GTA 4 PC DRM: Copy protection and activation in detail

According to PCGH the normal retail version of the GTA 4 PC version can be installed an unlimited number of times. Online connection is required for activation. Disc is required for playing.

For multiplayer a Games for Windows Live account is required.

[thor]

And they wonder why PC gaming is dying...

With copy protection like this I'd rather have a hacked copy.

And I'd much rather have it on PS3 than be lumped with this "Games for windows live" lameness.

[TheIneffableBob]

This isn't that bad, really. It's just a simple online activation. The main flaws of the Spore, Far Cry 2, etc. SecuROM DRM schemes were the limited amount of activations. Once you reached those limits, you had to call the publisher. With GTA IV, however, you have an unlimited number of installs and activations. Everybody has an Internet connection, so online activation shouldn't be much of a problem. I'd rather not have a disc-check, but it's not anything major.

[Vip3r]

DRM really is putting people off games.

[Filet of Children]

I dunno, I think that the DRM is just putting people off of PAYING for games.

[I Call 9MM]

It's not as bad as it could have been. They let you install it on as many systems as you want, which is good. That was the big issue with Securom. It's still absolutely useless and this game will be cracked before it's even released, as usual, but what can you do. Gamers voiced their opinions and these install limits seem to be going away. As long as Securom isn't doing anything else in the background (like keylogging, tracking webpages etc...) then I can live with it.

Now, if it is like Fallout 3 and Securom barfs up when it is in Vista 64, then I will be pissed. Games for Windows easy to use with Vista 64 my ass.

[TheColbertinator]

DRM is the biggest contributor for PC piracy.

[I Call 9MM]

The whole issue really is, why would you put with having to have the disc in your drive and more security measures with the retail version or just download the pirated version sans any such issues. The nice thing about PC games used to be no discs needed, not anymore it seems. Step back there in progress.

[Charmers]

If you have a problem with having the disc in the drive whilst playing the game then there is a legal alternative and that is of course Steam.

[I Call 9MM]

Oh I buy all my games it's just such a pain in the ass I understand why some people pirate games for those reasons. I also understand a lot of people are cheap and will do it anyway, like with World of Goo. I bet Good Old Games is going to suffer much of the same problem, but I'm sure all of those games being offered there have been pirated for ages long before bit torrent and Peer to Peer download services.

[majorsuave]

"Requirements for playing (multiplayer): Active internet connection, Games for Windows Live account"

If I am correct, games for windows live is a Vista feature?

if that is so, you get one less customer Rockstar...
Well, technically, I am a customer because I own the 360 version and I bought previous titles too, but I mean for this PC release.

[Charmers]

Games for windows live can be used in windows Xp as well. It is an urban myth that you can only use GFWL with Vista.

[Avto]

You think by now they would stop doing this, I mean at first this new DRM was well kind of harder to crack it took them quite some time for some games to get cracked, but now it's as smooth as butter for this guys, heck Ubisoft even uses their game.exe files for making patches. If you ask me they should go easy on the DRM and spend their budget on the game rather than new DRM systems.

[uie4rhig]

i trust that reloaded will release this game at least a week before release lol

[Charmers]

Not if they don't have a time machine since the game is due for release in 3 days time in the US and 4 days time in Europe.

[uie4rhig]

i thought it was delayed.. or was it delayed to that date? hmm weird.. owell i guess i wasn't really up to date with it coz i already got it on PS3 lol.. tho im still gonna be buying it :)

[y0haN]

This is the best type of DRM after simple disc check. Games for Windows is an utter failure though, so either I hope they scrap it fast or GFW improves itself fast. Nobody wanted to pay to play online and they paid for that. Besides, Steam's better.

[zonetrooper5]

GFW has been free since the Summer btw.