12th August 2007, 6:32 PM
12th August 2007, 7:56 PM
Demo now? Nope. Not for the version worth having they haven't, that is.
12th August 2007, 11:10 PM
What?
12th August 2007, 11:29 PM
X360 demo only.
13th August 2007, 12:46 AM
It tastes like sweet, sweet candy. *points and laughs at ABF*
13th August 2007, 1:17 AM
Okay so if I understand GR's ramblings correctly, there is a 360 demo of Bioshock available.
To be honest I thought the directors were just being masters of hyperbole in describing it and that video of the guy actually fending off a drill with his hand did not actually reflect actual gameplay. Will this demo pleasently surprise me? Eh, I guess the only way to find out is to download it. Might as well start the download now.
ABF, whatever version you may think better, at the very least a free demo should certainly at least indicate if it's worth buying either version.
To be honest I thought the directors were just being masters of hyperbole in describing it and that video of the guy actually fending off a drill with his hand did not actually reflect actual gameplay. Will this demo pleasently surprise me? Eh, I guess the only way to find out is to download it. Might as well start the download now.
ABF, whatever version you may think better, at the very least a free demo should certainly at least indicate if it's worth buying either version.
13th August 2007, 1:49 AM
Alright, listen up, DJ. Everything about this game is amazing. The combat, the gameplay, the graphics, the sound design. EVERYTHING. You are doing yourself a favor by downloading and playing this demo.
13th August 2007, 9:24 AM
Favor? This I deny. I'm not about to take the time to thank me.
13th August 2007, 10:09 AM
Okay I'm playing it. What smells blue? Okay I'm confused. Everything has blue dots outlining it, and it looks aweful. Is that intentional, or is this demo all glitchy? Keep in mind all my OTHER 360 games look just fine. Anyway, it's so distracting I've got to stop playing for now. I'm going to redownload the demo and see if the thing got corrupted or something.
13th August 2007, 10:31 AM
I noticed one or two texture seams, at most, during both play-throughs. What you're seeing is definitely not supposed to be there.
13th August 2007, 12:41 PM
Well after quitting the game the whole display was all garbled, so I figured as much. I reset the system and the problem went away, both in and out of game. First time that's happened. Weird. I hope that doesn't mean my 360 is about to join the ranks of overheating failures. At least MS boosted the warrentee for this specfic error to 3 years so I'd be covered, but it would still be annoying.
14th August 2007, 10:42 PM
Quote:ABF, whatever version you may think better, at the very least a free demo should certainly at least indicate if it's worth buying either version.
Which would be fine, if they'd actually release a demo for the (primary, hopefully superior) PC version...
Really, the only bad thing about the game is that there is a console port. Oh, hopefully it'll be as good as it should be, if Irrational did the right thing and made the PC version the main one and the 360 version a port, but what with how so many PC game developers started going downhill depth-wise as soon as they started the console ports... (Bioware and Bethesda for instance, or looking farther back, Deus Ex 2 and Thief 3 to name just a few) While it does look like Irrational avoided that trap, it's too bad that they had to deal with it in the first place and it says a lot about how bad the state of the PC gaming industry is right now.
Really, looking at most of the industry it's just amazing that Irrational (or now 2K Boston) managed to hold out as long as it did. While I know that it's nice for people who don't have high-end gaming PCs, simultaneous PC/console design almost invariably leads to simpler, less complex games which fail to live up to their PC-only predecessors. Given how this is essentially System Shock 3, one of the greatest first-person serieses in PC history, that would be a(nother) real tragedy.
14th August 2007, 10:54 PM
15th August 2007, 2:26 AM
And to be honest I don't really agree there. To hear this sort of thing PC gaming (or console gaming, or gaming in general, or some very specific genre) has been going "downhill" since the Pentium 1 came out. Well I've seen a lot of neat stuff recently, and if that's downhill, I'll meet you at the bottom.
