4 replies to this topic

[Archmage Silver]

The system reqs for ME 2 are out, as well as word of the DRM - namely the lack of it, as ME2 will only have a simple disc check in place. No more online activation sequences or limited installations. Right, here's the quote:

Hello Mass Effect fans
We know we have a lot of fans who are ready to pre-order Mass Effect 2, but are still waiting for information on whether their PC will run thew game and what Digital Rights Management (DRM) Mass Effect 2 will use. Hopefully with the information below, you will now be able to pre-order your copy of Mass Effect 2 from your favorite retailer.

Digital Rights Management (DRM)
The boxed/retail PC version of Mass Effect 2 will use only a basic disk check and it will not require online authentication. This is the same method as Dragon Age: Origins. Digital versions will use the retailers protection system.

PC MINIMUM System Requirements
OS = Windows XP SP3 / Windows Vista SP1 / Windows 7
Processor = 1.8GHz Intel Core 2 Duo or equivalent AMD CPU
Memory = 1 GB RAM for Windows XP / 2 GB RAM for Windows Vista and Windows 7
Hard Drive = 15 GB
DVD ROM = 1x Speed
Sound Card = DirectX 9.0c compatible
Direct X = DirectX 9.0c August 2008 (included)
Input = Keyboard / Mouse
Video Card = 256 MB (with Pixel Shader 3.0 support). Supported Chipsets: NVIDIA GeForce 6800 or greater; ATI Radeon X1600 Pro or greater.

Please note that NVIDIA GeForce 7300, 8100, 8200, 8300, 8400, and 9300; ATI Radeon HD3200, and HD4350 are below minimum system requirements. Updates to your video and sound card drivers may be required. Intel and S3 video cards are not officially supported in Mass Effect 2.

PC RECOMMENDED System Requirements
Windows XP SP3 / Windows Vista SP1 / Windows 7
2.6+ GHz Cure 2 Duo Intel or equivalent AMD CPU
2 GB RAM
ATI Radeon HD 2900 XT, NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT, or better recommended
100% DirectX compatible sound card and drivers
DirectX August 2008

NOTES: For the best results, make sure you have the latest drivers for your video and audio cards. Laptop or mobile versions of the above supported video cards have not had extensive testing and may have driver or other performance issues. As such, they are not officially supported in Mass Effect 2. Intel and S3 video cards are not officially supported in Mass Effect 2.

Source

[Eleima]

May I say one thing... Thank goodness!!! I'm all for the lack of DRM and a simple disk check, and firmly believe that online activation sequences or limited installations are a giant pain. And I'm not entirely convinced that all these measures prevent pirating. For me, it's very simple: if I'm vaguely interested in a game, I'll try to borrow it first (from my rich friends, right? ), and if I really enjoy a game (or if I'm all caught up in the hype, think DA:O), I'll go out and buy it. It's that simple.

So, good news!

[Archmage Silver]

I think that using any kind of DRM is a waste of time really, there's no stopping the pirates - DRM experts are free to try though, but it's not going to work in the long run. BioWare's going the right way with DA: Origins and ME2 - GOG is the best example though.

Obviously people like me who buy everything legitimately lose out when there's invasive DRM included with games, as pirates can get versions without it. If games start to go this disc check way (especially BioWare games), I'll no longer feel like I'm gimping my gaming experience with some crazy online activation scheme just because I'm paying for my stuff.

[Bluenose]

I think that using any kind of DRM is a waste of time really, there's no stopping the pirates - DRM experts are free to try though, but it's not going to work in the long run. BioWare's going the right way with DA: Origins and ME2 - GOG is the best example though.

Obviously people like me who buy everything legitimately lose out when there's invasive DRM included with games, as pirates can get versions without it. If games start to go this disc check way (especially BioWare games), I'll no longer feel like I'm gimping my gaming experience with some crazy online activation scheme just because I'm paying for my stuff.

The one correction I'd make is that it's EA who are going the right way with regards to DRM rather than Bioware. And they seem pretty much to have decided not to bother, as I'm not aware of their games since Sims 3 doing anything more than a disk check. Which is a bit of a change from their previous policies.

[Archmage Silver]

Yeah, that is what I meant (publishing), but you got the point. You reminded me of a comment I read once of John Riccitiello (EA CEO) not liking DRM though, so I did some digging - here's what I came up with:

I personally don't like DRM. It interrupts the user experience. We would like to get around that. But there is this problem called piracy out there.

Source

Obviously he wasn't planning on removing the use of DRM at EA at the time (or now), but there might be some truth in his comments since EA seems to be using more and more plain disc checks instead of online activations etc. Who knows.