🚀 go-pugleaf

On Apr 1, 11:50 am, Angus <angus@_ANTISPEM_angusm.demon.co.uk> wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> I was actually looking at buying a racing game and was homing in on
> Burnout Paradise in my Google research until I kept hitting comments
> about Securom. Then I found links to Medieval 2 - Kingdoms which
> apparently also installs Securom, I have Kingdoms but have not yet
> installed it.
>
> There's lots of heat and energy being expended about Securom on the
> various forums, I'm relatively new to pc gaming so I wondered if you
> guys might have a more level-headed view of how much of a problem (if it
> is a problem) it actually is?
>
> Cheers.

Depends on what features of Securom are being used. It can be disc
check, an online component, or both. The online component is usually
an installation limit. How these affect you depend on how you use the
software.

The disc check uses physical characteristics of the disc to verify
authenticity. This prevents you from making legal backups without the
assistance of cracks or emulation. It also adds several seconds to the
startup process every time you launch a game. I believe it used to
install a system library/driver, not sure if it still does that. It
might also depend on the game's implementation. Aside from these
nuisances, the disc check won't stop you from playing an original copy
of the game unless you happen to have an incompatible disc drive that
behaves in a manner unexpected by Securom, in which case there will be
no end to your problems.

The online components are date checks and install limits. The date
checks are relatively benign, seeking only to verify that the game has
officially been released. However, there have been bugs in the system
where game access became blocked for no good reason. These incidents
are rare, and usually get fixed. The installation limits are something
you have to manage, either by using license management tools (if
provided) or counting down to when you won't be able to install the
game anymore. Any online DRM component carries with it the risk that
if the service is shut down, it takes your legal method of access with
it.

As with anything that is designed to limit use rights, the system is
designed to work for the majority of customers and not interfere with
the basic ability to operate the game (which would bring unwanted
attention to the restrictions in place). If you're okay with just
playing the game, on their terms, then you really have nothing to fear
most of the time. If you want to exercise your rights in any other
way, as many techies talking in forums do, that's when you'll run into
problems. Securom is either a very big problem or not a problem at
all, and it depends precisely on what you expect to get for your $50.