Anyway, I played the Bioshock demo (now with glitch free mode) and I have to say it's pretty fun. Now, it didn't live up to that first trailer, but honestly I never expected it to. There's no "real time" cinematic style action as in that thing, and all in all it's actually a pretty standard FPS. In fact, all the action scenes are done the standard modern way, behind some window so you can't screw anything up in the scripted events. It's got those plasmids, and they are pretty neat, but it's nothing that hasn't been done before. Being able to store health pickups is nice, and it sort of plays like a survival horror that way with limited resources you take with you. Anyway, it's a fun FPS, but don't expect to actually fend off the big daddy in real time by getting your hand drilled to save your face, and don't expect to actually dash up to the little girl and yank her out of a tube. It's an FPS, and that's what you should expect. Fun one though. Went a little too obviously evil in the design of the creator of the underwater distopia I should say... Why would his STATUE scowl? Ironically I found myself agreeing with pretty much everything the "bad guy" says in the demo.
Anyway, I played the Bioshock demo (now with glitch free mode) and I have to say it's pretty fun. Now, it didn't live up to that first trailer, but honestly I never expected it to. There's no "real time" cinematic style action as in that thing, and all in all it's actually a pretty standard FPS. In fact, all the action scenes are done the standard modern way, behind some window so you can't screw anything up in the scripted events. It's got those plasmids, and they are pretty neat, but it's nothing that hasn't been done before. Being able to store health pickups is nice, and it sort of plays like a survival horror that way with limited resources you take with you. Anyway, it's a fun FPS, but don't expect to actually fend off the big daddy in real time by getting your hand drilled to save your face, and don't expect to actually dash up to the little girl and yank her out of a tube. It's an FPS, and that's what you should expect. Fun one though. Went a little too obviously evil in the design of the creator of the underwater distopia I should say... Why would his STATUE scowl? Ironically I found myself agreeing with pretty much everything the "bad guy" says in the demo.
15th August 2007, 7:46 AM
Quote:Ironically I found myself agreeing with pretty much everything the "bad guy" says in the demo.
He talks nice, but apparently his actions are something else entirely.
Quote:Really, the only bad thing about the game is that there is a console port.
Maybe if you're a PC freak who just put down $1,500 for the latest hardware. For everyone else, including those people who don't have that $1,500, an Xbox360 port is the best thing that could possibly happen to this game.
15th August 2007, 11:16 AM
Seriously, how is it also being on OTHER systems a bad thing?
GR, what's really messed up is I agree with everything the big head on the giant screen at the start of Half-Life 2 is saying during the first area of that game, well most everything.
It's like they read the same manifestos on rational thought I do and then assume that I also want to actually overthrow the world and FORCE this freedom and rational thinking upon people, as though that would even work. Is it creepy I used the word "manifesto" there? It's probably creepy.
GR, what's really messed up is I agree with everything the big head on the giant screen at the start of Half-Life 2 is saying during the first area of that game, well most everything.
It's like they read the same manifestos on rational thought I do and then assume that I also want to actually overthrow the world and FORCE this freedom and rational thinking upon people, as though that would even work. Is it creepy I used the word "manifesto" there? It's probably creepy.
15th August 2007, 11:54 AM
Are you by chance highly susceptible to propaganda?
16th August 2007, 2:21 AM
Not really, but I do consider emotions a bad indicator of the validity of information and that someone justifying their actions because they "feel" it is right is worthy of a slap in the face.
16th August 2007, 6:27 AM
Eurogamer and Game Informer both gave Bioshock 10/10.
Also, just because something sounds good logically, doesn't mean that it actually is. Take communism for example.
Also, just because something sounds good logically, doesn't mean that it actually is. Take communism for example.
16th August 2007, 11:32 AM
Oh please, what exactly are you trying to argue? What is this, Voyager, shutting down Tuvok with a cry of "this isn't about logic" every other episode? It's ALWAYS about logic. It doens't pay to be too loyal to one's heart. It'll lead you to obliteration. (Seriously, apparently in KH2 even if you are doing horrificly evil things, so long as you are "following your heart" it's still a "good thing" TM. Case in point: the attitude towards Malificent near the end.)
