Over a week has passed since Mass Effect released for the PC. Although we at Big Download think it's the best version of Mass Effect compared to the Xbox 360 release, many gamers would steer clear of the game due to its restrictive copy protection that only allows a maximum of three installations. PC gaming and annoying copy protection are practically synonymous, ranging from long alphanumeric CD keys to online authentication. Then there are more extreme cases like the whole StarForce controversy, where the copy protection software allegedly damaged computer systems. Mass Effect's copy protection falls just over the line of extremity. It's a feature that has no bearing on actual gameplay but severely impacts the overall user experience. Why? Sound-off after the jump.
The Situation
On May 6, 2008 BioWare announced that it would be using SecuROM software for digital rights management (DRM) on the PC release of Mass Effect. The original plan required the software to make 10-day check-ins with the the security server to make sure the game was legitimate, otherwise the game would stop working. Additionally, the game was limited to a maximum of three installations. Public outcry and harsh criticism led the company to revise its DRM policy and announced on May 9 that the 10-day check-in would be removed. The DRM software would only contact security servers upon first launch of the game and when users download additional content like the Bring Down the Sky mission pack. Removing the periodic security check came with the added benefit of being able to run Mass Effect without the disc, thereby letting users play whenever they wished without any hassle. However, the three installation policy remained unchanged. Users who require more than three installations will have to contact EA's customer support and explain their situation in order to get installs added. Furthermore, unspecified computer upgrades could potentially trigger the DRM software, making it think that the game is installed on a new system. Additional installs may be "returned" to users after an unspecified period of time, but this feature remains unconfirmed.
Although the revised DRM policy (along with the pre-sale price reduction) persuaded many to purchase the game, groups of people remained vehemently opposed to the three installation limit. Some actively avoid the PC release specifically because of the DRM limitations and list the copy protection as one of the game's major failings. BioWare and publisher EA stated that if the security servers were to ever shut down for any reason that a patch would be released to remove the DRM software, but didn't stipulate anything in writing.
Our Experience
Installing Mass Effect was a completely painless experience. A warning message popped up upon running the game for the first time, and the online security check happened invisibly and quickly, so there was absolutely no hassle in verifying the legitimacy of our copy and running the game. We soon forgot the security check occurred as we sat back and played, absorbed into the world of Mass Effect. The DRM software has absolutely no impact on the game itself or how it plays and performs, nor did we run into any issues related to the copy protection. Playing completely off the hard drive without being bothered to swap out discs was a huge bonus. Therefore, it would be very unlikely for us to even bring up the topic of DRM when discussing our experience playing Mass Effect on the PC.
We admit that we installed the game twice to see if there were any stability or performance differences when running between Windows XP and Vista. So we burned up two installations under legitimate circumstances, leaving us with one left. That last installation is like having an ax sway over our heads, giving us one more chance to play before it's game over for good. Anyone else that dual boots between Vista and XP would also be likely to find themselves in the same situation. Since Windows requires a new authentication whenever a critical piece of hardware such as the CPU or video card is replaced, we can imagine the game doing the same. Taking into account the likelihood of one or both components being replaced within the next few years, not to mention having to reinstall Windows for a long list of reasons, the chances of us using up our last install within a couple of months is pretty high. Let's not forget that the game, among other requirements, takes up 12 GB of hard drive space. We'll concede that high capacity hard drives are super cheap, but that's no reason to leave a giant single player game sitting around unplayed for fear of running into DRM issues down the road.
The Bottom Line
Nobody likes being told what they're allowed to do with a game after buying it. The three install rule is excessive, especially considering how unstable PC gaming can be and the fact that the game takes up so much hard drive space. Uninstalling games and reinstalling them later after putting in new upgrades or when additional content releases is a common practice, along with digging old games out of a box and playing for nostalgia. We don't have any experience contacting EA's technical support, but even the smoothest process is an extra hassle that severely undermines the long-term user experience. Although we enjoyed playing Mass Effect, we would have a hard time recommending the game to anyone who doesn't already know about its DRM. It would be like talking them into getting a nice car that we knew would crap out after three tune-ups. Although we continue to enjoy playing Mass Effect and don't regard its DRM as part of the gameplay, the copy protection isn't something that can be easily overlooked when someone asks whether or not they should pick it up.
On the other hand, piracy is cited as one of the top reasons why developers are pulling away from PC gaming and heading over to consoles. Perhaps something extreme is needed, but in this case, the cure looks like it's as bad as the disease. While BioShock has very similar DRM and became a big seller, at least it allowed far more installations and the promise that the DRM could be someday removed. EA and BioWare could make the same promise or at least extend the number of allowable installs, but it's hard to imagine how much of an impact a move like that would have now. With all things taken into consideration, Mass Effect's copy protection ruins the user experience, even though it technically has nothing to do with the game. No one wants to keep a game installed because they feel like there's a gun held to their head. We'd love to convince more people into playing Mass Effect on the PC, since we think it's better than the console release, but it's held back by an extreme copy protection that only hurts legitimate users.
Sound-off! What do you think of Mass Effect's DRM? How do you think EA/BioWare should protect their game and combat piracy?
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I think that the 3 install limit is asinine, but I guess I agree that there is very little else that can stop hackers. I don't want good games going to consoles... if this will keep them on PC format, I guess it can't be 100% bad of a policy (but like... maybe 5 installs??) Posted at 11:10AM on Jun 6th 2008 by lathe