You need to be connected to a usb dialyzer like device during the game. It also analyzes the blood temperature, oxygen level and various hormones so you don't use stale blood and to monitor your excitement during the various stages of the game for marketing purposes.
You need to be connected to a usb dialyzer like device during the game. It also analyzes the blood temperature, oxygen level and various hormones so you don't use stale blood and to monitor your excitement during the various stages of the game for marketing purposes.
Well, without going into the specifics, can I just say that you won't have to worry about the DRM? It will just work. You won't even be able to tell if there is DRM.
Well, without going into the specifics, can I just say that you won't have to worry about the DRM? It will just work. You won't even be able to tell if there is DRM.
I like specifics. Especially when "specifics" are non-engineer friendly english(or another language I know, but English is most convenient) that explains how the back-end technowizardry determines my front-end experience, even in extreme circumstances.
I like specifics. Especially when "specifics" are non-engineer friendly english(or another language I know, but English is most convenient) that explains how the back-end technowizardry determines my front-end experience, even in extreme circumstances.
The back-end technowizardry will not effect your front-end experience, even in the most extreme of circumstances. No really.
The back-end technowizardry will not effect your front-end experience, even in the most extreme of circumstances. No really.
So, does the back-end techno-wizardry let me install the game an unlimited number of times on multiple machines from the disc, and then play the game without the disc?
Because that would be a pretty neat technomagic trick.
Does it use the Force? That's gotta be it. Brand new Force DRM. It counts the midiclorients of the user and if the user has enough (all adventure gamers do) then the game starts no problem.
So, does the back-end techno-wizardry let me install the game an unlimited number of times on multiple machines from the disc, and then play the game without the disc?
Because that would be a pretty neat technomagic trick.
See, what you are implying there is NO DRM whatsoever - the ability to install as many times as you want, on as many machines as you want, however many times you want WITHOUT having the disc in the drive while STILL retaining ownership of the license you rightfully bought. Sounds a lot like the 'Good Old Games' system, which you and I both know will never happen. Telltale going completely DRM free is an impossibility.
Seeing as Telltale have what I would describe as a lucrative deal with SecuROM, chances are we're going to see a standard SecuROM disc check. To be honest I don't mind that (despite absolutely HATING SecuROM) as I can always remove the SecuROM from my registry after uninstallation. Hell, I keep removing SecuROM after every time I close any Telltale game episode. Now that I think about it, I've probably wasted a hell of a lot of activations continuously removing SecuROM time and time again. Ah well, that's what the disc versions are for.
As long as Telltale aren't screwing up the DRM like they did with Wallace & Gromit, I'm happy.
Seeing as Telltale have what I would describe as a lucrative deal with SecuROM, chances are we're going to see a standard SecuROM disc check.
Wait, wut? Just to clarify, SecuROM as a company provides a service: namely, Digital Rights Management. Generally speaking, companies aren't in the habit of paying people to use their services. You have to pay to use SecuROM on your products. The details, benefits, and moralities of the agreement are another topic altogether, but I assure you there is no secret, cozy deal going on.
Also, the Mac versions of Monkey had a home-brew DRM, so it didn't even use SecuROM.
Wait, wut? Just to clarify, SecuROM as a company provides a service: namely, Digital Rights Management. Generally speaking, companies aren't in the habit of paying people to use their services. You have to pay to use SecuROM on your products. The details, benefits, and moralities of the agreement are another topic altogether, but I assure you there is no secret, cozy deal going on.
Also, the Mac versions of Monkey had a home-brew DRM, so it didn't even use SecuROM.
Perhaps 'lucrative deal' was the wrong phrase to use. I guess I should have stated "Seeing as Telltale have used SecuROM for all their previous products and have been happy with their services despite being a pain to consumers to remove it once installed on to a system, it is safe to assume Telltale will use SecuROM again". The term 'lucrative deal' in this instance was just quicker to write and, as far as I can see, has now prompted your response in which we now have much more information than what you have been previously giving us.
