How many installs do we get ? Transfer of ownership ?

[modelworks]

The game is using securom authentication server and according to them the copy is locked to the machine its authorized for.
What happens when we want to sell the game ? Or decide to install on a different machine we own ?

this is from securoms site.

With SecuROM™ ‘s Product Activation concept, Sony DADC offers software publishers the possibility to secure their content either distributed via the physical or electronic sales channel with one solution. Only legitimate customers who have purchased the product are able to unlock the program which is bound to the hardware after activation. This ensures that once activated, it cannot be transferred to another PC and therefore not being mass pirated. SecuROM™ ‘s Product Activation can be easily combined with Sony DADC’s n-CD solution. Let your end-customers register first and collect important market information prior allowing them to use your software products. See www.n-cd.com for more information.

[Joe]

WOW, I really hope that's not for real. I'd really hate to have the game locked to hardware. Guess that's another reason it's worth the super long download to hit up Steam.

[ArkhanJG]

Wow. Supposedly we were going to be able to re-active after a reinstall, but to not be allowed to install on a new PC, or upgrade hardware? That's class action territory.

If we don't get an answer to this, I'll be sending my pre-order back for a refund unopened. Steam is almost as bad with removing resale rights, but at least you can upgrade your motherboard without having to buy all the games on it again!

[ArkhanJG]

Hmm. After re-reading that quote from securerom, it could be interpreted that copying the game files to a new PC won't work, as the activation has a signature tieing *that install* to the hardware - it may still allow re-installing from scratch on new hardware - presumbly, that will depend on how many times any given key can be activated.

If it's like say, doom 3 - I've installed that a least a dozen times on half a dozen different PCs with the same key (all mine, and only one in use at a time) it's not a problem.

If it's like a windows OEM key that's tied to the motherboard it's first used on, then that's going to be very very bad.

[Joe]

Wow. Supposedly we were going to be able to re-active after a reinstall, but to not be allowed to install on a new PC, or upgrade hardware? That's class action territory.

If we don't get an answer to this, I'll be sending my pre-order back for a refund unopened. Steam is almost as bad with removing resale rights, but at least you can upgrade your motherboard without having to buy all the games on it again!

Yeah, I can't imagine any game saying that it can't be un-installed and put on another machine. I'm hoping they'll allow that sort of thing especially for all those folks who bought the special edition... otherwise that's quite upsetting to have tossed money into a disc that's just as useful as data glued to a hard-drive.

[catch]

wait, so if i get a new comp specifically 2 play this game it aint gonna work?

let me be as clear as i can abt this. i want 2 buy this game, but if we don't get some proper feedback over this VITAL issue then i may very well find myself forced 2 do something i don't want 2 do.

come on, plz tell me we've misunderstood. then again i don't hold much hope for an official reply, 2k seems pretty uninterested with pc gamers, especially when it comes 2 questions regarding activation

[Little Daddy]

brb downloading bioshock

[Super Pancake]

OK we need somebody to answer this asap. And depending on the answer I may switch to the darkside

The side of people ☺☺☺☺☺ing about internet connection.

[Super Pancake]

Somebody with the PC version can you try to install it on another PC.

[BigDiddy]

Yes, i just finished installing it on my dad's laptop, aswell as my own. They both work, both are currently installed. No need to worry, the guys at Irrational know that one install would kill the sales of their game.

[Deriaz]

My brother installed it on his laptop when he got home. I installed it on my PC when he was done. He's playing it now on his laptop. No problems so far. I haven't played it, yet, as I'm updating my drivers and everything, but he's having no problems with the game, even though it is installed to two computers.

-Deriaz

[modelworks]

There is normally a limit set by the publisher on how many times you can authorize from a new install.

Thats why I asked how many installs we get before we run into auth problems.

[Idylla]

Can anyone confirm if this copy protection exists on Steam?

If not then I know where I'll be buying my copy from

[Doom64]

Multiple questions arise from this topic. Some what stupid questions but questions none the less.

1. What happens if securom goes out of business sometime and someone goes to install the game only to get a failed to connect to server at the activation part.

2. This question was actually asked in a topic I made. Will it be possible to register BioShock on steam with the registration key we got with are hard copy in the future?

[Rebelphoenix]

Multiple questions arise from this topic. Some what stupid questions but questions none the less.

1. What happens if securom goes out of business sometime and someone goes to install the game only to get a failed to connect to server at the activation part.

