Transgaming to use SecuROM for Cider games
As if Mac gaming needed more problems getting off the ground. Transgaming has proudly announced that in the future, their games will include Sony's SecuROM digital rights management software. They don't mention which games will be getting the extremely restrictive DRM (that some folks have compared to malware), but we're guessing all of them, which means the Mac version of Spore will be on that list, as well as those upcoming Ubisoft titles, and anything else produced with the Cider technology.Bummer. Why is it a bummer? Because all the evidence we can see actually shows that DRM hurts sales. While Transgaming is obviously proud of this decision, claiming that SecuROM will help them prevent piracy and unauthorized copying, most of the evidence shows that piracy will happen in spite of, and sometimes even because of restrictive DRM setups like Sony's. Transgaming is making a serious mistake here -- they want to protect their games, which is fine. But choosing DRM, especially SecuROM, as a way to do it is a mistake. It'll cause more problems for the company and their users before it prevents piracy in the way they think it will.
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As if Mac gaming needed more problems getting off the ground. Transgaming has proudly announced that in the future, their games will...
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Most people have the whole idea of SecuRom and the x amount of activations all wrong.
It's not just a simple DRM, it installs separately to the game without your knowledge...if you un-install the game...it DOESN'T un-install the SecuRom, which makes it a rootkit (malware), so if you don't know this, you will think it's gone because it hides in "hidden folders" and in your "Registry", not to mention disabling of some AV's ,the damage it does to some PC hardware, and stops you from being able to use legal software that SecuRom has been programmed to black band. EA deserves to be sued over this issue alone.
The other issue I have with this type of Draconian DRM is that when you can't afford the internet anymore, you can no longer Play a Game you Paid for, and that is wrong...most games aren't played over the Net so why do we have to be connected to it. ( It's to Spy on PC users, that's why it Phones Home with Encrypted Data.)
There is a lot bigger picture than what we're seeing here right now, this is only a baby step to the end plan. This has nothing to do with piracy, because we know that the pirates will never be stopped and it is proven once again with the amount of torrented copies of Spore downloaded so far in less than a month. Why is EA adamant about continuing to use SecuRom when they know its not doing what they say it was intended for and is only effecting the paying customers. I will not buy anything that is put out by EA or Sony anymore, even though I would love to buy Sims2 IKEA, Sims2 Apartment Life, Spore and Red Alert 3, but I just don't trust EA or Sony. All they have done for the last 18 months is lie through their teeth to save their neck and not a bit of concern for their paying customers.
I'm a member at Reclaim Your Game: http://www.reclaimyourgame.com/ and were dedicated to helping other gamers with their issues with SecuRom and get info out to educate the public. We also have a SecuRom Removal Instruction Walkthrough Tutorial on the site for people to use and were in the process of updating it.
So please feel free to visit our site and see for yourself.
I can understand the reasoning behind games companies using copy protection. And I didn't mind .... until I bought an Ubisoft game for the PC featuring SecuRom with it's deep down hardware hooks that clashed with a number of installed programs, most noteworthy CD/DVD authoring software. Never again.
August 23 2008 at 9:24 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyI am fine with this but I like to make images of my games so I can run them without the disc. It isn't that I don't want to damage my disc, I am just too lazy/no room to carry them around with me. I have a Macbook Pro and I like to take it with me when I am not at home and like not having to carry around discs.
August 22 2008 at 1:18 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyLike many of your I have mixed feelings, but I am glad that this DRM is only authentication, not "deep rooted" as many fear. Plus, it is an "option" for publishers using Cider... so your concerns should be relayed to the IP owners... if you have concerns. Plus, millions of games have it today, including on Macs... a lot about nothing.
August 22 2008 at 9:00 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyI just sent an email to cider@transgaming.com about this issue. I encourage you to do the same. Be polite and don't swear/yell, but do tell them why DRM will hurt sales and that you will not be purchasing any Cider-enabled games until the DMR is lifted.
August 21 2008 at 8:20 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Replywell I'm officially stealing this software now so I don't have to deal with the DRM. Maybe I'll buy the wii version and just never play it so they get paid anyways.
August 21 2008 at 7:35 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyI sent my letter announcing my decision not to purchase Spore (or any other game that uses SecuROM) to the e-mail address for Transgaming's President. It might not change their mind, but at least I tried.
president@transgaming.com
Just sent to Paul Nowasad, director of marketing:
===
Thanks! You've just saved a new Mac owner the decision of whether to buy any of your games. Stupidly restrictive DRM, like SecuROM, is nothing but a great way to lose existing and alienate potential customers.
Did I mention that you just lost me?
What on earth possessed your company to make such an asinine decision? On second thought, don't answer; I doubt I could endure the torrent of predictable bull----.
===
Remember, kids: "Trying to make bits uncopyable is like trying to make water not wet." -Bruce Schneier
All of this talk of copying the game will give them a great excuse to blame that for the problems.
Instead of just boycotting the game to show Transgaming what you think of their decision, you're showing the game industry that the fledgling Mac gaming community is no better than the piracy-riddled PC one...
I'm sorry but that's just absolutely ridiculous.
Haven't you heard? Statistically, Mac users are many many times less likely to pirate things.
However, if a company CHALLENGES me to pirate it, gets on their hands and knees and begs me to pirate it by making it easier to pirate than to buy legally, then fuck yeah, I'm going to pirate it.
Then you're a fool.
They're not challenging you to do anything, and statistics have nothing to do with it, as your reply proves. Almost every comment on this subject is someone threatening to copy a game because of DRM, instead of boycotting it.
Piracy will justify their stance, and it'll get worse.
My open letter to Transgaming can be found here: http://www.luminousnerd.com/2008/an-open-letter-to-transgaming
In it I basically explain that there is no way I'm going to buy their games if they make it harder on me to buy them than to steal them. The end of it pretty much sums up my feelings on the matter:
So, I hope you can see now, DRM is going to hurt you dramatically. And for trying to take away consumer freedoms, and putting your concerns of piracy above the will of your PAYING CUSTOMERS, your company deserves to go under.
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