This 'in-house DRM solution' is intriguing. Please, do go on...
The back-end technowizardry will not effect your front-end experience, even in the most extreme of circumstances. No really.
Just repeating this for emphasis.
As for the home-brew stuff, it's something we are poking around with. I'm sure by the time this post goes up it will have changed three times. Anyway, the goal is cheap, easy, and unobtrusive. As someone who has previously manned our support email address, the fewer people having to write into support with unlock requests the better.
Hell, I keep removing SecuROM after every time I close any Telltale game episode. Now that I think about it, I've probably wasted a hell of a lot of activations continuously removing SecuROM time and time again.
This raises an interesting question for me. Telltale has always said that the number of unlocks we get is probably more than we'll ever use. If you've managed to do this and not run out of unlocks yet, I wonder if anybody has ever run out of unlocks yet.
As someone who has previously manned our support email address, the fewer people having to write into support with unlock requests the better.
I always wondered how many people have problems unlocking their software because of a PEBKAC issue (ie. user error)... that is to say, either their own firewall is blocking it or they're just ignorant.
This raises an interesting question for me. Telltale has always said that the number of unlocks we get is probably more than we'll ever use. If you've managed to do this and not run out of unlocks yet, I wonder if anybody has ever run out of unlocks yet.
If I were to count every time I removed SecuROM from the registry (and thus the activation data), I can safely say I burn through about 4-5 activations per episode. This of course only counts on my first playthrough, as if I ever decide to play the game again I wait for the DVD (Wallace & Gromit excluded). So far no problems.
I wouldn't be surprised if the web activations for all of Telltale's episodes is about 50. Judging from what I've been reading up about other games that use SecuROM, that seems to be the default 'more than you'll ever need' amount. Judging by Will's post however:
As someone who has previously manned our support email address, the fewer people having to write into support with unlock requests the better.
It means people have actually burned through their activations. I've probably either just hit the activation limit (5) or am about to exceed it (6-10).
In fact, this would be a pretty good experiment - How many activations can we burn through by constantly removing SecuROM from the registry?
Results pending...
Off topic, for those interested in removing SecuROM from your system (as even if you uninstall the game, SecuROM is still embedded into your registry and has higher priority over you [meaning you can't delete it normally]), I recommend taking a look at the link below:
Using this I can safely say that it has been absolutely effective in removing SecuROM entirely and simplifies the process for not-so-technical users. In relation to Telltale's episodes, I have yet to come across the 'extra registry entries'.
I thought the activations were computer-dependent, as in no matter how many time you install the games on the same computer, it only counts as one.
Was I wrong?
I thought the activations were computer-dependent, as in no matter how many time you install the games on the same computer, it only counts as one.
Was I wrong?
No, you are absolutely correct. However, whenever I or anyone else removes SecuROM from the actual system registry (you can find it by either 1. XP Users = Click on Start, go to Run and type in 'regedit' or 2. Vista/7 Users = Click Windows button, type in 'regedit'), it removes that hardware/computer key. What this means is that SecuROM can't recognise my computer and my hardware configuration. That of course ultimately means that whenever I load up a Telltale episode, the game can't find the registry file so it assumes I've never installed/activated it before. Thus it uses another activation.
I do this to all my other games that decide to use invasive systems, however I take it one step further and actually crack the game (won't talk much more about that). Recent example being S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Call of Pripyat, which I bought considering it wasn't as invasive as Clear Sky and more in-line with Shadow of Chernobyl.
To me, I just hate SecuROM and hate developers who willing implement the system into their games. Yes, the disc-based protection is fine, what isn't fine (apart from online activations) is the fact that SecuROM remains PERMANENTLY on your system despite uninstalling the game. You can only get rid of it through the link I posted in my last post or by formatting your computer entirely.
It means people have actually burned through their activations. I've probably either just hit the activation limit (5) or am about to exceed it (6-10).