But really, communism's flaw is the failure to take into account that for the system to work, a governing body with the authority to cease and distribute assets is required, and any body with that sort of control is easily corrupted. No, it does not "sound logical". Not to anyone that thinks through ideas further than "does this sound poetic to me?" which seems to be about as far as most people go. I mean really, it is SICKENING that the main thing people seem to care about listening to speeches from polititians is whether or not they have some "humanizing" story to tell. I don't care about your daughter's girl scout adventures in caring for a kitten (that are as likely made up on the spot as not, no evidence for this irrelevent nonsense is offered either). I care about your policies!
But really, communism's flaw is the failure to take into account that for the system to work, a governing body with the authority to cease and distribute assets is required, and any body with that sort of control is easily corrupted. No, it does not "sound logical". Not to anyone that thinks through ideas further than "does this sound poetic to me?" which seems to be about as far as most people go. I mean really, it is SICKENING that the main thing people seem to care about listening to speeches from polititians is whether or not they have some "humanizing" story to tell. I don't care about your daughter's girl scout adventures in caring for a kitten (that are as likely made up on the spot as not, no evidence for this irrelevent nonsense is offered either). I care about your policies!
16th August 2007, 11:54 AM
And how are the ideals like in Rapture supposed to work? How do you make sure that everyone gets what they worked for? Okay, let's set up a system to ensure that no one is cheated of what they are owed and no one gains what they haven't earned. BAM! Government. Society. Then it all falls apart.
Rapture most likely fell apart because a small group comprised of the strongest citizens attempted to seize control. Or, the weak saw the writing on the wall and fought for control before the former could happen. Some people wanted tons of genetic enhancements, some didn't want any and just wanted to be left alone. Conflict was inevitable.
People aren't robots. They want things they can't have, their self-interested, they cheat and lie and steal to get what they want, and some of them are just completely insane. Nothing can change that and any system based on the assumption that people can and will act logically, whether for their own benefit or for the benefit of everyone, at all times is ultimately doomed to failure.
Rapture most likely fell apart because a small group comprised of the strongest citizens attempted to seize control. Or, the weak saw the writing on the wall and fought for control before the former could happen. Some people wanted tons of genetic enhancements, some didn't want any and just wanted to be left alone. Conflict was inevitable.
People aren't robots. They want things they can't have, their self-interested, they cheat and lie and steal to get what they want, and some of them are just completely insane. Nothing can change that and any system based on the assumption that people can and will act logically, whether for their own benefit or for the benefit of everyone, at all times is ultimately doomed to failure.
16th August 2007, 8:01 PM
This game scares me!
16th August 2007, 8:53 PM
As well it should! You should be so afraid of its awesomeness that you wet your pants!
16th August 2007, 10:30 PM
Quote:And to be honest I don't really agree there. To hear this sort of thing PC gaming (or console gaming, or gaming in general, or some very specific genre) has been going "downhill" since the Pentium 1 came out. Well I've seen a lot of neat stuff recently, and if that's downhill, I'll meet you at the bottom.
Thief 1 and 2 and Deus Ex... to Deus Ex 2 and Thief 3.
Baldur's Gate I and II and NWN... to KotOR and Jade Empire.
Arena and Daggerfall (and Redguard) ... to Morrowind and Oblivion.
Or this one... Activision's MechWarrior and MechWarrior 2 (plus expansion; they are mech sims, just like the X-Wing games) to Zipper/Microprose's MechWarrior 3 (still a sim) to FASA/Microsoft's MechWarrior 4 (more arcadish than the previous games in the series but still on PC) ... to MechAssualt and MechAssualt 2... console action games. And then after MechWarrior 4 FASA made Crimson Skies, the console flight action game (as opposed to the earlier PC flight sim -- not a super-realistic sim, but just enough to be interesting) and then Shadowrun...
Or how about Interplay, reduced from being the greatest RPG studio in history (1997-2002) to publishing Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel...
[On that note, here's a complete list of major (actually get games to retail) PC-only RPG developers still operating now.]
