Hello duders. I'm considering abandoning my morals and buying Street Fighter IV on PC, which has disc-based SecuROM, I think with a one-time offline authentication only. What do you guys know about this form of DRM? Does it still install junk on my PC? Is it possible I could use a crack upon installation and remove SecuROM, and still play? Should I avoid it like the plague? Horror stories?
People seem kinda divided..some say it's no big deal and SecuROM's danger was overblown..others say it's awful. So I thought I'd ask you (mostly) sane citizens for honest opinions and information.
I would get the game on Impulse where it's going to use Goo but I'm not very fond of even one-time online authentications...and I like boxes. :)
But I may end up doing this if it's recommended I avoid the retail version.
Thanks!

Off-line authentication? Not sure how that would work and I wasn't aware SecuROM could/would allow that.
As far as if it installs anything on your PC, it depends on what version it is. Some of it can be pretty nasty. You may have no troubles with it, but then again, you may. SecuROM version 7.x has blacklisted some apps, so if you have them on your rig, or if you have more than one CD/DVD burner, there may be problems. I'm no fan of SecuROM and pretty much avoid anything that has version 7.x on it, as I had a horrible experience with the version on BioShock and issues with an update to the version on NWN2, but as noted, you may have no issues. It's a bit of a crap shoot though. I personally would pass.
As for a crack, I don't know. At some point, everything is cracked though...

So even the disc-based stuff is authenticated online? I just assumed the whole point of using a disk check was to avoid online authentication..
Apps/burners arent a problem for me.
Blah.

The various options with Securom all run off of the same basic system, it's just a matter of which options the publisher chooses to use. Disc-based (CD-check) and remote authentication are the two most general types of restriction; I'm pretty sure there are additional options/implementations within these categories, but I'm not familiar with more detailed information on the matter. Securom 7 in all its forms installs drivers on your computer. There have been scattered reports of these drivers causing stability issues in and of themselves, although I haven't come across any clear evidence or analysis of this matter. The most common issue with disc-based Securom restrictions is the authentication process being overzealous, and flagging legitimate discs as illegitimate. This seems to be caused by Securom not playing nice with some CD/DVD drives. Securom will also often fail authentication if it detects certain CD-burning software present or virtual drive software; programs known to set it off are Alcohol 120%, Daemon Tools, and Process Explorer, and I've also heard some scattered reports of more basic burning programs like Nero also setting it off. It should be noted that it isn't a sure thing that these programs will trigger false-positives; it seems to depend on a combination of installed programs, DVD drive being used, and the specific implementation of Securom. In short, there's no way to tell until you actually try to run the game.
Another potential issue with Securom that's far less common is that it has been reported to switch drives from DMA to PIO mode as a result of dropping the drive speed when failing to authenticate a disc. Modern drives being forced to operate in PIO mode can actually cause physical damage to the drive over time. It should be emphasized that this seems to be a very rare occurrence, and it's reported that it generally requires a combination of Securom, TAGES, and/or Starforce drivers to get this to occur, and even with all three on the same system it isn't a sure-fire occurrence.
Despite all the restrictions Securom enforces, it actually tends to be pretty trivial to bypass, generally requiring only replacing the game executable with a cracked one that's had the Securom stripped out of it. You'll still have the Securom drivers on your system (these can be a bit of a pain to remove), but the game will run fine without needing a disc-check.
From a personal point of view, I own several games that use Securom disc checks, and have had very few problems with them (had a false-positive issue with HOMMV, which was dealt with in minutes using a No-CD crack). On the other hand, I've also taken a pass on some games in part because users reports indicated the the specific Securom implementations were causing significant problems and headaches for the people who bought the game (see: Fallout 3). The best advice I can give is that if you're concerned read some customer reviews and the PC support forum for the game to see what issues (if any) people are having the the specific implementation, because while with most disc-based Securom restrictions there actually aren't all that many problems, there are cases where the Securom implementation will cause nothing but endless headaches. So for each game you just need to do your homework and base your decision on what you find out.

