Please take all SecuROM and activation issues here! Thank You

[Kyorisu]

Originally Posted by A-Button

yep: it should be a pain to only have the pirated version of a game and it should be rewarding to have the original. for bioshock it seems to be the other way around.

The principle theory when trying to combat piracy should be to make a legitimate version more appealing. Sadly this isn't so with Bioshock and many other games.

No DRM from the customer's and companies' POV.

Customer: No install limits, no extra software installed and no disc required. Most importantly freedom in how you use the product.

Company: DRM free products can entice those who are sitting on the fence regarding a decision to buy. No DRM means you theres no DRM which needs to be supported by official or third party means. Choosing not to use DRM means you save money paying for license fees to use said DRM. Piracy may occur quicker and in larger numbers (due to less tinkering required by people that simply don't have a clue how to replace an .exe) but those people are typically not going to buy the game. However, some pirates may go out of their way and buy the product having enjoyed it and knowing the retail version will be just as easy to use.

[Jakester]

** MESSAGE FROM 2K ELIZABETH:

The forum moderator quoted below is not a 2K employee and does not represent the views and opinions of 2K. The individual, "JT Tech 2K," works for an outside tech support group and is not an employee of 2K Games. The technician who posted this has been suspended while we conduct our investigation.

***

So...here are a few posts from a thread that was deleted in the tech support forum. I find it a bit telling:

Nemesisdesignz wrote:
I installed Bioshock on my laptop under one admin user, Everything works fine, but I then tried to switch users on my computer and whenever I launch Bioshock it is asking me to enter my serial again for the game.... IS THIS GONNA CHARGE ME TWO OF MY 5 Activations???? IF SO THAT IS GAY.... I need to know this ASAP before I attempt to play this on my pc under the other user... THis is a bug if the case be....so get yo stuff fixed!

Now, I agree that the poster was being a bit of a tool, but it's a good question.

Here's the response from moderator 2k Tech JT:

2k Tech JT writes:
The other way to view this, is one USER has purchased the game. Not the whole family. So why should your brother play for free?

My response:

Jakester writes:
If your spouse buys a book, do you go out and buy another copy if you want to read it, or do you read it when she's not or when she's done?

If you purchase a DVD, do you buy one copy for each of your friends and family who are going to watch the movie with you? Do you ever lend or borrow movies?

Why should my brother play for free? Because it's FAIR USE of a product I have purchased.

I have been holding off on purchasing BioShock because of the DRM (and if you think it's necessary, check out this GalCiv2 thread). However, this mentality of blatant disrespect of people who purchased your game, and the no-longer-veiled attempts to deny basic fair use rights of legitimate purchasers is reprehensible.

I'm sorry, Ken Levine -- based on the demo, you made a kick-ass game, but it's one I wont' be buying (nor will it be one I'm playing). Further, I'll not be buying any 2k/Take-two games on any platform. IF it means no GTA, so be it. If it means no Manhunt 2 (I was going to support them because I don't appreciate censorship, either, even though I only marginally enjoyed the first game), then so be it.

We can talk on these forums until our fingers bleed, but what will make a difference is when we speak with our purchasing dollars and do not support a company that "permits" its customers to use their software at the publisher's whim. Now, I know 2k publishes good and popular games, but, really, if you don't like the taste of crap, stop eating filet mignon wrapped in crap!

[Silus]

Originally Posted by Jakester

So...here are a few posts from a thread that was deleted in the tech support forum. I find it a bit telling:

<snip>

Now, I agree that the poster was being a bit of a tool, but it's a good question.

Here's the response from moderator 2k Tech JT:

<snip>

My response:

<snip>

It no doubt reveals the stance of 2K, on these issues. I find it disturbing, that such a lack of respect for paying customers, exists. Let me re-prahse that, lack of respect for PC paying customers. It's actually frustrating to not be able to do more than NOT buy the game. 2K should really pay for all this mess and I hope that people were fortunate enough to learn about this mess, before buying the game, since 2K is obviously banking on the fact, that people were unaware of all this, to profit.

[Sir_Brizz]

Originally Posted by Jakester

So...here are a few posts from a thread that was deleted in the tech support forum. I find it a bit telling:



Now, I agree that the poster was being a bit of a tool, but it's a good question.

Here's the response from moderator 2k Tech JT:



My response:

That's really unbelievable...

Even Microsoft isn't that underhanded, multiple people can use Windows on the same machine

[Silus]

Originally Posted by Jakester

So...here are a few posts from a thread that was deleted in the tech support forum.

By the way. Why was it deleted exactly ?
I mean that 2K answer was already ridiculous enough to make people furious...

[BamaStangGuy]

Originally Posted by Jakester

So...here are a few posts from a thread that was deleted in the tech support forum. I find it a bit telling:



Now, I agree that the poster was being a bit of a tool, but it's a good question.

Here's the response from moderator 2k Tech JT:



My response:

That is utterly ridiculous. I stop by the forums every few days to see if 2k Games has given me a reason to purchase their game but everytime I come here I find more ☺☺☺☺ that turns me off from this company.

