Mahjong WisdomThere have been a lot of questions about how we will be handling DRM on our new Games on Demand service, so I am going to try to help clarify things a bit:
SecuROM – Some of our titles (see below) will be using this DRM feature which allows for Five activations a month on any hardware. The key is tied to your account, so as long as you are logging in on your account you can install this program up to 5 times in a month (not just 5 times total).
Server Side Authentication – A feature introduced in Games for Windows – LIVE 3.0 which publishers can use at their own choice. This feature will tie the LIVE Access Key to your Windows Live ID and the Gamertag associated to it. Games for Windows – LIVE Server Side Authentication only affects your ability to log into the LIVE service, and the LIVE Access Key for such titles can be re-used after several installations.
Standard SecuROM® = 5 activations/month on any hardware.
Fallout 3Resident Evil 5 Street Fighter IV Battlestations PacificKane & Lynch Section 8 Viva Pinata Juiced 2Batman: Arkham Asylum Mahjong WisdomWhere's WaldoBorderlandsMax Payne 2GTA San AndreasChampionship Manager 2010LEGO Harry PotterLEGO BatmanTomb Raider: UnderworldBioShockMax PayneGears of WarUniverse at WarCivilization IV
Server Side Authentication (SSA) Titles:
Section 8Dirt 2TinkerMahjong WisdomWhere's WaldoBlacklight: Tango Down
Ubisoft titles will use their custom DRM, either TAGES for older titles, or Orbit for the newer ones.
Football Manager 2010 uses Uniloc online activation.
These lists are incomplete as of now, but I or another member of the LIVE team will be updating this list as more titles are added to our catalog. And we’re working on methods to make it more clear what the activation limits are.
Thanks for your patience!
Ok, so how I am understanding this is that once a game is purchased from Games on Demand, you can install it up to 5 times a month period. Doesn't matter if its my home PC, my work PC, or some random stranger's laptop.. as long as its not past the 5 intstalls a month? Obviously you can install it on your computer and you laptop, but you can only play on one at a time as it requires a log in I assume. This is all good!
Now the question that nags at me the most is, once a game is bought on GoD, it acts like a limited SSA title? As in, disregarding the 5 install limit a month for a moment, the game (key) is now tied to my gamertag and can be installed indefinitely?
Sounds good, and at the same time very reasonable.
I can live with that. I think Securom is pointless for all of those titles, but it's no longer an issue of paying full price for "renting" a title. 5 installs a month is fine with me.
Still, Securom is useless, it wouldn't be a bad idea to suggest to the developers/publishers that the software is no longer needed with your Server Side Authentication in place. It's not the GFW team's choice, but couldn't hurt to show them your product/service is better and all that is needed. Give a good boot up the *** to Sony's product!
One more thing, eventually, whether or not we bought the game retail/Games on Demand or other (like Steam), will we be able to download and install our games directly from the client without the disc, since they are tied to our accounts? Easier then having to worry about patching when you have fast internet.
Keep up the good work guys!
At least now with Securom we are no longer limited to a set number of total installs and having to contact them/revoke them when we go over.
Updating list with latest releases
Updating for BioShock, Max Payne and Gears of War.