2. This question was actually asked in a topic I made. Will it be possible to register BioShock on steam with the registration key we got with are hard copy in the future?

1. Then we go get a crack for it and keep playing.

2. Doubt it.

[sturmbb]

i installed it when i got home. didnt know anything about this only instal lto machine so many times no documentation on it anywhere i have read.

Decided to install my vista. haveing probelms instaling vista so i decided to install on dads vist which is under the minimum specs some to play around on it. No sound lol. so i boot up the dual boot xp version on the same machine and guess what guys? No install wont accept actiavation only 2 machines so lets seee what this means for me 1 i installed on my machine and then wiped it out so that machine is no longer viable to install on and the other one i installed onto has crappy grafix and no sound so thats a no go in essance i just spent 60 dollars now just look at a broken game untill a pirtate version comes out no way in hell im paying for this ☺☺☺☺ again. Blows my mind that the same machine but dual boot is two differnent machines to them.

[Undying Zombie]

i installed it when i got home. didnt know anything about this only instal lto machine so many times no documentation on it anywhere i have read.

Decided to install my vista. haveing probelms instaling vista so i decided to install on dads vist which is under the minimum specs some to play around on it. No sound lol. so i boot up the dual boot xp version on the same machine and guess what guys? No install wont accept actiavation only 2 machines so lets seee what this means for me 1 i installed on my machine and then wiped it out so that machine is no longer viable to install on and the other one i installed onto has crappy grafix and no sound so thats a no go in essance i just spent 60 dollars now just look at a broken game untill a pirtate version comes out no way in hell im paying for this ☺☺☺☺ again. Blows my mind that the same machine but dual boot is two differnent machines to them.

Thats when you contact tech support and complain. I had something simular with Heros of Might and Magic 5 happpen ( with the expansion ) and they cleared it up. Can install it on any system I want as menny times now.

[mxmightymc]

See this is what I'm talking about! Sometimes companies make the stupidest mistakes and influence users to rely on cracks which are normally meant for pirating software!

[mxmightymc]

I'm going to see how far this goes, otherwise this game is going back to the store!

[kamm]

Welcome to the Terrodome of the GREEDIEST ☺☺☺☺UP EVER, SONY!

[Zeus]

It really is infuriating that we have to put up with this. While the pirates roam free with their cracked game, those who pay $50 for it have to suffer and instill this damned spyware onto our computers just to be able to play the game. What if we have to reformat our computers? Does that mean we have to get on the phone and argue until we turn blue in the face to get another activation?! To hell with that...ridiculous..ridiculous bs..

[mxmightymc]

it was all this F**ks who satarted talking about torrents in this ferum!

[catch]

... no response from 2k on this, can't say i'm surprised. disappointed yes, but not surprised - do they have something more important 2 do than answer the questions of the buying public?

come on 2k, this is the single most important thing 4 u right now - reassuring u're paying customers, plz don't force ppl 2 have 2 pirate this game, we want 2 pay u money, all u have 2 do is come clean with something that shouldn't even have been an issue in the first place.

plz at least confirm whether this stupid copy protection thing applies 2 steam as well as store brought copies so we can make an informed choice when buying the game.

[Nixolus]

... no response from 2k on this, can't say i'm surprised. disappointed yes, but not surprised - do they have something more important 2 do than answer the questions of the buying public?

come on 2k, this is the single most important thing 4 u right now - reassuring u're paying customers, plz don't force ppl 2 have 2 pirate this game, we want 2 pay u money, all u have 2 do is come clean with something that shouldn't even have been an issue in the first place.

plz at least confirm whether this stupid copy protection thing applies 2 steam as well as store brought copies so we can make an informed choice when buying the game.

I'd say they have few problems with tech issues at the moment that are more pressing than people being able to reinstall multiple times. Those that have run out of activations should contact sercurom like the software says and see what they have to say.

As far as the question of whether Steam has this problem, have you tried asking Steam?

Don't get me wrong, I am totally against copy protection, especially when it inconveniences legal paying customers, and not because I'm a pirate, because just think it's addressing the problem from the wrong direction. It's the stick without a carrot. They should make games more desirable to purchase, like the Collectors Edition being worth having as 2k have done. We know the game will be cracked and keygens will abound, and I don't know that it will be a crime to use one with a purchased copy anyway, have to read the EUL, but it certainly isn't morally wrong as far as I'm concerned.

So don't get your panties in a twist girls, Suck it up, approach the relevent parties before crying in the forum. keep a civilised tongue and give 2k time to assess the issue and respond.