Will is probably talking about the manual unlock mechanism, which is a fallback for when the regular internet based unlock (TTG user account or serial number) doesn't work for some reason.
Now, I might be a bit thick, but if it comes back (and costs you an activation) every time you start the game up, what's the point of removing it in the first place?
Now, I might be a bit thick, but if it comes back (and costs you an activation) every time you start the game up, what's the point of removing it in the first place?
A matter of principle. Even if the SecuROM registry files 'do nothing', the fact of the matter is having something installed onto your system (usually) without prior knowledge or consent and having no easy way to remove it can potentially pose as a serious security risk.
Briefly touching on the subject again, SecuROM is usually embedded within the .exe and there are cracks out there that simply removes SecuROM and ensures it never installs itself on your system (as was the case with S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Call of Pripyat). Cracks themselves aren't illegal provided you OWN the original game (or rather, the original license). However I won't delve further into this subject as it can lead into piracy.
Back on topic. The reason I continuously remove SecuROM every single time I've finished playing any of Telltale's episodes is because I KNOW I'll get a physical copy at the end of the season. Even if my online activations run out, it doesn't worry me because I still have a physical copy I can install whenever I want, on as many computers as I want, however many times I want.
Of course the DVDs themselves do contain SecuROM but at least it's less of a pain. Plus there's no activations to worry about (apart from the Wallace & Gromit DVD).
I understand, it's just that it feels to me it would be simpler to remove it only once after finishing the game. It only stays on your computer for a few days after all.
But hey, whatever works for you.
You could say I'm trying to see if I can actually hit the activation limit, which I have never done. One of these days I will though. One of these days...
Sounds like a complete waste of time to me. Especially if I were to plan on replaying the game anytime soon. It's not as though having DRM for that particular game on your OS is going to jack up your computer somehow.
All I care about is whether or not I have to insert a disc to play the game. Thank God for digital distribution. It means I don't have to mess with no-cd cracks.
It means people have actually burned through their activations. I've probably either just hit the activation limit (5) or am about to exceed it (6-10).
Nah, it's more that people just can't unlock their game the first time, usually due to crazy supreme firewalls. I think in all the time I've been doing support, I've only seen one person ever actually run out of activations.
Nah, it's more that people just can't unlock their game the first time, usually due to crazy supreme firewalls.
Ha!
I knew it. That's just another way of saying "user error" in that I'm sure a lot of people don't know enough to know how to whitelist telltalegames.com, or what you're talking about if you tried to explain it.
I always use the manual unlocks ttg offer for their digital downloads, since I don't connect my gaming computer to the internet(so I don't have to bother with firewalls, antispyware or antivirus software on it).
since I don't connect my gaming computer to the internet(so I don't have to bother with firewalls, antispyware or antivirus software on it).
You have multiple computers and not all of them are on the net? Is your gaming computer a desktop or laptop pc?
I'm only asking because I have a desktop pc and a laptop, and both of them use my wireless router to get network access. If your computer isn't on the net, that means you can't easily download updates.
You have multiple computers and not all of them are on the net? Is your gaming computer a desktop or laptop pc?
I'm only asking because I have a desktop pc and a laptop, and both of them use my wireless router to get network access. If your computer isn't on the net, that means you can't easily download updates.
Multiple comps, my gaming one is a desktop.
And I haven't played a game that required online since I stopped using battle.net eight years ago, and usb keys work fine for everything else.
If your computer isn't on the net, that means you can't easily download updates.
Why would you need that?
I clearly remember the times before I had internet access, and most game-patches were contained on magazine-CDs, and I never felt that was too much of a hassle. Nowadays you can just download a patch, put it on a USB stick and get it onto your non-net PC. It's not like you're updating games all the time.
I see Steam as one tool in the PC gamer's utility belt. It is not a comprehensive solution for everything and it should not be used this way, but it can be pretty great in terms of pricing and convenience(for often-patched games, multiplayer titles, or games you'll want to play on various machines).
