Games on Win 7

[Hand-E-Food]

And already, my Dad had a problem today regarding his multi-core machine... ;D That's been happening to me far too much lately, where completely unrelated people start the same conversation with me twice in one day.

[Elliot Kane]

Spooky coincidence! (And I am firmly resisting the obvious Star Wars quote, here! ;D)

[Elliot Kane]

Original Freedom Force works, newer game vrs The Third Reich does not. The clear culprit in the latter case is the DRM, which even blatantly confesses. According to the web, that's StarForce. I am starting to understand why so many gamers loathe that DRM system.

[Elliot Kane]

I'm definitely getting some interesting results, overall. The number of times that an older game will work where the latest instalment of the same franchise won't because of copy protection issues is pretty huge. So far, the culprits are always StarForce, Tages or SecuROM as far as I can tell.

Main list has been updated, BTW. This will likely continue for much of today...

[mysterd]

Apr 30, 2010 19:20:35 GMT Elliot Kane said:

Original Freedom Force works, newer game vrs The Third Reich does not. The clear culprit in the latter case is the DRM, which even blatantly confesses. According to the web, that's StarForce. I am starting to understand why so many gamers loathe that DRM system.

SF sucks - I hate that system. Micro$oft basically won't allow older SF games on Win 7 to run b/c of the system instability and security issues it causes to Windows and actual hardware itself. Smart move by M$, if you ask me.

If you really are adamant about getting this nasty DRM-check removed - I'd post on Irrational's boards and/or 2K's boards about this matter. Worst they can say is "no" and/or do nothing about it - and you'll be stuck w/ either going for a crack or looking to buy it cheap from Steam. Best scenario - asking can result in companies like Larian seeing SF as a problem for their users on newer OS's and just remove the DRM check entirely (Hip Games, their USA publisher, was defunct by then, so there was nobody around to "approve" of such a check to be removed - they just went ahead and did it).

StarForce's drivers are OS specific - so, if you have a StarForce game, best way to get it to work is to get an unofficial crack or wait for the company to release a DRM-check removed patch. That usually is enuff to takes care of the SF problem.

Of course, if you want to go another route - FF vs. TTR is sold VERY cheaply on Steam, these days - $4.99. I've seen it during their crazy sales for $2.50 for the entire FF Collection, BTW. Of course, you bought the game already - so I don't blame you if you want to spend more $ for a game you own already. Keep in mind - you'll also be dealing w/ Steamworks DRM, which I think is A LOT more fair than SF. Steamworks isn't OS specific and doesn't like to destroy your PC and/or its parts - it just cares that you have an account w/ Steam and paid for your game. For many, offline mode has improved and actually works for them.

[Elliot Kane]

I had no idea Irrational were still going! Thanks, D I'll probably e-mail them if I can find a link, which there probably will be.

Definitely don't like Steam. May be better than many, but it's still a ton of unnecessary crap, IMO.

I'm finding that the worst DRM seems to be a tie between StarForce and Tages, neither of which EVER work. They are just really user-unfriendly systems. SecuROM is about half and half, but that may just be I have more recent SecuROM games than the other two. I'm starting to think all three should be banned, though. It's an absolute disgrace the way they stop users playing games they have legally bought and legitimately have the right to play.

They're also the only three systems I've had any problems with, as far as I can tell. From the number of games that work perfectly with no problems yet still require a disk check, I think it's safe to say there are other DRM systems in use that don't abuse the user.

[mysterd]

May 2, 2010 14:59:26 GMT Elliot Kane said:

I had no idea Irrational were still going! Thanks, D I'll probably e-mail them if I can find a link, which there probably will be.

Irrational Games (Boston) made Bioshock, if you recall. They're working on a new IP currently.

LONG STORY SHORT:
2K bought Irrational out, some years back; 2K Games had them change their name to 2K Boston; Irrational wanted their old name back and 2K let them have it back. I'd guess it's probably b/c so many gamers and dev's refer to the Boston studio as Irrational and b/c that studio has such an excellent track record - it's just such a recognizable company brand b/c of their history, I think 2K would've been silly to let them stay as 2K Boston.

Definitely don't like Steam. May be better than many, but it's still a ton of unnecessary crap, IMO.

I prefer Steam over most DRM systems. It's a lot more tolerable than many of the other DRM schemes out there.

Of course, I prefer ZERO DRM period.

I'm finding that the worst DRM seems to be a tie between StarForce and Tages, neither of which EVER work. They are just really user-unfriendly systems. SecuROM is about half and half, but that may just be I have more recent SecuROM games than the other two. I'm starting to think all three should be banned, though. It's an absolute disgrace the way they stop users playing games they have legally bought and legitimately have the right to play.

They're also the only three systems I've had any problems with, as far as I can tell. From the number of games that work perfectly with no problems yet still require a disk check, I think it's safe to say there are other DRM systems in use that don't abuse the user.

Tages is not that great, either - as load times w/ Witcher and STALKER: Clear Sky were longer than they should've been just b/c the game disc-checked a lot. At least CDPR patched DRM out of Witcher.

We're all glad Egosoft removed SF check out of X2 and X3: Reunion. I'm glad Egosoft removed the DRM check out of X3: Terran. I also like that now, if you did buy X3: Terran from retail, you have an OPTION stick w/ the regular DVD version AND/OR convert that into The Steam version (it's up to you).

[Elliot Kane]

I like options. Options mean they are thinking about their customers. Of course, like you, I prefer no DRM at all

As for Irrational - sent them an e-mail. We'll see how that goes.

[mysterd]

May 2, 2010 15:48:14 GMT Elliot Kane said:

I like options. Options mean they are thinking about their customers. Of course, like you, I prefer no DRM at all

I do feel if I buy a game at retail and it's also up on Steam to purchase, I should have my option of converting DVD version over to Steam - especially if there are on The Steam Version some benefits. Depends on the game - but some Steam benefits involve Steam achievements; for multiplayer it's much easier to round up friends through Steam; additional Steam Cloud support; and other things.

As for Irrational - sent them an e-mail. We'll see how that goes.

Good luck.

Personally, I think you'd have a better shot w/ this one posting on their forums openly and trying to get other SF-haters to rally behind you.

Of course, they are a part of 2K - so, 2K might have to have a say in this ordeal, too.

EDIT:
Since we're on Irrational here, I would love to see what they are up to for the new IP. I do wonder what it is.

I would so love to see Irrational make Division 9 - a canceled slow-paced/strategic zombie shooter - a reality one day.

[Elliot Kane]

Their forum looks pretty dead, certainly in the FF section. Plus I don't want them entrenching, so I figure a polite enquiry might get me somewhere where a revolution might not ;D

More seriously, Irrational never struck me as being a bad company. I always got the feeling they like their fans, and a company like that is more likely to respond to polite requests than to a subtle shakedown. They've actively supported their games in the past and may well do so, now.

As with Revolution, I'll let you guys know how it goes.