Thanks for the expensive doorstop!

[perfectkiss]

I'm so PO'ed right now I could spit. Yet another "unfinished" PC game victimizes consumers. Why do supposedly completed PC games like BIOSHOCK ship with patches required online before the game can be played? My gaming PC is not hooked up to the internet. So guess what? I just paid $50 for an unfinished game that I can't play! The last time I ran into this problem was 2 years ago on another lame, unfinished game that required 3 patches to be downloaded and BIOSHOCK is keeping that tradition of screwing PC game customers alive and well. Looking at all the other posts in this forum, it is fairly obvious that this game was fast-tracked for shipping before many of it's bugs and issues were resolved. Don't you guys read the PC gaming press? Don't you realize that consumers are FED UP with companies like 2K shipping incomplete products at premium prices? Well, if you missed it (and obviously you did) you can read it again in the letters to the editors section of your favorite PC magazine, because I plan on writting complaint letters to all of them about your latest far from finished product.

[Drew]

You play the demo before you bought the game??

[Bovine]

I guess you didn't read the bold IMPORTANT lettering on the back explaining it requires internet access eh? So when you say it victimizes consumers, you really mean it victimizes people that don't read. I'm ok with that.

[perfectkiss]

Well, I guess you're not too observant either, because ALL PC games state "internet connection required" these days because of multiplayer. I don't care about multiplayer, I just want to get a FINISHED single-player game for my $50. Is that too freaking much to ask? Look at the number of posts about problems with this game just since since I posted a couple of hours ago!Does that tip you off that this game was rushed to market as a buggy mess? How about googling Bioshock Patch and finding page after page of stories detailing how 2K's server crashed because of this add-on patch? The PC game industry needs to formulate some kind of pre-release testing and rating system to warn potential consumers about games that are this badly messed up but are released anyway. As far as I'm concerned, for any game company to release a game as buggy and patched as this is simply indefensable.

[Drew]

You play the demo before you bought the game??

[skidme]

Well, I guess you're not too observant either, because ALL PC games state "internet connection required" these days because of multiplayer. I don't care about multiplayer, I just want to get a FINISHED single-player game for my $50. Is that too freaking much to ask? Look at the number of posts about problems with this game just since since I posted a couple of hours ago!Does that tip you off that this game was rushed to market as a buggy mess? How about googling Bioshock Patch and finding page after page of stories detailing how 2K's server crashed because of this add-on patch? The PC game industry needs to formulate some kind of pre-release testing and rating system to warn potential consumers about games that are this badly messed up but are released anyway. As far as I'm concerned, for any game company to release a game as buggy and patched as this is simply indefensable.

The game says "Internet required". Find something else to ☺☺☺☺☺ about; this was your mistake, not theirs.

[Couly]

An oyster can change sex at will

[Anei]

Got the box here, says quite clearly in bold letters near the min and rec spec;

Important Note: Game requires Internet connection for activation

Your fault. Not theirs.

[Jimmus]

On a positive note: The Big Daddy figurine is heavy enough to be used as a doorstop, at least! I would have been mad if it was made of cheap plastic.

[Adzi]

The majority of posts a people whining about...

DRM - Get over it. More and more games are using it. If your legit, you should have no problem.

The game not starting - If people dont read minimum specifications, they deserve what they get.

The small parch required - For activation...

[Glottis]

Well, I guess you're not too observant either, because ALL PC games state "internet connection required" these days because of multiplayer. I don't care about multiplayer, I just want to get a FINISHED single-player game for my $50. Is that too freaking much to ask? Look at the number of posts about problems with this game just since since I posted a couple of hours ago!Does that tip you off that this game was rushed to market as a buggy mess? How about googling Bioshock Patch and finding page after page of stories detailing how 2K's server crashed because of this add-on patch? The PC game industry needs to formulate some kind of pre-release testing and rating system to warn potential consumers about games that are this badly messed up but are released anyway. As far as I'm concerned, for any game company to release a game as buggy and patched as this is simply indefensable.

No,its called PEBKAC

Its the ONE 'bug' 2K & Ken cant ever fix

Very little of the 'bug reports' on the forums are 'bugs'.

Search the net,and look at Major long standing PC Hardware sites like....

Anandtech,HardOCP,FiringSquad,Toms,Guru,Beyond3D,o r NvNews,etc,etc,etc,
and see the countless threads on each sites respective gaming foums about how the game is great and almost no one is having any issues with this game.