[Shingro]

I'd say they have few problems with tech issues at the moment that are more pressing than people being able to reinstall multiple times. Those that have run out of activations should contact sercurom like the software says and see what they have to say.

As far as the question of whether Steam has this problem, have you tried asking Steam?

Don't get me wrong, I am totally against copy protection, especially when it inconveniences legal paying customers, and not because I'm a pirate, because just think it's addressing the problem from the wrong direction. It's the stick without a carrot. They should make games more desirable to purchase, like the Collectors Edition being worth having as 2k have done. We know the game will be cracked and keygens will abound, and I don't know that it will be a crime to use one with a purchased copy anyway, have to read the EUL, but it certainly isn't morally wrong as far as I'm concerned.

So don't get your panties in a twist girls, Suck it up, approach the relevent parties before crying in the forum. keep a civilised tongue and give 2k time to assess the issue and respond.

QFT as they say... god this is day one of release and people are starting to bemoan not getting a response within hours? =P in General nonetheless!

[ArkhanJG]

I cross-posted the same question to 'questions for the team' in the faint hope liz might answer it there.

From users that have replied having hit the limit, it looks like it really is only 2 activations in total - and reinstalling on the same PC, in a different copy of windows counts as the 2nd activation. So people going 'oh, it installed fine on my laptop too, it's no problem' are in for a nasty surprise when they come to reinstall windows.

I didn't expect getting it 3 days later (UK) to be a blessing. There is *NO WAY* two activations total is acceptable for a game. Unless we do get a damn good answer about this from 2K, my copy is going back up-opened, and I know two people personally that will do the same.

I've not subscribed to the idea that 2K is being bought off to make the 360 version better, that was just sour grapes. But the 360 version has no date limit, no activation, no resale block, and it's being pirated. I'm not even going into the SM2, mouse sensitivity or vert- issues. It looks like 2K really did decide to screw over PC gamers to pump up 360 sales. I don't own a 360, and I'm sure as hell not buying one just for bioshock.

I'm personally boycotting steam still after the half-life 2 launch debacle (12 hours to authorise and decrypt an offline retail copy with no warning), so no bioshock that way. And frankly, if the PC activation really is only 2 uses of the code ever, then 2K is definitely going on that list too.

2K Boston, you've made a great game, with a few UI niggles that can be patched. Your fear of piracy is going to lose you a *lot* of PC retail sales once word gets out that you get one reinstall of windows with bioshock, and that's it. Fix this, before it's too late.

[Nishido]

It's generally accepted by the mass market that a PC game can be played on any PC if it meets the minimum requirements. And that you should be able to reinstall (That word is bound to be in the dictionary) a game fine, as many times as you like, for whatever reason.

On the box it says an internet connection is required for activation purposes. Ok... that let's people know about that. Can't complain there.

They don't say anything on the box, howeever, about only allowing two installs. Therefore, I am quite confident that ringing up tech support or whatever, will allow you more installs. If 2K won't allow more installs, then I'm sure they are breaking the law somehow.

They just simply cannot go against what the market has always done, and assume people will be fine with it. Not gonna happen.

[12ed.HaT]

actually thats untrue, technically alot of software laws are really shady about this issue and most of the time software companies win, alot of software liscensing works as u are only allowed to install it on 1 computer in a household, even if you physically are able to install it in other computers

[kamm]

it was all this F**ks who satarted talking about torrents in this ferum!

☺☺☺ are you talking about? ☺☺☺ it has to do with torernt,?
Moron.

[Nishido]

Well that's bollocks. If that's true then 2K will have a riot on their hands in no time.

I know lots of people who format once a month. So in two months time, they won;t be able to play Bioshock anymore? Utter crap.

[upstart_69]

I cross-posted the same question to 'questions for the team' in the faint hope liz might answer it there.

From users that have replied having hit the limit, it looks like it really is only 2 activations in total - and reinstalling on the same PC, in a different copy of windows counts as the 2nd activation. So people going 'oh, it installed fine on my laptop too, it's no problem' are in for a nasty surprise when they come to reinstall windows.

I didn't expect getting it 3 days later (UK) to be a blessing. There is *NO WAY* two activations total is acceptable for a game. Unless we do get a damn good answer about this from 2K, my copy is going back up-opened, and I know two people personally that will do the same.

