Concerned about SecuROM?

[mandythesim]

I thought Securom was just to prevent the Game data of the CD from Bieng copied and pirated, and never took any notice but I just saw this:

Originally Posted by urjokingright

I'm sure it's old news, but You all know that EA are liekly going to use Securom?

If you don't know what it is:
Basically, you can only use the same CD to install the game no more than three times. so if you like me uninstal games often, but keep save games to save HD Memory, you're essentially being forced to keep it installed, and if you have to Re-Format, Uninstal for what ever reason three times, you'll have to buy the game again?...

Was going to pre-order, but if this is confirmed in the coming months you can bet i aint touching the game

Is it true about only bieng able to use the disc no more than 3 times?

Its worrying me now as I have already uninstalled my sims games 2 times already, I was hopeing to uninstall it again for TS3 but after reading that I am not sure if I will ever be able to uninstll it again. That means no more pc games for me, surley this is not right, surely you have bought the game for life not just 3 strikes then buy it all again, after spending over 300 Euro on TS2 I will not be buying them all again.

I have looked on Wiki about securom and it says something about 3 computers but still unsure of exactly what it is and whether i am still ok or not.

Here is the Link: SecuROM - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[sharkloverplayer]

Securom is a anti copy thing that is suppose to keep pirates from copying the game but it doesn't work because the sims 2 was one of the most copied games ever I find that funny that the pirates was able to hack it.Securom also damages some peoples pc and renders them useless.I've read many stories of people having to reformat their pc's.Some people don't have a problem with it.

The 3 install limit doesn't mean you can only install the game 3 times.It means you'll be able to install it only on 3 pc's but on those 3 pc's you can install it as many times as you want.I'd hate to think as much as the sims 3 is $59 to 70 if you get the collectors edition you could only install it 3 times then you'd have to buy another one.

If you install on 3 pc's and want to install on a 4th you'll be able to notify EA and they'll give you a code or something.I'm really hoping EA will come to their senses and not put securom on the sims 3.Their facing many lawsuits over this as it is.I don't think they can afford to take the chance.

[mandythesim]

Originally Posted by pamela01

Securom is a anti copy thing that is suppose to keep pirates from copying the game but it doesn't work because the sims 2 was one of the most copied games ever I find that funny that the pirates was able to hack it.Securom also damages some peoples pc and renders them useless.I've read many stories of people having to reformat their pc's.Some people don't have a problem with it.

The 3 install limit doesn't mean you can only install the game 3 times.It means you'll be able to install it only on 3 pc's but on those 3 pc's you can install it as many times as you want.I'd hate to think as much as the sims 3 is $59 to 70 if you get the collectors edition you could only install it 3 times then you'd have to buy another one.

If you install on 3 pc's and want to install on a 4th you'll be able to notify EA and they'll give you a code or something.I'm really hoping EA will come to their senses and not put securom on the sims 3.Their facing many lawsuits over this as it is.I don't think they can afford to take the chance.

thanks hun that has cleared up alot of the confusion i had.

[The Star Hermit]

[Merged threads]

No information has yet been released as to exactly what version of SecuRom will be used, if at all and how many activations you get. There are different version of Securom, The Sims 2 has been using a version of it for some time, without install limits.

Don't forget folks, Spore has a de authorisation tool, before you uninstall you can use the tool to free up a slot, assuming we have the same type of DRM for Sims 3, I would expect the same tool to be available. This should solve the problem of activation limits, but obviously we don't know for sure yet what's happening. I'm sure we'll get more information nearer the time.

[mezinsane89]

Well good news, they have released more information! They have announced that no DRM or Securom will be used on the sims3.

From the article:

"we have heard your requests over the past months and here is our plan for The Sims 3.
The game will have disc-based copy protection – there is a Serial Code just like The Sims 2. To play the game there will not be any online authentication needed.

We feel like this is a good, time-proven solution that makes it easy for you to play the game without DRM methods that feel overly invasive or leave you concerned about authorization server access in the distant future."


