Chris Corry Comments on RA3's Copy Protection

[Sonic 296]

One of the biggest topics in the C&C community, and PC gaming in general, is copy protection of software, commonly referred to DRM. Fans have expressed their concerns about the copy protection methods Red Alert 3 will use. And now Executive Producer, Chris Corry, has explained it all in a post on the Official C&C Forums.

 

I've been hearing your concerns about the DRM situation and wanted to get back to you with some information about our plans. In the case of Red Alert 3 (and all PC titles coming out of EA), we will use SecuROM – the same copy protection that the EALA RTS group has used on our last three titles. This time around, however, the copy protection will be configured to be more lenient than we've supported in the past.

 

I know this can be somewhat of a polarizing topic, and I thought it would be best to open the lines of communication with some facts:

 

- We will authenticate your game online when you install and launch it the first time.

 

- We will never re-authenticate an installation online after the first launch. In other words, no reaching out to a central server post-install to see if you're "allowed" to play.

 

- You will be able to install and play on up to five computers.

 

- This system means you don't have to play with the disc in your computer. Personally, I think this is a huge improvement over our previous copy protection requirements, which have always required a disk to play.

 

- Life happens. I know it's unlikely, but for those unlucky few who install the game and have their machines nuked (virus, OS reinstall, major hardware upgrade, etc.) five times, EA Customer Service will be on hand to supply any additional authorizations that are warranted. This will be done on a case-by-case basis by contacting customer support.

 

-You can, of course, play offline without impediment or penalty.

 

Red Alert 3 is shaping up to be a world-class RTS game that will give you many hours of enjoyment. I think it would be a shame if people decided to not play a great game simply because it came with DRM, but I understand that this is a very personal decision for many of you and I respect that. As you might imagine, I'm a lot less respectful of those people who take the position that they will illegally download a game simply because it has DRM.

 

Either way, we're very proud of the hard work our team has put into this game and we hope you will all enjoy it when it launches.

You can read through the original thread right here.

[Doctor Destiny 41]

Holy hell. That's a hell of a step. I can have it on my laptop and desktop at the same time. Hot ****!

[Staude 0]

bull**** !

 

This might be the first cnc game i don't buy. Even though i'm in the beta and .. yeah it is kinda fun. I guess.

 

But this ?.. it's like they make us rent the game. Especially if you, like me, mess around with your pc so much you have to do a re-install of windows every two months. Or if you like to upgrade your pc a lot.. Etc Etc.

I call major bull on this !

 

Not trying to be offensive here, but i really think they ought to do this a different way. For instance, if they did a serial check everytime you logged online, the issue would be solved and everyone would be happy.

Edited September 9, 2008 by Staude

[recover 2]

I will buy the game, but I wouldn't be surprised if I eventually use some kind of crack to remove this.

 

Btw, I never thought EA would make it possible to run the game without the CD in the drive. I just wish they would release patches to their previous games enabling the same thing!

Edited September 9, 2008 by recover

[Saracen 16]

This is really no different from the Spore DRM protection. The difference being Spore only has a 3 computer install limit instead of 5.

 

Personally I really do not see the point in this copy protection. Like Spore you can keep the game in an offline state forever and never have to have the key checked online at all. By going online, that's when you put yourself at a serious disadvantage, cos that's when the key is activated, and that's when you can have problems.

 

Re-installing windows though doesn't affect the install limit. Unless you're one of those people who have Vista illegally for example and have to create a virtual motherboard, then it can be regarded as an issue. But in order for it to be an issue, you technically need that machine to be online too so the generated file can upload the discrepancy.

 

That's just based upon my findings of using Spore anyhow. Cos I have a friend who has installed Spore on 6 other offline machines already to test this so called install limit, and he's found no problems. He's one of these pirates who finds the flaws in DRM protection and exploits them. He doesn't provide torrents, just helps to work with creating the cracks. He's also managed to crack the Wii to play copied games without getting it chipped!

 

It is kinda ironic though... by doing this EA are really kicking the legitimate users in the balls. Cos the pirates have the brains to get past anything.

[Johnnyxp64 20]

does the above statement also means that if you want to Re-format for any reason

or upgrade your hardware, Before You do it IF you Uninstall the game, you FreeUp a register position, So after the Format you can Reregister the Game without no Problem, repeat that Unlimited Times. right?

