The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena

[MajorHavoc]

The protection on the PC version of The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena is an activation system with online authentication required the first time you install the game on a machine. The activation code lets you install the game on up to 3 machines, with an unlimited number of installs on each assuming that you don’t change any major hardware in your PC or re-install your operating system.

If you reach the maximum number of installations you can contact the Atari hotline and if it’s a legitimate request you can get a new activation code.

We implement this protection in an effort to avoid early piracy.

[terroradagio]

Thats fine and dandy, and I am all for preventing piracy, but you could have taken a different, less annoying approach. Look at what EA did. They allow you to revoke your install if you want. I would hope after the game has been out, you release a personal revoke tool like EA or just remove the protection all together.

What would happen if ATARI went out of business too? God forbid. How would the game be activated by future users and how would existing users who run out of their 3 install limit be able to get more?

This is an annoying issue for me, because I am currently beta testing Windows 7. I have activated Riddick on my current system already. Once the Release Candiate comes out, that will be another activation. And then once the final version comes out and I install it, that is another activation. So in the course of only a few months, I'll be out and have to call for more. And what if the person on the phone doesn't believe me? What do I do then? What are the requirements for them to go through to see you are a legal user?

As far as I'm concerned, ATARI is liable for this issue legally, as I bought a full licensed game. Not a rental. There is no warning on the PC box or within the game instructions informing you of such restrictions.

The irony is, this extreme approach to prevent piracy is actually going to prevent sales and possibily fuel legal action.

Just read the many annoyed gamers comments:
http://www.yougamers.com/news/23682_rid … s_surface/
http://ve3d.ign.com/articles/news/46050 … -Youre-Out
http://www.bluesnews.com/cgi-bin/boa...threadid=97306
http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/58088
http://worthplaying.com/article.php?sid=61570
http://kotaku.com/5206083/the-chroni...-install-limit
http://www.incgamers.com/News/15907/...MIssuesAlready
http://www.destructoid.com/drm-drama...a-128263.phtml
http://elitebastards.com/cms/
http://www.reddit.com/r/technology/c..._ataris_about/
http://www.amazon.com/Chronicles-Riddic … B001L18SBK

[markt50]

lol, just once I'd love for a games company to be honest and just come out and say why they really do this. i.e. 'We limited activations to mess with the second hand market'. We all know this has got nothing to do with stopping piracy. Infact all it does is make that issue worse, not that I'm advocating it, I would rather just go without the game.

I am so frustrated with the PC games publishers right now and all this 'limited activation' rubbish. Do you not see that you are only punishing legitimate customers! I like to upgrade my machine often, I'm always buying new graphics cards, CPU's, motherboards, reinstalling OS's etc. Why the heck should I have to ring some expensive and most likely overseas phone number just to play a game I've purchased. It is beyond pathetic. All we hear about at the minute from many publishers is how piracy is hurting them and how sales are down etc, well boo hoo, you guys only have yourselves to blame when you start including this kind of rubbish with your games.

Have you really learned nothing from Spore!, you know, that tiny little game that caused a little stir on the net because of the SecuROM and limited activation issues, you do know it went on to become the most pirated game of 2008 right?:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7772962.stm

You did see what happened on Amazon with SPORE right ? Have you seen the customer reviews and 1 star rating on Amazon for this game ? Oh, and it looks like EA may just have finally started listening to it's customers as well, seeing as how they have dropped this type of DRM for The Sims 3:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7972677.stm

So, when are Atari going to start learning from these kind of mistakes ? I just cannot believe this was ever allowed into the game, I mean which genious is responsible for this and how did they not see the backlash coming ? oh yeah, I won't be buying this game despite really looking forward to it, at least not until the limited activations are removed.

[thejtrain]

While I, for one, appreciate very much a post by an Atari spokesman, frankly I think it's too little, too late. What would have been helpful and valuable for your potential customers, many of whom were waiting with their $50 to buy your game on Day One (Riddick was in my Shopping Cart just waiting for me to click Checkout), was to have posted an answer to my very calmly-asked question about DRM, in a thread I started on 2/17/09 and bumped just about every week to keep it on the first page. We the community gave Atari every opportunity to have a rational conversation about the DRM decision before the release date, but were never taken up on the idea. Instead, the details of the DRM mechanic had to be leaked out by a magazine review a week before release.

