Beware of BioWare!

[DABhand]

Originally Posted by AstralWanderer

Game requires activation but cannot connect (due to a fault with your connection, your ISP, the game company's ISP or a problem with their server). Result: you get locked out. - Any game that ive seen that requires activation online has usually got a phone option.

Game has be to installed on an Internet connected computer - if you prefer to keep your gaming system offline (thereby reducing the need to run performance-sapping security software) then you can't use it, full stop. - As said before for phone option , if none the box for the software would say "INTERNET CONNECTION REQUIRED"

Users limited to dialup or mobile phone Internet access (where connections may be charged by the second) incur extra expense due to online activation - those lacking a permanent connection (e.g. living in mobile accommodation) can't activate at all. - Errr how cant they activate, if they have access they can activate. And if not as said already they have a phone option

As noted in my post above (please take the time to read the links), online activation allows companies to impose usage restrictions that may be unfair or even unlawful. Stardock denying users their "first sale" rights is one example - Valve permabanning Steam accounts (causing customers to lose access to all previously purchased games) in cases where a credit card chargeback has been made is another. - Permabanning for what? Bot use? Trying to use a known key for another game? To get permanently banned requires the end user to have broken the EULA that you agreed to. As for denying your sale rights that is bollocks, you bought a product they have to make sure that you have access to the media if bought over the net in download form or send you media if ordered through the net. If it requires activation then it does, once done its done, if your legit then there is no worries what so ever

Privacy issues - a game that "phones home" frequently allows the publisher to keep track of your whereabouts. It also opens the possibility for it to send other information about you or your system (with or without your consent). -This is obviously talk you have read about and seen rumours about, if any game/software is taking information other than information about the game it is illegal for them to do so and they are monitored alot, they dont do it its an old tale used by warez users to excuse their thefts as if they are the good guys. Microsoft is the biggest scapegoat for this, they only retrieve information relevent to the service your using.

Finally, what happens when companies stop activating? Just as publishers aren't going to release patches forever, they aren't going to continue to activate forever either (even if the process is simple, it still means support overheads for them). As such, unless a company chooses to release an activation-free version, you have a time-limited product. - If they do fold/bankrupt etc then they have to supply a way for you to play your software in the future, by patch or by allowing people to have new media sent to them in various forms.

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