Mass Effect - NO DISCUSSION OF CRACKS!!!

[TippeX]

Due to some of the existing mass effect threads going in a warez direction, as well as the fact that the game is online activation protected (thus a crack is not really needed if you legitimately own the game) ALL threads about the game have been deleted...

do NOT post threads asking for the crack (they don't work anyway), or the crackfix (which is trojaned / root kitted by all accounts)... until the moderators and empire have all come to a decision about this title..

you can make posts for game support, issues with the game, discussions about the game and so on..

[anzial]

I'm confused, since dvd is not required to play, does it mean that there's no protection on the dvd to prevent us from copying (for backup purposes)?

[redangle2006]

You need a original Cd at the first start of the Game, when he is check that you have a legit version. After that you can play without a cd.

A new check will be come, when you patch the game or downlaod extra content.

To play the game, you don´t need a cd in the cd-drive.

[SoftBeard]

Originally Posted by TippeX

well then you can join the queue and wait for a working crack... good luck.. the 'once in a while' isn't invasive, nor has anyone encountered it yet, and the constant internet connection while playing is wrong... it just requires the internet connection when you run the exe, to authenticate, and even then its not every time, so your 'while you are playing' argument goes right out the window...

Are you sure about the 'constant internet connection required while playing' being wrong? Straight from the manual:
"INTERNET CONNECTION, PERIODIC ONLINE AUTHENTICATION, AND END USER LICENSE AGREEMENT REQUIRED TO PLAY. ..."

Maybe there are different versions of this game in different geographic regions with different DRM. But for my NA location, the above warning is what I have to contend with.
At any rate, I am not asking for anything....I am simply providing observations and comments.

[DABhand]

Originally Posted by SoftBeard

"INTERNET CONNECTION, PERIODIC ONLINE AUTHENTICATION, AND END USER LICENSE AGREEMENT REQUIRED TO PLAY. ..."

Periodic doesnt mean constant. Checks over a period of time, it could be every 1hr or 6hrs or even each time you start the game.

[DABhand]

Originally Posted by anzial

IIRC, it checks every few days or so that the serial has not been compromised. But what if I don't have internet when it does check? I.e., I'm on the move, out in nowhere, decided to relax and play ME, and it starts complaining it can't find home server. Then there's also a problem with the security of the purchase - what if the serial gets generated by some online generator? It's gonna be hard to prove that you didn't post it somewhere. Also, 3 installs is pretty limited. I've installed on my desktop and laptop, and I'm upgrading my desktop soon (got new cpu). I might also replace notebook in a few months. So I've pretty much exhausted all my 3 installs, all in a week or so since the purchase, and if I got for a new laptop, I won't be able to install the game I own on a computer I own? I'd say, this is not fair to paying customers who have to jump through the hoops to use what they paid for, all the while the warez users have the time of their life. Lets face - ME will be cracked, sooner or later, and those who pirate the game, won't have a single issue, while us, the paying customers, will have a ton of limitations on the fair use of the product. If Gamecopyworld does not see that online checks are pretty much the same thing as cd-checks, well then, I'm pretty sure we'll have another site like this one, but with cracks for new games, while GCW will gradually become obsolete

I have to admit you have been listening to people who think they know what they are talking about when they dont.

Your unique serial being made by a Key Generator is a very very very low chance of yours getting picked.

Seeing as most Key Generators will develop a key from either the last digits of the key or totally generated from scratch, the odds are very very high for yours getting matched. Even if it does by some coincedence you have the proof of purchase and serial which you can prove is yours.

And online checks are nothing like cd-checks. Cd-checks requires a cd/dvd-rom and media to be used while online checks are just a simple software check.

And yeah GCW has been around alot longer than most of the "other" sites.

[anzial]

Originally Posted by DABhand

I have to admit you have been listening to people who think they know what they are talking about when they dont.

Your unique serial being made by a Key Generator is a very very very low chance of yours getting picked.

Seeing as most Key Generators will develop a key from either the last digits of the key or totally generated from scratch, the odds are very very high for yours getting matched. Even if it does by some coincedence you have the proof of purchase and serial which you can prove is yours.

