BioWare Responds to DRM Concerns in PC Version of Mass Effect
Last year's well received console title "Mass Effect" from BioWare is expected to arrive on PCs this month, and in the recent weeks, concern over the game's overbearing DRM has been growing. It was originally announced the game would require an online periodic 10-day re-activation. Those who found themselves unable to access the internet for whatever reason would be locked out of their own game.
It took little time for fans awaiting the game's release to protest the DRM announcement on the Mass Effect forums. Luckily, BioWare was listening and recently has responded to the concerns. The PC gaming community let out a sigh of relief as BioWare announced that the originally intended method of copy-protection has been replaced with a more reasonable one. A quote from the forum posting:
"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.
The solution being
implemented for Mass Effect for the PC changes copy protection from
being key disc based, which requires authentication every time you play
the game by requiring a disc in the drive, to a one time online
authentication.
This system has an added benefit of allowing players to seamlessly play the game without needing the DVD in the drive."
More info in the new DRM implementation can be found at the Mass Effect forums.
Also system requirements for the game have been released. Do you have enough hard drive space?
--Ken H.
Mihos on May 11, 2008 at 07:34 AM
This sucks, I play my PC games on the raod and very often do not have an internet connection (on planes etc)
Ken on May 11, 2008 at 11:46 AM
Luckily the copy protection that's going to be implemented in the shipping version of Mass Effect for the PC will only require you to have internet connection when you initially install the game, and when you download new content and patches. So when you're on the road, you will still be able to play, and you wont even need the DVD in the drive!