Crysis Warhead Review

By Christian Donlan Published 12 September, 2008

Ice to see you.

Version tested: PC

Let's start with the bad news, because there isn't really very much of it. Crysis Warhead is not a particularly long game - in fact, if you're playing on normal settings, and you're familiar with the first entry in the series, you can probably clock this at somewhere between five and seven hours.

But is that really bad news? Because although Warhead isn't the most time-consuming initial playthrough - it's a side-story rather than a true sequel, after all - it manages to throw in a surprising amount of variety, and, with that, a considerable degree of replayability. It may not take days of your life to complete, but it never asks you to do the same thing twice, and the chances are that, as with the original, each subsequent playthrough will reveal an unexpected side to most of the set-pieces.

The basic mechanics remain unchanged. Taking place within the original Crysis' timeline, your suit powers are still the same - cloak, strength, speed, and the standard armour setting - and it's still you against the North Korean Army, battling through the same beautifully rendered jungle and waiting for those floaty Matrix-style aliens to show up and turn everything into ice.

But despite these seemingly impossible constraints, Warhead manages to address practically every issue players had with the original game. It may fit inside the same story, but as it follows a different character ("Psycho" Sykes, the original game's Statham-alike, and a man specifically designed, in the words of the developers, "to make you want to blow s*** up") through different encounters, the pacing has been radically altered for the better, with the big freeze arriving far earlier, and a far more satisfying finale than the slightly hurried and abrupt conclusion of the first Crysis.

'Crysis Warhead' Screenshot 1

Warhead's story may not be Faulkner, but it has at least one surprisingly emotionally powerful cut-scene.

Both human and alien AI have been improved, too - the NKA are better than ever at flanking intelligently, deciding when to hold back and when to try and take you out from a distance, and they're now much more willing to use cover. Equally, they no longer have that strange habit of standing around looking like they're trying to recall the name of the actor from Q: The Winged Serpent, while you pump bullets into them from close up, either. (It was Michael Moriarty, by the way, but I sincerely hope you already knew that.) And the aliens - a real weak point in the first game - aren't half bad themselves. In fact, if anything, they're now a little more human in their intelligence, hiding, lurking, blasting you with freeze rays from just out of range, and far more eager to take you down with them via their post-death explosions. And without spoiling things too much, expect them to ramp up in force much earlier on this time, with certain old enemies making surprisingly snappy appearances.

Crysis had a lot of great moments, of course - moments of real drama where the AI and environment came together to create brilliantly fraught set-pieces that looked as good as they felt. But it also had a fair amount of downtime in-between, sections when the pacing was less inspired, and enemies dribbled out at you more from a sense of politeness rather than any clever staging on the part of the designers. And at its worst, when the game promised its most interesting encounters, Crysis suddenly curtailed all of your expansive freedoms, locking you into a moving vehicle and turning into an (extremely pretty) light-gun shooter. Warhead, though shorter, is far tighter, following each encounter with one that's radically different, mixing driving sections with grinding shoot-outs, and making sure that, even when you're behind the wheel of a vehicle, you can still get out and play it on foot if you want, and if you're surrounded by heavily-armed enemies in a situation built for gunplay, there's still a solid option to stealth your way through if that's your kind of game.

On the inevitable occasions when Warhead shunts you into corridors, there's a reason for it - generally to break up the pace of a gruelling openworld section, or create a claustrophobic tone before shoving you out into another giant vista. And even these more controlled environments still have options everywhere - a smattering of lightly branching paths, fights going on above and below you, and a constant stream of physics toys for you to attack with if you get tired of shooting or run out of bullets.

One of the strangest things about Warhead is that, while at times it practically beats you over the head with creaky old FPS conventions, more often than not it manages to make them feel fresh, or at the very least, intelligently crafted. Ideally, I'd rather not play another game with a mine section or a train section, or a set-piece where I have to defend an area against waves of enemies while a colleague does something clever and time-consuming with explosives behind me. But even though Warhead offers all these moments up, it puts its own spin on them - the mines are an on-foot rollercoaster, with beautifully gloomy shadows in which enemies can lurk, and fights erupting when you least expect it; the train section allows you to get on and off at will, running across the carriages and using the mounted guns, or racing off into the jungle to tackle enemies from an unexpected position before clambering back on. Even the defensive sections have an interesting twist, with the static turret turning out to be a red herring as often as not, and every nearby hiding space far more destructible than you might have expected.

