I hate EA but I love their games.

[QUOTE="IamGrunt"]

And where has gone the "EA's offer for R*" thingy.

I hope they dont buy out R* or we wont see anymore GTAs...

Oh also they make you buy the sims expansions with stuff that could have always been there in the real game...Anyway thats just a little aspect but I agree with ya OP.

codezer0

For many people they may encounter no problems, or only be inconvenienced in a small way. It's up to everyone else to decide what they do with the information that I and others have posted. However, I think it is a good idea for everyone to educate themselves about how SecuROM, SafeDisc and other copy protection schemes operate, and how they may impact the performance or operation of their PCs. The problem until recent years has been that there was little information available, but now that is no longer the case.RobertBowen

Well said. This thread has helped my understanding of how Mass Effect will work in terms of activation, in addition to knowledge about various copy protection schemes.

Winning Eleven still exists... though now they changed their name to PES (Pro Evo Soccer) at least here in the states.codezer0

Well said. This thread has helped my understanding of how Mass Effect will work in terms of activation, in addition to knowledge about various copy protection schemes.om3ga_storm

[QUOTE="mismajor99"]quote!Makari

I think we're acknowledging different aspects of the situation. I feel one is more important from a gamers point of view. Being independent is certainly the way DICE should have gone, I stand by that, and they certainly could have with their enormous early success. You don't have to know anyone at DICE in order to form that opinion. Besides, it sounds like you're taking any sort of criticism about DICE a bit too personally. I think they were brillant at one point, and haven't followed up that brilliance with anything in quite sometime. Still waiting on that killer game that can match the likes of 1942/BF2.

Does it really matter?

Can someone answer this, will Mass Effect work on my Hardware? if so then marvelous. I can really care less about this whole useless debate about piracy solutions. Guys make it seems it's the end of PC platform "Omg lazer beams in my PC gasps gasps", "Spaceship satellites tracking my PC".

How's it going Zero?

[QUOTE="codezer0"]Uh, no, they won't. This is EA we're talking about. Knowing them, they'll kill off 2k sports, work the team at Tiburon even harder (until every last one suffers from complete burnout), and then when GTA 4 finally arrives to Windows/Mac, release like 20-something expansion packs that all have to be bought individually, and have to be installed in some wacky voodoo order so that the thing won't rootkit your system or something. :?Makari

Like I said, this is the difference between an opinion formed by internet message board vs. an opinion formed by research/paying attention and actually knowing people at all the places involved. The games industry generally hates EA a hell of a lot less than someone like you - especially after the last two years - and is usually stuck defending them, even those that work at companies that you in particular named as examples of good. It's pretty sad when you have someone at Stardock (not me!) talking about how EA has been pretty good the last couple of years and throwing their hands up in frustration at some random person spouting internet nerd rage that hasn't been relevant since they were in high school. I mean hell, did you even read 2K's responses to EA's buyout offer? It wasn't 'we don't want to be bought by you,' it was 'we're worth more money than that, come talk to us after GTA4 but we're open!'

Give me a break. Get off your high horse already. Anyone with half a brain realizes what the deal is. Heads of companies allow their firms to go public and be bought out, it's obviously in THEIR interest to do so. They are essentially "cashing out", or "selling out" depending on what side of the isle you're sitting. This almost always happens at the expense of a creative and independent team, much like DICE. EA, like 2k, is a rolling corporate giant that cares very little about the gamer, and more about pleasing shareholders on Wall Street. This is common sence yet so trivial for some people to understand. It's a nonstop vicious climate.

I've personally sat on a board now for five years, and I've owned a business with my Father for much longer than that. I understand very clearly what the intent is of EA and other publishing giants, it's no secret. People are sick and tired of the trifling of talent in the industry, and the lousy rehashes of the same garbage that's prominent with EA and others. Huge concentrations of power are certainly never good for the consumer, it's like that in every industry. Something has to be said for a developer that maintains it's independence, or is allotted that fortune if they can be so lucky. I guess I would have to personally know a developer though in order to have a legit opinion.

