The PC Centric Extravaganza 5.13.08
Posted by Chris Evans on 05.13.2008
Racing news, Spore and Mass Effect and much more in this weeks PC Centric Extravaganza!
The PC Centric Extravaganza 13th May 2008
This week has seen a host of news revolving around racing games and anti-piracy measures along with loads more!
So my last exam is this Friday, and by god I hope it goes well! The development of British political parties is not the most interesting of subjects though. Anyway next weeks column may be lacking a bit as I will be revising my arse off over the next few days, but as it is this week we have a nice full-ish column.
Codemasters get F1 Licence
I read recently that Sony was giving up on the F1 licence as Bernie Ecclestone the F1 ringmaster was demanding too much money for it. I instantly hoped that Codemasters would pick it up. Codemasters are famed (by me) for their racing games with GRID soon to be their newest addition.
Now CVG reports that Codemasters have indeed picked up the F1 licence and, unlike Sony are intending to take the F1 franchise to all home consoles and the PC.
Previously Sony had kept their F1 games limited to Sony consoles, a move which greatly limited the potential for massive sales of a game based on such a popular sport.
Rod Cousens, Codemasters CEO had the following to say:
"As a world-leading creator of driving games, this alliance with Formula 1 is the jewel in Codemasters' racing crown and creates an undisputed segment champion."
Expect more information to come out later this year with plans for a new F1 title to coincide with the 2009 season opener in Australia.
Burnout on the PC
Burnout Paradise has been confirmed to come out on the PC.
Good news though for any PC gamers who enjoy racing games as the console hit will the PC sometime. Burnout Paradise offers all the classic Burnout crazy racing with a pretty open world city to race around in. Criterion promise that the game is being rebuilt specifically for the PC with a whole host of new multiplayer and online features
EA's Burnout Paradise Revs Its Engines on the PC
REDWOOD CITY, Calif.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Criterion Games, a studio of Electronic Arts, (NASDAQ:ERTS) today announced that the award-winning driving game Burnout™ Paradise is being rebuilt specifically for the PC. Burnout Paradise will be the first Burnout title ever made for the PC, customized with expanded multiplayer, enhanced online features, and community driven content.
Originally released for the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and Xbox 360™ videogame and entertainment system, Burnout Paradise has won over 55 awards worldwide. Burnout Paradise delivers an open-world environment built for intense speed, excitement and exploration and sets a new standard in the seamless transition from single-player offline to social online gameplay.
Burnout Paradise for the PC will combine all the open world racing, intense speed and action of the original game with new gameplay for the PC version.
Gamers can tune into a live webcast at http://criteriongames.com at 8:00 AM PST on Friday, May 9 for more details on this announcement. For more information about Burnout Paradise, please visit http://criteriongames.com or the EA press website at http://info.ea.com.
Burnout Paradise for the PC has not been rated by the ESRB or PEGI.
I know that Burnout Paradise was a big hit on the consoles and with the game being made again pretty much for the PC I expect it to do well on my platform of choice too. Along with the soon to be released GRID from Codemasters, it seems like the PC is becoming a racing game force yet again.
Doom 4
A recent posting on id Software confirms that Doom 4 has entered production. Do we thus expect to see another Mars based, dark corridor set, zombie filled Doom 3, or a full throttle fun Doom the Original? Who knows!
"DOOM is part of the id Software DNA and demands the greatest talent and brightest minds in the industry to bring the next installment of our flagship franchise to Earth," said Todd Hollenshead, CEO, id Software. "It's critical for id Software to have the best creative minds in-house to develop games that meet the standards synonymous with our titles."
Expect this to be the only bit of news for some months on Doom 4.
Spore, Mass Effect and anti-piracy measures
The following are two posts from my blog covering the news regarding Spore, Mass Effect and anti-piracy measures.
The initial news
Spore, Mass Effect, I am sorry, but you have just been struck of my buying list if this Shacknews report is true. The Shacknews report links to this thread on the BioWare forums where BioWare technical producer Derek French reveals some very interesting, but worrying information regarding copy-protection measures for the PC versions of Mass Effect and Spore.
A quick lowdown on what he says here with further details following:
- You can install Mass Effect as normal - internet activation required
- From this point on you don't need the Mass Effect PC DVD in the PC to play
- SecuROM will check the validity of the CD Key after 5 days of Mass Effect being installed
- After this check you have 10 days of playing guaranteed.
- Upon starting Mass Effect SecuROM will attemp to check the CD Key
- If SecuROM isn't able to check within these 10 days then the CD Key will have to be re-checked before playing again
- If the CD Check is bad then the game will be locked until you get in touch with EA Tech Support
- This system is being used on Spore as well
Mass Effect uses SecuROM and requires an online activation for the first time that you play it. Each copy of Mass Effect comes with a CD Key which is used for this activation and for registration here at the BioWare Community. Mass Effect does not require the DVD to be in the drive in order to play, it is only for installation.
After the first activation, SecuROM requires that it re-check with the server within ten days (in case the CD Key has become public/warez'd and gets banned). Just so that the 10 day thing doesn't become abrupt, SecuROM tries its first re-check with 5 days remaining in the 10 day window. If it can't contact the server before the 10 days are up, nothing bad happens and the game still runs. After 10 days a re-check is required before the game can run.
