when i buy a book or a movie or a tape itis mine to do what i want to with it. i can keep it use it whenevr i want give it to a friend swap it oer sell it. I maynot be abl to use use for commerial things but othrwise its mine
When i spend 30 or 40 dolars on a game i ought to have the same priviliges ^^^^^^^ why not
Iwont buy it if the co. tells me i cant do this and i cant do that and i can only play it under there conditons
I just wont buy it and if enouhg people do the same im sure the co.s will learn they must to be reasonabl

Somebody said they think soon all games wil be download and wityh same restrictons
I hope to godnes not or I wil have to stop playing adventurs because i certenly wont buy them unde the unfair rules mentioned here above

I agree that the pirates don't seem to care - at all (still not a recommendation, though). Both Bioshock etc. were 'ehm' cough - hacked within hours of the initial release (still not a recommendation!)

I said that I belived that all games (except for indie games) would made this way. I didn't say that I liked it. I don't.

In Bioshock's case people were in uproar over this --- and Take 2 did take notice of this. Especially since the activation codes and the support phone numbers did not work properly - at all.

They also had forgotten to write on the box that you only got two installs or activations before you had to ask for a new cd-key. I think they meant well. I think they wanted people to be able to install it on both their laptop as well as their usual desktop computer. But they did raise a storm within the Bioshock community - which caused take Take 2 to extend the activation limit to 5 installs and made a revoke tool for these installations. Many people were also threathening to not buy Take 2's products anymore. Apparently that was enough.

I also pointed firmly, but fairly that the not mentioning on the two installs either on the box nor or in the games documentatation (the manual) might be slightly il-legal, at least in the EU, or in Denmark. People also were threathening to call consumer rights groups into action.

This happened simply because many people did not succeed with their activation. And sometimes un-installing and installing a game helps with this. And you have to do it this way --- you just can't install Bioshock on top of the old game again - it then counts as one of your five activations. That didn't seem to help either, so people were very mad...

Several people also mentioned that they bought this game legally, and couldn't even play the game, while some jerk (yes jerk!) who just pirated the game (still not a recommendation!) were able to play the game.

The point is this: The mere threat of 1) not buying Take 2 games anywhere and 2) threathening to call in the Consumers' Rights Groups seem to convince Take 2 to take action, thus making the correct decision.

So yes, in a sense we voted with our dollars.

I hope that this will tell other publishers not to do what Take 2 did with Bioshock, making people connect to the internet - just to get the game's .exe file downloaded from Take 2's server.
Especially since there is no gurantee that Take 2 will be here 10 or 20 years from now. However, Ken Levine said that a later date, they will remove the internet requirement for activation.

I don't know any adventure games (as of yet) that do require you to be connected to the internet just to activate or to install the game - unless Evidence (or Missing), but since they are sort of on-line games as well, as you will get clues from varius sites on the internet etc I don't really think they should be counted amongst the games that does this -ehm- activation thingy.

The big thing is that digital medias like movies, games and perhaps digital books as well seem to be all about licensing e.g. you pay say 60 US dollars for a game, and then you only get to use it under the terms of the license. Let's not forgot that most games are licensed to you, not sold. (and why this is so,need to subject to another discussion on another forum for another day).

I use 'steam' and is very happy with this. Steam allows you to burn you downloaded games to a disc, you can also re-download the games as many times as you need etc. etc.

/Karsten

I am told and I know my English is bad and Im getting help correcting now before posts.

Karsten

I have played very many adventures but never a downloded one - except 2 issues of SamnMax. I dont know what Bioshock is.

But if you say it was - "hacked within hours of the initial release" what is the point of all the terible restrictions which i completely object to buying?

ok. if they can be downloaded burnt at home and then used like my usual boxd games thats fine especial if they are a bit cheaper.
But i feel we should stand sholder to sholder and protest against imoral practises by some developers or publishrers which horribly restrict our rights as purchasers of things which are expensive and should be ours not theirs.