This is the kind of inaction, the ignoring of potential paying customers, that will continue to earn the very opposite of Goodwill (and as any first-year business student knows, Goodwill of a company's customers is a near-tangible and almost-measurable commodity).

Originally Posted by MajorHavoc

If you reach the maximum number of installations you can contact the Atari hotline and if it’s a legitimate request you can get a new activation code.

The elephant in the room here is, of course, how does Atari go about determining what a "legitimate request" is? What process does Atari go through to make a "pirate / not a pirate" decision when someone calls? Will it be as nebulous and prone to abuse & subjective assessment as the TSA's No-Fly List? Is it the total number of activations requested for that particular serialized disc? If so, what's the "real" maximum number that a paying customer can expect to obtain before getting refused? 10? 25? 100? A little transparency for your paying customers would go a LONG way towards earning some of that Goodwill.

Originally Posted by MajorHavoc

We implement this protection in an effort to avoid early piracy.

With all due respect (and hopefully by now you believe me when I say that, seeing as how I'm not prone to throwing out curse words and exclamation points), do you really believe that this kind of measure is at all effective at thwarting piracy? I believe piracy is quite unethical so I do not participate in the slightest, but I'm no dummy - there were torrents available for Assault on Dark Athena yesterday. Since the overwhelming majority of people who play pirated copies are just downloading the torrents that are cracked & provided by the actual pirates, the DRM is quite clearly only a hindrance to one person in the entire pirate ecosystem: the original pirate who cracks the game. The legion of people who are right now downloading a torrent of it will never encounter the DRM in any way, shape or form. So forgive the blunt assertion, but if you truly believe that this type of DRM hinders piracy, you are misguided and misinformed.

That said, I'm only left to wonder what the true purpose of this DRM mechanic really is, since it's clearly supremely ineffective in thwarting piracy. If it's no more than an action taken by the game's producers in an effort to placate Atari's C-level executives, Board members and shareholders, who quite likely have even less understanding of the real world of software and software piracy and are just demanding that "something be done about that piracy business", then please just say so and call it a day. Some of us in the corporate world might just be inclined to cut the game's producers some slack if that were the case - we know what it's like to deal with clueless upper management.

Or, is it possibly an effort to curtail the secondhand market, which has thrived for as long as there's been PC software to resell, and is still thriving for those titles not bound by overly-restrictive DRM? It would be great to have a clear statement by Atari on its view of the used market. We, your potential paying customers, would welcome the opportunity for a dialogue on the subject. We're not the innovative types who create unique Intellectual Property for a living, so I for one would positively leap at the chance to engage someone who does in a discussion regarding the difference in principle between different types of media content (games, books, movies, music, etc.) and the relationships that exist between the creators/publishers and the consumers of the content, especially in light of the doctrines (since codified into law) of First-Sale and Fair-Use.

Or is the real reason for this DRM decision something beyond my ken, that I haven't thought of yet? I crave understanding, for PC games are a passion of mine and I would prefer to see a return to prominence for them rather than to see them forsaken more and more for consoles.

MajorHavoc, I know not whether you'll be back to read any of these responses, but if you do, hopefully this one will stick out as an island of reasonable, rational inquiry in what may very well become a raging sea of hostility.

Respectfully,
Jason Trippet
San Antonio, TX
34 years old, father of two, gainfully employed, and NOT a pirate

[Jollyrigger]

I have confirmed these changes on my blog here:http://drmnewsbits.blogspot.com/

also the source within PC Gamer admitted to a mistake that could not be fixed before the May 2009 issue went to press.

-Jollyrigger

[Falkentyne]

MajorHavoc:

With all due respect, I know you weren't responsible for this DRM, but you do realize this does NOT combat piracy in the least, right?

There's already a cracked version out. And if I do buy this game, I *will* use the cracked executable. I'm a game buyer, NOT a game renter, and I don't appreciate companies trying to take control of my computer.

