cacophony of violence and ivory keys.Edited By Chris Priestly on 05/13/08 18:50 |
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JaegerBane
Game Owner
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Mass Effect PC
Joined: 18 Aug 2007 |
Posted: Tuesday, 13 May 2008 07:01PM |
Quote: Posted 05/13/08 18:50 (GMT) by Chris Priestly
Q: What happens in the future if I want to play MEPC and EA has shut off the servers?
A: If that should ever happen, BioWare would address this problem.
That's good enough for me, Chris.
Now all I have to do is wait 4 weeks  |
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stefan9
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Mass Effect PC
Joined: 05 Oct 2002
From: Pretoria,south Africa |
Posted: Tuesday, 13 May 2008 07:03PM |
Same question I asked before but still waiting for an answer.
What criteria will be used to decide whether to grant us extra activations. I know the FAQ said it's case by case but I would like a clear answer.
For instance to get vista or xp reactivated with my retail copies all I have to is either use the internet reactivation or call the support centre and tell them I upgraded and need to reactivate. I would like to know if the ME process will be as easy and straight forward.
If this is the wrong thread my apologies but I think this questions fits more in the FAQ than the DRM debate.Edited By stefan9 on 05/13/08 19:06 |
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Cinnabar Din
Moderator
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From: Some backwater in the Orion Arm |
Posted: Tuesday, 13 May 2008 07:07PM |
1) What information, exactly, does SecuROM send to the EA server?
2) I understand the install is tied to your HWID. Where is this information stored? Is it on EA's server or in a file on the user's computer somewhere? Basically, how does SecuROM decide it's not on the same computer if you change enough components?
3) Does SecuROM install anything on the user's system? Any files or registry entries at all?
4) If no hardware has changed, but the user needs to reinstall their OS for some reason, will this also trigger an activation?
5) How many new activations is EA support going to allow to the user? Is there a limit?
6) How will EA support determine the user has a legal copy when asking for more activations (i.e. what kind of proof will be required)? How long will it take once this proof is provided?
7) Are phone calls to EA support going to be toll free?
8 ) If the user's computer is not connected to the internet (or they have a second one that isn't) is it possible to DL patches/DLC on a computer with an activated game, burn it to disc, and transfer it to another computer that has the game activated? Or will each machine have to DL this content/patch individually?
9) Any word on how much hardware change will trigger another activation?
10) Is there any consideration of some sort of revoke tool?
*edit* 11) If seeking a new activation, what methods are available (phone call, e-mail, etc.)? How long will the response time be?
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It's rogue, dammit, ROGUE!!! Edited By Cinnabar Din on 05/13/08 19:09 |
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DadeLeviathan
Game Owner
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Mass Effect PC
Joined: 12 May 2008
From: Imagination Nation |
Posted: Tuesday, 13 May 2008 07:07PM |
Where can I find a time machine to transport me into the future so I can start playing the game now? 
haha. Okay, now that the funny stuff is out of the way.
One thing that I've been wondering, I've heard that the XBOX version of the game has a different save system than games such as KOTOR, in that you can't just pause the game any time you like and save. Is this the case, or have I heard wrong? And if I've heard right, is it the same deal i the PC version, or has a easier system similar to KOTOR been implemented?Edited By DadeLeviathan on 05/13/08 19:08 |
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l_gumdrop
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Joined: 14 Apr 2005
From: Nearby...making pixels move. |
Posted: Tuesday, 13 May 2008 07:19PM |
*Will the presence of SecuROM be clearly labeled on the MEPC box?
*Will the limited activations be clearly listed on the MEPC box?
*Does the MEPC variant of SecuROM get uninstalled completely from a PC if you uninstall the game?
Edited to add:
*If SecuROM is installed as a separate entity on a PC, will uninstalling it disrupt any other programs on the machine?
*Does the MEPC version of SecuROM interrupt any other processes and destroy any PC components?
*Will SecuROM have a separate EULA and "accept" screen to allow users to know that SecuROM is being used? (I ask because it usually doesn't, and someone mentioned that the only indication they had of it being there was a buried readme file.) If yes, could you please provide this file in some format on your website so that users can read it ahead of time before purchasing the software, please?
*Will the software keep track of how many activations you have used and keep the user alerted as to how many are left?
[Edited again to add this:]
*Can I take screenshots of the PC game for use in making the fun wallpapers that Bioware posts on its site from time to time?
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We do what we must because we can
For the good of all of us except the ones who are deadEdited By l_gumdrop on 05/13/08 19:39 |
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MagicGis
Game Owner
 Mass Effect PC
Joined: 10 May 2008 |
Posted: Tuesday, 13 May 2008 07:34PM |
what means case by case?
how will ioware take care if servers are shut down ?
will limiting the use of the product this way lower the price ?
will calling the hotline cost money and we have to pay a secound time this way r will there be a free hotline for this problems?
will this "protection" clearly mentioned on the package?
is it true that russians ´get a etter treatment ?
works MEPC nice with radeon cards in your testing because .... just a question...
will bioware have an own support adress for MEPC or will all the support go over EA hotline ? |
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aries1001
Game Owner
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Joined: 23 May 2004
From: Denmark, Europe |
Posted: Tuesday, 13 May 2008 07:36PM |
I have read this FAQ carefully and there's a few things that I am confused about.
I understand the whole concept of authentication (acitvation?) the first time MEPC is run and if the player decides to download updates (patches, dlcs and such)
However, from you Q&A, Chris, it seems like we have to activate the game after every re-installation of the game - even though you say that Securom has nothing to do with the installer. This seems a bit contradictory to me.