And online checks are nothing like cd-checks. Cd-checks requires a cd/dvd-rom and media to be used while online checks are just a simple software check.

And yeah GCW has been around alot longer than most of the "other" sites.

I don't see how you would respond to 3 activation limit. Furthermore, when I talked about the longevity of GCW, all I meant is that in this fast-moving world with exponential progress in IT, failure to recognize the trend that PC games are moving away from CDs to online delivery will ultimately spell doom to GCW, if it chooses to stick to catering to the owners of the increasingly obsolete tech. In other words, PC game developers will no longer use CD check at all (for example, there's no protection on ME DVD, I've checked myself - made a copy and installed the game off it w/o any issues), so online check becomes the ONLY source of validation, as CD-check was in the past - hence my parallel.

Since serial is the only source of authenticity, it may cause loads of grief if it's ever compromised due to craptastic online/phone support - if u ever used that, u'd know u want to stay away from that. Thus, as far as I am concerned, maybe the risk of duplicate serial is low, even very low, but it's still unacceptable - I don't want to waste my time proving my innocence, esp. if it does happen, tech support will stick to ur logic - that duplication impossible and blame me for the leak, and will NOT issue me another key. Read the forums at Bioware if you don't believe me - that's the policy they adopted. So the problem is not proving that that particular serial is mine but that I didn't post it somewhere for everyone to use. However minuscule is this chance, this sort of policy is unacceptable for a paying customer like me. I want access to a fix that will allow me, rightful owner of the software, to continue to use in the case when the developer fails to insure the same.

Finally, I suggest you to refrain from further patronizing me. You can't know what I do know and what I don't, and neither do I claim that I know better than you.

[TippeX]

Originally Posted by SoftBeard

Are you sure about the 'constant internet connection required while playing' being wrong? Straight from the manual:
"INTERNET CONNECTION, PERIODIC ONLINE AUTHENTICATION, AND END USER LICENSE AGREEMENT REQUIRED TO PLAY. ..."

Maybe there are different versions of this game in different geographic regions with different DRM. But for my NA location, the above warning is what I have to contend with.
At any rate, I am not asking for anything....I am simply providing observations and comments.

well perhaps you might have thought about the probability that the manual was printed well ahead of the disks being pressed, and at that time they were 'promoting' the reactivation every 10 days thing (which they then retracted) ?

[redangle2006]

For all who don´t know how securom and the authentification works. Read the FAQ at the official site.

OK i will help you:

Q: What is the difference between the old PC disc authentication solution and the new online model?

A: Two things have changed:

• First, authentication of discs has now gone from the physical format to the online format, freeing the need for consumers to have a disc in the drive at all times.

• Second, with online authentication consumers now connect to the Internet the first time the game is launched and are required only to reconnect if they are downloading new game content.

Q: Will EA or BioWare take any personal information from my computer during an authentication?

A: Absolutely not. We do not take any personal information from your computer. The system simply verifies that a valid CD key has been provided and assigns that activation to that PC.

Q: What happens when I’ve reached the maximum # of computers for my game and I need more, say due to theft of computer, computer crashes, etc?

A: EA customer service is on hand to supply any additional authorizations that are warranted. This will be done on a case-by-case basis by contacting customer support.

Q: Why are BioWare and EA implementing this new authentication process?

A: This serves to protect our software from piracy. It has the added benefit of allowing consumers to activate the game on multiple machines without needing the DVD in the drive when playing the game.

Q: Did BioWare and EA change their mind on requiring that the game be re-authorized every 10 days?

A: BioWare has always listened very closely to its fans and we made this decision to ensure we are delivering the best possible experience to them. To all the fans including our many friends in the armed services and internationally who expressed concerns that they would not be able re-authenticate as often as required, EA and BioWare want you to know that your feedback is important to us.

Q: If the game isn’t going to require an authentication every 10 days, will it ever require re-authentication?

A: Only if the player chooses to download new game content.

You can read that you don´t need a constant internet connection and what you must do when you have installed the game 3 times.