That's pretty much the same thing, right? The Impulse platform authenticates your install and then you're good to go, unless you're going for updates. You know the story with Steam.
With a retail copy of the game that uses online activation (non-Steam, non-Impulse) the process usually works this way:
#1) A person will install the game
#2) Authenticate it online to play it, and hope auth servers are working and everything checks out.
#3) Play it.
What usually happens in the case of a game that has had this feature cracked is you will:
#1) Install the game
#2) Apply the crack
#3) Play the game.
You skip the authentication part, but you also put your trust in the author of the cracked files. Personally I'd trust the crack author more than I would the publisher keeping the authentication servers around long enough for peace of mind.
If the version of SecuROM used on your game doesn't utilize an online activation mode, then as DarrkPhoenix mentioned you may have to deal with it blacklisting some of your stuff. You'll also have the requirement of keeping the original disc in the drive until you can find a suitable crack.

Disc check I can live with. It's not that harsh and usually doesn't install any nasty crap unless we are talking about Starforce. In the end, I crack any game I buy, just for ease of use though.

Impulse uses online activation but doesn't install any nasty junk on your system (and isn't tied to hardware). Goo is similar -- no required client being the main difference. I'd take either over any SecuROM that requires online authentication.
I wouldn't buy SecuROM-laden games period if cracks/pirated versions didn't exist as a backup..so in a way I'm glad they're there, under the circumstances.
But yeah. Thanks for the info, all. I think I will get the retail game and crack it and that will be that -- hopefully no problems. If I do get them, Capcom is gonna hear it from me. :)
I think this will be only purchase for a game with SecuROM though.

I should have phrased my reply differently. I actually know the differences, but your comment ... *goes back to read your first post again*
Oh, I misread this:
one-time offline authentication only.
That is what Coelocanth was talking about. If it's not an online authentication, then it's an every time authentication via a disc-check. I think you got that part via all the responses though.
For anyone else who didn't know, is the DRM scheme that Capcom is going to use. [url=http://www.capcom-unity.com/ask_capcom/go/thread/view/7371/14428186/Will_Street_Fighter_IV_PC_have_DRM&post_num=17#289082893]This is the clarification regarding being on Impulse.
Oh, if you hadn't thought of it before, when playing online there are often checks that you're running the original executables, or at least approved ones. If you have a strong interest in Internet play, then Impulse or Steam sound like SecuROM-free options.

Actually disc-based can be one-time only, see . I read [url=http://www.videogamer.com/pc/street_fighter_4/news/capcom_on_securom_its_not_the_bad_guy.html]this interview with Sven where he's defending SecuROM and their use of it, saying they generally go the minimalistic route and "basically once you've authenticated with us upon installation you're done." Sounds like its the plan for this game.
Ah yes..hadn't thought about online play + cracks...I wouldn't say I have a strong interest so it's not a huge deal, but long term it's something I'd like to get into for sure.....well whatever, I'll figure it out. :)
Also, he mentions on the forums something about a GfWL key -- so maybe it won't matter.
Like I said, I'd get the Impulse version (really not fond of Steam), but I don't like depending on online authentication..at least with the retail version I can just crack and play no matter what.

You can generally tell if any kind of online authentication is required when buying a physical copy by checking the requirements and seeing if there's anything along the lines of "Internet Connection Required for Installation".

Wouldnt that contradict the disc-based thing, though? I think (hope) he was just talking about past instances where they used non-disc based implementations.
No worries, man.
DarrkPhoenix, I'm going to be pre-ordering online, so not really an option (unfortunately Capcom doesn't list DRM stuff on their site like EA does).

Any perks for pre-ordering the game? I haven't looked, but I'd imagine they're throwing something in.

Nothing listed on the page.
PC version has some nice additional features though (higher resolutions, shaders, exclusive achievements, voice chat)..I'll be very happy. :)
Oh, I found out after Capcom has done a bunch of SF IV related charity events, so I won't feel too bad about supporting SecuROM, haha. :P

I don't know, chautemoc, that interview with Svensson isn't exactly clear. The way I read it, it's a one-time on-line authentication and after that you're good to go. Where he says this:
"We haven't historically implemented phone home mechanisms," he said. "Basically once you've authenticated with us upon installation you're done."
It seems to me he's implying there's a single on-line activation/authentication upon install but they don't want to go the route of recurring phone-home authentications.