Comments
You need to be connected to a usb dialyzer like device during the game. It also analyzes the blood temperature, oxygen level and various hormones so you don't use stale blood and to monitor your excitement during the various stages of the game for marketing purposes.
Now I'm afraid I would break it.
I would much prefer for that to be true, but I doubt it's actually happening.
umm.. is it true? Please say "yes."
The back-end technowizardry will not effect your front-end experience, even in the most extreme of circumstances. No really.
Because that would be a pretty neat technomagic trick.
See, what you are implying there is NO DRM whatsoever - the ability to install as many times as you want, on as many machines as you want, however many times you want WITHOUT having the disc in the drive while STILL retaining ownership of the license you rightfully bought. Sounds a lot like the 'Good Old Games' system, which you and I both know will never happen. Telltale going completely DRM free is an impossibility.
Seeing as Telltale have what I would describe as a lucrative deal with SecuROM, chances are we're going to see a standard SecuROM disc check. To be honest I don't mind that (despite absolutely HATING SecuROM) as I can always remove the SecuROM from my registry after uninstallation. Hell, I keep removing SecuROM after every time I close any Telltale game episode. Now that I think about it, I've probably wasted a hell of a lot of activations continuously removing SecuROM time and time again. Ah well, that's what the disc versions are for.
As long as Telltale aren't screwing up the DRM like they did with Wallace & Gromit, I'm happy.
Wait, wut? Just to clarify, SecuROM as a company provides a service: namely, Digital Rights Management. Generally speaking, companies aren't in the habit of paying people to use their services. You have to pay to use SecuROM on your products. The details, benefits, and moralities of the agreement are another topic altogether, but I assure you there is no secret, cozy deal going on.
Also, the Mac versions of Monkey had a home-brew DRM, so it didn't even use SecuROM.
Or can I play the game without keeping the disc in?
You did say that the back-end wouldn't affect the front-end experience.
Perhaps 'lucrative deal' was the wrong phrase to use. I guess I should have stated "Seeing as Telltale have used SecuROM for all their previous products and have been happy with their services despite being a pain to consumers to remove it once installed on to a system, it is safe to assume Telltale will use SecuROM again". The term 'lucrative deal' in this instance was just quicker to write and, as far as I can see, has now prompted your response in which we now have much more information than what you have been previously giving us.
This 'in-house DRM solution' is intriguing. Please, do go on...
*pauses*
*looks around her*
Er... what's going on? We're not rejoicing anymore?
...
Can I keep the silly hat on?
...
*blows in party horn*
Just repeating this for emphasis.
As for the home-brew stuff, it's something we are poking around with. I'm sure by the time this post goes up it will have changed three times. Anyway, the goal is cheap, easy, and unobtrusive. As someone who has previously manned our support email address, the fewer people having to write into support with unlock requests the better.
This raises an interesting question for me. Telltale has always said that the number of unlocks we get is probably more than we'll ever use. If you've managed to do this and not run out of unlocks yet, I wonder if anybody has ever run out of unlocks yet.
I always wondered how many people have problems unlocking their software because of a PEBKAC issue (ie. user error)... that is to say, either their own firewall is blocking it or they're just ignorant.
If I were to count every time I removed SecuROM from the registry (and thus the activation data), I can safely say I burn through about 4-5 activations per episode. This of course only counts on my first playthrough, as if I ever decide to play the game again I wait for the DVD (Wallace & Gromit excluded). So far no problems.
I wouldn't be surprised if the web activations for all of Telltale's episodes is about 50. Judging from what I've been reading up about other games that use SecuROM, that seems to be the default 'more than you'll ever need' amount. Judging by Will's post however:
It means people have actually burned through their activations. I've probably either just hit the activation limit (5) or am about to exceed it (6-10).
In fact, this would be a pretty good experiment - How many activations can we burn through by constantly removing SecuROM from the registry?
Results pending...
