Crysis Warhead copy protection FAQ (from Crytek)

[Mithrandir]

Introduction
We're aware that many of you have concerns about the DRM protection in Crysis Warhead. There is a lot of misinformation out there and we want to take the time to clarify everything so you have all of the correct information. Due to the importance of this topic, to begin with we’ll open with a message from CEO of Crytek, Cevat Yerli.

quote:
“Our passion is making quality games. We put our heart and soul in every game and hope that our fans will enjoy them as well. For years, Crytek fans have been passionately supportive of our efforts and we appreciate all of your dedication.

We realize that copy protection and piracy is a very emotional and hotly debated topic. It is very hard to find a solution that fits both our needs. We need to make an effort to limit piracy but we do not want to limit the experience of our fans.

Warhead uses online authentication and allows up to five activations. This gives you the opportunity to install the game as many times as you want on five different machines.

We also know that multiplayer gamers have different needs, so Crysis Wars does not have an activation limit, but requires the game to be unlocked online once you start the game for the first time. Afterwards it will be possible to play in LAN without any online connection. The CD-key is only required when playing online.

I sincerely hope that you will enjoy playing Warhead as much as we enjoyed making it. We are very proud of it. Our community is the main reason we make games. If there is something you feel we could improve, please tell us what and why and we will do our best to listen to you.

Sincerely,
Cevat Yerli”


The Solution
The DRM system implemented for the Crysis Warhead changes copy protection from being key-disc based, which requires authentication every time you play the game by requiring a disc in the drive (this was the system we used in the original Crysis), to a one-time online authentication. This system allows you to play your game without requiring the game disc in the drive on any of five different machines.

Please note: this DRM solution is for the Crysis Warhead disc only. Because of the online nature of Crysis Wars, and because we want to encourage easy-to-start LAN play, you are only required an authentication upon installation. If you want to play online on our servers, you will authenticate via Gamespy as you normally would.

Key Points:

* This system allows you to authenticate your game on five computers with the purchase of one disc – you can install your copy on each machine as many times as you want. If you go over five machines, EA Customer Service is on hand to supply any additional authorizations that are warranted.
* This DRM solution is safe. EA and Crytek would never allow anything that included spyware, viruses or malware to be installed on anyone’s computers.
* We know there is concern about what will happen if the authentication servers turn off or questions about what will happen in five years if you want to play the game again (and we hope you do). If that were to ever happen, Crytek and EA would deploy a patch that would remove the authentication requirement completely.


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 your game disc has changed from always needing to have your disc in the drive to an online format, eliminating the need to always have a disc in the drive when playing.
* Second, with online authentication, consumers now connect to the Internet the first time the game is launched and are only required to reconnect if they are downloading new game content.



Q: How will the game authenticate now?
A: We authenticate your game online after installation when you launch it for the first time.

Q: Do I have to re-authenticate after the first time my game is launched?
A: Re-authentication is required only if you make significant changes to your PC's hardware, reformat your hard drive, or in some cases, upgrade your Operating System. Multiple installations of the game on the same computer that has not gone through significant changes will not count against the number of computers the game can be installed on.

Q: What are the benefits of online authentication versus the disc-based model?
A: The new system means you don't need to have the game disc in your computer in order to play. You will no longer have to carry disk to enjoy a game you already have installed.

Q: Am I able to play my game on more than one computer? Do I need the disc for that?
A: You'll be able to install and play the offline features of your game on up to five computers without the need of the game disc. Your computer is authorized after installation and the initial launch of the game.

Q: Will I still be able to play my game offline?
A: Yes, you can play offline.

Q: What happens when I’ve reached the maximum number of computers for my game and I need more? (Due to computer upgrades, theft, crashes, etc.)
A: EA Customer Support 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.

Source: Crymod

[mediaboy]

What's the definition of computer according to CryTek? Do we know that yet?

[Mr Flibbles]

What's the definition of computer according to CryTek? Do we know that yet?

Yes I think we do, it wont be available to the public for another three to four years. By then we will be playing better games than this.

My pc isn't great but it's not that bad, why can't they make games that don't need me to completely overhaul my pc just to play a game in a higher res than 1024x768?

[Agent]

EA? Doing something on a "case-by-case basis"?
Is this the same EA that is renowned for its terrible customer service?

I really hope people don't buy into this statement.
What is so hard for these people to understand? - Pirates don't have the hassle of this activation. Legitimate users do....Another textbook example of the crack being available before most people could even buy it in the shops.