What when my server is down? What when I go out of town with my laptop or on a plane and want to play. What when I reformat my computer or have a crash or update or who knows?
its enough headache already, i don't need more to play a game ive spent 40$ buying.
Why cant we band together and stop it by not buying?

Sorry, didn't mean to start a boycott or anything close to it, I was just rather taken aback that I could not play the game. I never really gave any thought to the fact that my internet being down would interfere in my play time. I did find out you could request a special code from the developer that would enable you to play with no internet, but it needs to be done before you disconnect the internet. At least they offer a way to disable the checking each time.

Ana

I think for those of you who are boycotting the games being discussed (e.g. limited activations, connection to internet, etc.), it's important for you to tell the developers and distributors why you're boycotting. By not informing them of your reasons for boycotting, they'll never know what is affecting their sales.

I agree misa, this isn't the place to do that and writing the developers and publishers is the only way to make any difference.
I did contact the developer and in my case discovered there is a workaround for it. It was just that it was a bit late, since now my internet is up and running.

Ana

Bioshock is game made by Ken Levine that tells a story about an underwater city which were formed to make one man's ideal way back in 1958 (or so). And now has gone to pieces.

The point was not to discuss Bioshock, but rather to discuss internet activations etc.

I agree that the pirates don't seem to care at all (still not a recommendation!) and I know that within hours or 1-2 days people did pirate Bioshock. (still not a recommendation!)

The point I was trying to make was also this:

I know that hardcore gamers like ourself here at gameboomer, adventuregamers etc. and possibly also at rpgwatch and on the bioware forums care alot about these things. However, to 80-90% of the gamers these days, often refers to as the casual gamers, they really don't care. They just want to play the game, then leave it, and then play another game. (many of then anyway...).

If they need to have the internet running to install or to play the game, they don't care. (at least that how I see it). The point I was trying to make was also that the mere threat of consumers (gamers) not buying anymore games (products) from
Take 2 (the publishers of Bioshock) was enough to make Take 2
think again about the activations etc.

I also hope that one day we will decide with our dollars and band together, but just now it does look rather bleak,
(or black), I fear.

/Karsten

Karsten
i hope i didnt give the impresion that i was criticisng you o, or anydody else ^^^^ exept the develpers who download there games and impose very unfair conditons. on the opposite i greatly thank you all.

i don't know anythng about bioshock since i never download and i relise that was only example.

I agree we should inform those develpers and there publishrs as well as not buy.
If all adventures change to there system ill have to stop with new games completely and maybe others to which would be a great pity. i have so many new ones still in boxs will keep me going for as long time and aftr that will have to replay very many best oldies.

misa, BrownEyedTigre - I think it's a very good idea to let developers/publishers/distributers know why you won't buy their game. At the same time if I was involved in any of these roles & a game wasn't selling I would be scrutinising game forums to find out why! My point being if you're not selling your product you are going to try & find out what the problem is!

Gee, that sounds a lot like Ultima Underworld, only without the fantasy environment.


Bioshock comes in a box.
http://www.gamestop.com/product.asp?product%5Fid=646647

Note what Gamestop lists under System Requirements:

many thanx
"Bioshock comes in a box."
"Quote:**Important Note: Game requires Internet connection for activation**"

Box or no box i woulnt spend 50$s for a game when afterwrds i have to depend on the agreement of others to play it - developrs publishers etc.

thanx for the link. I know bioshok was only an exampl but looking i wouldnt play it even if i got it as a present.

action horror blood and gore drug intense sex themes strong langage

Themes aside, there are rumors that Bioshock will be released minus copy control when it comes out as a budget title. And that's what I am waiting for.

If the game comes out as a budget title minus copy control is this more of an AG or Darkside?

mrlipid: That's good to hear. I hope they release it without the copy control. I had avoided buying it when it came out because of that (and the price tag.

chrissie: It's totally a darkside game.

Bioshock is definitely a Darkside game.

I just wish more adventure games would be rereleased without the copy prevention. It would be so much nicer for those who don't want to put the CD in the drive for every game they have installed on their computers.