[Deviation59]

The majority of posts a people whining about...

DRM - Get over it. More and more games are using it. If your legit, you should have no problem.

The game not starting - If people dont read minimum specifications, they deserve what they get.

The small parch required - For activation...

They're installing software other than the game itself without my permission. I will *NOT[*] get over that. All 2K has done is convince me not to pay for their games anymore. Bioshock will be the last 2K PC game that I ever pay money for. I'm sure it won't be the last I play... but it'll be the last I pay for.

[Jimmus]

I have to disagree somewhat, Glottis, even while being on "your side" of the issues. I'm fairly computer-literate, and my system is well within the system specifications. I'm unable to run it on my main system, but my laptop will run it, albeit a bit slowly. I have updated my drivers to multiple versions, I have upgraded my DirectX to the latest version, I have tweaked my .ini files and done every single registry "fix" or suggestion made. No glory. PEBKAC doesn't necessarily apply to me, and while I'm upset that I can't play it, I'm not running around like a maniac throwing gas on the fire.

I agree with the guy above me, DRM is going to get more prevalent, not go away. If you can't handle it, go play console games - not an issue, really.

[Jimmus]

(I agree with the guy above, not the guy directly above me. Heh.)

[adakeb]

Well its hardly surprising that a general forum doesnt want hundreds of threads about Bioshock is it? Thats why people come here. I see plenty of complaints on the forums you mentioned though. Furthermore i even read that gamespot advises you to not even buy the game until it gets patched up.

I guess Gamespot doesnt know what they are talking about either when in their review they even advise you to not buy this game until it gets patched properly?

"But BioShock isn't without flaw. The game has been released with a host of technical issues, ranging from a total lack of audio on some machines to issues with the SecuROM online activation, which under normal circumstances is designed to prevent you from activating a retail copy on more than two machines. The game is also available through Steam, though all of the same audio stuttering and other issues that some players are experiencing in the disc-based version carry over to the digital version as well. While it's a sad truth that no game is ever released in a completely bug-free state for 100 percent of its users, these issues appear to be pretty widespread, and if you're at all skittish about waiting for a patch after you've purchased something, you might want to wait until at least one patch is released before buying BioShock"

[Glottis]

I have to disagree somewhat, Glottis, even while being on "your side" of the issues. I'm fairly computer-literate, and my system is well within the system specifications. I'm unable to run it on my main system, but my laptop will run it, albeit a bit slowly. I have updated my drivers to multiple versions, I have upgraded my DirectX to the latest version, I have tweaked my .ini files and done every single registry "fix" or suggestion made. No glory. PEBKAC doesn't necessarily apply to me, and while I'm upset that I can't play it, I'm not running around like a maniac throwing gas on the fire.

I agree with the guy above me, DRM is going to get more prevalent, not go away. If you can't handle it, go play console games - not an issue, really.

Point taken

Tweaking ini files can be hazerdous to the health of your Bioshock install.



Not in all cases,but some.Secondly,have you tried joining one of the many sites I just listed and asking nicely for help,on a forum where the average member is very well versed with 'issues' in PC games ? You might be shocked at the end result..... And then see this forum,and some of its denizens in a wildy different light.

[Glottis]

Well its hardly surprising that a general forum doesnt want hundreds of threads about Bioshock is it? Thats why people come here. I see plenty of complaints on the forums you mentioned though. Furthermore i even read that gamespot advises you to not even buy the game until it gets patched up.

I guess Gamespot doesnt know what they are talking about either when in their review they even advise you to not buy this game until it gets patched properly?

"But BioShock isn't without flaw. The game has been released with a host of technical issues, ranging from a total lack of audio on some machines to issues with the SecuROM online activation, which under normal circumstances is designed to prevent you from activating a retail copy on more than two machines. The game is also available through Steam, though all of the same audio stuttering and other issues that some players are experiencing in the disc-based version carry over to the digital version as well. While it's a sad truth that no game is ever released in a completely bug-free state for 100 percent of its users, these issues appear to be pretty widespread, and if you're at all skittish about waiting for a patch after you've purchased something, you might want to wait until at least one patch is released before buying BioShock"

Obviously they dont know of what they speak...

[Gryph]

Well, I guess you're not too observant either, because ALL PC games state "internet connection required" these days because of multiplayer.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a9/...ActivateMe.png

Three important words. There's a difference between requiring Internet for MultiPlay and needing it to activate, so you've little reason to complain.