At least Sacred 2 has a revoke tool, and I didn't even buy THAT game, as I dont support this sort of DRM. Isn't STEAM sufficient? Are companies too lazy to remove their restrictive, draconian, anti customer DRM when they release games through Steam? ...

But I'm getting way off track now....

Oh, and 1 more thing:
What about the VETERAN hardware enthuiasts (the ones SUPPORTED by most of the mainboard AND cpu manufacturers) that change CPU's and motherboards almost as often as they change their socks? Yes, the ones who bench with LN2, Dice, Phase, etc, or system reviewers?

You aren't hurting the pirates at all here...
*edit*:
Even if you plan on removing the DRM (This is MANDATORY, otherwise, what happens if Atari goes out of business? There's a HORRIBLE recession going on--look at how many game studios/MMORPG's/companies have already closed!), that only helps people who buy late/bargain bin, or if Atari is even around to remove it.

[Retorrent]

It really saddens me that a publisher like this would put such a form of DRM claiming that it stops early piracy when if fact it did nothing but hinder the pirates for maybe an hour of so. But congrats you guys made your self some real negative publicity on a major gaming site Kotaku feel free to scroll down and read some of the many readers of this site comments and how they feel about your attempts to "stop piracy". Here is a link for you if you would like to read it

http://kotaku.com/5206083/the-chroni...-install-limit

each negitive comment can be counted as a sale lost.

[Icaniam]

Originally Posted by MajorHavoc

We implement this protection in an effort to avoid early piracy.

Is Atari saying that after avoiding early piracy that this protection will be UNimplemented? What is your timeframe for when early piracy has ended?

[terroradagio]

Originally Posted by Icaniam

Is Atari saying that after avoiding early piracy that this protection will be UNimplemented? What is your timeframe for when early piracy has ended?

Well we probably won't know since ATARI can't communicate anything right.

[Icaniam]

Originally Posted by terroradagio

Well we probably won't know since ATARI can't communicate anything right.

Well, I sure hope they communicated correctly and after they avoid the EARLY PIRACY they follow up and remove the DRM.

[Retorrent]

Just as an update looks like the Pc version of the game is getting slammed on the reviews on amazon.com over the DRM Issue looks like its going to be like Spore all over again.

http://www.amazon.com/Chronicles-Rid...owViewpoints=1

[terroradagio]

History repeats itself when you are stupid.

[eparatos]

Don't believe a word, securom sucks!
I bought the game "Codename Panzers Cold War" [same DRM like "Dark Athena"] some weeks ago and I installed it on my PC. I have triple boot system [2 XP + 1 Vista] so I had to install it three times , one on each OS [same PC, same hardware]. When I started the Game for the first time on my first OS (WinXP), it connected and did the first authentication and activation. Also on my second OS (WinXP) it did the same and on the third OS (Vista) also. So, on the same PC I installed it 3 times and the game makes 3 different activations.
After some days I had a Hard Disk failure. System down. Ok, no
problem, I got a new Hard disk and I started from the beginning, i
reinstalled 3 OS and drivers and programs and games…
When I tried to play “Codename Panzers Cold War” I did not start! And i got the following message: “your serial number is expired”. Securom says something about 3 different PC, 3 different kind of hardware etc.
I was writing 3 emails to technical suport and nobody cares. I was spend my money and i can't play the game. Now, the only way is to go for charge. Bye-bye Atari, see you in the court.

[Sblade]

Hello Mr. Havoc. Good to see an Administrator after 6 months+ without one.

Please tell those wise business men that they are outdated. Electronic Arts: World´s biggest supporter of Securom has dropped it because of the lawsuits

Yep, I know Dark Athena uses Tages, the main point I wanna stand is that EA dropped the activation and uses disck check and serial code ONLY.

http://bbs.thesims2.ea.com/community...em.127,item.23

Ubisoft has dropped DRM in their latest games. ENDWAR, Prince of Persia, etc.

Atari, don´t blame anyone but yourself if you get stunk into the past and get sued, just like EA was.

You haven´t god enough with 3+ years of Securom in NWN 2?

