What is DRM and SecuROM?

Hey folks, I recently built a rig and I wanted to start getting into PC gaming but now I hear all these games have some crazy stuff that stay in the registry and stay there for good even after uninstallation. Is this something to worry about? Do these cause problems?(now or down the line) What exactly is DRM? Should I worry about running Steam? buying Crysis. GS I need your guidance!

Hey folks, I recently built a rig and I wanted to start getting into PC gaming but now I hear all these games have some crazy stuff that stay in the registry and stay there for good even after uninstallation. Is this something to worry about? Do these cause problems?(now or down the line) What exactly is DRM? Should I worry about running Steam? buying Crysis. GS I need your guidance!

CoolSkAGuy

A DRM, is something to protect the game from Piracy (Most of the time it doesn't really work) Steam Is per say a DRM, but it isnt a horrible one like Ubisofts DRM.

DRM - Digital Rights Management.

You'll be fine with Steam.

DRM is Digital Rights Management, and SecuROM is one type of DRM software. DRM software is aimed at stopping piracy - for instance, it can stop you from ripping a CD - another method is to limit the number of times a game can be installed, and we've seen this in games such as Spore.

Steam is Valve Corporation's digital download service, through a program run on your computer, and games bought from Steam can only be run through the Steam program. However, as long as you have the password to your account, you can download and install the games as many times as you like, provided that their corresponding account is only logged into one computer - you can't play on more than one computer at the same time with the same account (they aren't stupid). Steam can be quite annoying because some games (usually newer ones) force you to patch them (you can't play them until the patch is complete). However, this update service is also a great advantage because developers can make adjustments to a game, sometimes according to player feedback (that is, Steam is very good at supporting communities). Steam is somewhat equivelant to Xbox live and PSN.

As long as you buy games SecureROM & DRM should not pose a problem. They are used to stop piracy. There are some games that have faulty DRM software that causes headaches in some games. Like Assassins Creed (Ubisoft) where they require you to have an active internet connection, but I'm not sure if that's still required as I haven't played the game in months.

As long as you buy games SecureROM & DRM should not pose a problem. They are used to stop piracy. There are some games that have faulty DRM software that causes headaches in some games. Like Assassins Creed (Ubisoft) where they require you to have an active internet connection, but I'm not sure if that's still required as I haven't played the game in months.

trodeback

I think its required in AC2 and that Stealth game.(I forgot its name) but they're revamping it for ACB, apparently.

The software equivalent of Satan.

a creation of SONY, their way of destroying PC gaming so their PS3 sells more.

one of the major reasons I HATE SONY.

DRM is a scam that way to many devs / publishers use and waste millions of $ on that dont do anything. A cd check will do fine or a great service (steam / B.net) However now days some devs take it way to far (Ubisoft is one example).

a creation of SONY, their way of destroying PC gaming so their PS3 sells more.

one of the major reasons I HATE SONY.

Hey folks, I recently built a rig and I wanted to start getting into PC gaming but now I hear all these games have some crazy stuff that stay in the registry and stay there for good even after uninstallation. Is this something to worry about? Do these cause problems?(now or down the line) What exactly is DRM? Should I worry about running Steam? buying Crysis. GS I need your guidance!

CoolSkAGuy

A game should require online activation then perhaps a login (once) and then no more. Steam is fine.

a creation of SONY, their way of destroying PC gaming so their PS3 sells more.

one of the major reasons I HATE SONY.

a creation of SONY, their way of destroying PC gaming so their PS3 sells more.

one of the major reasons I HATE SONY.

DRM is used to stop day one and day zero piracy because it has been well documented that when a game is pirated on or before release day it has a devastating affect on sales.

My wish is that developers would release with DRM and then provide a patch a month later removing it.

secuRom is a form of DRM

and there are several others.. gameguard is another

gameshield

there are a few others..

anyway DRM isnt bad per say but its very annoying and doesnt do as it was intended. ubisoft's private DRM is by far one of the worst but NOTHING is as bad as GFWL.

you know XBL/XBLA i assume. we have a variant called GFWL. its not as sun shiney and happy as its console cousin. while its not a DRM. you cant patch a game, mod a game, add dlc/expansions to a game, play mp, and save your game (properly) without having it up and it routinely falls all over itself and dies on you sometimes its pre-game sometimes its in-game.. it just fails horribly. its like an Xbox owners worst nightmare.. if XBL ever became a gfwl clone.. no one would eveer buy an xbox again.. there would be riots in the streets by toddler's i swear.. :P

beyond the above you have steam of course which is the polar opposite of GFWL but its alot more resource heavy than GFWL.

next you have battle.net which is both its own hosting service like gfwl and steam and a DRM. their DRM is probably one of the rare cases of DRM doing as it should properly.. but as stated rare cases and its a bit.. poorly organzied i guess is the best way to describe it.

now the above being said not everyone uses DRM and more often than not those that do use securom b/c their lazy.. securom is mostly harmless and is no bother to anyone.. pay it no mind.

i personnaly look at drm like a great big crazy people convention.. securom is your everyday crazy.. ubisoft's is the psychotic madman, and steam is your oddball.. he likes the confetti :P

Dont worry about it, never had a issue with DRM yet