DRM News

While DRM disclosure is something most people like to see from publishers, the terms used are often technical terms that probably don’t make a ton of sense for a new user. One of the things we want to try to cover are some descriptions of some of the commonly used terms so that people have a reference point when they’re reading game information pages.

We’ll edit and add to this page as is necessary.

Disc Check

In order for the game to run, the DRM used on the game will check the disc copy to ensure that it matches the installed copy. So the disc will need to be in the drive for the game to run.

Serial Key

An activation code issued with a game. Usually, it will need to be entered by the user to allow the game to run.

Off line Activation

The user enters their serial key either prior to installation or the first time the game is run. If the key ‘matches’ the one that was issued with the game, the game is now activated.

On line Activation

There are two different models for this kind of activation :

1. The user enters their serial key either prior to installation or the first time the game is run. The DRM system then uses the computer’s Internet connection to ‘check’ that number against the list on the DRM server. If the number is legitimate, the game is activated.
2. The system works exactly as the one above, only the user never needs to enter a key. Instead, the key is encoded in to their copy of the game.

Activation Limits

The game has a set limit on the number of times it can be activated at once. Every time the game is installed, one activation is used (though DRM servers usually retain information on a system’s specifications. So re-installing a game on that system will often not use up another activation). For example :

-A game uses SecuROM with a 5 activation limit. What this means is that the game, and that serial key, can be used on five different systems at one time (though the game can only typically be running on one system at a time). Once the limit has been reached, no further activations will be allowed for that copy of the game.

Activations can usually be added back in to the game’s ‘account’ a couple of different ways. Many games have an activation revoke tool which can return an activation for a game to the account by basically canceling an existing one. Once it’s used, the game can now be un-installed from that system without ‘losing’ an activation. Returning to the previous example :

-All 5 activations have been used. The user runs the revoke tool on one of them before un-installing the game, and now has 1 activation available to use again.

The other method for adding activations to an account is that the DRM vendor will add activations to a game’s account over time. So perhaps every month, another activation is added, though the total will never exceed whatever the total was when the game was purchased.

Also, in some cases the user may run out of activations for a game and not be able to get it running. In a case like this, the onus is on the user to contact the DRM vendor and ask for more activations for their game.

Hardware Activations

These can be involved in games using activation limits. During the activation process, the DRM server records your basic system specifications. Sometimes, changing a major piece of hardware in your computer can make your system appear to be ‘new’ during a game server check, so another activation will be used up.

Server Checks

Similar to on line activation, only this time the DRM will check with the DRM server every time the game is launched to ensure that it’s a legitimate copy, even after the game has been activated. This does not typically involve the transmission of anything beyond game copy information.

Data Mining

Data Mining occurs when the DRM program actively searches your computer for personal, software and hardware information and sends that back to be recorded on a central server.

Sun Setting

Sun Setting is when a publisher removes the DRM system from the game via a game patch. So it is worth it to keep updated on the games you play. If you’ve already installed the game before the DRM is removed from the game, the DRM program may still be installed on your system. Depending on the DRM program that was used the DRM vendor may have a removal tool available, so that is worth checking out too.