Off topic, for those interested in removing SecuROM from your system (as even if you uninstall the game, SecuROM is still embedded into your registry and has higher priority over you [meaning you can't delete it normally]), I recommend taking a look at the link below:
http://www.reclaimyourgame.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=282&Itemid=40
Using this I can safely say that it has been absolutely effective in removing SecuROM entirely and simplifies the process for not-so-technical users. In relation to Telltale's episodes, I have yet to come across the 'extra registry entries'.
Was I wrong?
No, you are absolutely correct. However, whenever I or anyone else removes SecuROM from the actual system registry (you can find it by either 1. XP Users = Click on Start, go to Run and type in 'regedit' or 2. Vista/7 Users = Click Windows button, type in 'regedit'), it removes that hardware/computer key. What this means is that SecuROM can't recognise my computer and my hardware configuration. That of course ultimately means that whenever I load up a Telltale episode, the game can't find the registry file so it assumes I've never installed/activated it before. Thus it uses another activation.
I do this to all my other games that decide to use invasive systems, however I take it one step further and actually crack the game (won't talk much more about that). Recent example being S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Call of Pripyat, which I bought considering it wasn't as invasive as Clear Sky and more in-line with Shadow of Chernobyl.
To me, I just hate SecuROM and hate developers who willing implement the system into their games. Yes, the disc-based protection is fine, what isn't fine (apart from online activations) is the fact that SecuROM remains PERMANENTLY on your system despite uninstalling the game. You can only get rid of it through the link I posted in my last post or by formatting your computer entirely.
Will is probably talking about the manual unlock mechanism, which is a fallback for when the regular internet based unlock (TTG user account or serial number) doesn't work for some reason.
A matter of principle. Even if the SecuROM registry files 'do nothing', the fact of the matter is having something installed onto your system (usually) without prior knowledge or consent and having no easy way to remove it can potentially pose as a serious security risk.
Briefly touching on the subject again, SecuROM is usually embedded within the .exe and there are cracks out there that simply removes SecuROM and ensures it never installs itself on your system (as was the case with S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Call of Pripyat). Cracks themselves aren't illegal provided you OWN the original game (or rather, the original license). However I won't delve further into this subject as it can lead into piracy.
Back on topic. The reason I continuously remove SecuROM every single time I've finished playing any of Telltale's episodes is because I KNOW I'll get a physical copy at the end of the season. Even if my online activations run out, it doesn't worry me because I still have a physical copy I can install whenever I want, on as many computers as I want, however many times I want.
Of course the DVDs themselves do contain SecuROM but at least it's less of a pain. Plus there's no activations to worry about (apart from the Wallace & Gromit DVD).
But hey, whatever works for you.
All I care about is whether or not I have to insert a disc to play the game. Thank God for digital distribution. It means I don't have to mess with no-cd cracks.
Nah, it's more that people just can't unlock their game the first time, usually due to crazy supreme firewalls. I think in all the time I've been doing support, I've only seen one person ever actually run out of activations.
Ha!
I knew it. That's just another way of saying "user error" in that I'm sure a lot of people don't know enough to know how to whitelist telltalegames.com, or what you're talking about if you tried to explain it.
You have multiple computers and not all of them are on the net? Is your gaming computer a desktop or laptop pc?
I'm only asking because I have a desktop pc and a laptop, and both of them use my wireless router to get network access. If your computer isn't on the net, that means you can't easily download updates.
Multiple comps, my gaming one is a desktop.
And I haven't played a game that required online since I stopped using battle.net eight years ago, and usb keys work fine for everything else.
I clearly remember the times before I had internet access, and most game-patches were contained on magazine-CDs, and I never felt that was too much of a hassle. Nowadays you can just download a patch, put it on a USB stick and get it onto your non-net PC. It's not like you're updating games all the time.
Which is why I was so happy when it was announced that TTG were going to be selling MI:SE.
Still hoping for a boxed version on that score.