Alright guys, EA seriously needs to nix DRM for Crysis 2 alltogether. All DRM does is cause problems. It punishes the paying customers severely, while the hackers and pirates waltz easily past every line of code the helpless developers write, and play the game without issue. EA needs to realize that their ridiculous DRM turns off consumers, and scares away potential customers. If anything, it INCREASES the amount of pirated copies, because no one wants to deal with the devastating side effects of the DRM that comes with the paid version.

Just think about it this way:

-Option 1: Pay ~$40-$60 for Crysis, but the DRM limits you to installing it only a couple times, forces you to use one of your precious installs if you change hardware (like video cards), locks up if you have more than one DVD drive, prevents you from using LEGAL disc burning software, installs monitoring software to your Windows root files, and more.

-Option 2: Pay absolutely nothing for Crysis, get unlimited installs, no nagging errors or disc checks, no CD keys or online server authentication requirements, no issues or complications with burning software or multiple disc drives, etc.

It is just sad that us paying customers have to put up with all of this crap, while the pirates waltz by with no hitches. EA: It's time to step up to the plate, be honest with us PC gamers, and REMOVE THE F&*$ING DRM.

I guarantee that if EA removes the DRM, advertises the game as DRM free, and still caters it to hardcoe PC gamers, sales will increase astronomically. When it comes to DRM, gamers just aren't willing to pay. They'd rather take the easy way out and pirate.

Also, go here: http://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/2010/05/wolfire-programmer-poor-pc-ports-not-piracy-hurt-business.ars
This guy has some great arguments against DRM.

DRM is stupid! DON'T BUY IT!

Also, I just wanted to note: No offense to Crytek! I love you guys, you are one of the few developers still supporting us longtime PC gamers, and I truly appreciate your efforts! I am mainly attacking EA, your publisher. They are pure evil, along with Activision.

I agree with you, but Ubisoft DRM is twenty times worse..

Also, Crytek used DRM for Crysis Warhead and they were so displeased with the results that they gave the community a revoke tool. So if irs Crytek's call, then DRM is not likely to happen. However its more likely to be EA's call...

of course DRM is stupid, it's crazy to treat the paying customers like thieves. I say just get rid of it all togethor and just have CD-Key's

[quote]I agree with you, but Ubisoft DRM is twenty times worse..

Also, Crytek used DRM for Crysis Warhead and they were so displeased with the results that they gave the community a revoke tool. So if irs Crytek's call, then DRM is not likely to happen. However its more likely to be EA's call... [/quote]

Yeah, at least it's not as bad as the DRM in Assassin's Creed 2...but still, It would be so awesome to just have none at all! I would buy 10 copies!

[quote]I agree with you, but Ubisoft DRM is twenty times worse..

Also, Crytek used DRM for Crysis Warhead and they were so displeased with the results that they gave the community a revoke tool. So if irs Crytek's call, then DRM is not likely to happen. However its more likely to be EA's call... [/quote]
Throughout reading his post I as thinking of Ubi's DRM, but all DRM is rubbish, the pirates get away with all the same features as us, but for free.

Here we go again!!

I'm not at all a fan of DRM and agree with OP. With the release of Crysis: Warhead the forums were a-buzzin' with DRM wars raging against the mods and crytek employees. Basically, we're stuck with what EA wants them to have

I personally don't believe DRM works. But you know who believes it does work? EA, and they're calling the shots. So long as their main shareholders are happy that there is "DRM preventing piracy and bolstering sales" it's not going anywhere, regardless of the falsity of that statement.

[quote]Here we go again!!

I'm not at all a fan of DRM and agree with OP. With the release of Crysis: Warhead the forums were a-buzzin' with DRM wars raging against the mods and crytek employees. Basically, we're stuck with what EA wants them to have

I personally don't believe DRM works. But you know who believes it does work? EA, and they're calling the shots. So long as their main shareholders are happy that there is "DRM preventing piracy and bolstering sales" it's not going anywhere, regardless of the falsity of that statement.[/quote]

The only reason that EA's shareholders are happy is because when the games they sell finish gypping users out of their rightful installs, the games have to be re-bought. Essentially, they try to make the process of using more installs super easy and almost forced, so that customers have to buy new copies.

Oh yeah, you guys, don't forget to read that article I posted as a link at the end of my first post. It has some really good insight, and a very solid argument. Overall good read.

[quote]Oh yeah, you guys, don't forget to read that article I posted as a link at the end of my first post. It has some really good insight, and a very solid argument. Overall good read. [/quote]
I read it awhile ago, I like Wolfire a lot

For me a simple one time online activation is fine, as long as it doesn't have INSTALL LIMITS.

I constantly change my hardware and format my PC, so I cannot support any game that limits how many times I install it. The DRM revoke tool for warhead did not work at all for me (I tried it on a few machines) so I am now forced to use a crack every time I want to play.

If the PC version of Crysis 2 is released with install limits then I just can't pay money for it.

The majority of PC gamers think the same way about DRM, why shoot yourself in the foot EA?

The thing is, me and my friend were talking about it, the thng is, if they actully made really good stuff, stuff worth buying, then people would buy that stuff insead of pirate it.

I don't mind install limits as long as you get to control the deactivation process either through a utility or uninstalling the game.

