EA is ruining videogames.

[sizzle_dizzle]

Mass Effect, released recently for the PC, has a lovely little feature that only gives 3 installations, much like some serial numbers to some operating systems. The difference here, is that the operating systems have a number you can call to get your serial number to work again, and Mass effect stops after the three initial tries. That's it. EA

Comments

[al0ysiushwww]

Tyler and I argue about this regularly. They did the same thing with Bioshock, except it also installs a "rootkit" that's produced by a Sony subsidarary.

The fact that they are both single player games is even more ridiculous. But yeah, stay away from Tyler about it because he's INSANE.

[droidguy1119]

Nick is exaggerating. Clearly this is not an acceptable solution, but my point was that games can and have to do stuff to prevent piracy, even if they are extreme and impose a little upon the gamer.

Nick was arguing that games shouldn't require a connection to the internet despite that apparently cutting down on piracy. I think this is silly, if only because most people out there have cable internet by now and are connected to the internet anyway. Even those with dial-up wouldn't be too forced-upon to have to connect for a few minutes every month or so.

[sizzle_dizzle]

I really don't think that any solution other than the already-used serial-code system will be accepted by the public at all. I don't believe single-player games should require an internet connection. I know people who play 1p games for that very reason. As for MMO style games, they're borderline impossible to pirate anyway.

[droidguy1119]

Yeah, but my point was just that in the long run, an internet connection is not THAT much of an imposition on a gamer. Like I said, the majority of the people are going to already have a continuous cable/DSL connection to the internet to begin with, so the game could silently do its checks without those players even knowing. And I don't think one player gamers really have much to complain about if they have to get on 56k for two minutes a month, at least not in comparison to say, rootkits destroying your computer by slowing it down, or EA telling you just to buy a new copy of the game.