And it's still surprising how good this game looks - and, more specifically, just how it manages to look that good. Because the original Crysis has such a reputation for technological brilliance in the graphics department, it's perhaps been unfairly underrated in terms of raw art direction. Warhead is not just packed with brilliant shaders and filters, it's often beautiful in terms of sheer composition. From the initial midnight insertion point down a flare-lit river, picking your way between rubble and flames under a deep blue starry sky, to the first appearance of the alien freeze, with beautifully sculpted half-pipes of frozen wave and an entire warship permanently paused mid-roll, this is a game which really cares about the environments it offers up.

'Crysis Warhead' Screenshot 3

Vehicles are present but by no means mandatory, except for one brilliant hovercraft section.

And even if the single-player's short, with few new gadgets, enemies, or settings, there's always the multiplayer, with a rebalanced version of Power Struggle, and a new Instant Action mode, allowing for easy team death-matches across a smattering of old and new maps.

In the interests of full disclosure, I should point out that I was a pathetic, cringeful failure in all of these modes, dying comically at the hands of both fellow journalists and Crytek Budapest's shockingly effective QA department for the best part of a long, sad afternoon that I shall not soon forget. It's a testament to how good the multiplayer is that I still managed to enjoy my humiliation. In any case, I look forward to your kind, kind words on the subject in the comments section below.

But of course, this being Crysis, a single question remains. Will your hardware allow you to play the game this time around? Will it run on anything less powerful than the WOPR from WarGames? This issue has possibly been slightly over-stated, as a significant chunk of the PC audience were actually perfectly capable of running the original Crysis on some manner of settings the first time out. The difference here is that the game has been optimised for a lower spec machine, and a slightly sheepish Crytek have made it clear that they sounded off on the tech-melting requirements of the first game a little too loudly last year. The official specs for Warhead are:

'Crysis Warhead' Screenshot 4

The nano-suit may be a lovely piece of kit, but if I had to dress up like that to enjoy its capabilities, I'd probably rather risk a bullet in the pancreas instead.

  • OS: Windows Vista / XP with SP2;
  • Processor: 3.2 GHz for Vista 2.8 GHz for XP;
  • Memory: 1.5 GB for Vista 1.0 GB for XP;
  • Video Card: NVIDIA GeForce 6800 GT or greater; ATI Radeon 9800 Pro (Radeon X800 Pro for Vista ) or greater.

To put that in context, Crytek has built a machine from online parts capable of running Warhead on the second-highest graphics settings for USD 600.

To end on a tenuous analogy, Crysis Warhead is probably the Back to the Future II of videogames: rather than totally transform the story and setting, it returns to the original narrative, exploring it from a different angle; once again, the results are sharper, meaner, and have a lot more for you to think about (although, thankfully, there are no dodgy CGI sharks or Elisabeth Shue performances). The original Crysis may have given you the basic tools, but Warhead allows you to really use them, and while its previous titles made it clear that Crytek knew technology like few others, it's this strange off-shoot Warhead that proves it's no slouch when it comes to level design and set-pieces either.

9 / 10

Crysis Warhead is due out for PC on 19th September.

Read the Eurogamer.net scoring policy
Picture of Christian.

About Christian Donlan

Chris Donlan writes about games for Eurogamer and some magazines. His heroes include Eugene Jarvis, Errol Morris, and Linus Van Pelt.

Read more articles from Christian by visiting the Christian Donlan archive page.

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Comments (132) Latest comment 3 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Pike #1 3 years ago

    Seems like a nice way to put my new graphics card to the test.

  • Kostabi #2 3 years ago

    Boosh! Didn't expect this to score that highly for some reason. It's on the list for later purchoose now.

  • hiddenranbir #3 3 years ago

    Excellent. Wasn't sure if I wanted this but how can I say no to having more of that freedom in the jungle?

    Pew pew pew!

  • Gazza_UK #4 3 years ago

    hmmmm if only my computer was 10 times more powerful... . then id be half way to playin this game

  • estoo #5 3 years ago

    kind kind words.

