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My Experience With DRM - Help!

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Author	My Experience With DRM - Help!
riftguy Game Owner NWN NWN: SoU NWN: HotU SW: KotOR PC Jade Empire:SE NWN 2 Mass Effect Mass Effect PC Joined: 03 Nov 2006	Posted: Saturday, 14 June 2008 07:22AM
	I'd been dithering with buying Mass Effect PC ever since it was announced. I own the Xbox360 version -- I bought my Xbox360 exactly because Mass Effect was being released there. On May 30th I made the decision to buy it, mainly because I prefer using keyboard and mouse to play games. Reading about the DRM scared me at first, but reading that I didn’t need to keep the dvd in the drive was a big plus. I have young kids and they just love to play with shiny things. Being able to lock up the discs was a big bonus! So I bought it and installed it, and it was fun! But I was getting some strange graphical artifacts on my 7600 GT card. I thought it might be a driver issue or a Vista issue, so I decided to do a format of my PC and do a clean install of Windows XP with updated drivers straight from NVidia. It didn’t help. By this time it was after midnight so I registered my game on the forums and posted for help. (See topic=631894, forum=127) The feedback I got was that my card was either going bad or ancient, and Mass Effect was just pushing it over the edge. So I went out and bought a new 8800GT on June 2nd and the game worked beautifully! I was so happy that I got it and couldn’t put it down – by the night of the 3rd I’d finished my first run through. Then I put the game down hoping the DLC would come out to give me even more new stuff to explore. That was ten days ago. Today I decided to do another run through while waiting in order to try playing a renegade on a higher difficulty level. That’s when I got it. “The game can not start. For security reasons, only a limited number of machines can ever be licensed by a single purchase. This limit has been reached. Please purchase another registration code, reinstall, and then try again.” http://s278.photobucket.com/albums/kk81/riftguy So that’s me. I installed it on my one PC and was able to play for two days for a single run through (with almost no side quests done) before being locked out of my game. As far as I know the only changes between the 3rd and the 13th were the addition of a new case fan (to take care of the heat from the new video card) and the user name that I used to log into the computer – a named account with administrative privileges instead of the Administrator account. Three activations may sound generous but in my experience above I’ve managed to burn them all up. Now I’ve just had to go and beg Electronic Arts in order to be able to run the game I bought, and am waiting for their reply. This just isn’t right. I bought the game, I registered it – you can see underneath my name that I own Mass Effect PC but I can’t play it without buying another copy. Can anyone at BioWare help out a fan?

LuPoM Game Owner Mass Effect PC Joined: 02 Jun 2008 From: Rome, Italy	Posted: Saturday, 14 June 2008 08:31AM
	This is simply the [stuff] that I hope it won't happen when today I'll receive (maybe) my copy of Mass Effect. Is the game worth the money if it acts like that? That's why it could lead to a pirated version if the person who wants to play it doesn't want at all cost an original case for his own collection, like me, for the Baldur's Gate and the first NWN + expansions. I really wish you the best luck since I can't give you further advices till EA will tell that you can play your legally bought and paid game. EDIT: No swearing, please. Edited By Stanley Woo on 06/14/08 17:44

The_KFD_Case Game Owner SW: KotOR PC Jade Empire:SE NWN 2 Joined: 08 May 2008	Posted: Saturday, 14 June 2008 12:07PM
	It would be an understatement to say "That blows!" - which it does. You have my sympathies. Unfortunately no one seems to know what hardware changes will trigger an activation (not even the developers though they should know; if they do know they're certainly very quiet about it). It has been established from EA that reinstalling an OS will trigger an activation. We've been told by a BioWare staff member that when he changed his GPU card it didn't trigger an activation, but at this point I place increasingly little credibility in many of the official statements pertaining to MEPC on this forum. This thread may be locked down with the comment that "Another DRM thread already exists, etc." - the usual line. If you want to find other posters equally (or perhaps more upset,) with this DRM debacle you can find some of us in the Off Topic forum where we've been tucked away like a dirty little secret. I'm sure your experience with MEPC and the upcoming responses you may receive from EA/BioWare may be of interest to others in the Off Topic DRM threads. Note: Our DRM threads are locked down after every ten pages so when that happens just type "DRM" in the Off Topic search engine and the latest active DRM thread should appear. Good luck to you. _________________ "The pure and simple truth is rarely pure, and never simple." Edited By The_KFD_Case on 06/14/08 12:25

marcus7 Game Owner NWN NWN: SoU SW: KotOR PC Jade Empire:SE NWN 2 Mass Effect Mass Effect PC Joined: 15 Apr 2008 From: Indiana, USA	Posted: Saturday, 14 June 2008 01:13PM
	Don't give up just yet. Contact EA and explain your situation. They have the power to grant you additional installs based on specific cases. Yours may qualify. Good luck. _________________ Shepard "We're going to need bigger guns!"