I believe that the SecuROM settings are for up to 3 activations.
There is no banning or such if you go beyond the 3 activations, it just won't activate. If you run into any issues with this, you will be able to contact EA tech support and they will help you resolve any problems you have getting your game to run, including issues with SecuROM.
Yes, EA is ready for us and getting ready for Spore, which will use the same system.
For clarity, though, an internet connection is not required to install, just to activate the first time, and every 10 days after. You can be completely connectionless for 9 days and encounter no problems playing Mass Effect. And you don't need the disk in the drive to play.
Off hand, I do not know. Its the CD Key and a unique machine identifier of some type. Its the same system that SecuROM has been using for digital activation for years (if you have purchased through Direct2Drive, etc, they all use this same SecuROM system). We used the exact same system for Jade Empire PC when purchased through the BioWare Store.
Its a perfectly legitimate concern. EA has assured us that they have their auth systems and customer support staff in place and ready for the launch of Mass Effect PC. Anyone having issues with getting MEPC activated will be able to contact EA Support and get their problem resolved.
Further comments from Derek can be found in this thread.
My reaction? I am disgusted by this. I have become a firm believer that excess copy protection is bad. While an initial internet activation can be considered acceptable being forced to have your CD Key checked every 10 days is disgusting. I don't care about the benefits of not needing the CD in the drive, that shouldn't be a requirement as it is.
This has put me off getting Mass Effect for the PC and more than likely Spore too. This is excessive in my mind and is something that developers and publishers should be avoiding, like the plague.
Humbug!
EA Change Tact
Some might say I was calling for blood when I talked about the anti-piracy measures being implemented with Mass Effect and Spore, well now I can take back my outrage and let you all know about some good news.
EA have changed tact and the anti-piracy measures announced the other day are not going to be part of Spore and Mass Effect when they come out later this year. While both will still be using SecuROM and require an initial online activation the 10-day re-activation has been done away with.
Great news (with more infomation following) as it shows that EA have listened to the many complaints that were raised following the initial announcement and have changed tact to better cater to many users. Also this stops us feeling like we are being punished for legally buying games!
There has been a lot of discussion in the past few days on how the security requirements for Mass Effect for PC will work. BioWare, a division of EA, wants to let fans know that Mass Effect will not require 10- day periodic re-authentication.
BioWare has always listened very closely to its fans and we made this decision to ensure we are delivering the best possible experience to them. To all the fans including our many friends in the armed services and internationally who expressed concerns that they would not be able re-authenticate as often as required, EA and BioWare want you to know that your feedback is important to us.
The solution being implemented for Mass Effect for the PC changes copy protection from being key disc based, which requires authentication every time you play the game by requiring a disc in the drive, to a one time online authentication.
This system has an added benefit of allowing players to seamlessly play the game without needing the DVD in the drive.
Key points---
•This solution allows gamers to authenticate their game on three different computers with the purchase of one disc. EA Customer Service is on hand to supply any additional authorizations that are warranted. This will be done on a case-by-case basis by contacting customer support.
• Games are authorized to the machine when the player installs and launches the software for the first time.
• We've all had those times when the discs get lost or scratched and you can't play a game you've bought because you need a working disc in the drive. With the new system players will no longer need the disc to play the game, but can instead simply retain the disc as back up for re-installation.
FAQ---
Q: What is the difference between the old PC disc authentication solution and the new online model?
A: Two things have changed:
• First, authentication of discs has now gone from the physical format to the online format, freeing the need for consumers to have a disc in the drive at all times.
• Second, with online authentication consumers now connect to the Internet the first time the game is launched and are required only to reconnect if they are downloading new game content.
Q: Will EA or BioWare take any personal information from my computer during an authentication?
A: Absolutely not. We do not take any personal information from your computer. The system simply verifies that a valid CD key has been provided and assigns that activation to that PC.
Q: What happens when I've reached the maximum # of computers for my game and I need more, say due to theft of computer, computer crashes, etc?
A: EA customer service is on hand to supply any additional authorizations that are warranted. This will be done on a case-by-case basis by contacting customer support.
Q: Why are BioWare and EA implementing this new authentication process?
A: This serves to protect our software from piracy. It has the added benefit of allowing consumers to activate the game on multiple machines without needing the DVD in the drive when playing the game.
Q: Did BioWare and EA change their mind on requiring that the game be re-authorized every 10 days?
A: BioWare has always listened very closely to its fans and we made this decision to ensure we are delivering the best possible experience to them. To all the fans including our many friends in the armed services and internationally who expressed concerns that they would not be able re-authenticate as often as required, EA and BioWare want you to know that your feedback is important to us.
Q: If the game isn't going to require an authentication every 10 days, will it ever require re-authentication?
A: Only if the player chooses to download new game content.
And the EA announcement regarding Spore via Kotaku.
We wanted to let you know that we've been hearing your concerns about the online authentication mentioned earlier this week. I didn't want to head into the weekend without getting back to you with some information about how Spore is planning on using this new system.