[A-Button]

regarding "fair use": i'd guess publishers (also of movies, books, music, etc) never wanted fair use. but they just couldn't prevent people from sharing their DVDs, CDs, etc. Then with mp3, decent video codecs, high-bandwidth flatrates, etc. many people switched from fair use to "unfair use". it's comprehensible that the publishers want to prevent people from doing that because it's a big difference if i lend a game to a friend or if i share it on the net. well, that way they legitimate the use of DRM (and i think it's okay). the problem for us is that in DRM they see a chance to even prevent us from "fair use"...

[Jakester]

Not a clue....

Here's the thread in reverse order. In retrospect, Richard appears to be a voice of reason and indicates that you can actually get more than 5 activations. I haven't seen that anywhere before, though. Apologies for the formatting. I'm too lazy to re-do it.

reholli I have to comment a little more about this.

Some of the moderators and regular supporters of 2K in this forum express such rabid, extreme points of view in their attempts to remain loyal to 2K that they abandon any attempt to apply reason and logic to the discussions.

Even when legitimate issues are raised, the attempt is always made to defend an untenable position and divert the point being made away from the actual issue to something different.

Only the official spokespeople from 2K seem at times to be able to reply reasonably on the issues, e.g. 2K Elizabeth's following statement:

Link: http://forums.2kgames.com/forums/sho...&postcount=120

Check the reference to being able to install and play simultaneously on 2 different systems.

I like this game, have nothing against 2K, have only minor issues in the overall scheme of things with respect to the game's activation and installation issues, but I'm rapidly becoming fed-up with the knee-jerk responses of so many.

You must all be proud of the lost ability to use your minds....
Today 01:26 PM
reholli
Quote:
Originally Posted by 2K Tech JT View Post
The other way to view this, is one USER has purchased the game. Not the whole family. So why should your brother play for free?
Because in the home computing environment especially, software is usually oriented towards a family using a single machine. Even if you think about most productivity application software packages, multiple users don't need multiple licenses. My wife and son don't need a seperate license to run Microsoft Word under their logins on my computer, or a seperated license for Windows XP, and that's as it should be.

If your brother still lives at home, a part of the immediate family, the current model usually allows him to play for free. The gaming world appears to be becoming more restrictive, however.

Continue voicing opinions like yours, and it will become even more so...
Today 01:16 PM
sendittome
Quote:
Originally Posted by 2K Tech JT View Post
The other way to view this, is one USER has purchased the game. Not the whole family. So why should your brother play for free?
Did not think to happen so fast, but your statement is even more ridicilous.

So you also have to buy 2 ore more licences of Windows, ...the same weird logic.
Not bought for one machine but one user.
So in case your brother wants to use your computer with his profile--> buy 2nd licence.

Come on....
When does it stop?

You don`t want to be taken serious with statements like this, do you?
Today 12:59 PM
Nemos
Quote:
Originally Posted by 2K Tech JT View Post
The other way to view this, is one USER has purchased the game. Not the whole family. So why should your brother play for free?
Coming soon: Splitscreen games that ask for Player 2's serial key!
Today 12:49 PM
2K Tech JT The other way to view this, is one USER has purchased the game. Not the whole family. So why should your brother play for free?
Today 12:26 PM
reholli Seperate activations for different users on the same system is definitely frustrating. However, if they were enforcing the EULA to the letter, only a single user on one machine could use the game.

Be happy!
Today 11:52 AM
sendittome Different user on same machine needing activation,.. what more ridicilous things does this avtivation crap hide? - More to come?

Guys, this goes far beyond any meaningful copyprotection.
Today 10:16 AM
2K Tech Richard Yes, activations are done per user on a machine.
However you do have a full 5 activations and can request more if you need to at any time.
Yesterday 10:00 PM
NemesisDesignz I installed Bioshock on my laptop under one admin user, Everything works fine, but I then tried to switch users on my computer and whenever I launch Bioshock it is asking me to enter my serial again for the game.... IS THIS GONNA CHARGE ME TWO OF MY 5 Activations???? IF SO THAT IS GAY.... I need to know this ASAP before I attempt to play this on my pc under the other user... THis is a bug if the case be....so get yo stuff fixed!

[Silus]

Originally Posted by Jakester

Not a clue....

Here's the thread in reverse order. In retrospect, Richard appears to be a voice of reason and indicates that you can actually get more than 5 activations. I haven't seen that anywhere before, though. Apologies for the formatting. I'm too lazy to re-do it.

I'm speechless...I never saw something like this. It's clearly either 2K's way or the highway (after they took your money of course).
That's it for me. I really wanted to buy this game AFTER the install limits BS was removed. But I was starting to get the impression, that that would not happen. And with answers like these, it's almost 100% certain, that nothing will be done to address this issue. Congrast 2K! $50 may not be much in your "grand scheme" of things, but you won't get mine anyway.

[Bursk]

Originally Posted by Silus

I'm speechless...I never saw something like this. It's clearly either 2K's way or the highway (after they took your money of course).
That's it for me. I really wanted to buy this game AFTER the install limits BS was removed. But I was starting to get the impression, that that would not happen. And with answers like these, it's almost 100% certain, that nothing will be done to address this issue. Congrast 2K! $50 may not be much in your "grand scheme" of things, but you won't get mine anyway.

They won't get my money either. 2k Tech JT can go ☺☺☺☺ himself.