  • Red-Moose #6 3 years ago

    Sounds good. No mention of DRM (and it is an EA published game) but I'll definitely be getting this; a pity it's next week! I was hoping for today. The ice levels are a system killer though.

  • dr_faulk #7 3 years ago

    is this coming out for the Wii?

    /end annoying post of the day

  • Eraysor #8 3 years ago

    Well that was a pleasant surprise.

    And that CGI shark on BttF2 used to scare the crap out of me as a kid.

  • Shabtai #9 3 years ago

    Should we drop one point of the score to better suit the game as in the original Crysis?

  • ps3owner #10 3 years ago

    once it's released on the PS3 I'll get it. I am sure it can handle it in 1080p 60 frames..............

    It's friday, couldn't help it... 9 minutes and I am out of here!

    I wish I had a more powerfull PC *cries*

  • Innes #11 3 years ago

    What's wrong with elisabeth shue?
    Edited by 1 at 12/09/08 @ 17:20

  • ChthonicEcho #12 3 years ago

    A 9? Pish-tosh.

  • Waldo #13 3 years ago

    Better than ________ ,then?

  • Sar #14 3 years ago

    Bunch of jessies. Buy decent PCs!

    I've a quad core and an 8800gt and it runs crysis fine, and didn't cost me the earth.

  • ilmaestro #15 3 years ago

    Woo-hoo!

  • legendmir #16 3 years ago

    hmm, do you need the original game to play this?

  • dsmx #17 3 years ago

    No you don't it's a stand alone thing I seem to remember.

  • soviet_ #18 3 years ago

    Sweet, already pre-ordered, am looking forward to seeing how my 4870 fares in Warhead compared to the original

  • Chufty #19 3 years ago

    Wow this sonds pretty good. The pacing is what ruined the original Crysis for me, but I might pick this one up if that's been improved.

    I love the spec '1.5Gb RAM for Vista.' You have to be crazy to run Vista on only 1.5Gb RAM, let alone Crysis...

  • gribb #20 3 years ago

    What did Elisabeth Shue ever do to you Mr Donlan! :D

  • Pulsar_t #21 3 years ago

    What jungle freedom? The best thing the original offered was forest freedom.. And give me a Crysis without those pesky aliens and I'll bite. For now Clear Sky suits my open-ended needs much better.

  • Pulsar_t #22 3 years ago

    Elisabeth Shue was very scary indeed. At least till you became 15.

  • Turambar #23 3 years ago

    Faulkner seems to be a popular man to refernce these days.

  • mkreku #24 3 years ago

    Oohh, now I want this! I had no such wants before reading this.

  • Apologie #25 3 years ago

    i am one of the few lucky guy's that had the oportunity the run the game with everything max (high quality), at 1900x1200 resolution and i must say that it's the best First Person Shooter ever, games like Halo, Bioshok, Resistence and even COD4 look like something compleatly outdated form both gameplay and graphics point of view, the interactiviy and variety in terms of gameplay is amazing, you can aproach every situation in a different way, every object can be broken or used somehow, the suit features are incredible as you can use diferent tactics all the time and the weapons costumization is really good.
    graphically no comments, it's the best game ever, shaders, textures, special effects, and the physics, oh my god, dont let me start on thouse, every object, card boxes, structures, trees, boats, cars etc... blow up in a realistic way, the 0 gravity level, the first level in the snow desert when your descending the mountain and all thouse rocks are falling down, it's simply breathtaking.
    A lot of variety too in what concerns the levels, boat level, cavern, inside the alien mountain, 0 gravity level, forest... you can play in day/night that change in real time during the levels.

    Worth every penny if your considering to upgrade your computer.

    In o ther words, these is a Instant buy for me
    Edited by 2 at 12/09/08 @ 18:23

  • paketep #26 3 years ago

    Then, is it going to sell 500 million?.

    I hope for Cevat's sake that the piracy ratio doesn't reach 100 to 1 with this one!

  • Genome #27 3 years ago

    You get the aliens earlier on in this one?

    Yeah, count me out then.

  • Feanor #28 3 years ago

    I think the processor specs listed in the review are for single-cores.

  • UncleLou #29 3 years ago

    Great review, amusing read. But yeah, what's with the Elisabeth Shue reference? She's one of the prettiest women ever banned on celluloid in Leaving Las Vegas! :)

  • UncleLou #30 3 years ago

    No fools yet whining how Crysis is "unoptimised" because it won't run with all settings on "über-ultra" on their PCs? Colour me surprised! Can't be long now.