Time for an update patch for YOU Atari. You are running an outdated version of business.

[Sblade]

Originally Posted by eparatos

Don't believe a word, securom sucks!

Dark Athena uses TAGES

[GreenieGenie]

I understand why any company wants a DRM in place to protect their intellectual property, but I think it's unacceptable that it uses such harsh measures to stop pirates, which more often than not — or always — fail and don't stop piracy.

TAGES isn't SecuROM, but the way it is implemented here makes people think it has SecuROM. If the game's box disclosed what the DRM was and the limitations to the consumer, people wouldn't be screaming 'SecuROM!' everywhere, and having people associating the game with the negative connotations of SecuROM. But the connotations are there: the game uses TAGES and those nasty extras which everyone is picky about, like me too.

I've only been against SecuROM since last May, when EA announced Mass Effect was going to have limited activations and 10-day authentication. Now call me slow to jump on the bandwagon there, as I didn't know much about it before (and joined a group and website that do more activism against it (one of our members even went to the FTC's DRM Town Hall)). Some people on the Atari fora have been dealing with it for far longer than I have. By the way, the very group I'm involved with is ReclaimYourGame and its forum. We all pay for our games, just so long as they don't have SecuROM. You'll see why we hate SecuROM by going to our website, but we also hate other intrusive DRMs.

Your customers, Atari, have been having a go at you for AGES about it, asking you to drop SecuROM. Now this game really takes the cake and slaps these customers in the face, by not only having another fairly harsh implementation of DRM by it being rentware too! Atari, have you not been informed with what happened when Spore came out, or such other highly-invasive SecuROM-infected games? Has anyone who made the decision for this more invasive version of TAGES at Atari ever been aware of the no less than four or five lawsuits that EA are having to face about their DRM used not being disclosed on the box (and being destructive in many instances)?

This game says they haven't. This game also is now an EASY target for a lawsuit now, as supposedly there is NO MENTION of any activation limits on the box you buy. If there is any mention in the EULA that you need to agree to in order to install the game, it's TOO LATE! The customer has opened the box and in many cases cannot even return the game back. Non-disclosure was a HUGE part of the lawsuits against EA, and very recently they have learnt from the lawsuits and their community. The first lawsuit came only a few weeks after Spore's release. The boxes of their new releases (such as Burnout paradise) now say, albeit in small print, that the game uses copy protection technology by Sony DADC. Sadly, that's it. If I could get my way, any game with activation limits or online authentication would have huge yellow circles of shame making that clear, on the front of the box, and mentioning what DRM is used.

Again, I understand why a company needs to protect their games from piracy, as a customer. However, every man and his dog can easily do a Google search and find an illegal copy within minutes. The DRM hasn't done its purpose here. The game is most likely already pirated and being file-shared, while the LEGALLY-PAYING customer gets bitten and has to endure this HORRID DRM for the rest of its product life. I hope everyone at Atari realise that if a game has been successfully been cracked, it is OVER as the DRM hasn't done its job. The pirate can then share their illegal copy over the internet and no-one else needs to crack it; they just share it and it gets spread all over file-sharing sites. PURPOSE DEFEATED. The buyer is the ONLY person who suffers.

I, for one, am NOT WEAK as if something goes against my principles, I'll choose to live without! I waited for EA's Spore for years, but lost so much interest with it because of SecuROM in it and the bad user reviews (not just about the DRM) that said the gameplay was poor. I chose not to buy it and don't even want to touch an illegal copy either. For I am a customer!

You haven't a clue how rich I am now for choosing to skip games which have invasive DRM. I must have saved ~£600 (at least 25 games at RRP) in not buying games with harsh DRM, as you can tell in this post I dearly hate it (for being a rubbish DRM and the activation limits and stuff are only extras to me!). I have some Atari games, such as RCT3 and expansions and some Driver games (before I was informed about the DRM). The SecuROM-infected ones (all of those games) will now just gather dust on my shelf unless SecuROM is officially patched out mystically, but I can't count on that! Any other games I buy will not have an intrusive DRM, as I will now do this research before I buy one. You know, it's sad that myself and other people have to do that. Ten years ago — maybe even four or five years ago — I never really worried as I didn't even think about it.

