The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena is now in stores and it seems that Atari has omitted one small detail when promoting the game - the game is riddled with SecuROM and limited installations. To make things worse, there is no revocation mechanism in place. Currently the retail version of the game is limited to three installs, after which you get to call support and try to convince them that you are not trying to "steal" the game you purchased. As can be expected, the early adopters are not amused.

I thought this whole SecuROM thing went out of style - EA is dumping it for The Sims 3 and mending it's past failures with the universal revocation tool. It looks like Atari didn't get the memo, so a recap is in order; Consumers dislike games with install limitations and absolutely despise games with non-revocable install limitations. Hard disk failures, upgrades and Windows reinstalls are a fact of life for PC gamers and DRM systems that, by design, do not play ball with the reality are just a way to displease the paying customers. Easiest way not to fail is to embrace Steam - with Valve's service you get tangible benefits to go with the online authentication and Steam couldn't care less how many times you install the game you have paid for.

Comments

	valtterieranen 2009-04-09 #1 This is where you buy the game but actually download the cracked version so you don't have to deal with the hassle.
	Unregistered 2009-04-09 #2 Once again a Failed console port.
	Horrorwood 2009-04-09 #3 Quote: after which you get to call support and try to convince them that you are not trying to "steal" the game you purchased Funny because if you were stealing it you would not have that problem and would not be calling them.
	AndY1 2009-04-09 #4 So this one has Riddick1 included? I'm thinking of getting it for PS3 and it would be a nice purchase 2 games for the price of 1.
	Jarnis 2009-04-09 #5 Quote: Originally Posted by AndY1 So this one has Riddick1 included? I'm thinking of getting it for PS3 and it would be a nice purchase 2 games for the price of 1. Yes. Remake of the original + Dark Athena.
	AndY1 2009-04-09 #6 Thanx! That should keep me occupied for some time in the evenings :-)
	bkkkk 2009-04-09 #7 These DRM people really want to promote piracy dont they?!
	IeatNvidiots 2009-04-09 #8 Quote: Originally Posted by Horrorwood Funny because if you were stealing it you would not have that problem and would not be calling them. The amount of times i called M$ Glad those days they use Pakistans or something for support in your native language, they pretty much don't care and fix it, thank u come again
	NukemNazi 2009-04-09 #9 Quote: Originally Posted by AndY1 So this one has Riddick1 included? I'm thinking of getting it for PS3 and it would be a nice purchase 2 games for the price of 1. I almost got the PC version (played the original there), but the PS3 version runs at 1080p, so I went with it. Glad I did tbh. Takes a little to get use to the controls but they work fairly well, since it's mostly melee.
	tomatomanz 2009-04-09 #10 Quote: Originally Posted by Horrorwood Funny because if you were stealing it you would not have that problem and would not be calling them. Sad isn't it?.. lol As most has been said abt protections on the games, the paid customers are the one who gets the problem *facepalm insert here* Cheers
	IeatNvidiots 2009-04-09 #11 DRM are like most taxes, they don't work as they should costing more then it brings in. A bit like dutch flight tax, people just go to Belgium and Germany
	ntemples1 2009-04-10 #12 response from Atari: “The protection on the PC version of The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena is an activation system with online authentication required the first time you install the game on a machine. The activation code lets you install the game on up to 3 machines, with an unlimited number of installs on each assuming that you don’t change any major hardware in your PC or re-install your operating system. If you reach the maximum number of installations you can contact the Atari hotline and if it’s a legitimate request you can get a new activation code. We implement this protection in an effort to avoid early piracy.