  • Doonvas #31 3 years ago

    I feel really bad about the Elisabeth Shue thing now. I think it's the perm more than the performance. Sorry everyone.

  • Apologie #32 3 years ago

    I have quad core 2.66 overclocked to 3.72 GHZ, 8 Gb memory DDR2/1066 overclocked to 1120 mhz, Board Rampage and 2 ATI 4870 in Crossfire, monitor hp24 HDMI, two 500 GB dics in RAID... the game runs fantastic at 1900x1200 at very high, i get 40 fps average, and if i play it only on High settings i get 60 fps average... warhead is a little bit less demanding so these on will have even better performance.
    Edited by 1 at 12/09/08 @ 19:07

  • DanWhitehead #33 3 years ago

    "Equally, they no longer have that strange habit of standing around looking like they're trying to recall the name of the actor from Q: The Winged Serpent, while you pump bullets into them from close up, either. (It was Michael Moriarty, by the way, but I sincerely hope you already knew that.)"

    *applauds*

  • Lovemoose #34 3 years ago

    David Carradine negligence.

  • GlassMoon #35 3 years ago

    Sounds fantastic, and for 15 quid you can't go wrong!

  • IneptPercy #36 3 years ago

    To get it playable it won't cost much at all, My system for Crysis was 4GB 667 ram (running at 1:1 ratio) E4300 overclocked to 3ghz (hence the 1:1 ratio 333mhz FSB) an ATi 3870, a 40" TV and a xbox wireless pad receiver, for that I had it on a big screen at 720p on all very high and no AA. You could build a system to that spec very cheaply.

    At £15 I had this pre ordered a month ago, but I mighht keep it on the shelf until I can afford a 1GB 4870... hmmm
    Edited by 1 at 12/09/08 @ 19:56

  • Leeks! #37 3 years ago

    Holy slew of pop-culture references. Even for a videogame review, that thing was saturated.

  • ThePissartist #38 3 years ago

    " have quad core 2.66 overclocked to 3.72 GHZ, 8 Gb memory DDR2/1066 overclocked to 1120 mhz, Board Rampage and 2 ATI 4870 in Crossfire, monitor hp24 HDMI, two 500 GB dics in RAID... the game runs fantastic at 1900x1200 at very high, i get 40 fps average, and if i play it only on High settings i get 60 fps average..."

    On that evidence alone, I won't be buying this game.

  • Gearskin #39 3 years ago

    Who expected less? Honestly? Crysis is badass in all forms.

  • Ryze #40 3 years ago

    I haven't even installed or run Half-life 2 or F.E.A.R. on any of my PCs yet. I really can't be fussed with upgrading the gfx card every year to keep up.

    Just introduces more faff when I'd rather get on with using my PC of other things.

    Maybe in the next year or 2...

  • Gunzberg #41 3 years ago

    ooooh - that's all I've got to say

  • Katsumoto #42 3 years ago

    "really can't be fussed with upgrading the gfx card every year to keep up. "

    There it is! I knew we couldn't go a whole page without it.

  • Zappa #43 3 years ago

    9/10 ,LMAO!

    m$ must have gotten to eg to try and get some sales on its shit vista.

  • smelly #44 3 years ago

    See thats why scores are pointless.. far better to read the words..

    sounds like more of the same.. and i didnt really enjoy the first one that much

  • Rack #45 3 years ago

    Between issues of lousy performance on top end PCs on the original, the question mark over whether this actually has any new content, DRM and the fact I spent the entire of the original Crysis being glad I didn't have to do Psycho's crappy missions this is still a big question mark for me.

  • FooAtari #46 3 years ago

    "No fools yet whining how Crysis is "unoptimised" because it won't run with all settings on "über-ultra" on their PCs? Colour me surprised! Can't be long now"

    It is a little bit though... I think Crysis could have ran better than it does. They are simply relying on the latest hardware to run it.

    "9/10 ,LMAO!

    m$ must have gotten to eg to try and get some sales on its shit vista."

    Stupidest thing I have read all day. Have you played Warhead then? In fact have you even played Crysis? And do you think MS give that much of a shit how well it sells. They effort they put into Games for Windows kind of indicates they don't.