I hope Atari learn from EA and other companies that use invasive DRMs. EA are disclosing the DRM they use on their boxes, are issuing revoke tools and say they're not putting SecuROM in The Sims 3 (only one game, that's a start); Ubisoft are audacious for releasing many recent titles of theirs with NO DRM whatsoever (although Wheelman has SecuROM) and are issuing patches for some games that remove SecuROM; THQ have released some patches that remove SecuROM. You should have learnt from their games that had SecuROM. SEVEN SecuROM-infected titles were in the list of 2008's ten most pirated games, and Spore was even set to become the most-pirated in history because everyone was so enraged with the DRM implementation.

Please learn that without PAYING CUSTOMERS, Atari, you are NOTHING. If you dare upset consumers, they WILL make it known, like they are NOW (and have been for even longer: NWN2, remember the petitions?)! The customers are what could make you a household name or one that falls into oblivion for a disgraceful attitude (and that could be all that's remembered). Finally, also remember that PIRATES will NOT BUY your games, EVER! You are only training more pirates — ones that were once customers! Leave the innocent people alone, Atari! Do what is right and apologise to the people having problems and learn!

Wow, this message went on longer than I had originally planned!

[Linux-user]

Originally Posted by GreenieGenie

Wow, this message went on longer than I had originally planned!

Well, it's a long message, but I agree with everything you said. Very good post.

[WheelsOfC]

I'm not much of a gamer, and I'm not anything in the way of a software pirate. But I've learned a lot by watching the controversy over the EA game Spore and its similar DRM scheme. Perhaps I can break it down so that even CEOs and middle management types can understand it:

The only thing this guarantees is that more people will look for a cracked version which isn't gimped by these restrictions, a version that someone can install on any computer they own and make any number of hardware changes or clean OS installs, without being forced to beg for more authorized installs just for the privilege of "renting" this title.

In other words, this decision has ensured that piracy of the game will increase, and as those illegal copies become more popular that neither Starbreeze nor Atari will see a penny from them. This will hurt more than it helps your companies.

[Tersidre]

to everyone here

www.onlive.com


thats all im going to say about any of this.

[Sblade]

Originally Posted by Tersidre

to everyone here

www.onlive.com


thats all im going to say about any of this.

Because you can´t address my points, typical.

Go spam some other forum, thank you

[terroradagio]

Yeah, we're suppose to listen to him because he apparently is a cop. Piss off and go taser someone then Tersidre. Thats what you cops like doing.

[Sblade]

Originally Posted by TheSkipper

As the publisher, and to protect against theft and piracy, they have EVERY right.

Why don't you guys do dxdiags and compare systems against game requirements instead of just jumping the publisher?
And why attack the publisher, and not the game dev who got paid to make it? Instead of making problems, work together to solve them.
Closed.

Why you don´t think twice before posting? I put in red your word. EVERY right. That means they can put whichever additional software they want without notification in order to protect their product.

It doesn´t matter if this software prevents legitimate buyers from running their product, it doesn´t matter if bad coded RING0 processes causes end-users corrupts windows files, leaves open ports, interferes with legitimate antivirus and firewalls.... (I´m speaking of Securom yeah, but how long until TAGES does the same screw ups?)

It doesn´t matter. Atari has EVERY right.

Now I´ll copy/paste some sentences from the Federal Trade Commission Chat, if you are an higher authority than these meeting please show your credentials.


Session 3

DRM applications must not only be nonintrusive in the way they operate from rendering the media experience it is but also must be transparent in the way they present access to the media

Also I´ll remain you some of the complaints that are STILL MOVING FORWARD in EA lawsuit.

the inclusion of undisclosed, secretly installed DRM protection measures with a program that was freely distributed constitutes a major violation of computer owners' absolute right to control what does and what does not get loaded onto their computers

Session 4

That said -- I've been monitoring the blogs today, and people are thinking network confusing transparency with
something being invisible and not disclosed, and I don't think that's the case. Rick is saying if something is not
overly burdensome to you, you don’t notice that it’s there, that’s even better for the consumer, but at the same time it has to be disclosed. I don't think that we're sanctioning something being invisible and confusing that with being transparent. I wanted to clarify that.