[End list]
While I know that the "PC gaming is dying" thing has been said for many years, and for a long time I disagreed, really, I think that since about 1999 PC gaming HAS been slipping. Oh, sales are still good, thanks almost entirely to online games (all major PC games are MMOs, FPS games, or RTSes, pretty much. Genre variety has disappeared beyond the extremely niche (online sales, stuff like that) level.), but it's not like it used to be. Looking at any PC Gamer (or even CGW, PC Games, or Computer Games Strategy Plus) magazine (oh, and the latter two of those four are out of business. And the second one is rebranded "Games for Windows". And PC Gamer is at best half and sometimes a quarter as long as it was in 1997.) makes this blatantly clear... not just the length, and the volume of content, because "online killed magazines" could be said there, but the number of games reviewed and demoed. Far, far fewer.
Quote:Maybe if you're a PC freak who just put down $1,500 for the latest hardware. For everyone else, including those people who don't have that $1,500, an Xbox360 port is the best thing that could possibly happen to this game.
Not when it mean a simplistic, consolized version of a great game it doesn't. As I said it looks like Irrational has probably managed to avoid that trap this time, thankfully, but you can never take it for granted anymore... :(
Seriously, the consolization of PC games is a major, major problem these days, and it's a big part of why the PC gaming industry has fallen so far. Back in what I'd call the PC's best era, the '90s, you almost never saw that! Oh, sure, there were some games that would show up on both consoles and PC, but they were usually either console games ported to the PC later or PC games ported to the console later. Not games simultaneously designed for both. But in the last few years, virtually every single major PC game gets a console port, often simultaneous. Why? Obviously, it's because they think that the PC isn't a successful enough console anymore to make many exclusive games for it, something that was almost never true in the past. Anyone who likes PC gaming would NOT see this as a good thing. Even if the PC was clearly the original design and the X360 version is 'just' a port (far from a guarantee these days, as I said, but possible -- see Prey, among others, perhaps, or better those RTSes EA ported to the 360) the message it sends is bad. I'll bet that it was Take-Two's idea to do the 360 port, not Irrational's.
17th August 2007, 12:59 AM
Great Rumbler Wrote:And how are the ideals like in Rapture supposed to work? How do you make sure that everyone gets what they worked for? Okay, let's set up a system to ensure that no one is cheated of what they are owed and no one gains what they haven't earned. BAM! Government. Society. Then it all falls apart.
Rapture most likely fell apart because a small group comprised of the strongest citizens attempted to seize control. Or, the weak saw the writing on the wall and fought for control before the former could happen. Some people wanted tons of genetic enhancements, some didn't want any and just wanted to be left alone. Conflict was inevitable.
People aren't robots. They want things they can't have, their self-interested, they cheat and lie and steal to get what they want, and some of them are just completely insane. Nothing can change that and any system based on the assumption that people can and will act logically, whether for their own benefit or for the benefit of everyone, at all times is ultimately doomed to failure.
I have no idea what the story of Bioshock is. I'm just saying I agree with the idea that people should get what they earn. Easy way to do that? Cut out the middle man. It's not like it's a hard thing. Our own society works like that already, for the most part.
Also, when genetic engineering that gives us grand super powers actually becomes viable (though NOTHING like this of course), I do not want it made illegal, ever. I've heard some parents actually complain about the idea of genetically engineered geniuses because those who don't do that will have kids at a disadvantage. YES YOU WILL! You made your choice and I respect that but don't expect everyone else to dumb themselves down just so you don't have a hard time. Yeah, and I'll sell my computer so the amish guys don't feel left behind. Right! SAME THING.
21st August 2007, 12:51 PM
So the PC demo is out now, but I can't seem to get it.
Ya know, there was a time when if you wanted to download a free demo, you went to a host and you DOWNLOADED it. I don't recall having to sign up for memberships or actually download special site specific downloading programs back then.
This must be that new "Web 2.0" thing everyone's going on about.
Ya know, there was a time when if you wanted to download a free demo, you went to a host and you DOWNLOADED it. I don't recall having to sign up for memberships or actually download special site specific downloading programs back then.
This must be that new "Web 2.0" thing everyone's going on about.
21st August 2007, 2:20 PM
http://ve3d.ign.com/articles/news/33935/...y-Released
VE3D has a list of sites with the demo, and they don't all require subscriptions. Most of them don't, in fact.
VE3D has a list of sites with the demo, and they don't all require subscriptions. Most of them don't, in fact.