[x2o]

It annoys me when you go out and buy the game and they then stab you in the back and limit the reinstalls I format my comp once or twice a year it's a joke if you buy legitamatly and you are then treated like a pirate.

x2o

[chuckskull]

Mine showed up this morning. Bit miffed that the first thing it does is have securom call home. Apart from that relatively pleasant DRM wise. Least the disc doesn't need to be in the drive to play.

[Saracen]

Well, I've reached the point where I'm simply not going to buy anything from EA in future. I'm not interested in online gaming, and am not messing about connecting games machines to the net every time a game decides I've changed enough hardware that it needs to re-authenticate.

Having to either connect to the net, or contact EA CS to get permission to use the game I've bought is simply not acceptable to me, and I'm no longer prepared to muck about trying to work out which games use DRM, which DRM and how they've implemented it, to work out if it's too intrusive or not.

I have dozens of EA games, bought over the years. But there will be no more.

EA have, in my view, clearly expressed their contempt for legit users with this sort of technology, so I'm now expressing my view on that by putting them on my boycott list. Will they care? Obviously not. But at least I won't waste any more time evaluating their products. No game, no matter how good, is worth all this messing about over DRM to me.

[DevilMayCry42]

....
Is it illegal to buy the game, install it and then place a cracked .exe over the real one?

[Main]

Don't need the disc in the drive to play? That took them aaaaaaaaaaages to figure out, everything's been done via that 20-25 digit key they give out for at least a decade. Give them a few decades more and they might, might realise that any DRM is a waste of time too.

....
Is it illegal to buy the game, install it and then place a cracked .exe over the real one?

Since you are altering the software you are technically breaking the EULA. Not that anybody reads them...

[Saracen]

....
Is it illegal to buy the game, install it and then place a cracked .exe over the real one?

Usually, and technically, yes.

I suppose it's possible that there are exceptions, but generally, the cracked versions are based on edited original code, and therefore the cracks themselves are illegal, certainly in that they're illicit copies of code, and probably in that they are deliberately circumventing copy protection systems which, in themselves, have a fair degree of protection embedded in law (in the UK, and EU, at least).

[Saracen]

....

Since you are altering the software you are technically breaking the EULA. Not that anybody reads them...

And copyright law.

[Nemz0r]

To be honest, I think the DRM on Crysis Warhead is good. Now, i'm not saying it's great - great would be no DRM and no CD in drive requirement. Games get cracked whatever - END OF. I wish companies would see this - pirates have fun cracking new DRM. DRM is useless - it's just another money making business with no purpose, IMO.

However... As far as it affects me as the consumer personally, this DRM is better than having to have the disc in drive - I hate that - switching discs around all the time. So i'm all for it. It's the next best thing over having no DRM what so ever and no cd-check in my opinion . Though of course I can see where people are coming from with the internet requirement etc.

[looney]

I refmormat computers like every 2-3 months, so if i buy a game i wont be able to use it properly (then the change of hardware issue) probably in five years time pc gamingw ill come to a complete death thanks to these draconian measures! This could work against them if hackers rip games and people decided to just download games.

an xbox is looking like a good investment with the recent price cuts

[mediaboy]

I think the age of the console gamer is already here.. at least where I live.

There are no computer games for sale at any of the big supermarkets, and hardly any non-soldout computer games for sale at the local games store. Even Currys Digital isn't selling computer games anymore!

I am getting disappointed in them, and am now using game.co.uk.

But I'm thread hijacking, I do apologise.

[eiamhere69]

I consider myself to be quite a tolerable and forgiving person, but like many I stopped buying EA merchandise a long time ago.

In my opinion EA are actually improving slightly in that they are actaully making games. They still make the same old re-hashed, licensed garbage that they always have (guaranteed easy money), but I personally feel that they are at least trying to make games now. They still more often than not fail, but some games are ok.

However regardless, there ethics and complete lack of respect for consumers, but most importantly their loyal and unaware (in many cases) customers, has convinced me that they should go bankrupt and never allowed to develop ever again.

By the way EA are an evil conglomerate who, when cannot make good games (which is ever/never), buy out any small companies ('threats') and continue to force out the same old rubbish.

[Betty_Swallocks]

And isn't it nice to see the DRM stopping piracy.

No! Wait! It hasn't.

A quick search on Newzbin reveals 7 postings of the full game and some cracks as well so inconveniencing the paying public and treating them like criminals has actually had no effect on the pirates at all.