From your Q&A, too, Chris, it seems that we the game, MEPC, authenticates every time we play the game (from the when does this activation occur question) It sound like when we start to play the game every time a check will be made to see if the cdcode is still valid, yet in part 1 of the Q&A section, you mention that we only will have to re-authenticate if we choose to download new content, updates and such.
Then there's the question about what the meaning of the word 'same machine' is. I'm no lawyer, but I I know that lawyers can argue a lot over what the word 'improve-ments' (to a house) really mean. And so, I bet, could they baout the words 'same machine'. As I have stated some times before, I have changed GBs, graphics card and added a harddisk to my (5 year old)system. Only the insertion of an extra harddisk required a re-activation of my windows XP OS.
Now, the interesting part for many us is this: Would a re-activation alone of windows OS require that I re-activate MEPC for a second time (or possibly even a third time?) As the activation is tied to the HWID (hard-ware config), it seems unlikely - but I could be wrong, of course. If I had a computer crash and would have to re-install, and then re-activate my windows OS, would I still have to re-activate MEPC.
It also sound like I (and others, of course) can play MEPC, without being connected to the internet as long as we first have activated our game via the internet. (why not by phone, too?)
Personally, I can live with this, if and when EA's (securom) support are willing to just get us more activations and no questions asked. They should know we have a working legit copy since they can check our cd-key along with the cd-keys that have on record. I do hope that they store the cdkey somewhere, I mean on the Securom servers.
2K tech support did this for the fans and customers of Bioshock.
As you can see, I went a little of topic, here, but the topics seem to be intermingled and intertwined a bit...
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for all your parenting needs when it comes to games, please visit: http://www.gamingwithchildren.com/ |
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Obturator
Joined: 09 May 2008 |
Posted: Tuesday, 13 May 2008 07:49PM |
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I have a question for EA and Bioware. Will you ever provide an uninstall tool that fully removes secuROM or do you intend to place it on users machines without giving gthem the option of removing it? |
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Cinnabar Din
Moderator
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Joined: 15 Mar 2004
From: Some backwater in the Orion Arm |
Posted: Tuesday, 13 May 2008 07:52PM |
Quote: Posted 05/13/08 19:36 (GMT) by aries1001
However, from you Q&A, Chris, it seems like we have to activate the game after every re-installation of the game - even though you say that Securom has nothing to do with the installer. This seems a bit contradictory to me.
Not if installing on the same computer. If you uninstall and reinstall on the same machine, no reactivation is required.
Quote: From your Q&A, too, Chris, it seems that we the game, MEPC, authenticates every time we play the game (from the when does this activation occur question) It sound like when we start to play the game every time a check will be made to see if the cdcode is still valid, yet in part 1 of the Q&A section, you mention that we only will have to re-authenticate if we choose to download new content, updates and such.
No. This was the case* with the 'phone home' scheme, which has been removed.
Quote: It also sound like I (and others, of course) can play MEPC, without being connected to the internet as long as we first have activated our game via the internet. (why not by phone, too?)
This is correct. Activate on-line when installing. After that, no internet connection required unless you're grabbing updates/content or if you install on a 'new' machine.
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It's rogue, dammit, ROGUE!!! |
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Obturator
Joined: 09 May 2008 |
Posted: Tuesday, 13 May 2008 07:59PM |
Quote: Posted 05/13/08 19:52 (GMT) by Cinnabar Din Quote: Posted 05/13/08 19:36 (GMT) by aries1001
However, from you Q&A, Chris, it seems like we have to activate the game after every re-installation of the game - even though you say that Securom has nothing to do with the installer. This seems a bit contradictory to me.
Not if installing on the same computer. If you uninstall and reinstall on the same machine, no reactivation is required.
Wait a second. Are you saying that this version of securom functions differently than the one found on Bioshock? If so where are you getting this info because I want some sort of tangible proof.Edited By Obturator on 05/13/08 20:00 |
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Cinnabar Din
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Joined: 15 Mar 2004
From: Some backwater in the Orion Arm |
Posted: Tuesday, 13 May 2008 08:01PM |
Quote: Posted 05/13/08 19:59 (GMT) by Obturator
Wait a second. Are you saying that this version of securom functions differently than the one found on Bioshock? If so where are you getting this info because I want some sort of tangible proof.
Ye gods, I don't know if I'll be able to find the quote. I think it was Don Moar who said it. I obviously can't offer tangible proof, but I'll see if I can find that quote for you.
Edit: Actually, it's also right in the FAQ in this thread:
Q: How many installations will SecuROM allow from my copy of MEPC?
A: Since SecuROM has nothing to do with the installer, you can install and uninstall on the same machine over and over again without any problems. SecuROM also allows you to activate the game on 3 different machines.
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It's rogue, dammit, ROGUE!!! Edited By Cinnabar Din on 05/13/08 20:02 |
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Raider_MXD
Joined: 08 May 2008
From: Germany |
Posted: Tuesday, 13 May 2008 08:01PM |
Quote: Posted 05/13/08 19:52 (GMT) by Cinnabar Din
(quote)Not if installing on the same computer. If you uninstall and reinstall on the same machine, no reactivation is required.
You should note that it has to be *exactly* the same computer. If the hardware configuration of the machine is changed or the OS is reinstalled, the game has to be activated again.Edited By Raider_MXD on 05/13/08 20:02 |
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