Also from an employee at EA games:


"After reading the letter from Rod, many of you had questions about SecuROM. I've taken your concerns to our management team and can confirm that SecuROM will not be included in The Sims 3 disc or in the EA Download Manager (software needed to install patches)."

Here are the links to that information:

The Sims 3 - News

and

TheSims2.com - Forum (BBS) - Messages

[Lycan]

I've never actually known what securom is..

[Mirelly9]

Originally Posted by mezinsane89

Well good news, they have released more information! They have announced that no DRM or Securom will be used on the sims3.

From the article:

"we have heard your requests over the past months and here is our plan for The Sims 3.
The game will have disc-based copy protection – there is a Serial Code just like The Sims 2. To play the game there will not be any online authentication needed.

We feel like this is a good, time-proven solution that makes it easy for you to play the game without DRM methods that feel overly invasive or leave you concerned about authorization server access in the distant future."


Also from an employee at EA games:


"After reading the letter from Rod, many of you had questions about SecuROM. I've taken your concerns to our management team and can confirm that SecuROM will not be included in The Sims 3 disc or in the EA Download Manager (software needed to install patches)."

Here are the links to that information:

The Sims 3 - News

and

TheSims2.com - Forum (BBS) - Messages

Sorry but you are seeing what you want to see. The passage you quote quite clearly does NOT say that SecuROM will not be used. Nor does it even begin to say that no DRM will be present ... which would be ridiculous if it was true -- EA might as well give the game away for free if they abandoned all thought of DRM protection.

The only thing certain from the recent announcement on DRM by EA, which is very clear in the part you quoted if you take the trouble to read it carefully, is that the DRM they will use for TS3 will not require online authentication. This is not the same as as saying that SecuROM will not be involved. EA will be using SecuROM for the foreseeable future.

SecuROM will not damage your computer unless it is so old and outdated that playing TS3 is not an option anyway.

[ImagineCookies]

It clearly says securom will not be included in the disc.

[Mirelly9]

Originally Posted by ImagineCookies

It clearly says securom will not be included in the disc.

While I agree that what has been posted on the BBS (by Maxoid Drea) says that SecuROM will not be included I have to say that the definitive "no SecuROM" message is not in any official announcement from a named EA employer. Maxoid Drea is not a "named" EA employer and she/he is therefore no more real than Mirelly9. (I am real, but the screen name, Mirelly9 is only an avatar ... and as with Maxoid Drea's pronouncements you have no means by which to judge the truth of what I say.) One should never just believe all you read (or hear) just because the name underneath appears to be important. It is therefore sound advice to take announcements on the BBS by Maxoids with a cautious regard for their accuracy because too often such announcements have been proved to less than accurate. Many of the Maxoids are little more than moderators and certainly not all of them are paid employees of EA. It is a certainty that many of them derive their information from the same sources as the rest of us. It is a sure bet that few of them hve any direct line to the real game-designers and decision makers who are responsible for corporate decisions regarding the game's technical innards.

If Rod Humble wished to make it perfectly and irrefutably plain that SecuROM was not part of the plan then it is odd that he avoided the opportunity to do so when he composed his communication to the community which announced that online registration was definitely not to be implemented.

As I have said so often before: SecuROM is not an issue. It is merely a proprietary DRM product which can be employed in many different ways. Yes -- if clumsily implemented by a game-maker -- it may cause issues with out-dated hardware and operating systems but those caveats do not apply to potential Sims 3 purchasers because outdated hardware and operating systems will be incompatible with the game.

If TS3 does indeed launch with a DRM (copy protection) system that is not SecuROM I will gladly admit that my doubts were ill-founded. In the meantime I continue to say that SecuROM is not the beast most anti-DRM people would have the rest of the world believe.

[STARFISH75]

SErial numbers are painful to install. Particularly with Sims 2 which requires 17. Why can't we have DRM without the install limits?

[Mirelly9]

Originally Posted by STARFISH75

SErial numbers are painful to install. Particularly with Sims 2 which requires 17. Why can't we have DRM without the install limits?

Rod Humble has already told us officially there will be no install limits. As for the serial numbers being painful ... well, ya got me there.