[tootie]

I agree with masturbating Monkies.

[TheLostSkeleton]

DRM - Get over it. More and more games are using it. If your legit, you should have no problem.

When DRM measures continually get more and more ludicrious, dangerous, and out-of-hand, nobody should get over it. When somebody pays $50 for a game and they can only install it XYZ number of times, that's insane. When a game installs software that hides itself and remains hidden on your system even after you uninstall the game (all without your permission, might I add), that is the sort of measure that fuels people to pirate games.

It's getting to the point where piracy is almost safer and more reliable than installing games you paid money for. When I'm standing in the PC game aisle in my favorite electronics retailer I should not have to stop and think, "Sure, the game's great, but what kind of poisonous garbage is it going to leave on my system after I've finished with it? What kind of hoops am I going to have to jump through just to verify my wallet is $50 lighter?"

You can go ahead and point the fingers at pirates, saying, "Oh, well, if they didn't try and steal games, we wouldn't be in this mess" - and part of that is true. But extreme DRM measures only make piracy all the more enticing to the educated consumer.

SecuROM and 2K Games can guarantee out their ears that the stuff installed with Bioshock won't harm my system, but so did Starforce. Don't blame me if I'm a little more than skeptical.

[CHINESE BABOON]

Buy a 360, play Bioshock, Halo 3, Mass Effect, problem solved, plus you can play in a room with a comfy couch and a sweet HDTV! Problem solved...

[Anei]

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a9/...ActivateMe.png

Three important words. There's a difference between requiring Internet for MultiPlay and needing it to activate, so you've little reason to complain.

Well done you for going to the effort of scanning your box, i thought of it..then thought nah, fudge it. The origional poster probably isn't even reading.

[Glottis]

Well done you for going to the effort of scanning your box, i thought of it..then thought nah, fudge it. The origional poster probably isn't even reading.

As was I,but many here seem to just want to join the stampede,and the mob
mentality of it all.

The reactions to this remind me of that X-files ep War of the Coprophages ...

"Well mam,have you seen any Rootkits yourself ?"

"No. But they're everywhere !!! "

[TheLostSkeleton]

Buy a 360, play Bioshock, Halo 3, Mass Effect, problem solved, plus you can play in a room with a comfy couch and a sweet HDTV! Problem solved...

Even that is insane. Buy an expensive gaming console just to play a game without hazardous malware and on a controller?

[TheLostSkeleton]

Forgive me for double posting. I can't seem to find the "Edit post" button and I didn't see this until I already replied...

As was I,but many here seem to just want to join the stampede,and the mob
mentality of it all.

The reactions to this remind me of that X-files ep War of the Coprophages ...

"Well mam,have you seen any Rootkits yourself ?"

"No. But they're everywhere !!! "

Except, uh, there is software out there that detects these things. There are instructions to remove the DRM malware that is installed with Bioshock. This isn't smoke and mirrors government conspiracy; if you know where to look, you will find this software.

[fish99]

Internet connection required or not, you just have to look at the 71 page thread to see this game is buggy and has some major problems on certain hardware configs. It's nothing to do with badly setup PCs, background tasks, viruses, spyware, adware, overclocking, overheating or anything else you care to mention - the game is just buggy. It hasn't been sufficiently tested and it was released in an unstable state.

If you're one of the lucky people who doesn't have problems then great for you, but do not start blaming gamers for 2Ks shabby QA. There are far too many problems for this to be down to peoples systems. If that was the case every game would have this amount of problems. My system is 100% stable with everything and hasn't crashed once in the 6 weeks since I built it until Bioshock came along. It's as well built and well maintained as any PC on these forums and has a fresh OS install.

[Zarniwoop]

Wrong Adzi, most of the posts are about the game not working at all, OR the game crashing over and over and over.

[ProphetX]

Yeah, and most of those posts are by people who aren't clever enough to read the minimum specifications. Either that or they are just too stupid to try and troubleshoot the problem themselves, and decide to come rampaging the forums and blame 2K.

[cersei]

The game says "Internet required". Find something else to ☺☺☺☺☺ about; this was your mistake, not theirs.

You and Anei must be well liked here by all the devs. Forgo the internet connection BS and you're still stuck with a game that crashes constantly. But ass-kissers like you defend them well, making the crap they've handed down to us for 50 bucks ( and their ineptitude regarding amends) seem acceptable. Way to go, ☺☺☺☺tards.



one post n done. -
- ain't coming back to read replies. never do -

[Nirkon]

games with multiplayer state "internet required for multiplayer"...