21st August 2007, 3:01 PM
I have Bioshock.
22nd August 2007, 10:45 AM
22nd August 2007, 12:56 PM
4:3 is better anyway. :)
Or, put another way, how about this headline instead of all the stupid hysteria:
"PC developer makes game that runs best in screen ratio most PC monitors use"
(how shocking! Not that I care at all... seriously, so it looks better in 4:3. How is that bad? I'd consider it kind of good... :))
... I have the Bioshock demo installed... haven't played it yet though. I'll get the game someday, but probably not now. I mean, as much as I respect their stuff the only Looking Glass/Irrational titles I actually have are Terra Nova (awesome) and Tribes: Vengeance (awesome). I wouldn't be surprised if Bioshock ends up like Thief, Thief 2, or System Shock 2 -- games that I'd love to own and really mean to buy... maybe next time... and still don't own (though I've had the demos since the games were new, and loved all three of them). We'll see. :)
Or, put another way, how about this headline instead of all the stupid hysteria:
"PC developer makes game that runs best in screen ratio most PC monitors use"
(how shocking! Not that I care at all... seriously, so it looks better in 4:3. How is that bad? I'd consider it kind of good... :))
... I have the Bioshock demo installed... haven't played it yet though. I'll get the game someday, but probably not now. I mean, as much as I respect their stuff the only Looking Glass/Irrational titles I actually have are Terra Nova (awesome) and Tribes: Vengeance (awesome). I wouldn't be surprised if Bioshock ends up like Thief, Thief 2, or System Shock 2 -- games that I'd love to own and really mean to buy... maybe next time... and still don't own (though I've had the demos since the games were new, and loved all three of them). We'll see. :)
22nd August 2007, 1:54 PM
Oh, ABF, you're such a Luddite.
And it doesn't look BETTER, there's just more vertical information.
And it doesn't look BETTER, there's just more vertical information.
22nd August 2007, 1:58 PM
And that is better.
22nd August 2007, 2:16 PM
Not really.
22nd August 2007, 6:44 PM
It is if you are running along and some enemy shows up on a balcony above you, and you just catch their feet in normal screen but it's just totally missing in wide screen.
The reason I play games in widescreen on my laptop is entirely because in that ratio I see more. If I'm seeing LESS, I'm playing it in narrow screen mode instead. What would be the point of doing it otherwise?
The reason I play games in widescreen on my laptop is entirely because in that ratio I see more. If I'm seeing LESS, I'm playing it in narrow screen mode instead. What would be the point of doing it otherwise?
23rd August 2007, 6:06 PM
Wow, what a thrillride. Absolutely packed with atmospher, mood, and exciting gun-battles from start to finish.
If I had any complaints, it'd be that even on medium it felt very easy. Now, it never really felt like I was just breezing along with never any challenge what-so-ever, but the main focus of the game is presenting to you a story of a place called Rapture and the people that lived there, and not necessarily on putting things in your path that will stop you cold. I understand why they did it and, to an extent, I even agree with it, but those looking for the biggest challenge of their life won't find it here.
That aside, everything else is utterly amazing. The graphics, the art style, the atmosphere, the audio journals, the voice acting, the music, and even gameplay. A worthy contender for game of the year.
If I had any complaints, it'd be that even on medium it felt very easy. Now, it never really felt like I was just breezing along with never any challenge what-so-ever, but the main focus of the game is presenting to you a story of a place called Rapture and the people that lived there, and not necessarily on putting things in your path that will stop you cold. I understand why they did it and, to an extent, I even agree with it, but those looking for the biggest challenge of their life won't find it here.
That aside, everything else is utterly amazing. The graphics, the art style, the atmosphere, the audio journals, the voice acting, the music, and even gameplay. A worthy contender for game of the year.
23rd August 2007, 6:35 PM
Atmosphere AND mood? Wow what a crazy combination! Like that series, Police Cops.
Anyway, try Hard.
