How does Mass Effect's securom work?

[ramza]

I know, I have asked this question again. I keep seeing that copy of Mass effect that sits on my local store's shelves. For 15 euros, it could be mine but I am afraid of installing this specific version of Securom.

 

From what I have read on the web, it is especially aggressive and may block certain programs for no particular reason. Moreover, there's no way to uninstall it even with the official tool provided on the Securom website.

 

What do you think guys? Is there some way to prevent this from happening while enjoying the game?

[Guest Slinky]

From what I have read on the web, it is especially aggressive and may block certain programs for no particular reason.

I haven't heard of anything like that. I guess something like that is possible with every DRM out there, but that doesn't seem to happen often. Don't know about uninstalling securom, why you would even want to do that? The next securom game you install will just reinstall it again, and what harm does it do if it is there?

 

The securom in ME works like this:

 

When you install ME and start it up, it needs internet connection so it can validate and activate your copy. After that it doesn't do anything, you don't even need the DVD to play. But if you reinstall ME, windows or change some component in your PC, it needs to activate again. You have 5 activations you can use, so you can install ME on 5 different PC's at the same time. There is also a tool that you can use to deactivate ME to get that activation you have used back.

[Purkake]

Didn't they disable it a while ago with a patch?

[Guest Slinky]

The whole copy protection? Nope.

[Purkake]

Yeah, I just looked it up. I think it was some other game.

 

They added the revoking tool with the latest patch, but I wouldn't put too much trust into that.

[Kaftan Barlast]

You used to be able to use a noDVD crack legally if you owned the game, but its illegal in the US nowadays. So you're more or less screwed.

[ramza]

From what I have read on the web, it is especially aggressive and may block certain programs for no particular reason.

I haven't heard of anything like that. I guess something like that is possible with every DRM out there, but that doesn't seem to happen often. Don't know about uninstalling securom, why you would even want to do that? The next securom game you install will just reinstall it again, and what harm does it do if it is there?

 

The securom in ME works like this:

 

When you install ME and start it up, it needs internet connection so it can validate and activate your copy. After that it doesn't do anything, you don't even need the DVD to play. But if you reinstall ME, windows or change some component in your PC, it needs to activate again. You have 5 activations you can use, so you can install ME on 5 different PC's at the same time. There is also a tool that you can use to deactivate ME to get that activation you have used back.

 

So, does this mean that using a crack .exe will disable Securom?

[Mamoulian War]

15 EUR is still to much to pay for game you can install only 5 times and must pray to be able to revoke your installation when your Harddrive or Windows gets corrupted... Or god forbid you upgrade your PC!!!

[Guest Slinky]

So, does this mean that using a crack .exe will disable Securom?

What? Why you want to use a crack? Like I said, the game doesn't need the DVD to play. If you are one of those guys who do anything to keep DRM's from their PC, I can't help you.

 

Edit:

Mamoulian War, were you joking or what?

Edited September 12, 2009 by Slinky

[Mamoulian War]

So, does this mean that using a crack .exe will disable Securom?

What? Why you want to use a crack? Like I said, the game doesn't need the DVD to play. If you are one of those guys who do anything to keep DRM's from their PC, I can't help you.

 

Edit:

Mamoulian War, were you joking or what?

 

No

[ramza]

Well, I have heard that using a crack will prevent the game from using up an activation. So, I guess Securom is rendered useless that way. I may be wrong though... I just don't want to install that freakish thing on my pc without being able to completely remove it later on.

 

NWN2 uses Securom too but it's a softer version, if I might say so. The one in Mass effect is more aggressive. The problem is that if it installs itself along with the game, there's no way to play the game without putting that thing on your pc.

Edited September 12, 2009 by ramza

[Guest Slinky]

No

Ooookay..

 

Does your windows or HD go fubar often? Do you constantly upgrade your PC? Do you find the idea of sending email to EA support unbearable if the worst happens?

 

Edit:

ramza sounds like you have been reading posts from fanatical anti-DRM people. I don't like DRM's either, but some people are just ridiculous. It's securom, not Belsebub. And like I said, there is a tool which you can use to get your activations back.

Edited September 12, 2009 by Slinky

[Mamoulian War]

No

Ooookay..

 

Does your windows or HD go fubar often? Do you constantly upgrade your PC? Do you find the idea of sending email to EA support unbearable if the worst happens?

 

If i want to play the game now, i do not want to wait week or two, while some outsourced indian customer support employee decides to answer my mail, and hope, he do understand basic english...

 

I do reinstall windows 1-3 / year and i upgrade pretty much often... last time i upgraded my GPU, i had to reactivate pretty much all bussiness software i do use on my PC, dont want to experience that **** with games aswell...

Edited September 12, 2009 by Mamoulian War

[Mamoulian War]

Well, I have heard that using a crack will prevent the game from using up an activation.

 

That is correct, but you have to install the file before you launch ME for the 1st time. But beware as Kaftan Barlast already said, if you are citizen of USA, just using a crack is against your DMCA law (it counts as circumventing DRM)...

[WILL THE ALMIGHTY]

It breaks into your house and kills your family, judging from the hatred it gets.

 

 

You really shouldn't feel guilty for buying the game and removing SecuROM from your computer and the game.

[ramza]

Mmmm, I have searched everywhere but there is absolutely no way to disable Securom while installing Mass Effect. Too bad... I just hope they will bundle Mass effect 1 and 2 and remove the drm for the first game...

[Humodour]

Yeah, I've been avoiding buying it because of it's ****ty DRM as well. Mirror's Edge was pretty bad like that. Don't want to go through that again.

[Morgoth]

I think if you worry so much about the DRM that the game seems to be secondary, why even bother buying it?

Edited September 12, 2009 by Morgoth

[Deadly_Nightshade]

...if you are citizen of USA, just using a crack is against your DMCA law...

 

That is far from clear at the moment.

[Humodour]

I think if you worry so much about the DRM that the game seems to be secondary, why even bother buying it?

 

Well if you bother to read this thread, you'd see that's exactly what we're trying to figure out: is Mass Effect's DRM so intrusive that it's not worth buying the game?

[Guest Slinky]

Well if you bother to read this thread, you'd see that's exactly what we're trying to figure out: is Mass Effect's DRM so intrusive that it's not worth buying the game?

My point of view:

 

Do I like the DRM in ME? No.

Would I take a simple DVD check instead? Yes.

Would I leave a game I want to play on the shelf of the store because it's DRM wants to go to net once? Well thats just stupid. What is so horrible in it? Are you afraid that it will send your personal information somewhere or what? Or is it the limited activations? You do know that you can get those back, right?

[Mamoulian War]

Check this out...

 

http://games.ea.com/information.jsp

 

What do you think you will be doing with your game when it gets on this list?

[Guest Slinky]

Servers for the games listed below will be shut down on the indicated dates. You may continue to play the games online up until these dates, but certain community programs may begin to close down prior to the shutdown dates.

 

That has nothing to do with ME.

[Mamoulian War]

Servers for the games listed below will be shut down on the indicated dates. You may continue to play the games online up until these dates, but certain community programs may begin to close down prior to the shutdown dates.

 

That has nothing to do with ME.

 

Then tell me how do you gonna activate your ME when there is no authentification server?

[Guest Slinky]

Then tell me how do you gonna activate your ME when there is no authentification server?

 

That list is for online gaming servers shutting down, that has absolutely nothing to do with DRM...

 

And if the unlikely thing that EA would shut the authentification servers would happen, do you honestly think that they wouldn't first release a patch that removes the DRM from the games?