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BioShock BioLocked To Two PCs - The Real Story

ve3d.ign.com — Official BioShock forumers are up in arms because BioShock is supposedly limited to two installs, at which point the game becomes a useless coaster unable to be used ever again. However, having spoken to a senior member of 2K Games we can reveal that the above is ***** - to prevent piracy the game is restricted to two simultaneous installs.

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  • womz, on 10/10/2007, -7/+12As usual kotaku.com is inaccurate, spam, and a waste of life. Please just bury everything they post as spam.
    Thank you for a better story.
    • wageslaven, on 10/10/2007, -2/+4Exactly, Kotaku is seriously bias and partisan with its reporting.

      Further, for all the people frothing at the mouth about this licensing, the above statement "to prevent piracy the game is restricted to two simultaneous installs." actually represents an IMPROVEMENT to your usual EULA. Normally, you are only permitted to have your software installed on ONE box, well, Bioshock gives you more, it permits TWO machines.
      • Cyber_Akuma, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1See, most of those one install only programs only depend on you to uphold that, they usually don't actually have any checks in place to enforce it, unlike Bioshock. Which makes it a giant pain for any legit consumer that has a HDD crash.
        • madk, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1A simple phone call to get it game activated doesn't seem like a pain.
  • slcsu, on 10/10/2007, -11/+4The other Digg article is false; it's even stated as an update in the article itself.

    But people don't care, they will just keep Digging this article to the top. Einstein was right when he said "Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former."
  • slcsu, on 10/10/2007, -11/+3The other Digg article is false; it's even stated as an update in the article itself.

    But people don't care, they will just keep Digging this article to the top. Einstein was right when he said "Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former."
    • nublet, on 10/10/2007, -4/+2especially when people can't figure out how not to double post.
  • Nowheredan, on 10/10/2007, -5/+21Actually, this is wrong, at least in my case. I installed it on two PCs (one DX9 system and one DX10) then uninstalled both, then tried to install it on a third. No go. I don't know if it has to do with being behind a firewall (though the firewall didn't affect the activation process) but the "if you uninstall it'll work" thing didn't work for me. I called 2K tech support and was told to take a photo of my disc and the back of my manual and send it to them. Ok, did that. Six hours later, no reactivation. Goddamn I hate DRM.
    • geartype2, on 10/10/2007, -7/+5why are you installing it on so many pcs?
      • achoo5000, on 10/10/2007, -4/+14Because he paid for the game and should be able to stick it up his ass if he wants.
    • wageslaven, on 10/10/2007, -7/+5"I installed it on two PCs (one DX9 system and one DX10) then uninstalled both, then tried to install it on a third."

      Did not happen.
  • wisedude, on 10/10/2007, -4/+6as said before, that's why you pirate it. It just works
  • Bossman1086, on 10/10/2007, -2/+7This was already pointed out in an update to the Kotaku story. Also, people are pissed (and rightly so) because it's still an inconvenience and justifies pirates while screwing over people who bought it legit. Besides, what happens if your hard drive fails and you never got to uninstall? And do you think it's okay that you have to uninstall the game to reinstall it again? I don't know about you, but when I go to reformat (usually every 4-6 months), I don't uninstall programs first. Even the Steam version is affected. This DRM thing (made by Sony) stays on your computer even after you uninstall and the only way to get rid of it is to reformat. Sony won't even help you get rid of it.

    I bought this game the day it came out and just heard about this earlier today. It pisses me off. I want control of my own computer. I bought the game...way to treat me like *****.

    ***** DRM.
  • fourcorners, on 10/10/2007, -1/+7"We asked our 2K contact what would happen if both of your computers simultaneously failed and you were unable to uninstall the game to reacquire an install credit:"
    "You'd have to ring Securom, explain your situation, and get them to fix you up. However, if you keep ringing and asking for unlocks every two minutes..."

