Battlefront.com DRM

[Zonso]

Not that I'm aware of, but tbh that would be counter productive with the intent of drm don't you think. :)

[Asid]

Not that I'm aware of, but tbh that would be counter productive with the intent of drm don't you think. :)

In what way?

[Yskonyn]

It might be worth noting that Battlefront's DRM allows you to install the games on 2 different computers.
You can reinstall on those computers as often as you want. No extra activiations used as long as the hardware is the same.
There is no de-license option anymore in the new system, because the old system caused lots of issues.
Frankly, I hardly believe anyone would get into trouble with this DRM anymore. You have 4 reactivations per year. And you only need them if you change hardware.
A videocard only doesn''t trigger a new need to reactivate, though. So you should be fine, really.

[sandman2575]

It might be worth noting that Battlefront's DRM allows you to install the games on 2 different computers.
You can reinstall on those computers as often as you want. No extra activiations used as long as the hardware is the same.
There is no de-license option anymore in the new system, because the old system caused lots of issues.
Frankly, I hardly believe anyone would get into trouble with this DRM anymore. You have 4 reactivations per year. And you only need them if you change hardware.
A videocard only doesn''t trigger a new need to reactivate, though. So you should be fine, really.

Thanks for clarifying.  I had always assumed it was a hard limit on installations (which is why I've always stayed away -- that's where I draw the DRM line).  May have to reconsider my Combat Mission embargo --

[Asid]

Thanks Yskonyn

[RyanE]

I like all the BFC games, but a clarification is needed here.

Check out some past history on their tech forums and you'll see a number of people needing a tool they call gsclean.  This cleans your registry of the DRM when it fails.  It doesn't matter sometimes how many activations are left.  Some hardware changes will kill the DRM and you need to contact tech support for the tool.  They are pretty good about it, but I have had to wait as long as 48 hours for a response.  The first few times it happened they were pretty crabby about it.  Now it has happened to so many people that they have realized it is an issue with their DRM...hence someone built the gsclean app.

So what has triggered it on my laptops...

new sound driver (required gsclean)
new video card (required gsclean)
my security USB for work (worked when removed)
adding 4Gb of RAM (required gsclean)
a new high capacity USB drive (worked when removed)
my android phone plugging in (worked when removed)
plus two computer replacements that required new activations

This is for both CMBN and CMFI.  It has become too much like work.  If you have a computer that you never make changes to, most likely won't care.  If you make a lot of changes and plug a lot of stuff into USBs, be careful.

They admitted to me that they are having serious issues with DRM in CM2.  In fact, I have had to contact them so many times over activations that we are on a first name basis and I just email them without a ticket.

They have never refused a request for a reset, but I have used up all of my activations.  Every hardware change or new computer means I have to beg them for a new activation.  It does get old quickly.

I am not some BFC basher.  I really like CM.  But the DRM has periodically made me stop playing out of frustration.  You can read between the lines of Steve's posts about it and see that he is not happy.  But I think they are too far into it to back out now.

[Asid]

In fact, I have had to contact them so many times over activations that we are on a first name basis and I just email them without a ticket.

They have never refused a request for a reset, but I have used up all of my activations.  Every hardware change or new computer means I have to beg them for a new activation.  It does get old quickly.

I am not some BFC basher.  I really like CM.  But the DRM has periodically made me stop playing out of frustration.  You can read between the lines of Steve's posts about it and see that he is not happy.  But I think they are too far into it to back out now.

This is the bit that that makes me uncomfortable " I have to beg them for a new activation."

If i have to beg for it then i should get it for free!

[Grim.Reaper]

In fact, I have had to contact them so many times over activations that we are on a first name basis and I just email them without a ticket.

They have never refused a request for a reset, but I have used up all of my activations.  Every hardware change or new computer means I have to beg them for a new activation.  It does get old quickly.

I am not some BFC basher.  I really like CM.  But the DRM has periodically made me stop playing out of frustration.  You can read between the lines of Steve's posts about it and see that he is not happy.  But I think they are too far into it to back out now.

This is the bit that that makes me uncomfortable " I have to beg them for a new activation."

If i have to beg for it then i should get it for free!

Not sure if he really had to literally beg, just thinking he meant had to take the extra time to request it which is less than ideal.....

I have been through a couple computer changes and some upgrades such as video cards and have yet had to ask for more activations....I understand it might be more sensitive for others and minor changes have caused an activation to be used...but I guess I have never seen anyone say that BF did not work with them to get the activation they needed...sure it might take a little time, but in reality how often does this really happen to a single person?  I am sure there will always be exceptions just like any DRM out there...

[Nefaro]

You can re-install as many times as you wish without affecting activation which is a one time event for your computer. (barring major hardware changes) Lots of theoretical 'issues' and misinformation here. In practice, I have not had an issue with this drm and I don't recall any of my pbem partners having any either. The number of activations seem generous to me for how often I perform major upgrades to my PC.

You may think it is mostly theoretical issues and misinformation but, as RyanE and tech support issues have shown, there can be serious problems with false positives.  From what I've seen reported, this isn't uncommon for such types of DRM. 

Because you haven't had to deal with it is no justification to sweep it under the rug and pretend it's not there or even accuse such people of misinformation, intentional or otherwise.

Unfortunately false positives have had an initial tendency for publishers using such things to suspect that anyone having such issues may well be attempting to pirate their software and become rather testy with those requesting resets.  At first, they tend to sound accusatory and get defensive about the situation.  As RyanE mentioned, they eventually figure out that their DRM is buggy and somewhat unreliable so they become easier to deal with in this regard.  I wonder why they even bother using it at that point, as it's just creating more work on their end, besides pissing some of their customers off.

[Asid]

I know that the DRM is there to prevent unauthorised use but when it interferes  with a legitimate install then that's a problem.

I don't mean that you have to literally beg.
Why should you have to be made to feel like, at worst, a criminal and at best an idiot?

[RyanE]

I forgot one major issue...I upgraded from Win 8.0 to 8.1 and that required a request for new activation and gsclean.  I didn't literally mean beg.  But I did have to ask.

I think I also had the issue with a BIOS upgrade, but I am little fuzzy on it.

I am not an opponent of DRM (if it is simple).  I am against developers not understanding what they putting in their products and then dismissing the issues their customers have with the DRM.

Speak of the devil...this came into the tech forum at BFC as I was writing this.  I knew I had an issue with the BIOS update...

http://www.battlefront.com/community/showthread.php?t=113918

[RyanE]

Just to be complete to my last post...here is a thread with BFC mentioning the Win 8.1 DRM issue.

http://www.battlefront.com/community/showthread.php?t=113446

[Asid]

[SgtRock]

Funny how Battlefront always blames (MS, Video Drivers, etc) for their DRM problems! It's never their DRM at fault, you upgraded your PC that's your problem not our DRM ::)

Makes you wonder will any Battlefront work with the next Windows version?  Is their DRM one patch away from killing off all their entire product line!

[Greybriar]

The only entities that come out ahead on DRM are those that sell the DRM.