 

 

cause i am formatting and making major upgrades to my 3 systems More than 15+ times in a year.

 

 

if that's exactly how is working then Its Super!(i think thats how its gona work so dont cry about reformating!

Edited September 9, 2008 by Johnnyxp64

[Saracen 16]

I'd have to check, but I believe reformats are not a problem either. If you're changing hardware, it should in theory remain unlimited so long as the machine doesn't have an online presence. You could call the DRM spyware if you will. It works along the same principle to transmit information to the EA servers regardless if you allow the game through your firewall or not.

 

This is why, and I quote:

 

-You can, of course, play offline without impediment or penalty.

And that is the fundamental flaw in this copy protection, and it's why you could still download the game from a torrent and play a single player offline game as normal without online enabling cracks. It does nothing to affect the pirates, just the legitimate user.

[Luk3us 63]

It doesn't seem like much has really changed.

 

We have gone from, unlimited installs but require a CD.

 

To 5 installs and no CD.

 

I don't like the install limits, but generally speaking I only ever install a game once, MAYBE twice and then either sell it or never use it again. So its a non issue for me at least.

[Sonic 296]

Same here, I have no issue with this. I had C&C 3 installed, never played it much but I did take online a few times. Reinstalled it on my new PC and its fine.

 

The thing is when you get RA3, install it and then take it online its not going "phone home" every time you run the game.

 

I have a friend who has installed Spore on 6 other offline machines already to test this so called install limit, and he's found no problems. He's one of these pirates who finds the flaws in DRM protection and exploits them. He doesn't provide torrents, just helps to work with creating the cracks. He's also managed to crack the Wii to play copied games without getting it chipped!

And people wonder why publishers/developers have to come up with new ways to protect their property

[TheBlackOut 7]

Wow, looks like I am not buying RA3. That's really shameful.

[hagren 0]

Why not? I don't see much wrong with this system.

[Hannibal 0]

Why not? I don't see much wrong with this system.

I agree; this sounds pretty cool to me. However, I'm not sure if it will be that effective against pirates, but as long as I can play without the CD in my drive after installation, I'm satisfied.

[hagren 0]

Yeah, I mean, why should EALA be punished for measures neccessary against pirates? It's not like they have a choice in EAs decision. And just because bloodhounds do not work against thieves, does not mean you should put the dogs to sleep.

[Pyrodaimon 0]

If I would be planning to buy a legal copy of RA3, I'd say that this is bullc**p.

 

But I plan to buy a pirated copy and I'm sure the guys that work there will find a way to overcome ths stuff.

 

Call me however you want to. But I support piracy. If it weren't for piracy, my computer would be empty.

[Silverthorn 0]

I see this DRM thing doesn't seem much of a problem to me, C&C games I always buy original (With the exception of Tiberium & Generals).

 

At least Smudge told us is better than inserting the DVD all the time to play, which now saves me the trouble of DVD wear, and best of all, be able to backup a copy into my external hard disk to avoid future annoying CRC errors.

[Saracen 16]

DRM is a shaky future I feel. One of the biggest Markets in this very industry is the pre-owned games market. Sooner or later, if this DRM was to work its way onto consoles. The result would be a sure-fire economic collapse of many industry retailers. Independents would go bust and even the big guns such as Gamestop and GAME would suffer huge losses. This (from my Manager friend at the local GAME) is what EA and Konami particularly want since developers and publishers do not make any money on the pre-owned games market. The sooner they can destroy the market, the sooner (they believe) more people will buy the full priced products, shift more units, and gain larger profit margins.

 

The pre-owned PC games market is extremely close to dead. The only pre-owned games that are available are those that don't have such protection. In the future, digital downloads will be the industry standard, disc based media will be over-ruled, and by then, There won't be any Gamestop or GAME stores on the high streets and malls. The end result is that many casual gamers will possibly refuse to buy games at full price. It would potentially spell disaster in the long run, and as a result it's possible that this industry could bury it's own grave within the next 25 years.

 

If this is the way forward, and the pre-owned market is the target for abolition, then there's a lot of trouble on the horizon. It's started with the PC Pre-owned market and is affecting general full priced PC sales. Who's to say it will not continue elsewhere with other formats?

[Silverthorn 0]

I also not sure what lies in the future, but in certain countries, piracy will keep on continuing, no matter what and no matter how tough the DRMs will be.

