Has Bioshock taken security too far?
What better introduction of my posts than the overuse of security within Digital games.
Within the years Warez (The term that is used for illegal downloads) has increased thanks to dramatic expansion of bandwidth speeds offered by providers. This has a echo effect on media sales and can cost the industry thousands.
There for more and more forms of security over the years have been attempted to stop these illegal techniques, the most infamous being “SecuROM”. Not due to actual succeeding, but more so due to punishing those who do purchase the game legally. The new revision takes this beyond acceptable.
“With SecuROM™ ‘s Product Activation concept, Sony DADC offers software publishers the possibility to secure their content either distributed via the physical or electronic sales channel with one solution. Only legitimate customers who have purchased the product are able to unlock the program which is bound to the hardware after activation. This ensures that once activated, it cannot be transferred to another PC and therefore not being mass pirated. SecuROM™ ‘s Product Activation can be easily combined with Sony DADC’s n-CD solution. Let your end-customers register first and collect important market information prior allowing them to use your software products. See http://www.n-cd.com/ for more information.”
Now here come the problems. Many customers who have purchased Bioshock have been wrongfully punished by this system. (Typical Sony) Basically have blocked people in an obvious long term way. PC’s constantly change and adapt with technology on a daily basis, such prime examples is the increase of graphics cards and the new DX10 format. Yet (here comes the fun), if you choose to upgrade your system to play Bioshock smoothly, you will be blocked. If you increase your cpu power, you will be blocked. If you increase you Ram memory, you will be blocked. If you upgrade you graphics card to DX10 for Crysis (which 60% of the people are sure to due) I’m sure you can guess.
This basically means, even with the steam version, you get a onetime buy only. So the £30 you paid for your ground breaking game play experience, Is only temporary unless you lock your PC in closest somewhere once you finished so you don’t change any of the hardware.
This in theory from my view means that between an PC experience or console, people will opt more now for a console due to its ease of use and the fact your don’t have to buy a new copy every time you take it to your mates house.
This is very worrying from my view as a games designer for something so flawed to be irresponsibly hidden within a blockbuster game (as they done many times in the years and each time damaged the sales).
I personally with my work don’t want to end up with a new copy of Bioshock every time I upgrade my hardware to meet the demand of my work. (In truth I heard these rumours and pre ordered my CE on the 360 months ago anyways : P)
Check the 2K Forums to see the angry mobs and interesting feedbacks.