aries1001 Game Owner NWN NWN: SoU NWN: HotU SW: KotOR PC Jade Empire:SE NWN 2 NWN 2: MotB NWN 2: SoZ Mass Effect PC Joined: 23 May 2004 From: Denmark, Europe	Posted: Saturday, 14 June 2008 05:14PM
	I was worried that something like this would actually happen. And how it sadly has My best guess is that by installing Windows XP, and reformatting your computer, you dud use two activations. Then either the changing of your 7600GT card with the 8800 card, or by changing your admin account to an account with admin priveligies did use your third activation. I don't know why the message does not tell to your contact EA's costumer support But just tells you to buy another license for 50 US dollars? to play the game i.e. a new copy of the game. This is simply not cricket (fair) as they say in the UK. You bought the game, the game is registered on the Bioware forums. You should be able to play your game. I feel for your and express my deepest sympathies... As said, you need to contact EA either via the phone or by writing them an email. Note that EA may reqiure you to provide your reciept, the disc, and the box - all by digital photos or scans + of course your cdkey. I still don't get why EA support just can't check to see if people have registered their MEPC games on the Bioware forums. You can't register the game without a legit cdkey... If you get an answer form EA support, please do share it with us in this thread: Click Here Any info would be great /aries1001 _________________ I have these fine Bioware games, too: Baldur's Gate + Tales of the Sword Coast, Baldur's Gate 2 + Throne of Bhaal Other games made with the Infinity engine I have: Icewind Dale 1+ Heart of Winter+ Trials of the Luremaster and PS: Torment

JPFrostfox Game Owner Mass Effect PC Joined: 02 Jun 2008	Posted: Saturday, 14 June 2008 07:02PM
	Thank you for posting the screenshot of that for the rest of us. Putting it to good use. _________________ SecuROM means an automatic no sale!

Sblade Game Owner NWN NWN: SoU NWN: HotU Jade Empire:SE NWN 2 NWN 2: MotB NWN 2: SoZ Mass Effect PC Joined: 11 Aug 2002 From: starting a civil litigation soon	Posted: Saturday, 14 June 2008 07:19PM
	PM Chris Priestly or Jason Barlow if EA refuses to up your activations. I think EA will give you more activations if you show them proof of purchase. _________________ Truth is the only way...

Raven-sb Game Owner NWN NWN: SoU NWN: HotU SW: KotOR PC Jade Empire Jade Empire:SE NWN 2 NWN 2: MotB NWN 2: SoZ Mass Effect PC Joined: 25 Jun 2004	Posted: Saturday, 14 June 2008 09:12PM
	Quote: Posted 06/14/08 08:31 (GMT) by LuPoM This is simply the [stuff] that I hope it won't happen when today I'll receive (maybe) my copy of Mass Effect. Is the game worth the money if it acts like that? That's why it could lead to a pirated version if the person who wants to play it doesn't want at all cost an original case for his own collection, like me, for the Baldur's Gate and the first NWN + expansions. I really wish you the best luck since I can't give you further advices till EA will tell that you can play your legally bought and paid game. EDIT: No swearing, please. OK I can understand the editing out of swear words for the COC. But answer me this please Mr Woo. How on earth can you read through this thread and not provide the OP with an answer to their concerns? The very reading of your edit and absence of responce sets my blood boiling. To the OP. You have my sincere sympathies. I hope you get things sorted out and please post back here to let us know how you got along. Warm Regards Raven Edited By Raven-sb on 06/14/08 21:13

aries1001 Game Owner NWN NWN: SoU NWN: HotU SW: KotOR PC Jade Empire:SE NWN 2 NWN 2: MotB NWN 2: SoZ Mass Effect PC Joined: 23 May 2004 From: Denmark, Europe	Posted: Saturday, 14 June 2008 09:33PM
	I think Stanley Woo is just the moderator for this thread? He is not assigned to the Mass Effect team npr the Bioware Live Team, but to the Dragon Age team. That's probably why he can't answer any questions -- regarding the DRM scheme used in MEPC. Please do not forget than the use of Securom etc. are decided by the powers that be i.e. someone higher up than Stan and Chris... As to the OP - you do have deepest and warmest sympathies... And what does 'purchase another registration code mean'? _________________ I have these fine Bioware games, too: Baldur's Gate + Tales of the Sword Coast, Baldur's Gate 2 + Throne of Bhaal Other games made with the Infinity engine I have: Icewind Dale 1+ Heart of Winter+ Trials of the Luremaster and PS: Torment Edited By aries1001 on 06/14/08 21:33

