Grand Theft Auto IV on PC - Securerom Problems?

Mustrum_Ridcully · 22nd December 2008, 05:45 PM

So, finally GTA IV is available for PC. So I happily pick it up, install it, and get a message

Spoiler:

that apparently indicates that SecureRom is messing with me and blocks me from using GTA IV.

Anyone had this problem and found a fix? (Keep EN World rules in mind - nothing illegal. And of course, just giving the game back to where I bought it is an option, but one I don't particularly like, because I want to play the game, not my money *insert expletive here*!)

Did I mention I HATE intrusive copy-protection schemes that fail to work? I don't want to be a software pirate! I have enough money to spend on games, and I want to support the guys making good games! Grrrrr....

possum · 22nd December 2008, 06:41 PM

Sadly, it seems as if the industry is getting extremely paranoid about this kind of thing, and possibly rightfully so.

I just think it's a complete shame that the measures that the company goes to ends up preventing people from actually playing it. On the outside looking in, it's kind of funny in a frustrating way.

Have you contacted the company regarding your problem?

Mustrum_Ridcully · 22nd December 2008, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by possum

Sadly, it seems as if the industry is getting extremely paranoid about this kind of thing, and possibly rightfully so.

They can fear all they want, but they need to create a copy protection that actually works with their customers. Otherwise they have just spend money on developing a software, spend money on buying a copy protection software, and made no money on customers because no one can actually use it.

If they wanted to make no money, they could as well just have not spend money on copy protection. (or developing the product in the first place)

What is worse, they are giving people even a "legitimately feeling" reason to search for methods to break their protection. Every cracker has now a perfectly good excuse: "No, I didn't intend my crack to be used by anyone not owning the software! I jut did it to help those poor honest customers with issues with the copy protection!"

Rackhir · 23rd December 2008, 06:52 PM

The error message isn't specific, but it is possible that they may be "region coding" things, so if you have a non-"German" version of GTA IV, that they might be blocking you on that basis.

Mustrum_Ridcully · 23rd December 2008, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rackhir

The error message isn't specific, but it is possible that they may be "region coding" things, so if you have a non-"German" version of GTA IV, that they might be blocking you on that basis.

Well, I've installed the patch and after the second try, it eventually let me activate the game. Unfortunately, I don't get any further now.

My new error message is:

Quote:

GTA IV: SCHWERWIEGENDER FEHLER: WS10

Translation

Still quite useless, and so far research on the web hasn't helped me. It is not a region-code problem, since I bought it in a German store with a German package.

possum · 23rd December 2008, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mustrum_Ridcully

They can fear all they want, but they need to create a copy protection that actually works with their customers. Otherwise they have just spend money on developing a software, spend money on buying a copy protection software, and made no money on customers because no one can actually use it.

If they wanted to make no money, they could as well just have not spend money on copy protection. (or developing the product in the first place)

What is worse, they are giving people even a "legitimately feeling" reason to search for methods to break their protection. Every cracker has now a perfectly good excuse: "No, I didn't intend my crack to be used by anyone not owning the software! I jut did it to help those poor honest customers with issues with the copy protection!"

Oh, I agree. They should completely make a copy protection scheme that actually doesn't hurt those that actually purchased the game.

Mercule · 24th December 2008, 03:07 AM

Am I the only one amused by the irony of a game that consists primarily of having your avatar murder, steal, and otherwise break laws being saddled with one of the most hated copy protection schemes?

Mustrum_Ridcully · 24th December 2008, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mercule

Am I the only one amused by the irony of a game that consists primarily of having your avatar murder, steal, and otherwise break laws being saddled with one of the most hated copy protection schemes?

I am not laughing.

Damn, I am.

drothgery · 24th December 2008, 05:15 PM

FWIW, I've read that GTAIV PC is a pretty bad port, and if you have a PS3 or an Xbox 360, you're much better off going with one of the console versions.

Mustrum_Ridcully · 27th December 2008, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drothgery

FWIW, I've read that GTAIV PC is a pretty bad port, and if you have a PS3 or an Xbox 360, you're much better off going with one of the console versions.

If I had a console, I would have sure done that. But I am not really hot on getting a console. As long as their are still decent PC games, I will rely on that.

Mustrum_Ridcully · 1st January 2009, 01:02 PM

It's finally working... I eventually had to reinstall it, of course.

Note to Self: If you ever write a new application again instead of continuing development on an existing one, work the deployment progress out significantly early then the latest point possible, to make your installation routine really works and people don't have to install 3 different applications several times till your installation process gets it right!