  • Dizzy #47 3 years ago

    Hmmm... 9? Might pick this up at weekend.

  • FooAtari #48 3 years ago

    It's a shame it's got SecuROM really. Wont be buying it now.

  • Tehren #49 3 years ago

    Fucking pirate parasite scum. You like games? Get out your fucking wallet.

  • Haloboy #50 3 years ago

    I hope Warhead goes to show all those divs who branded Crysis nothing more than a tech demo were wrong, wrong I say! There be plenty of great gameplay in them there open jungles see.

  • AlphaOmega #51 3 years ago

    Death to the pirate parasite scum!

  • Farfarer #52 3 years ago

    Good review. I was expecting this to be a "more of the same but still kinda decent" 7.

    Guess this goes on the pre-order list then :)

  • UncleLou #53 3 years ago

    I hope Warhead goes to show all those divs who branded Crysis nothing more than a tech demo were wrong

    People who called Crysis a tech demo (or Far Cry, for that matter) don't have the foggiest idea what that expression even means.

  • Krelle #54 3 years ago

    Ill be downloading this one fer sure. (y)

  • AphoticCosmos #55 3 years ago

    Sold long before this but a definite buy now. Psycho was so r0xx0r :)

    All those whining about Crysis - cry me a river please. The game was bloody excellent even if you played through on medium [as I did the first time] or on a hybrid setting [as I did with my 9800GTX installed]

    Good review btw.

  • Windsong #56 3 years ago

    I suppose the Shue comments refer to the abysmal "faint" scene in BBTF2?

  • Dizzy #57 3 years ago

    >It's a shame it's got SecuROM really

    What? In that case no buy. I don't support this (sadly for the games makers).

  • Haloboy #58 3 years ago

    I understand the DRM is not something folk want, but consider Cryteks stance here for a moment. They slaved away working their asses off on the original Crysis only for it to be pirated by the filthy scum out there who can all afford new hardware, but refuse to pay for the software they actually run on it. And so they decided that Warhead would be their last chance to let us prove we support them properly or else they would no longer make PC exclusive titles. Something that now is a rarity in itself.

    So now we have a game 6 days away from release that not only is being sold at an extremly affordable price, but now it's getting rave reviews also, just like Crysis did. They obviously felt they had no option but to include the DRM this time around. They couldn't afford to be fooled twice, it 's simply bad for the business, and the business they are in is getting a healthy return on all their hard work. Something they very much deserved with the first game.

    And so as it stands right now I fully support their decision, and would much rather embrace the DRM than the thought of them shifting away from the PC platform as their primary development home.

    So I for one can't wait for the game to arrive, DRM or no DRM. I'll be showing my support either way.

    Edited by 1 at 13/09/08 @ 08:53

  • Ryuken #59 3 years ago

    They're even selling it on Steam (next to on EA store), seems like Crytek has more autonomy than I would have thought.

    "m$ must have gotten to eg to try and get some sales on its shit vista. "

    You really think Crysis or Warhead can't be played on XP, or won't look good then?

  • Dizzy #60 3 years ago

    "I understand the DRM is not something folk want, but consider Cryteks stance here for a moment. They slaved away working their asses off on the original Crysis only for it to be pirated by the filthy scum out there who can all afford new hardware, but refuse to pay for the software they actually run on it."

    As a dev myself I understand... but at the same time I cannot support SecurROM. So I prefer to vote with my money here... there are plenty of good games and sadly I won't be playing SecurROM games.

  • Haloboy #61 3 years ago

    Then clearly, you don't understand.

    Thankfully Steam will be the shining light for Warhead sales wise this time around.

  • Dizzy #62 3 years ago

    > Then clearly, you don't understand.

    I have no desire to have some game install borderline rootkit junk on my system. While I love games.... they have no right to mess around with my PC . Case closed. The SecurROM company has a history of fucking up computer systems. If you wanne support this type of crap.. go ahead. There are friendlier ways for the consumer to protect software. Stardock has a clue... the Crysis people have not.
    Edited by 1 at 13/09/08 @ 10:17

  • #63 3 years ago

    sweet, my system can easily run this game, and at top whack too.