Has Atari disclosed the DRM implementation? no? You will follow EA.

NOTE: Don´t try funny things, this post is screenied and logged

[terroradagio]

Well done, Sblade. It just amazes me people would attempt to defend this. The fact it is in court already enhances our point.

[capable heart]

Well, I registered just to show my disapproval with the DRM scheme use in the new Riddick game.

Releasing this kind of DRM without a Deauthorization / Revoke Tool is absolutely unacceptable, and unprofessional to the point of being suspicious.

A CD key with disc check method would be just as effective at stopping early piracy and casual (ie, computer illiterate) game pirates / copiers. This type of DRM with no revoke tool 100% only affects legitimate customers.

Starbreeze is an excellent developer and it is sad to see this (presumably Atari's) decision deliberately sabotaging the success of their game.

Congratulations, Atari. You've just shot your own game in the foot -- ON PURPOSE. I guess only time will tell, whether it was with a howitzer, or only a mere shotgun.

The sheer incompetence shown by the retailer specific exclusive multiplayer maps, shows how they don't care about this game. All copies of the game should get the same maps--otherwise all you're doing is sabotaging and dividing up the already minuscule player base.

[Xshinobi]

Originally Posted by MajorHavoc

The protection on the PC version of The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena is an activation system with online authentication required the first time you install the game on a machine. The activation code lets you install the game on up to 3 machines, with an unlimited number of installs on each assuming that you don’t change any major hardware in your PC or re-install your operating system.

If you reach the maximum number of installations you can contact the Atari hotline and if it’s a legitimate request you can get a new activation code.

We implement this protection in an effort to avoid early piracy.

Why didn't the fools at Atari include a revoke tool. And seeing as you lose an install if you reinstall your OS. God forbid I need to reinstall windows or buy a new HDD. This has got to be the stupidest form of DRM ever.

And let me quote the idiots at Atari:

"The activation code lets you install the game on up to 3 machines, with an unlimited number of installs on each assuming that you don't change any major hardware in your PC or re-install your operating system."

-An Atari representative

YEAH... because we all know that PC gamers never reinstall their OS or do "major" hardware upgrades. And what's a 'major' upgrade by the way? RAM increase? Video card upgrade? New HDD?

And hell this is for the lifetime of the game. So in Atari's mind you should never have to upgrade or install your OS in your lifetime. To release a game with only 3 installs and no revoke tool in 2009...........


Also:
"We implement this protection in an effort to avoid early piracy".........the game was leaked before release you idiots. WTF are you protecting? You are only treating the people that paid for the game like pirates.

[JimBeamBlack]

I give this DRM crap about 1 more year , why? Because the very definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again KNOWING it is going to fail but yet at the same time...each time expecting a different outcome.

I have NEVER pirated a game , I believe in supporting those who give me the products I want/like/need , but yet because of THIS DRM bull**** once again some ******* is now enjoying a game I paid for that he/she downloaded that has already been pirated because he/she did not want to be party to the DRM I , as a paying supporting customer , have just bought into.

Irony...not just the way my water tastes....

[GreenieGenie]

You know, it's a shame as I would have bought the game to play it and support the developers, but I don't think it's even worth that now. Do Starbreeze even care about this game having the DRM limitations that it does? Their official forum tells me they don't. The only admin response I've seen from them there was something similar to: 'no, the game isn't cracked yet'. Wow. Is that all Starbreeze care about, and not their customers? That was in response to people who were enraged with this DRM implementation and Starbreeze do nothing else to say about it. I doubt the DRM decision was that of Starbreeze, but all I see from them is that they don't care about it.

[Nyghtfall]

I'm 37, married, child-free by choice, work full time and own my own home. I've been a PC gamer for 20 years now, and am a huge fan of FPS's. More importantly, I have never pirated software.