[hagren 0]

Imho, people tend to exaggerate. I understand if someone ran into problems before and therefore is scarred for life, but if You just refuse to purchase a game with DRM out of principle, that's ignorance. If you think about it, legally, you're only allowed to install a software once at one computer simulteanously anyway, that's what the license you purchase grants you. By buying it, it's not your game. But somehow everyone seems to think that.

[Hannibal 0]

If I would be planning to buy a legal copy of RA3, I'd say that this is bullc**p.

 

But I plan to buy a pirated copy and I'm sure the guys that work there will find a way to overcome ths stuff.

 

Call me however you want to. But I support piracy. If it weren't for piracy, my computer would be empty.

Just out of curiosity, how do you justify piracy? After all, it is against the law...

 

 

 

If some people refuse to buy RA3 just for the principle of the thing, it's really their loss. Even if I were against it I would still buy it; I wouldn't deprive myself of a great game just to make a point.

 

Just my opinion.

[Pyrodaimon 0]

Just out of curiosity, how do you justify piracy? After all, it is against the law...

I don't. I'm not like those dumb hypocrates that give whatever reason to kill their own inner guilt. I just don't feel that guilt.

[Mighty BOB! 5]

Imho, people tend to exaggerate. I understand if someone ran into problems before and therefore is scarred for life, but if You just refuse to purchase a game with DRM out of principle, that's ignorance. If you think about it, legally, you're only allowed to install a software once at one computer simulteanously anyway, that's what the license you purchase grants you. By buying it, it's not your game. But somehow everyone seems to think that.

No, you sir are ignorant.

 

Digital Restrictions Management is a pox on all industries and does absolutely nothing to deter piracy. The only thing it does do, and pardon my french, is **** over legitimate customers such as myself and that will NOT stand.

 

Have you ever heard of the poem First they came...?

 

First they came for the Socialists, and I didn’t speak up,

because I wasn’t a Socialist.

 

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I didn’t speak up,

because I wasn’t a Trade Unionist.

 

Then they came for the Jews, and I didn’t speak up,

because I wasn't a Jew.

 

Then they came for me, and there was no one left

to speak up for me.

 

The DRM issue is of course orders of magnitude smaller than what happened then, but that does not change the fact that I will not stand idly by while my rights are infringed upon. I will not allow large corporations to dictate to me what I can do with my purchased content, what services or hardware I can use it with, and when or why.

 

I. Own. It.

 

I. Paid. For. It.

 

And they have no say in what I do with it, when, where, or why. Other than of course that I do not claim it as my own creation, or profit from other people's work, or redistribute illegal copies of it.

 

I make my stand now, not later when it is too late. Corporations will not intrude upon my rights or privacy because it is not their place to do so. They make stuff, I buy it, I use it. That's how the cycle goes. Not: they make stuff, I buy it, I use it, they change their mind and **** me out of the money I paid them by denying my ability to use what I rightfully paid for.

 

If that requires circumventing their futile attempts to dictate what I do with things I paid for then so be it.

[hagren 0]

It does not deter piracy, I never said that. However, what most of you don't get, that actually, according to any games EULA, you don't have the right to do anything you want with the game. You only buy a license for one simulteanous install on one PC. That's all you get.

 

I understand that people should speak up, but their way of speaking up (Denying purchase, downloading a pirated copy) would hurt the CnC franchise and the devs who put hard work into their product.

[Banshee 28]

My $0.02:

http://www.ppmsite.com

[TheBlackOut 7]

My $0.02:

http://www.ppmsite.com

I love you in a none gay way.

 

There's a very good conversion over Spore going on at Slashdot. In fact, I'll highlight one of the most intelligent posts about DRM there. You can read the post here.

 

There is a good god damn reason I am not buying this game. RELOADED is now a more trusted brand than EA, which is sad.

 

edit: Sonic or any other mods, if you believe my post is talking about warez and want it edited because of that, feel free to. I don't know if that's really crossing it by mentioning RELOADED.

[Nmenth 291]

I find game laws to be very much like normal life laws, though they may inconvenience the honest, only those that want to break them truly complain about the injustices they perceive.

 

 

 

Call me however you want to. But I support piracy. If it weren't for piracy, my computer would be empty.

Since you gave me permission to call you however I want, you're an idiot.