DRM issues

[fkldnhlsdngsfnhlsndlg]

Right, so I purchased Alpha Protocol yesterday and have been enjoying it quite a bit so far. However, I've run into my first major issue with the game - DRM. Although the Uniloc system seems to work okay and doesn't require my disc to be in the drive, I found that after changing my speaker settings in Windows and editing an INI file in my Alpha Protocol user directory (trying to get surround sound working), I was told to reactivate the game by entering my serial number.

 

The game works absolutely fine after reactivating, but one question I have is: assuming that I'm going to be asked to reactivate after I make software/hardware changes, or after tweaking the game's files, does this mean that my limited installs are going to be used up in short order? What about when I install some new device drivers? Get a new video card? The DRM thinks that because of the changes made, my system is a new one, and there's no way for me to unregister the previous activations. This strikes me as both a major flaw and an inconvenience, and leaves me wondering if I'm going to end up losing the ability to play the game.

Edited June 2, 2010 by sea

[Reg1.1]

Online deactivation, when it's up, or seing as you bought the game, get a cracked .exe for it to work.

[fkldnhlsdngsfnhlsndlg]

Online deactivation, when it's up, or seing as you bought the game, get a cracked .exe for it to work.

Yeah, see, I don't think I should have to crack the game when I legally purchased it. I often do, to get rid of disc checks, but I shouldn't be losing the ability to legitimately play a game simply because the game decided I've changed my settings one too many times.

 

Oh, and sorry, but a deactivation tool isn't going to help... unless I want to have the added "feature" of deactivating and reactivating every time I play the game.

 

I'd appreciate hearing from an actual developer or Q&A team member.

[Tigranes]

You should now be able to deactivate your first activation online. I'm surprised that such minor changes forced you to reactivate, but surely, unless you want to fiddle with your speakers and change INI settings and your graphics cards every time, you won't be "reactivating every time".

[fkldnhlsdngsfnhlsndlg]

Any idea how to deactivate? The activation page listed in the FAQ is... cryptic at best, and there's no tool that I can find to deactivate the game.

 

For the record, I haven't had to reactivate since then, so maybe it was just a glitch or something.

[Tigranes]

You go to:

http://www.alphaprotocol.com/deactivation/

 

and put in your key, and it lists your activations.

[fkldnhlsdngsfnhlsndlg]

Just in time, too:

 

 

This was after updating my video drivers. Considering I update said drivers once or twice a month, it seems like I'll be visiting that activation page a lot... sigh. Seriously, great job, guys. And here I thought Uniloc was a DRM system that wasn't a total pain in the ass.

 

Thanks for the link, though. At least there is a way to deactivate properly, unlike some DRM.

Edited June 3, 2010 by sea