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General discussion (archive)Bioshock 2(80 posts)(80 posts)
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This is my favourite topic
Posted February 14, 2010
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Lucibel: So what's the process for installing the physical version then? Are you saying there's no online date check or file download from SecuROM servers? Can the game be installed and played offline? Because 2K say differently in their DRM thread, just not on the first page.
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StingingVelvet: It has the typical disc icon for SecuROM disc check, then it installed and launched the game without ever asking for a key or activating. I then launched the game and it let me start a new game without activating GFWL.
Now in order to save you need a profile, which you can make without signing into Live, an offline profile. I can't say for sure I guess that you can do so without ever putting your key code in, I know other GFWL games allowed you to do so and I don't know why this one would be different. I used the code since I have a GFWL account and don't mind though, so I cannot say 100%.
I played GTA4 and Fallout 3 completely offline though before I got a GFWL account going.

I know it doesn't ask for a key or activation (apart from the optional GFWL), but does the game do an online date check and download a file before you can play?
Posted February 14, 2010
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Lucibel: So what's the process for installing the physical version then? Are you saying there's no online date check or file download from SecuROM servers? Can the game be installed and played offline? Because 2K say differently in their DRM thread, just not on the first page.

No, based on what you can read on 2k forum, and what other have said on other forum, you need to activate the game online before you can play.
After that you can play offline, but exactly like the first one you will need to be online everytime you install the game and/or upgrade something significantly in you PC.
Posted February 14, 2010
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Lucibel: So what's the process for installing the physical version then? Are you saying there's no online date check or file download from SecuROM servers? Can the game be installed and played offline? Because 2K say differently in their DRM thread, just not on the first page.
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Gersen: No, based on what you can read on 2k forum, and what other have said on other forum, you need to activate the game online before you can play.
After that you can play offline, but exactly like the first one you will need to be online everytime you install the game and/or upgrade something significantly in you PC.

That's what I thought, but StingingVelvet seems to be saying differently.
Maybe he just thinks the date check and exe download are ok, when they're basically the same technology as the activations Bioshock 1 have.
Posted February 14, 2010
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Lucibel: Maybe he just thinks the date check and exe download are ok, when they're basically the same technology as the activations Bioshock 1 have.

I think he was just talking about the GFWL side, which by itself doesn't require you to be online.
Actually he mentions GTA4 which is another game requiring online activation (like Bioshock 1&2 using Securom online activation DRM) but which otherwise works fine with GFWL in offline mode.
Post edited February 14, 2010 by Gersen
Posted February 14, 2010
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Lucibel: Maybe he just thinks the date check and exe download are ok, when they're basically the same technology as the activations Bioshock 1 have.

I guess the main difference is that in Bioshock 1 the online activation was done through Securom, while with Bioshock 2 it's done through GFWL (although this would actually make me a bit more cautious, given Microsoft's track record of mothballing their various DRM systems).
Posted February 14, 2010
Ok, I just have to say this.
I HATED Bioshock. HATED it with a passion. Don't get me wrong, I love the concept, and the opening was great, but as the game wore on I grew tired of it very quickly, the plot was just kind of silly, the plot twist predictable (seriously, 'Atlas' jerks you around for half the game, clearly something isn't on the level), the end boss ridiculous, the ending just made me laugh, and from a gameplay perspective, it was just repetitive, swing a wrench, fire a gun, hack a terminal, wash, rinse, repeat. Maybe I went into it with too high expectations? Maybe if I went in expecting just another shooter, I would not have been as disappointed as I was.
Having said that, I have no opinion on Bioshock 2, I have not followed any of the coverage/hype. How different is it from the first game?
Posted February 14, 2010
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Lucibel: That's what I thought, but StingingVelvet seems to be saying differently.
Maybe he just thinks the date check and exe download are ok, when they're basically the same technology as the activations Bioshock 1 have.

It didn't have a download or a date check or anything like that, that was my entire point. The only thing it has is GFWL and a disc check.
The Steam version has a SecuROM activation.
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Al1: Ok, I just have to say this.
I HATED Bioshock. HATED it with a passion. Don't get me wrong, I love the concept, and the opening was great, but as the game wore on I grew tired of it very quickly, the plot was just kind of silly, the plot twist predictable (seriously, 'Atlas' jerks you around for half the game, clearly something isn't on the level), the end boss ridiculous, the ending just made me laugh, and from a gameplay perspective, it was just repetitive, swing a wrench, fire a gun, hack a terminal, wash, rinse, repeat. Maybe I went into it with too high expectations? Maybe if I went in expecting just another shooter, I would not have been as disappointed as I was.
Having said that, I have no opinion on Bioshock 2, I have not followed any of the coverage/hype. How different is it from the first game?

