BioShock Copy Protection Woes
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The biggest problem with this method is that you must uninstall the game to get the credit needed to install it again. Therefore, a hard drive crash or failing to uninstall the program prior to reinstalling your operating system could potentially keep you from being able to install the game again. Apparently you have the option of calling SecuROM and pleading your case, but how many people are happy to spend $50 on a game that they could eventually get locked out of? 2K's Elizabeth Tobey responds:
hey guys,
first, let me say this. you DO NOT NEED TO USE THE INTERNET EVERY TIME YOU PLAY THIS GAME. it is only the first time.
second, you can uninstall and reinstall this game, and if, by chance, you have 2 computers you want to simultaneously play this game on, you also can do that.
if by some chance you are reinstalling this game without uninstalling it first, a lot, there is a chance you may have to call securom and get a key, or deactivate some older installations.
but if you upgrade your hardware next week, you'll still be able to play the game. if you revamp your system and need to reinstall bioshock, just uninstall it before you go through the overhaul, and then do your reinstall.
calling it "hardware fingerprinting" is a bit alarmist. we do not transmit any of your data to any companies.
really, the only people who will be concerned about any of these security measures are those who are rapidly putting bioshock on many pcs... if you use the game as you normally do, you won't notice this at all.
That might work for some people, but this could be a problem for me. I usually restore my gaming machine to a blank slate with Acronis every month or two and while I always back up all the data I need to bring back over, I certainly don't uninstall any software before the reimaging process. The way I understand this, restoring my system for a third time (without uninstalling BioShock) will lock me out of the game.
The saddest part about this is that people who truly want to pirate the game will find a workaround. It's the people who actually purchase the game that have to put up with such a major annoyance.