A few things we wanted you to know:
— We authenticate your game online when you install and launch it the first time.
— We'll re-authenticate when a player uses online features, downloads new content or a patch for their game.
— The new system means you don't have to play with the disc in your computer. And if you are like me, always losing discs, this will be a huge benefit.
— You'll still be able to install and play on multiple computers.
— You can play offline.
We do hope that players will play online - sharing creatures, buildings and vehicles with other players is something that is unique to Spore and one of the coolest features of the game. Every day, when I play the Creature Stage, I get to see wacky and awesome new creatures from my Buddies on the team coming over the hill at me and I can't wait to see what happens when our creative, passionate community starts sharing their creations.
Cuban PCs
The BBC reports that Cuba has finally joined the modern world with the arrival of the first legalised home computers at the Carlos III shopping centre in Havana.
The BBC reports that the PCs are selling at $800 (£400) while the average monthly wage for Cubans is only $20 (£10) a month. However many Cubans have relatives living abroad who send cash back to the island.
President Raul Castro has been making moves towards modernisation in recent weeks with mobile phones and DVD players becoming available. However those who have been fortunate enough to get hold of one of the PCs won't be joining us playing EVE Online or Day of Defeat as internet access is limited to certain workplaces and education facilities.
This is because of the US trade embargo with Cuba that prevents the island from connecting to under-sea fibre optic cables. Instead the internet access in Cuba is limited to costyl satellite connections.
Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez is currently laying a cable under the Carribean to Cuba, though it is not known if internet access will become common place once the new connection is laid.
PC Gaming Subs Make Big Bucks!
The NPD which tracks game sales in the US has revealed that US online gaming subscriptions top $1 billion a year. The findings were based on data gathered between October 2007 and March 2008 and the NPD also revealed that 11 million people in the US subscribe to online games each month.
"Now that NPD can estimate the value of the subscription market, it's clear that there is a sizable chunk of revenue being generated by PC gaming beyond what is reflected in retail sales,"
"The variety of content available to play games on the PC clearly can draw a diverse audience."
This shows that those people claiming that PC gaming is dying are short sighted individuals who cannot see the true potential of the PC as a gaming machine. $1 billion is not a figure to be scoffed at and is a clear example the the online gaming industry for the PC is a massive business.
GamesIndustry.biz also reports that NPD research showed that women over 35 are the main users of gaming websites while males under 35 are the largest MMO users.
World of Warcraft unsurprisingly is the top MMO in the US with RuneScape, Lord of the Rings Online, Final Fantasy XI and City of Heroes following in that order.
Blizzard go Digital
Blizzard have entered the world of digital distribution via their swanky Blizzard Store.
Currently they have Warcraft III Reign of Chaos, the expansion The Frozen Throne and the Starcraft Anthology. Warcraft III and The Frozen Throne clock in at $19.95 each which is about £10 and Starcraft Anthology is $14.99 costing about £7.50. (Rock, Paper, Shotgun money changing)
Good to see more companies embracing digital distribution especially with classics such as these! Lets hope Diablo appears there soon!
Mirror's Edge
While that is a video from the recent Sony show off day in London that is how it is going to look for us on the PC..as long as EA don't screw us over!
The minimalist'ness of the game is strikingly beautiful, it looks wonderful. Just watch that video again and again!
Far Cry 2
Africa? Animals? Country in turmoil? Flamethrowers? Freedom of choice in missions? I'm sold!
Adam brought my attention to Dear Esther, a Half-Life 2 mod that Dark Rock was called in to work on by Dan Pinchbeck.
Dear Esther is now available here along with a movie here.
Dear Esther puts traditional game technologies to innovative new use. Rather than a story told through the medium of games; a 3D environment has been constructed to disperse a story throughout. The user navigates the environment, triggering audio fragments of a narrative which, together with visual clues and codes embedded in the world, build to create a story which is inherently constructed around the innate slippage of meaning and fragmentary nature of interactive experiences. It is a fusion of original text, music and world within an existing media framework.
Reading more information on Dear Esther is really quite interesting, I just wish my PC was working so I could check it out. I recommend you go out and give this a whirl and see what it is all about.
Battlefield Heroes Beta Info
I went off to check the Battlefield Heroes website after a tip off from a Half-Life2.net forumite about some Beta info emerging soon. What do I see but this announcement.
Hello Heroes!
As you may have noticed, you killed our website. We are not angry. We're very pleased you want to be in the Beta.
The beta for Heroes will be divided into several stages, the first of which is all about testing out this new way of getting games to you all; by downloading and installing them from a website. We'll also be trying out some other dull stuff to do with servers, so we are expecting the systems to be down as much as they are up.
To help us track down all the technical issues, we have asked a third party to find us some specialist Beta testers. We are doing all this because we want to be sure that when we launch Heroes, everything will work smoothly.
So hang in there! We will announce here when it's time to sign up for the public stage of the Beta.
Per Bonomi
Community Manager
Thats pretty much it, expect some more info over the next few weeks I guess on this.
Wrapping Up
And that is about it for now! Back to my revision and catch you all next week!