[Monster3d]

does ME has the same copy protection like bioshock ? and is there a limit on how often you will be able to install the game ?

[DABhand]

Originally Posted by anzial

I don't see how you would respond to 3 activation limit. Furthermore, when I talked about the longevity of GCW, all I meant is that in this fast-moving world with exponential progress in IT, failure to recognize the trend that PC games are moving away from CDs to online delivery will ultimately spell doom to GCW, if it chooses to stick to catering to the owners of the increasingly obsolete tech. In other words, PC game developers will no longer use CD check at all (for example, there's no protection on ME DVD, I've checked myself - made a copy and installed the game off it w/o any issues), so online check becomes the ONLY source of validation, as CD-check was in the past - hence my parallel.

Since serial is the only source of authenticity, it may cause loads of grief if it's ever compromised due to craptastic online/phone support - if u ever used that, u'd know u want to stay away from that. Thus, as far as I am concerned, maybe the risk of duplicate serial is low, even very low, but it's still unacceptable - I don't want to waste my time proving my innocence, esp. if it does happen, tech support will stick to ur logic - that duplication impossible and blame me for the leak, and will NOT issue me another key. Read the forums at Bioware if you don't believe me - that's the policy they adopted. So the problem is not proving that that particular serial is mine but that I didn't post it somewhere for everyone to use. However minuscule is this chance, this sort of policy is unacceptable for a paying customer like me. I want access to a fix that will allow me, rightful owner of the software, to continue to use in the case when the developer fails to insure the same.

Finally, I suggest you to refrain from further patronizing me. You can't know what I do know and what I don't, and neither do I claim that I know better than you.

I wasnt patronising you, I was responding to what you previously said.

Also you did say Online Authentication is the same as CD-checks to which I replied that its not.

Like I said you have been listening to others who are very negative in their way of thinking. And you have adopted this.

So you have a 3 install limit, that is because its to stop someone from giving the game out to friends and they install also, so after 3rd install it would be easy to extend it. They say this if you read your game info.

Online delivery? Where the hell did that come from? Just because the game checks online doesnt mean every game in the future will be downloadable only.

It wont spell doom for GCW just because GCW doesnt support online authentication work arounds, now think about it if a crack is used to get around the 3 install limits etc you think this is good? No it does support piracy more than the legit user this is why GCW wont support it.

And as I said, the only limit is the install limit, the rest is easy and you should be able to play no problem.

[TippeX]

there were 2 serials tho, right?
1 to install the game (standard ea one - mass_effect_code.exe)
and
2. the actual activation key..

while the crack does remove the activation (which is why it was removed), the game can still check but it'd have to check with using the securom code, which is effectively null and void for this instance, so it can't really check.. the fact you can't quick save is definately an indication that the crack is bad.. on mine i could practically save anywhere (though, truth be told, i haven't played that much due to (as you say) real world commitments) , might get some time over the weekend hopefully...

what you could do (if you have time) is to see if you can quick save when using the uncracked exe, and your legit serial, then you'll know 100% if things are bad or not.. for me, im not willing to take the risk... activation was painless and im not really willing to risk save game / data corruption by testing a crack that lots of people claim is bad

[nando2002]

After reading a lot of info here and there about this game protection I conclude that:
After initial activation (after installation) of the game you no longer need to re-activate it UNLESS you download new game content.
sometimes it's hard to explain this bold part to some people.

[BarryB]

I just got my UK copy today while on a trip to ASDA and it's on 2 x DVD9 discs, Disc 1 contains English and Spanish while Disc 2 contains French, German and Italian languages.

Installation took a while but Activation was quick and painless, and part of my serial code had the letters DRM in it

In fact, activation was just a question of letting it connect to the internet and then the game loads like any other, so I can't see why people need be concerned as I don't need the disc in the drive to play either!

Now I need to play it for while!

[DABhand]

Yep can confirm that what Barry Said.

Was easy activation took less than a second and was playing, unfortunately it has little crashes here and there while in cutscenes and talking to NPC's.

But loving the game