I just played the PC demo and to be honest I'm not sure which version is better. They are basically identical, save control schemes, except that the PC version also lets you use the 360 control scheme. There's also greater load times for some reason, but that may be my computer. I think it's about time the 360 versions of games added mouse and keyboard support via USB. I don't think it would be that tough to port over the support, the 360 using DirectX just like Windows and all. The input API should be pretty much the same, and actually the newest version of MS's general gaming API (the name of which I forget) is in fact identical between Windows and the 360. Also MS needs to start allowing companies to add in all sorts of custom mod support. My idea is fairly simple. The companies could set up a standard mod format (like many games do) that the 360 game can also read. Update the 360 BIOS so that people can move these mod files from a portable drive into the game's folder on the 360. From there, bam, done. Of course this sort of traces back to MS's mistake of using their own proprietary memory card format. Seriously, that made no sense. Maybe it would if it reused the original XBox format and just expanded on it, but no it was something totally new, and that after the other two companies made it clear they were using existing memory card standards from here on out.
Eh, I suppose if I had to pick, PC. Those "Pipe Dream" mini-games are just a lot easier with the drag and drop mouse method. I suppose that might seem cheap and all but it's a matter of controls there. I know what I want to do and I can do it a lot quicker with a mouse.
Anyway, try Hard.
I just played the PC demo and to be honest I'm not sure which version is better. They are basically identical, save control schemes, except that the PC version also lets you use the 360 control scheme. There's also greater load times for some reason, but that may be my computer. I think it's about time the 360 versions of games added mouse and keyboard support via USB. I don't think it would be that tough to port over the support, the 360 using DirectX just like Windows and all. The input API should be pretty much the same, and actually the newest version of MS's general gaming API (the name of which I forget) is in fact identical between Windows and the 360. Also MS needs to start allowing companies to add in all sorts of custom mod support. My idea is fairly simple. The companies could set up a standard mod format (like many games do) that the 360 game can also read. Update the 360 BIOS so that people can move these mod files from a portable drive into the game's folder on the 360. From there, bam, done. Of course this sort of traces back to MS's mistake of using their own proprietary memory card format. Seriously, that made no sense. Maybe it would if it reused the original XBox format and just expanded on it, but no it was something totally new, and that after the other two companies made it clear they were using existing memory card standards from here on out.
Eh, I suppose if I had to pick, PC. Those "Pipe Dream" mini-games are just a lot easier with the drag and drop mouse method. I suppose that might seem cheap and all but it's a matter of controls there. I know what I want to do and I can do it a lot quicker with a mouse.
24th August 2007, 11:09 AM
On another note, is it just me or have creepy little kids become the de facto standard in how to make a frightening game (or movie for that matter)? I think it all started with that "The Grudge" movie.
24th August 2007, 11:14 AM
what about the exorcist.
24th August 2007, 12:59 PM
I think Pet "S"emetary would be a better example, since that has an actual kid, but I was actually talking about the recent fad more than the origin of the idea.
24th August 2007, 6:25 PM
Dark Jaguar Wrote:On another note, is it just me or have creepy little kids become the de facto standard in how to make a frightening game (or movie for that matter)? I think it all started with that "The Grudge" movie.
The role that the Little Sisters play is much better done that any of the other recent games that have used that plot element.
28th August 2007, 12:43 PM
The Ring was before The Grudge, both remakes of Japanese movies of the same titles that did this in the 90's.
29th August 2007, 7:10 PM
*doesn't get the point*
So's apparently Bioshock is a virus. That's what AVG keeps telling me anyway.
Looking into it, it appears that Bioshock installs a background service into XP, like permanently (well I can remove it). It's part of the copyright protection. Also, it installs two corrupt registry keys into the registry that can't normally be removed (except with some special custom made apps). Great... I got the game because after playing the demo a few times I was impressed enough by it, the game. Now I'm thinking I should have just gone with the 360 version after all. My antivirus actually yelled at the demo too, meaning it was put in the freakin' DEMO, the thing that's SUPPOSED to be shared with everyone you know, the thing that doesn't NEED copyright protection, THAT ONE!
Look, I understand that pirates are sort of ruining things for the rest of us, but whatever anti piracy measures you may employee, 2K, don't screw around with my computer! I run a clean ship and this fellow is going overboard the second it misbehaves! I have ensigns scrubbing the bulkheads of the entire thing right now because of your mess! You can tell them why they get two days less shoreleave next week!
