Just Played The Demo

[Drakelet]

Well, I finally got my hands on the demo thanks to PC Gamer. I installed it, it didn't work. I spent a couple hours looking around for fixes, and finally I'd solved it (DX9, old graphics card driver and GOMPlayer were my problems). And then it all worked perfectly!

And I have to say, it really is excellent. Played through twice now and I really love it. The plasmids are great and the splicers/sisters are really strange and freaky. The whole storyline bit seems good, even though I've only touched on it. And the graphics are amazing, even though I have everything on low (did go on high just to see for a bit though). I'm not a great fan of the guns, but hey, there must be some things you don't like!

I'm not going to buy the game yet though, I want my new rig first. Then I can play it on better settings!

Sure, this thread has no real point. But I just wanted to say how the game (well, demo) is great and that 2K have done a good job (even though there are quite a few problems).

[Flybye]

Yeah, wait till you got your new rig.

This game is beautiful at high res with AA.

[Drakelet]

That's what I'm hoping!

For anyone who's interested, this will probably be my new rig (or very similar, depends when 8800GT etc comes out):

Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3R
C2D E6750
2GB Corsair 4-4-4-12
Corsair HX620
XFX 8800GTS 320MB 560MHz/1700MHz

[Demitasse]

Does all of that cost a lot? Don't laugh when I say this, but I have a Geforce 6200.

[BioShockWins]

Does all of that cost a lot? Don't laugh when I say this, but I have a Geforce 6200.

Oh yeah? I have an FX 5500! Beat that!

But the good news for you is, you can play UT III without a new GPU, or a PS3.

Back on topic... I'm glad you like it!
It truly is a great game! If I had a non-crappy PC, I would have hands down chose that over my 360! Keyboard/Mouse is so awesome.

[Drakelet]

What I listed costs about £550. Then there is P&P on top. I also need a CPU fan, which is another £20.

So yeah, it's not cheap. And I'm 15 working an 8 hour week. Looks like I wont be playing Bioshock before Christmas.

[Dr. Ransom]

Just beware man... Even the demo installs malware on your machine that is almost impossible to remove

[CherryIcee]

Just beware man... Even the demo installs malware on your machine that is almost impossible to remove

No it doesn't. It's just Securom which is actually very simple to remove.

[CherryIcee]

Does all of that cost a lot? Don't laugh when I say this, but I have a Geforce 6200.

I built a rig for a customer with specs similar to Drakelet and parts came to about $1200. I overclocked the E6750 to 3.6GHz (used an aftermarket HSF, not stock) and the RAM to 900MHz. I also lowered the timings to 4-4-4-12. It ran like a freaking champ. He was having it built for Bioshock actually and it ran everything smooth as silk on the highest settings with 16xAF at 1920x1080.

[ReverendTed]

Oh yeah? I have an FX 5500! Beat that!

I have an X800Pro!

[Drakelet]

Ransom: I don't give a ☺☺☺☺ about SecuROM TBH, it's done nothing to me.

Cherry: Sounds good! My main problem though is money, or lack of.
If you're feeling kind, I've made threads on other forums about the plan for my new PC. All advice welcomed!
http://www.computerandvideogames.com...ic.php?t=34346
http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/...er-righ-thread

[SimpleSimon]

No it doesn't. It's just Securom which is actually very simple to remove.

Software that does not come with an unistall routing = malware... Doesn't matter who makes it.

Malware= malformed software

[Drakelet]

OMGz! Seriously, does it really matter? Answer: No.

And don't turn this into another *PENCILS!* SecuROM topic, please.

[Big Daddy 101]

I have an X800Pro!

I have a 2 8800 GTXs Running on Working SLI! BEAT THAT!

[CherryIcee]

Software that does not come with an unistall routing = malware... Doesn't matter who makes it.

Malware= malformed software

Wrong. Malware is short for Malicious Software, not "malformed" LOL. Something can be malformed but isn't necessarily malicious. It refers to software that's main purpose is to cause harm/exploit/annoy the end user. I personally HATE DRM in any form including SecuRom (which is why I use the pirated version even though I bought the LE retail version) but even if I only had teh retail version to use, I'd still install it and play. The perceived "threat" due to SecuRom is HUGELY unfounded. Find me ONE, just ONE!!!!!!!!!! thread where SecuRom itself has harmed/exploited/caused damage to someone's pc. You are correct that it doesn't have an uninstaller, but guess what, we are on the "INTERWEB"!!!! lol, if you can type (which obviously you can) you can do a search for removing securom, which is very easy to do. Even if you don't uninstall it though, what exactly are you personally afraid of it doing?? And be specific, EXACTLY what issue are you afraid of? Can you even name ONE!! thing that you are fearful of in regards to securom doing to your pc?

[CherryIcee]

I have a 2 8800 GTXs Running on Working SLI! BEAT THAT!

(2) 8800Ultras running in SLI, beaten

[Drakelet]

3 8800 Ultras in SLI. I, uh, work for nVidia.

(Yes, they are making 3-card SLI! )

[CherryIcee]

Yep, it won't be long. You can do that now with ATI cards, except two cards work in Crossfire and the 3rd handles physics. For Nvidia, you'll need either the 680i or the forthcoming 780i boards to do it. BTW Vista only supports 2way SLI (at least for now.)

[Miss Deanna Ivy]

I have an xbox 360 that my bro and I bought just for the game. But I played the demo on my Dell just fine.

It even worked on our Emachines computer.

[BioShockWins]

I have an xbox 360 that my bro and I bought just for the game. But I played the demo on my Dell just fine.

Same here.
It's the only game I have so far. I don't think I'll be getting another game for quite some time.

[Newbiezilla]

I have an X800Pro!

Oh, thats shader 2.0 right?