[Glottis]

Yeah, and most of those posts are by people who aren't clever enough to read the minimum specifications. Either that or they are just too stupid to try and troubleshoot the problem themselves, and decide to come rampaging the forums and blame 2K.

PEBKAC is rampant in the extreme on this forum.

http://pebkac.ubergoth.net/

[generationterrorist81]

It a shame that the oppressed continue to identify with the oppressor..

Those who refuse to acknowledge the many real problems that people are experiencing with various aspects of the game having purchased legitimate copies are not doing themselves or PC Gaming any favours.

Those who refuse to be critical of companies who shaft legitimate consumers by knowingly releasing buggy, unfinished games for the sake of profits are doing PC gaming no favours at all. This is all publishers need to keep doing it again and again - silence.

Those who refuse to be critical of companies that can drive such a large wedge between people that all share a love of computer games don't deserve to be playing great games.

What will it take to wake these people up? The collapse of the games industry, not because of pirates, but because people got fed of the crap they have to put up with from these publishing cowboys?

I really don't know. Sometimes I wonder if PC gaming is worth a damn these days.

[ProphetX]

I suppose you would've rather waited an extra year while 2K raised funds to pay private testers and iron out every single bug?

I don't think you have any idea how much effort goes into these games. STALKER for instance was in development for several years!

I've been coding for a long while now, and I don't think I've ever released a build that hasn't had at least one bug in it. Go back to school and study component relationships, you'll understand that it is impossible to omit all errors whilst creating a product as big as Bioshock.

[TheLostSkeleton]

Yeah, bugs are to be expected in any product. Nobody should really be angry at 2k Games for releasing a so-called "buggy" product, because they met their deadline and patches can always be released.

Deadlines have to be met. That's a business end of things and cannot be changed. Really, it's not the developers fault they had to put the game out with bugs in it - ask any developer you want and they will tell you that they'd love to have a game worked on until it was absolutely perfect... but something like that is not their decision to make, it's the publisher's.

If games stayed in development forever nobody would ever make any money.

But, the "two (now five) activations per copy of the game, SecuROM rootkit" garbage is just too much to handle. As a consumer, stuff like that is a kick square in the nuts because I want to like this game so much but my only options are either buy an expensive next-gen console or succumb to SecuROM's toxic waste.

"Let's see... ruin my wallet or ruin my computer... ruin my wallet or ruin my computer..."

That's not a choice I (or anyone else) should ever have to make.

[gunnerman]

where can you get a big daddy figurine

[dan221081]

The majority of posts a people whining about...

DRM - Get over it. More and more games are using it. If your legit, you should have no problem.

The game not starting - If people dont read minimum specifications, they deserve what they get.

The small parch required - For activation...

OMG are you completely retarded.....

So according to your logic my system specs don't meet the minimum requirements...


[Specs]
C2D E6600 @ 3ghz
2 GB corsair XMS2 Ram
2 x 320gig sata2 drives
Geforce 8800GTX 768mb

Well damn I better go and upgrade then just so I can play bio☺☺☺☺

Oh wait I just did that 2 months ago....

[gotspoon]

Well, I guess you're not too observant either, because ALL PC games state "internet connection required" these days because of multiplayer. I don't care about multiplayer, I just want to get a FINISHED single-player game for my $50. Is that too freaking much to ask? Look at the number of posts about problems with this game just since since I posted a couple of hours ago!Does that tip you off that this game was rushed to market as a buggy mess? How about googling Bioshock Patch and finding page after page of stories detailing how 2K's server crashed because of this add-on patch? The PC game industry needs to formulate some kind of pre-release testing and rating system to warn potential consumers about games that are this badly messed up but are released anyway. As far as I'm concerned, for any game company to release a game as buggy and patched as this is simply indefensable.

Actually if you do read, those that require it for multiplay will say specifically that they require internet connection for online play.

This one says: Important Note: Game requires Internet connection for activation.

So the bottom line is that you didn't read it. Or didn't understand it. If you didn't read it, consider it a life lesson. It's like the test a teacher hands out and he tells you read the instructions before begining. Then nearly everyone starts filling in answers without reading, and the instructions, if read said to simply put your name on the test and turn it in.

Sorry man but it's not 2K's fault you didn't read it.