The ol' registry key requirements? No problem with that, I'm used to it. Special corrupted parts of subchannel data on the CD/DVD? Classic technique used since the PS1, and though it may cause me some trouble making a legitimate backup, I tend to take good care of my disks and it doesn't really affect me a bit. That odd requirement of registering the game online? Annoying, and the two install limit is utter nonsense (I've already had to reinstall it twice, glad they upped the limit to 5 but I'm approaching that limit pretty soon too), but even that doesn't compare to this.
Look, just limit your copyright protection schemes to the program itself and the media it comes on. Don't actually punish me for running process explorer (seriously, I use that program all the time, and apparently the program refuses to start if I ran it recently). This is terrible public relations.
Let's face it, the pirates are going to figure a way around this. I mean some hackers hacked the PSP's <a href="http://www.noobz.eu/joomla/news/pandoras-battery.html">BATTERY</a>, the frickin' battery. This won't stop them.
The most these guys can realistically hope for is preventing casual users from making copies, and special corrupt data track disks have done, and still do, that job sufficiently. Sure hackers get around that, but they are all going to get around this too. I would only worry about it when casual users, meaning some really popular copying program that takes up a massive market share, is getting around that old copyright protection.
So's apparently Bioshock is a virus. That's what AVG keeps telling me anyway.
Looking into it, it appears that Bioshock installs a background service into XP, like permanently (well I can remove it). It's part of the copyright protection. Also, it installs two corrupt registry keys into the registry that can't normally be removed (except with some special custom made apps). Great... I got the game because after playing the demo a few times I was impressed enough by it, the game. Now I'm thinking I should have just gone with the 360 version after all. My antivirus actually yelled at the demo too, meaning it was put in the freakin' DEMO, the thing that's SUPPOSED to be shared with everyone you know, the thing that doesn't NEED copyright protection, THAT ONE!
Look, I understand that pirates are sort of ruining things for the rest of us, but whatever anti piracy measures you may employee, 2K, don't screw around with my computer! I run a clean ship and this fellow is going overboard the second it misbehaves! I have ensigns scrubbing the bulkheads of the entire thing right now because of your mess! You can tell them why they get two days less shoreleave next week!
The ol' registry key requirements? No problem with that, I'm used to it. Special corrupted parts of subchannel data on the CD/DVD? Classic technique used since the PS1, and though it may cause me some trouble making a legitimate backup, I tend to take good care of my disks and it doesn't really affect me a bit. That odd requirement of registering the game online? Annoying, and the two install limit is utter nonsense (I've already had to reinstall it twice, glad they upped the limit to 5 but I'm approaching that limit pretty soon too), but even that doesn't compare to this.
Look, just limit your copyright protection schemes to the program itself and the media it comes on. Don't actually punish me for running process explorer (seriously, I use that program all the time, and apparently the program refuses to start if I ran it recently). This is terrible public relations.
Let's face it, the pirates are going to figure a way around this. I mean some hackers hacked the PSP's <a href="http://www.noobz.eu/joomla/news/pandoras-battery.html">BATTERY</a>, the frickin' battery. This won't stop them.
The most these guys can realistically hope for is preventing casual users from making copies, and special corrupt data track disks have done, and still do, that job sufficiently. Sure hackers get around that, but they are all going to get around this too. I would only worry about it when casual users, meaning some really popular copying program that takes up a massive market share, is getting around that old copyright protection.
30th August 2007, 6:01 AM
Agreed, DJ. Copy protection doesn't hurt pirates, because they just download pre-cracked versions of products. It only hurts legitimate customers. And yet companies keep doing it, I guess because they think that the annoyance most of their customers suffer is worth it to stop a few people from copying the disc or something... :(
31st August 2007, 1:02 AM
Seriously, I'd rather deal with code wheels and questions on what the 8th word is on page 3 paragraph 4 in section 6 "Hints For New Adventurers" than this garbage.
2nd September 2007, 9:40 AM
Code wheels were kind of fun... provided that you didn't lose them, of course. :)