I got GeForce 4 MX 420 with Shader Model 0.0

I win.

[SimpleSimon]

You are correct that it doesn't have an uninstaller, but guess what, we are on the "INTERWEB"!!!! lol, if you can type (which obviously you can) you can do a search for removing securom, which is very easy to do.

Even if you don't uninstall it though, what exactly are you personally afraid of it doing?? And be specific, EXACTLY what issue are you afraid of?

Why should I be required to scour the internet for help removing a program that SHOULD have a proper uninstaller?

Also, I'm afraid that my development software will break due to the protection schemes included with Bioshock. This wouldn't be an issue if I could uninstall Bioshock properly.

Finally... Why should I waste CPU cycles by hosting software on my PC that I wasn't warned that I couldn't remove? If CD burns start failing, or MP3s start skipping, etc... I'll have this nagging feeling in the back of my mind that the software is causing it, or the non-sanctioned uninstallation I found online messed up my PC.

[Drakelet]

Look, SecuROM is there, you can get rid of it if you want, it's a *LIMA BEAN* program but we're stuck with it. So, please, let the *IMA BANANA* thing rest...

[CherryIcee]

Why should I be required to scour the internet for help removing a program that SHOULD have a proper uninstaller?

Also, I'm afraid that my development software will break due to the protection schemes included with Bioshock. This wouldn't be an issue if I could uninstall Bioshock properly.

Finally... Why should I waste CPU cycles by hosting software on my PC that I wasn't warned that I couldn't remove? If CD burns start failing, or MP3s start skipping, etc... I'll have this nagging feeling in the back of my mind that the software is causing it, or the non-sanctioned uninstallation I found online messed up my PC.

If by scour you mean do a simple search for remove securom, then let me assure you, it's not that difficult or time consuming to find. Look, I hate DRM garbage as much as the next guy which is why I don't install the "retail" version of the game, but honestly, people are getting crazy about Bioshock using securom. I also do some programming (just pet projects for myself mostly) and I haven't had any issues and I can pretty much guarantee you it won't affect your mp3's from playing smoothly lol. As for CPU cycles, I doubt securom running is going to break your cpu from over taxing it. Just look at all the **** people have running at startup because they don't know any better. A few small processes running in the background while the game is running isn't going to bring your system to a halt.

Also you're speaking of theoreticals, has any of those things actually happened? We can hypothesize about securom doing this or that but at the end of the day has it actually done anything harmful? I hope a removal tool is made available for people (simply out of principle) but until that happens, playing the retail copy of the game (securom and all) isn't going to destroy anyone's pc. I am aware of the issue it has with some optical drives, and that sucks, and hopefully firmware updates can be made to help those people whose DVD drive doesn't recognize the disk. I'm also aware of the game crashes it can cause on some people's pc and again that sucks (ALOT!!) but aside from not being able to run the game (which is a whole other can of worms) I don't know of any incidences where it damaged anything else.

That said, I'm not above being proved wrong, so if anyone DOES know of issues where securom harmed their pc, exploited/left them open to an attack or messed with anything other than Bioshock (or other game that uses securom) by all means let me know and I will absolutely take back everything and eat my words. Again, I hate DRM in any form but I just think this has been taken to extremes. I can understand the anger from people unable to play because of it, but to ☺☺☺☺☺ and moan about it to the extent it has been without even trying to install/play the game is a bit much. If you want to boycott the game because of it, more power to you, but you'll be missing out on a great game.

[SimpleSimon]

If by scour you mean do a simple search for remove securom, then let me assure you, it's not that difficult or time consuming to find. Look, I hate DRM garbage as much as the next guy which is why I don't install the "retail" version of the game, but honestly, people are getting crazy about Bioshock using securom.

I'm not against it having Securom... I'm against the Bioshock uninstaller not doing a proper uninstall! That's all I want. If I choose uninstall, then UNINSTALL IT ALL!

That said, I'm not above being proved wrong, so if anyone DOES know of issues where securom harmed their pc, exploited/left them open to an attack or messed with anything other than Bioshock (or other game that uses securom) by all means let me know and I will absolutely take back everything and eat my words.

Try Googling "Bioshock process explorer". I actually USE that software for legitimate purposes.

...anyhow, this is getting off topic.

P.s. For what it's worth, I hear that this game is pretty linear. Either do everything in the exact correct order, or die trying... Nothing else. I hated Doom 3 for that very reason.

[CherryIcee]

Heh, it is pretty linear. I really enjoy the game, but it isn't nearly as open-ended as they made it sound before release. I will admit that the criticism that is most heavily weighed against it (aside from it not running for people lol) that it seems dummied down and more console oriented rings true imho, but I still played through 7 1/2 times and it was great fun. Now we either need some DLC or a Mod SDK to keep it going otherwise I see it dying on the vine.

[Drakelet]

Simon: There is a "Process Explorer Hider" which allows the game to work. Just search on these forums.

That will hopefully be fixed in a patch anyway.

[ReverendTed]

Oh, thats shader 2.0 right?
I got GeForce 4 MX 420 with Shader Model 0.0
I win.

Well...yeah, but, er...my X800 can actually run the game...with the proper tweaking. ;-p

"REVERENDTED HAS REGAINED THE LEAD!"

[Novangel]

Well...yeah, but, er...my X800 can actually run the game...with the proper tweaking. ;-p

"REVERENDTED HAS REGAINED THE LEAD!"

6200 TC and running crappily with lowest settings....
-_-...
The demo I mean.... getting Bioshock after getting a new rig with
8800GTS in Sli,
4GB RAM
E6850 OC
1.28TB HDD

Hoping it's Crysis proof....

[Drakelet]

Those specs definitely will be. Not sure about your current rig though.