Raven-sb Game Owner NWN NWN: SoU NWN: HotU SW: KotOR PC Jade Empire Jade Empire:SE NWN 2 NWN 2: MotB NWN 2: SoZ Mass Effect PC Joined: 25 Jun 2004	Posted: Saturday, 14 June 2008 09:52PM
	Quote: Posted 06/14/08 21:33 (GMT) by aries1001 I think Stanley Woo is just the moderator for this thread? He is not assigned to the Mass Effect team npr the Bioware Live Team, but to the Dragon Age team. That's probably why he can't answer any questions -- regarding the DRM scheme used in MEPC. Please do not forget than the use of Securom etc. are decided by the powers that be i.e. someone higher up than Stan and Chris... As to the OP - you do have deepest and warmest sympathies... And what does 'purchase another registration code mean'? With respect Aries, Mr Woo's lack of responce still makes me very angry. At the very least he could post something like I can't supply you with an answer however I've passed your concerns onto the relevent person who will look into this for you. That would at least reassure the community that Bioware is taking this issue seriously and not ignoring it. That's called good Customer Service and respect for your comsumers. Another point is, if Mr Priestly or Mr Woo can't answer these concerns because they aren't on the right teams, why on earth isn't there someone who is on the MEPC team and who can answer these questions not moderating these forums? Like others the more I read about the issues people are having with this game and wall of silence from Bioware and EA on those issues, the more enraged I am becoming over them. Edited By Raven-sb on 06/14/08 21:56

LuPoM Game Owner Mass Effect PC Joined: 02 Jun 2008 From: Rome, Italy	Posted: Saturday, 14 June 2008 10:42PM
	@Raven And I had even self censored myself but they edited through. Anyways this DRM is proving [censored] (I do it on my own now) since it won't let me play with that useless error 6000 so that I have to play my legally owned game through non conventional ways. Thanks BioWare for submitting yourselves to your publisher needs. (that was sarcastic) Edit: typo Edited By LuPoM on 06/14/08 22:43

Ares Draxus Game Owner Jade Empire Jade Empire:SE Mass Effect Mass Effect PC Joined: 26 Feb 2008	Posted: Saturday, 14 June 2008 11:12PM
	If enough people call up EA Support, I mean actually talk to reps, start screaming at them when this sort of thing happens and demand to speak to supervisors, I think they might get the picture that this DRM is not working. Bioware has no control over this. Got to the source, EA, and be an angry raging consumer.

Gil-Gahlad Game Owner NWN NWN: SoU NWN: HotU NWN 2 Mass Effect PC Joined: 19 Jun 2002 From: USA East Coast	Posted: Sunday, 15 June 2008 12:08AM
	Here is my issue with this whole senerio. I can say honestly I did not read the whole EULA on Mass Effect but having read enough of them most of them state you are only authorized to have the software loaded on one machine per copy you have purchased. So lets say this, I have a wife and 2 kids and we have 3 computers in the house. I have my own no one else uses, my wife has her own no one else uses and my kids share the 3rd. I play the game on my computer, get burned out on it and my wife says that looks like a really fun game let me play it. So I UNINSTALL it so its no longer on my computer can't play it again. I install it on her computer. She does the same as me and my 17 year old son in theory he isn't that old yet decides he wants to play it, he gets all through the game a few times and some new content comes out so I UNINSTALL it from his computer as well , reinstall it on my computer so I can do the new conent but would it let me play it?? Your guess is as good as mine. The point is even if you follow the law and only have 1 copy installed on 1 machine you can easily use up your installs and be screwed into calling EA to try and justify why you need more installs. At least Company of Heroes new copy protection is account authenticated, so you can use it on any computer you want as long as you know the account info, and you can't use it more than 1 time because it has an account server that verifies how many times you login. If for some reason that server is down the backup is to put in your original DVD which is not a biggy because its really not down much so its not something you have to do all the time. Bioware already has a method of registering our keys to our accounts so why not instill something like this that wont mess with guys that like to reinstall their OS ever 6 months or play on more than 1 machine!! (one at a time of course)

riftguy Game Owner NWN NWN: SoU NWN: HotU SW: KotOR PC Jade Empire:SE NWN 2 Mass Effect Mass Effect PC Joined: 03 Nov 2006	Posted: Sunday, 15 June 2008 12:37AM
	I did contact EA support last night. They misunderstood me and I got a message describing how to capture info for the EA Download Manager. So I'm waiting for them to reply to my clarification. The absolute best part of this is that I went hunting for the game box and receipt this morning and it turns out my wife's probably thrown them out. So now my only proof of purchase is now being in possession of a unique registration key. I have a really bad feeling about this.

Ares Draxus Game Owner Jade Empire Jade Empire:SE Mass Effect Mass Effect PC Joined: 26 Feb 2008	Posted: Sunday, 15 June 2008 01:27AM
	I have dealings with EA Support and they tend to misunderstand what I am asking alot. I ask them a rather straight forward question. Sometimes it only requires a yes or no answer, but they go on and on in paragraphs on subjects that has absolutely nothing what I am asking about. That is a sure sign of incompetence on EA's part.