[QUOTE="Makari"][QUOTE="mismajor99"]quote!mismajor99

I think we're acknowledging different aspects of the situation. I feel one is more important from a gamers point of view. Being independent is certainly the way DICE should have gone, I stand by that, and they certainly could have with their enormous early success. You don't have to know anyone at DICE in order to form that opinion. Besides, it sounds like you're taking any sort of criticism about DICE a bit too personally. I think they were brillant at one point, and haven't followed up that brilliance with anything in quite sometime. Still waiting on that killer game that can match the likes of 1942/BF2.

Makari, if someone dislikes the games being produced since acquisition, that's certainly enough cause to look at EA or 2k in a different light, especially if said developer hasn't made a game worth buying or playing.

Shame on you for correlating ill-informed American's about Obama's background with gamers who dislike board room dealings concerning their favorite studios. That's insulting and snubbing your nose at people with comments like that reflects poorly on your character. If people don't enjoy the games, it's a logical thing to do looking at the new ownership. The same thing can be applied to many other instances in business. Like I've said multiple times before, take DICE for example, they haven't released anything substatial or great since their company was purchased. Period. This isn't something to be corrected. If you can't see people's honest distaste for EA and their buyout and dissolving of Westwood or Origin, then you have an obvious bias or you're simply incapable of admitting to yourself the honest reason why these things happen. Yes, many people might have gone elsewhere and are working under other names, but the games are just not there. Universe at War? Please, it's nothing compared to the work under Westwood studios, Pertro is a different company, different people calling the shots although similar people might be there. Obsidian's track record with quality titles has been less than stellar, KOTOR 2 and NWN 2 are nothing resembling Black Isle Studios at all.

The kicker?

"Electronic Arts CEO John Riccitiello is very sorry about what happened to Bullfrog. And Westwood. And Origin Systems.

""We at EA blew it, and to a degree I was involved in these things, so I blew it."

"The command and conquer model," he said, "doesn't work. If you think you're going to buy a developer and put your name on the label... you're making a profound mistake."

"I think that there's going to be fewer major publishers in 2010 than there are today. I think the second-tier players are going to thin out pretty significantly. The market share controlled by the few major publishers is going to be greater in 2010 than it is today," he said."

http://blog.wired.com/games/2008/02/riccitiello.html

And you're the cheerleader, don't forget your EA pom poms

I guess we ought to lay down, not complain, and trust amoral conglomerates like EA to do the right thing. Ok Makari, right on.

So yeah. It would help to know someone, anyone involved, or just read a magazine or something. Then you could see that your perception of the relationship is simply wrong. The facts about what is actually happening stay the same, but the people calling the shots?

Makari

The only caveat I would add is that you cannot assume either people or magazine articles are unbiased. All media tends to have a bias, and sometimes uses only the information that suits their particular agenda - or may only use information from one source and not explore the other side of an issue.

When it comes to people, they have their own perceptions of how things are (based on their personal experiences and access to information), and sometimes may be misinformed, or misunderstand a situation. So 'inside sources' may not always be reliable.

All 'information' in relation to these kinds of situations is 'flexible'. Obviously the more sources you have, the better you can build up something resembling a truer picture of events. :)

So it's good advice looking for sources of further information to improve your understanding of a situation, as long as you view those sources with a healthy dose of skepticism as well.

OK, i buy all my games. I don't pirate. I love PC gaming and I have made the commitment to skip SecuROM games on principle. I don't appreciate the heavy handed way Securom assumes I'm a thief. Heck, I don't like how Bestbuy and Frys (and other big stores) check our receipts at the door assuming we just shoplifted. I feel strongly about my honesty and legitimate purchase and I take that seriously so I don't appreciate it when it is questioned. Its insulting and offensive.

So even if Securom won't ruin my hardware, install itself without permission, give you limited activations, call home, or be so invisible I'd never notice (all are valid various issues/concerns of other gamers BTW) I, personally will avoid Securom based primarily on MY issue/concern about the whole principle of the thing-...