Confirmed: Crysis Warhead Has A Set Install Limit

GameXtract writes "Rumors have been going around that Crysis Warhead is another title among a set with the so called protection that limits a customer to install the game on a limited set of machines. The rumors going about estimated that the title would only be available on three machines. The exact number is still unknown, but the rumor on this whole concept has been confirmed through the license agreement in the install wizard."

Get the full info and image after the jump.

[Blademask]

While the people that pirate, install it whenever.

[Winter47th]

Odd ideas they adopt in the name of 'copy protection', it's like the more piracy there is the more stupid their methods are of countering it.

[UltimateIdiot911]

At this rate, PC gaming will be dead. It's almost like a self fulfilling prophecy, in order to stop piracy companies make piracy look good.

[nbsmatambo]

wtf is up with this sh!t...

they dont seem to learn from wat happened to SPORE...

just wait a few days, u will hear that Warhead is on pace to b the most illegally downloaded game ever...

[Proxy]

This is all to stop second hand sales of game. 3 or 30 installs work equally well in stoping piracy. Either the pirates remove the system altogether, or they leave it in place and 30 people install the game illegally; 30 illegal copies is no big deal.

What they don't want is Billy gowing tired of Crysis, so he gives it to Bob. Now EA dosn't get Bobs money.

From a cold coorperate perspective:
The Good:
DRM is a minor annoyance to pirates.
DRM prevents second hand sales, thus Bob has to buy his own copy.
DRM might trick some spineless soul to buy the game a second time.

The Bad:
If DRM has ANY effect on piracy, it makes piracy just that much more appealing.
Thing is, for every Bob, who buys his own copy, and for every spineless soul who buys another copy because his installs are all used, there are 3 people would have bought the game, but didn't because of DRM. (2 of those just went without, there are other games to play; the other just DLed a torrent.)

Also, the article provides no proof of install limits. Here's hoping Crytec got it there way. Heaven knows if EA prevailed, the game can only be installed once, half the time, maybe.

I think PC gaming is on life support. Fortunately, that life support is techies who are adicted to upgrading their PC's for no other reason than to score higher on a benchmark. There will always be a niche, and hopefully they will be catered to, because I'm one of them.

[ravinash]

Good point Proxy, it also stops that great past time that we have done since Games began. Loaning them to our friends.

[unsunghero28]

That way you've got a license to Warhead that stays attached to your Steam account as long as it exists.

It occurs to me that this whole conflict over DRM could make Steam the dominant method of PC game releases. Pretty likely, actually, because EA and Valve already have a pretty close relationship.

[Rooted_Dust]

The only thing I don't like about Steam is that you can't pass or trade your games.

[El_Colombiano]

Steam is still crackable you know.

[Charmers]

You do realise that the steam version of Warhead also incorporates this protection in it. I imagine it also incorporates the limited installs system too so whilst you may be able to download it from steam as many times as you like you will only be able to activate it 3 times after that the game won't work. Plus I think steam users are in an even worse situation because EA probably won't want to know about steam users and steam won't want to know about the problem either.

Basically any retail version of Crysis Warhead will be gimped whether you buy it from a shop or download it online from steam or D2D. I made the mistake of assuming Crysis Warhead wouldn't have this protection so I have alreay bought it. I can't do much about it now (can't even download it yet because I live in Europe). However this is my last EA game, I think EA need to take a good long hard look at what they are doing and if they cannot bring a game to the PC without these draconian drm systems then they needn't bother doing anything for the PC.

As far as I am concerned I will no longer purchase any games that feature limited installs.

[pwnsause]

But you cant play online.

"You do realise that the steam version of Warhead also incorporates this protection in it. I imagine it also incorporates the limited installs system too so whilst you may be able to download it from steam as many times as you like you will only be able to activate it 3 times after that the game won't work. Plus I think steam users are in an even worse situation because EA probably won't want to know about steam users and steam won't want to know about the problem either."

And thats really Dumb and unacceptable by EA. This is the #1 reason why PC gaming is dying.

[Rooted_Dust]

You don't need to reactivate games on Steam. The games are always on your list for you to download and play.

[Charmers]

we have already SEEN this in action steam users ran into a whole host of problems with bioshock and that used the SAME protection that Crysis Warhead now uses. So don't try and make it out that steam is completely immune to this rubbish because it isn't. The steam version of warhead is exactly the same as the retail disc version, it's just been rigged a little to work with steam that is all.

[Proxy]

You can transfer a game to another account for like 5 bucks. Kinda stiffles the re-selling, but it can be done.

[IaMs12]

The more they try to copy right protection like this stuff, the limits, the more people will turn to the piracy and download it..

[TheColbertinator]

Looks like piracy will get to this one.Not sure If I'll buy it now.

[cjp4eva]

Piracy it is!!!

[ChrisGTR1]

.... its sad to see this happen but pc gaming is seriously gonna die. just look at the comments on here. and its honest consumers that have to suffer because of it with shiit like this install limit. i guess thats what they deserve for making games on a dead platform.

[Proxy]

If all PC gaming has to offer is DRM crippled games, I really don't care much if PC gaming dies. Maybe it's time to get a life, the consoles will probably go the way of the DRM soon enough.

[INehalemEXI]

The PS3 is actually going the opposite direction. You can share alot of the games and add ons you get off PSN with buddys up to a certain # of times.

People often try to trade Beta keys for game shares.

Not to mention its got mod support, and free online play, keyboard+Mouse support. Region-free on 99% of the titles is nice too. You can get games off psn via ps3 and also put em on a memory stick and play them on your psp as well. Or even play games off your ps3 on your psp via remote play.(Streaming)

Games for Windows , Microsoft , EA ..its so plain to see they just want to nickel and dime folks. If I was Crytek I would say goodbye to EA.

[INehalemEXI]

This game should be rated 5 Stars but due to these issues it has a 1.5 Star rating. http://www.amazon.com/Crysi...

Thats Harsh. Understandable though.

[DefBySnuSnu]

This is sad, I really wanted to get this >.< When are the companies going to learn that copy protection methods such as these only hurt the paying customers and not the pirates. I guess I just won't buy it along with the other games that implement such over the top copy protection methods.

[free2game]

Install limits? What percentage of sales are lost to people letting other people borrow their retail copies? I mean goddamn what are we back to the "don't copy that floppy" age or something?

[zonetrooper5]

I was gonna pick this game up as well but 3 install limits and crappy DRM is putting me off this game and many others from EA.

[Aft3rKill]

Well Limit is stupid. In this day and age there are so many viruses out there that you may use up your installs by just installing your game after a TOTAL REINSTALL.