It's the same exact game again.
Post edited February 14, 2010 by StingingVelvet
Posted February 15, 2010
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StingingVelvet: It didn't have a download or a date check or anything like that, that was my entire point. The only thing it has is GFWL and a disc check.

Thanks for clearing that up. Sorry I'm sceptical, but lack of date check and download contradicts everything 2K's community rep said in the DRM thread over at 2K's forums, including after posting the DRM details.
E.g. she said Bioshock 2 retail was like Batman's DRM (just disk check and GFWL) in her press release on the first page, but in the thread said there's an online date check and exe download.
If BS2 can be installed and played offline with an offline or online GFWL account, I will buy it. I just wish 2K weren't so inept at detailing their DRM.
Post edited February 15, 2010 by Lucibel
Posted February 15, 2010
God DAMN it. Less than an hour in and I have to give up. I'm phobic of jellyfish; I had hoped Rapture would be too deep for jellyfish, but apparently that was a no-go... Meh, anyone know how many underwater segments there are?
Posted February 15, 2010
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Whitecroc: God DAMN it. Less than an hour in and I have to give up. I'm phobic of jellyfish; I had hoped Rapture would be too deep for jellyfish, but apparently that was a no-go... Meh, anyone know how many underwater segments there are?

I would say there are around 5. They all last only a matter of a minute or so however, so you will not be spending a lot of time there.
Posted February 15, 2010
Great, thanks. Maybe I'll just rush through them.
Posted February 15, 2010
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Lucibel: That's what I thought, but StingingVelvet seems to be saying differently.
Maybe he just thinks the date check and exe download are ok, when they're basically the same technology as the activations Bioshock 1 have.
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StingingVelvet: It didn't have a download or a date check or anything like that, that was my entire point. The only thing it has is GFWL and a disc check.
The Steam version has a SecuROM activation.
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Al1: Ok, I just have to say this.
I HATED Bioshock. HATED it with a passion. Don't get me wrong, I love the concept, and the opening was great, but as the game wore on I grew tired of it very quickly, the plot was just kind of silly, the plot twist predictable (seriously, 'Atlas' jerks you around for half the game, clearly something isn't on the level), the end boss ridiculous, the ending just made me laugh, and from a gameplay perspective, it was just repetitive, swing a wrench, fire a gun, hack a terminal, wash, rinse, repeat. Maybe I went into it with too high expectations? Maybe if I went in expecting just another shooter, I would not have been as disappointed as I was.
Having said that, I have no opinion on Bioshock 2, I have not followed any of the coverage/hype. How different is it from the first game?

It's the same exact game again.

Oh god no...
Posted February 15, 2010
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StingingVelvet: It didn't have a download or a date check or anything like that, that was my entire point. The only thing it has is GFWL and a disc check.
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Lucibel: Thanks for clearing that up. Sorry I'm sceptical, but lack of date check and download contradicts everything 2K's community rep said in the DRM thread over at 2K's forums, including after posting the DRM details.
E.g. she said Bioshock 2 retail was like Batman's DRM (just disk check and GFWL) in her press release on the first page, but in the thread said there's an online date check and exe download.
If BS2 can be installed and played offline with an offline or online GFWL account, I will buy it. I just wish 2K weren't so inept at detailing their DRM.

Well I activated it with GFWL for the heck of it, so I can't outright promise anything, but I know you can play with an offline profile with GFWL and I know the SecuROM is just a disc check.
If you are worried that GFWL will want you to activate even with an offline profile the only info I can give you is that there are complainers on the Steam forum about using an offline profile for GFWL, then activating it later to play multiplayer, and then your offline profile no longer exists. That tells me pretty strongly they never activated it before trying multiplayer.
Posted February 16, 2010
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StingingVelvet: It didn't have a download or a date check or anything like that, that was my entire point. The only thing it has is GFWL and a disc check.

Which version of Bioshock 2 do you have, is it US one or another version?
Because one of my friend bought the US one and I asked him to try to install and play it without an Internet connection and he was unable too.
He end up with the following messages (see the bioshock2_activation.jpg) and was unable to start the game or do anything until he plug back the Net and let the game activate itself.
You can also go the the : http://www.2kgames.com/bioshock2/activation/ where it's mentioned that the game needs activation.
Are you sure you were really offline when you install/first start the game the game ? (Network disable/cable unplugged) Otherwise I guess the game activate itself online without you noticing.
Attachments:
bioshock2_activa.jpg (25 Kb)
Post edited February 16, 2010 by Gersen
Posted February 16, 2010
Loved the story and atmosphere of the first one. Been watching the reviews of the second and see the common thread is due to the addition of multiplayer, the developers had to cut back some on the single player campaign. This mixed with the story being described as recycling parts from number one has led me to hold off on buying the game until it hits the bargain prices - would never pay $50-60 for it.
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This is my favourite topic
Community
General discussion (archive)Bioshock 2(80 posts)(80 posts)
(80 posts)