EA Infects Battlefield Hardline with new ghastly DRM

[acroig]

"Here's what EAs DRM is doing, they don't just verify the number of PCs you work on slash use, nope .. they dare to monitor hardware changes now, which I am sure is a privacy breach on many levels. So once we insert new hardware (CPU / mobo or graphics cards) the hardware id # hash changes and if that happens a couple of times they are rendering your activation invalid.

What a bunch of rubbish ...."

http://www.guru3d.com/news-story/ea-infects-battlefield-hardline-with-new-ghastly-drm.html

I know there's a Hardline thread but I wanted everyone to see this potential issue.

[Munkus]

Doesn't Microsoft do this for Windows? I guess it makes sense for an OS, but for a game?

Thanks for the heads up. Striking this off my purchase list.

[badboy]

why the **** have DRM in games today?!?!?!?
And this is an online game... They are totally retarded!

[Mangler]

It really is a non-issue for "normal" people though, I seem to remember reading that the activation limit refreshes monthly or something similar.

[bittermann]

It really is a non-issue for "normal" people though, I seem to remember reading that the activation limit refreshes monthly or something similar.

It's 24hrs...if it sees too many connections from different pc's in that time frame that's when the drm kicks in...really a non issue.

[Sweetz]

they dare to monitor hardware changes now, which I am sure is a privacy breach on many levels.

Oh no! They know I have a GTX 680, I FEEL SO VIOLATED.

Guru3D is hard up for site hits, apparently.

[wangFu]

Doesn't Microsoft do this for Windows? I guess it makes sense for an OS, but for a game?

Thanks for the heads up. Striking this off my purchase list.

I think only OEM cares about hardware changes, Retail keys don't as far as i know

[guest]

Oh no! They know I have a GTX 680, I FEEL SO VIOLATED.

Guru3D is hard up for site hits, apparently.

How much money do you have in the bank? No reason not to post it.

[acroig]

It really is a non-issue for "normal" people though, I seem to remember reading that the activation limit refreshes monthly or something similar.

If true then no worries but say you activate and then do a hardware upgrade or want to test multiple configurations...

Bit of a PITA for something that has a DRM already (Origin).

[Adanu]

Oh no! They know I have a GTX 680, I FEEL SO VIOLATED.

Guru3D is hard up for site hits, apparently.

What's your SSN plz?

[SubCog]

Doesn't Microsoft do this for Windows? I guess it makes sense for an OS, but for a game?

Thanks for the heads up. Striking this off my purchase list.

For windows you just have to call ms and they'll unlock your key. These days you don't even have to talk to a human, it's all an automated call system.

[andino]

EA... The worst company in America for a reason.....

[Munkus]

For windows you just have to call ms and they'll unlock your key. These days you don't even have to talk to a human, it's all an automated call system.

I know that. I wonder if EA will be just as generous.

[nutcrackr]

Sounds more like an account security thing.

[Sweetz]

How much money do you have in the bank? No reason not to post it.

Security wise, you're probably right that there isn't a reason to be guarded about that; but socially/culturally I don't like random people on a forum knowing that. However, I don't buy any argument that someone is truly that concerned about the privacy of their PC specs - especially considering that a lot people take pride in publicly posting them.

What's your SSN plz?

Because my SSN is totally comparable to my PC's hardware spec in terms of sensitive personal information? guest's metaphor, while still not a great comparison, was at least in the same area code; this isn't even in the same galaxy. Trying to draw a comparison here is like the nuts that argue seatbeat laws are akin to us living in an Orwellian society.

Here's an actually comparable question: "What model phone do you have."

Oh wait you're right, THEY'RE MONSTERS.

[skrybe]

If you're going to put in DRM that deactivates the game (no matter how long for) there needs to be an easy workaround that the user knows about. Like "go to the EA website and answer your secret account question". If it's not made obvious to the user up front I don't think it should be allowed.

I could see this hitting some people other than the reviewers/testers. If you ever have PC problems and you're trying to test your PC for stability - swapping in/out ram, video card etc trying to get it right. And of course it's likely to affect 90% of users who do a major PC upgrade.

And yes, retail Windows does "phone home" with your hardware information and if it changes too much it goes into restricted mode. Happened to me a couple times when I did upgrades. Wasn't super hard to get it reactivated, but it was a pain in the ass at the worst possible time.