I've not subscribed to the idea that 2K is being bought off to make the 360 version better, that was just sour grapes. But the 360 version has no date limit, no activation, no resale block, and it's being pirated. I'm not even going into the SM2, mouse sensitivity or vert- issues. It looks like 2K really did decide to screw over PC gamers to pump up 360 sales. I don't own a 360, and I'm sure as hell not buying one just for bioshock.

I'm personally boycotting steam still after the half-life 2 launch debacle (12 hours to authorise and decrypt an offline retail copy with no warning), so no bioshock that way. And frankly, if the PC activation really is only 2 uses of the code ever, then 2K is definitely going on that list too.

2K Boston, you've made a great game, with a few UI niggles that can be patched. Your fear of piracy is going to lose you a *lot* of PC retail sales once word gets out that you get one reinstall of windows with bioshock, and that's it. Fix this, before it's too late.

QFT. This to me is worse than the horrible Sony DRM fiasco and if not addressed quickly and adequately deserves to have a ton of negative PR come down on 2K so that this never happens again. There is a reason I buy collector's editions...for posterity. I have a closet full of games I think of as classics and I still install and play through to this day. With a computer that is 15 generations newer.

So with Bioshock and other games with this protection I am guessing they are going for a disposable product? Well not with anymore of my money, they aren't. If this isn't cleared up in a way that makes sense to me as a consumer and valuable fan, this maybe THE last time I pre-order a game, especially a collector's edition. Maybe gamefly or 'other means' would serve me much better if I feel like I am getting screwed everytime I purchase.

[Nishido]

If they stop me activating, I'll just download a crack or whatever to skip it. I'll admit that openly. I've bought the collectors edition, for £40 (that's almost $80 US) for the PC. There is no way I'm paying more after a couple formats.

[Pas De Charge]

*sigh* I cant even get angry at this stage, im just hoping that the guy who said the third activation ☺☺☺☺canned him was lieing To a certain extent I can understand it as the logical outcome of the online activation, after all if you can reinstall as many times as you like (regardless of hardware changes) then the pirating community may aswell have one cd key between them, so for the online activation to be any use at all you have to do something like this... That doesnt mean im im-☺☺☺☺☺☺☺-pressed at the idea of phoning up a helpline when my installs run out, it just means this time I know WHY 2k made the decision to ☺☺☺☺ over pc gamers. For the record I think the online activation was a ☺☺☺☺ deal anyway.

Bottom line is that if a pirate version comes out without online activation and an install limit, ill be dling it quicker than you can start counting your profits you dick heads

[ArkhanJG]

There's at least 4 people who've confirmed they only have two activations, including screenshots on the other thread: http://forums.2kgames.com/forums/sho...3&postcount=10

(thanks sturmbb)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...22/screen1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...22/screen2.jpg

[random104]

this happened to me too, i can't even express how angry i am..

I picked up my LE copy of BioShock at midnight, and I installed it on my PC thinking it would run with playable fps, but it turned out to be pretty choppy. So, I installed it on my laptop instead, thus letting me play Bioshock. However, once my brother tried to install it on his PC, he got the exact same error shown in the picture. No more than 2 installations? outrageous. How about future system upgrades? I wish I hadn't opened my LE box so I could at least get my money back. Nowhere does it ever mention that only 2 installations are allowed.

There must be something that can be done about this problem.

[Rebelphoenix]

this LE will go for a lot of money on ebay. opened or not, they won't care. Even if they can't install it, theyll find a workaround.

[Super Pancake]

Somebody check the steam version!

[PCDemo]

Isn't it wonderful the way they take your money and then treat you like criminals

While the pirates are happily playing for free you are restricted after paying full price

The wonders of anti-piracy

[Rebelphoenix]

Isn't it wonderful the way they take your money and then treat you like criminals

While the pirates are happily playing for free you are restricted after paying full price

The wonders of anti-piracy

That turn us all pro piracy.

http://forumjunk.0x1a4.com/pirate.swf

[tVItkh]

damn.. well i have to admit, im pretty ☺☺☺☺☺☺☺ pissed off & disgusted apon hearing this.

this is honestly the worst idea ever.

i just basically swapped 2 of my old comp systems to get a really nice new setup, mainly just to get/play this game with.
& i was gonna pick up the game on friday.. but i dont think i can be ☺☺☺☺☺☺ now if this is the case.
seriously, i just got rid of 2 computers to get a new one & would have been paying about 100 aus dollars for the game, only to be able to install it twice ever.. can you understand that??

look, im really sorry (well, no, im really not), but what total ☺☺☺☺☺☺☺ ☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺.. *cries like a girl*