I think EA did it right with Bad Company 2, you could either choose traditional disc checks or online verification.

[quote]I don't mind install limits as long as you get to control the deactivation process either through a utility or uninstalling the game.

I think EA did it right with Bad Company 2, you could either choose traditional disc checks or online verification.[/quote]
This is a good point, maybe they'll go this way with Crysis2. Let's get real, the install limit SecuROM sparked an ENORMOUS amount of controversy and backlash, and I haven't seen recent EA games with install limits on them. SO, maybe they learned their lesson and we can get a non-install limited game

I personally don't have a whole lot against SecuROM without install limits. I'd still rather it not be there, but if this is where we have to meet EA on the mythical DRM bridge then that's fine with me.

these companies might think that having DRM on their games is helping the "legit" users when in actuality those who crack it experience less problems. Its a simple solution really, take off DRM, and you get more customers.

[quote]I don't mind install limits as long as you get to control the deactivation process either through a utility or uninstalling the game.

I think EA did it right with Bad Company 2, you could either choose traditional disc checks or online verification.[/quote]

What if my computer has a fatal error and I'm forced to re-format without uninstalling the game. OOPS! there goes a copy, no way around it.

That hasn't happened to me recently, but every game I own with install limits is dead, why? It just doesn't occur to me to go around uninstalling all my games before a format.
I shouldn't have to do anything to secure my copy/copies of the game once I've paid for it, its just not acceptable.

The option of a disc check on BBC2 was nice, I bought it.
Although I wanted to get the steam version but It had install limits (which were later removed)

I personally would be estatic if crytek opted to use the Steam platform as their official DRM

[quote]I personally would be estatic if crytek opted to use the Steam platform as their official DRM[/quote]

+1 steam is the best DRM out there.

I have no problems with DRM, as long as it's not a stupid implementation. The following are things which I would consider stupid and REALLY hope that Crytek not implement:

- Install limits (*cough*cough*Warhead*cough*)
- Permanent online connection for a singleplayer game (Ubisoft)
- Re-writing my drivers (Ubisoft again I'm afraid)
- A system that prevents users from playing because verification is down (Hat Trick!)
- Anything that causes crashing in a significant portion of PC's (hard to judge, but if it sounds risky, then I'd advice DON'T do it).

I don't mind single-use online verification, where the game is verified on Startup. However, I really, [i]really[/i] want you to consider what Sega is doing. Which is that after the game has had its sales period (about 2 years), they fully remove the DRM and you no longer have to worry about the activation servers going down.

That's the approach they're taking with Alpha Protocol, and to be honest, I can put up with a lot if there's a guarantee to the effect that the DRM will eventually be removed and I don't need to worry about being unable to play my game in future because someone at EA felt maintaining them was no longer economically reasonable 6 years later.

Long run-on sentences are long.

oh man i think im so gonna get flamed for what im about to say.
i can totally understand why EA put DRM (rootkits) onto their software. They blindly believe that it will stop piracy of their software, which in actuality couldnt be farther from the truth, all a DRM rootkit will do is make life of the genuine purchaser of the software a total misery, as someone said before it will lock up if you have 2xDVD writers, i have 2 writers so according to EA im going to pirate their game using my dual writers. WHAT A TOSH, if i like a game i buy it period, im not into cracking or copying said software at all.

which brings me to the people who DO crack the software, does EA seriously think that something as well known as a rootkit is going to stop them dead, puhlease, if they seriously think that then they need to wake up and smell the coffee, these guys probably have hardware de-compilers interlinked machines and know code like they know the back of their hands, all drm is going to do is hurt sales figures and pee off the genuine buyers.

I will b e buying this game regardless of what EA enforces upon us for one simple reason, i asmire what crytek is doing and fully support them in their endeavours to bring cutting edge gaming to the masses.

Personally I'm of the belief that one time online verification and/or CD Keys are enough to protect games. Also, you are all aware that Steam is also DRM? Seems that many are fine with that one, but then again, its not too intrusive.

Thing is, you DO have people out there who will pirate with, or without DRM. As was seen with the Humble Indie Bundle.

http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/10/one-quarter-of-humble-indie-bundle-downloads-were-pirated/
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/100576-Who-Would-Pirate-the-One-Cent-Humble-Indie-Bundle

Lets just say that DRM isn't the reason why many pirate games, shall we?

[quote]Personally I'm of the belief that one time online verification and/or CD Keys are enough to protect games. Also, you are all aware that Steam is also DRM? Seems that many are fine with that one, but then again, its not too intrusive.

Thing is, you DO have people out there who will pirate with, or without DRM. As was seen with the Humble Indie Bundle.

http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/10/one-quarter-of-humble-indie-bundle-downloads-were-pirated/
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/100576-Who-Would-Pirate-the-One-Cent-Humble-Indie-Bundle

Lets just say that DRM isn't the reason why many pirate games, shall we?[/quote]

Then lets just hope that the number of honest gamers that buy the game because of no DRM outweighs the number that pirate it.

I despise DRM's

If it has one I will just need to get the "illegal" hack.

(Although, in the System Requirements it says that you only need internet connection to register during the install.

IMO, the drm is more to force ppl to not resell games than any other thing. Surely it not stop piracy.