[Crawdaddy79]

I thought this was going to be a Starforce thread.

[Chuck]

When the heck is this bastard company going to go down? That'll be the best for the gaming industry methinks. Even if they took Bioware down with them it'll be a worthy sacrifice for the better good.

[Sundance Kid V2]

Oh no! They know I have a GTX 680, I FEEL SO VIOLATED.

Guru3D is hard up for site hits, apparently.

dude.. it opens avenues for attacks etc.

I'll keep away from EA.

[HyperNovae]

This is just origin. It let's you install the game on 5 different computers every 24 hours. Completely outrageous. This is over reach on the highest level. I have no problem with the US government stalking everything I do but this my friends is beyond comprehension.

[Mangler]

But what if you upgrade your computer 5 times per day?

Think of the children ffs!


I find it odd that this is the first time guru3d ran into this issue though, I guess they don't update their benchmark suite that often?

[HyperNovae]

Origin says if you are benchmarking or something to just call and they will help you out. God the horror, those poor souls. This is the type of orwellian nightmare Alex Jones told me about.

[acroig]

Origin says if you are benchmarking or something to just call and they will help you out. God the horror, those poor souls. This is the type of orwellian nightmare Alex Jones told me about.

[jimjobob]

Not really any thing new. Two Worlds would count it as a new activation if you even changed something as minor as the timings on your RAM.

[|MaguS|]

Hey look PC Gamers passing around incorrect information regarding DRM!

None of this DRM nonsense is true...

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2015-03-26-ea-blames-battlefield-hardline-lockout-on-origin-not-drm

[nutcrackr]

Hey look PC Gamers passing around incorrect information regarding DRM!

None of this DRM nonsense is true...
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/20...origin-not-drm

What a surprise, just like their incorrect information about Origin spying on people.

[Mangler]

Pfft, who cares about the facts, an opportunity to bash EA must not be wasted.

[|MaguS|]

What a surprise, just like their incorrect information about Origin spying on people.

Steam does as well... all services do.

[ThirdEye]

Dave can't play Hardline.

[t0adp1p3]

This is literally going to effect dozens of people (counting Dave). Any opportunity to whine, I love pc gamers.

[skrybe]

Its still DRM, whether it's in BF or Origin makes no difference. And for the record, I dislike Steam for exactly the same reasons.

From the screenshots it didn't appear to direct the user to a solution or at least an explanation. When you can't get into your game, there should be a link to explain why and how to fix it.

[Chuck]

I always found it funny how some people get so passionate and are ready to pick up arms in favor of something that gives zero benefit to the customer and more often than not makes their life worse. Not to mention that is unethical to say the least.

Unfortunately, as I grew older, I realize there really isn't real ethics in business. Almost every piece of gadgetry and software have intentional backdoors for government+corporation exploitation. What's worse, brainless consumers have so much pride in their gadgets they are in complete denial. When consumer's personal data is considered a valuable commodity, something obviously aint right.

[Sundance Kid V2]

Unfortunately, as I grew older, I realize there really isn't real ethics in business. Almost every piece of gadgetry and software have intentional backdoors for government+corporation exploitation. What's worse, brainless consumers have so much pride in their gadgets they are in complete denial. When consumer's personal data is considered a valuable commodity, something obviously aint right.

+1

and people are willing to share all their personal info (FB etc) in a blink of an eye. It's crazy.

[t0adp1p3]

All the info collected on me from steam, origin etc.., has had about zero effect on me. I worry more about the government taking away or infringing on my rights than I do EA knowing I have a i7.

[nutcrackr]

EA knows I like shooters, I tremble at the thought.

[Mangler]

EA knows I'm a sucker since I got both modern MOH titles and Hardline in my origin library.

[nutcrackr]

EA knows I'm a sucker since I got both modern MOH titles and Hardline in my origin library.

Are you me?

[General Lee]

Are you me?

Well, judging from the usernames, I'd venture y'all share common ancestors.

[Munkus]

It would be nice if companies offered discounted versions of their titles as sort of an opt-in for higher levels of information tracking and more draconian DRM. Kinda like an OEM version. Want to save some money? Let us track you and limit the install to one machine config every 6 months. Don't want Big Brother watching? Pay more.

I dunno, just a thought.

[Mangler]

They already have a version like that, it's called the console version, it costs more, and you can theoretically just plug in the disc and play since it has no release date check.