In a bid to combat piracy, SecuROM Technology,the CD/DVD copy protection system,will be used in EA's highly anticipated evolution sim, Spore and Mass Effect.

The news comes from BioWare technical producer Derek French who has made the following post on the Bioware forums:

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."

The producer goes on to say that " EA is ready for us and getting ready for Spore, which will use the same system.

This means that you have to be connected to the Internet on that day in order for the system to check your key, otherwise you'll be disconnected. Forum poster, Kevin Lynch asked a valid question:

"Sure, I have an always-on net connection but what happens if I don't play for 11 days and the moment I want to play my connection is down? Are you saying I'm not going to be able to play my perfectly legitimate purchased copy of the game, even the retail version, until I get permission?

French replied: "That is correct. And I would suggest that you contact EA Support the moment this happens (once you get your internet back) to report the issue. If there are people having problems with the system as designed, then Support needs to hear about it so they can help us evaluate it for the next game title."

Simply translated as "You will have to re-install the game again," although French states that he thinks that you'll only be able to activate the game three times.

The confusion over the system has hit overdrive at the Bioware forums, with a number of users possibly rightly worried about forced lock outs from EA.

Is SecuROM Technology the right way to combat piracy or is it just making life difficult for innocent gamers just because of the actions of nefarious few ? And publishers wonder why there's a decline in PC gaming...Join in the debate in the HEXUS.community forums.

Source :: Bioware forums