Having said that, I was looking forward to ordering a copy of Dark Athena, but the reviews I've read have given me second thoughts. I'm especially sorry to write that, having just learned about the DRM method used to protect the game from piracy, I have decided not to buy it after all. I understand a crack is probably available by now, but that's beside the point. I don't pirate software. Period.

My own thoughts on the issue are already mirrored by others in this thread, so I won't elaborate on mine, but I do have one question for Atari and any other publishers reading this thread, who choose to implement such strict measures in an effort to thwart piracy:

How do you plan to support games with limited activations if, say, 10 years from now, someone wants to enjoy a trip down memory lane and play another round of their favorite game? Can you guarantee that the same department you've created to provide re-activation support will be available?

To cite an example, I recently purchased a used copy of Return to Castle Wolfenstein from Amazon.com, for $10 (I lost my old copy - the one I bought from Activision - years ago). I'm playing it again in anticipation of the new Wolfenstein game currently being developed. Suffice it to say, it's brought back many very fond memories; and thanks to the absence of DRM, I'm able to enjoy it once again.

I urge you to modify your DRM methods to remove activation limits. You're hurting no one but honest consumers like myself, who want nothing more than to help support you by buying your games.

Thank you.

[terroradagio]

Originally Posted by Nyghtfall

I'm 37, married, child-free by choice, work full time and own my own home. I've been a PC gamer for 20 years now, and am a huge fan of FPS's. More importantly, I have never pirated software.

Having said that, I was looking forward to ordering a copy of Dark Athena, but the reviews I've read have given me second thoughts. I'm especially sorry to write that, having just learned about the DRM method used to protect the game from piracy, I have decided not to buy it after all. I understand a crack is probably available by now, but that's beside the point. I don't pirate software. Period.

My own thoughts on the issue are already mirrored by others in this thread, so I won't elaborate on mine, but I do have one question for Atari and any other publishers reading this thread, who choose to implement such strict measures in an effort to thwart piracy:

How do you plan to support games with limited activations if, say, 10 years from now, someone wants to enjoy a trip down memory lane and play another round of their favorite game? Can you guarantee that the same department you've created to provide re-activation support will be available?

To cite an example, I recently purchased a used copy of Return to Castle Wolfenstein from Amazon.com, for $10 (I lost my old copy - the one I bought from Activision - years ago). I'm playing it again in anticipation of the new Wolfenstein game currently being developed. Suffice it to say, it's brought back many very fond memories; and thanks to the absence of DRM, I'm able to enjoy it once again.

I urge you to modify your DRM methods to remove activation limits. You're hurting no one but honest consumers like myself, who want nothing more than to help support you by buying your games.

Thank you.

This is the same thing I asked and got no answer too.

[markt50]

Unfortunately I think we're not going to get anywhere, at least not for this game. I guess you either decide that you can or can't put up with the copy protection and limited activations. There seems to be no desire on the part of Atari to even address our legitimate concerns or even to try and work with the community to see what kind of DRM would be acceptable. The publishers seem more interested in pointing out how kind they are by only limiting you to 3 'machines' and the Devs just seem to be hapy that there is not a working pirate version yet (Although I have to ask myself at what cost in terms of PR fallout).

I guess this is Atari's call to make, I suppose they are quite entitled to take a stance of 'This is how it is, if you don't like it then don't purchase the game'. So for now I guess I will just avoid Atari games until such time as they decide to implement less Draconian DRM.

This last year or two has been a disaster for me with regards to PC gaming, so far I've had to boycott: Bioshock, Mass Effect, Spore, Alone in the dark 4 and a few others that have now slipped my mind It's a crying shame when I find that before purchasing any PC game I have to go to the forums and then research what DRM or Copy Protection it comes with. And to be clear, I have no objection whatsoever to DRM or Copy Protection so long as it does not limit me on how many times I can install it on my PC regadless of the amount of hardware changes I make.

I think I'm on the verge of just giving up on PC gaming altogether. I will not resort to Piracy, but equally I will not allow a games company to dictate how many times I can install a game, or expect me to have to call them to justify a hardware upgrade and beg for further unlocks. It's just not acceptable and I'd rather give up on gaming altogether tbh.