    This DOES NOT put my concerns of this issue at ease. I had zero concern over "internet activation" until I learned that it was Securom being used to do this. I have a copy waiting for me to be picked up tomorrow that I will have to call to have it returned to the shelf since Securom will not be touching my computer. Now I have a tough decision, 360 version (I've been trying to hold off until they get hardware issues addressed) or nefarious means. Damn it, PC gamers for the most part want to do the right thing, I have been very vocal about supporting Bioshock in particular, with your dollars and not pirating it. Securom... yeah, it's like I've just been punched in the gut from my closest friend. Game developers please use copy protection methods that aren't evil, pc gamers want to have fun just like console gamers, and dealing with the evils of Securom is not fun.
    • TLAKABM, on 10/10/2007, -1/+31) Make awesome game.
      2) Add crippling DRM that punishes honest customers, driving people to pirate a non-retarded version.
      3) Blame lack of sales on piracy.
    • Cyber_Akuma, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3I thought it was starforce that was the big evil copy protection out there?

      What is the problem with securom? No, i'm being honest, I have not heard of what problems is causes, what is wrong with it?
  • FireAtWill, on 10/10/2007, -1/+2I sincerely appreciate the fact that you have posted this in response. Why is it that articles always have to skirt the truth in order to obtain shock value? Sure it's just a game, but our news outlets are becoming so subjective I don't even know where the truth lies.
  • Lane, on 10/10/2007, -1/+2how pointless is it to limit installs on a game in your steam account? if anything i would think they would be pushing the game to be downloaded so its impossible to use your copy by multiple people.
  • wesamel, on 10/10/2007, -9/+2BioNotVeryCleverTitle BioBuried as BioLame
  • Tainek, on 10/10/2007, -1/+3Yeah, consider me £25 lost, No way in hell until the copy protection is lifted

    Vote with your wallets people, they need us, we dont need them
  • StrawberryFrog, on 10/10/2007, -0/+4"the game becomes a useless coaster unable to be used"
    what, as opposed to a useless coaster that can be used?
  • internetass, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1now by adding this hurdle how is this PREVENTING people cracking the game? you can't stop us :)
  • DEADB33F, on 10/10/2007, -2/+2It's still a load of *****.

    If a car maker were to introduce a system to its new cars whereby should the manufacturer go out of business it's cars stop working, whether this is the intended purpose or not, people wouldn't stand for it.

    So why should we in the software world have to put up with equally restrictive measures.
  • benguild, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3I was thinking of buying this game when it's released tomorrow...I've pretty much gone off it completely. Intermittent crashes, ***** up installs...No thanks. Not worth my time or money. Even if it is a brilliant game. You just lost a sale, 2K Games. Good job.
  • JKVM, on 10/10/2007, -1/+3I installed in on two machines trying to overcome the crashing issues I was experiencing. When I try to uninstall, I get a Securom failure. I can't UNINSTALL the game because of DRM. I can't get back either of those two of my two "simultaneous" installs because of a SECUROM failure. No big deal? ***** DRM.
    • EztliNahua, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Call SecuROM. Bitch on the 2k forums. Either one will work.

      Also, this is why I went with Steam.
  • ClOlD, on 10/10/2007, -2/+0But.. but.. it's the best game EVAR!!1!2! All the reviews written before we all got a chance to get our hands on it said so! And all those Digg stories on it over ther past few weeks got Dugg so highly!@!! ... Isn't it?
  • vampireblood, on 10/10/2007, -2/+1Just crack the game and stop winging you bitches!
  • Cyber_Akuma, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1"Update: We asked our 2K contact what would happen if both of your computers simultaneously failed and you were unable to uninstall the game to reacquire an install credit:

    "You'd have to ring Securom, explain your situation, and get them to fix you up. However, if you keep ringing and asking for unlocks every two minutes...""

    .... OR I can just go the no-cd crack route and stop getting reamed up the ass by draconian copy protection methods that do nothing to protect copying and only piss off legit consumers.
  • ZeRux, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2
    • surfacewound, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0The image will most likely only work for a machine with the same chipset as the one the image was taken from, in which case it'd be good for a hard drive crash protection measure, but useless for a new CPU/motherboard transition. Even ignoring the compatibility though you'd have the likely issue of XP requiring a re-validation if too much hardware doesn't match. However, I've heard that Vista images can be independent of the hardware the image was taken from, can anyone confirm/deny that?
      • ZeRux, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0
        • surfacewound, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0I know. What I'm saying is, this will work as long as you restore the image on the same computer or same fundamental hardware. But your image will not work right if, say, 4 months from now you get a new motherboard and CPU.
  • madk, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1I can't believe this is gathering so much attention. 99% of the average users won't ever encounter any problems. IBuncha crybabies on the intranets these days.
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