  • FooAtari #64 3 years ago

    @Tehran
    "Fucking pirate parasite scum. You like games? Get out your fucking wallet."

    Was that directed at me? Just cause I won't buy it, you assume I'll pirate it? No, I simply won't play it.

    @Haloboy

    Do you know what SecuROM is? And how it runs? It more than a simple bit of copy protection. It installs itself deep into the OS, with no word of warning when installing.

    I understand that developers want to protect their games, but SecuROM is not the way to do it. Besides Spore was cracked before release and has thousands of seeders. The pirates still pirate the game, fairly easyily, while the legitimate consumer doesn't just get inconvenienced they got totally shafted with additional software being installed that is hard to remove and I have no control over. Not only that I may also have a limited amount of installs (I still play games that are over ten years old before you use the who needs more that 3 installs argument)

    Sins of Solar empire has done OK considering it has no DRM...

    The devs/publishers need to find news ways to deter pirates without fucking me over. Then I'll buy their game.
    Edited by 1 at 13/09/08 @ 11:37

  • dsmx #65 3 years ago

    If any game contains any obnoxious DRM that installs itself in the OS it instantly goes on my no purchase list however if I like the game then I'll just pirate it because I can. Spore I was all set to buy then EA said securom was on it and they instantly lost my business but I still wanted to play it so I had the choice of pirating it or waiting till EA get their head out of their arses and got rid of it. Since my only choice was to pirate it I did. DRM schemes have not stopped any piracy since they were first introduced and the only effect they have is to increase piracy so why bother with them? DRM is their to stop piracy and it has no effect on it so what's the point in it?

  • UncleLou #66 3 years ago

    Since my only choice was to pirate

    Of course it was.

    Idiot.

  • Nithron #67 3 years ago

    The DRM discussion again?

    You do realise that DRM doesn't stop piracy at all, right? The old copy protection methods, CD checks etc, at most stopped people from sharing their games with their friends. That's fine, that was their objective.

    The new ones still do that, but mess things up for the real customers, without preventing any more piracy. They just screw people over who've actually paid for it.

    The people implementing these schemes - particularly ones with limited online activations - obviously either are so disconnected from the real world they don't realise it doesn't stop piracy at all(Spore and Mass Effect are all over the web, go and look), or they have an ulterior motive that rests on everyone using up their activation limits over time: They either don't want you reselling your game, or they want you to buy it again later on. Or maybe pay for the activation limit to be removed.

    You can't use the old argument that "It's either this or go under due to piracy" when it doesn't stop piracy. It's like saying "You can either buy a car that constantly generates the horrible smell of rotting fish, or you can risk crashing into someone". The statements are unconnected, you're putting up with needless discomfort without any advantages being given to anyone, except the guys that make the DRM programs.

  • FooAtari #68 3 years ago

    Since my only choice was to pirate it I did.

    How about just not playing it? It's only game you know.

    If you don't want to buy because of DRM don't (I'm not) but it's not an excuse to pirate it.

  • mkreku #69 3 years ago

    It's not one of those "you get three installs" DRM thingies again, is it? That's what stopped me from buying Mass Effect.. :(

    I collect games. Games that need a server to be online will be useless in ten years time.

  • UncleLou #70 3 years ago

    How about just not playing it? It's only game you know.

    If you don't want to buy because of DRM don't (I'm not) but it's not an excuse to pirate it.

    But he wants to play it. And the selfish needs and wants of someone like him are worth more than any other considerations - be it the devs who worked for years on the game, or the fact that pirating it will only mean the DRM will only get worse. It's basically a toddler's behaviour pattern.

  • Krelle #71 3 years ago

    ""Since my only choice was to pirate it I did. "
    How about just not playing it? It's only game you know."

    Seems stupid to miss out on a game just becouse its SecureROM, no?
    If EA (and others) are stupid enough to -still- use that medium I couldnt care less about pirating.

    When they stop treating their customers as thiefs, ill stop acting like one.
    And in this case EA has to take the first step, becouse I have nothing to gain from buying a version that is not equal, but WORSE, than the one I can get for free.

    Its all just so stupid. Normally I wouldnt stand behind pirating games, but..
    (To make it clear; I havnt pirated anything (but music) since the PSX-days. Simply becouse I like the touch of games and their cases. Ive got that shitty collector-bug.)

  • Krelle #72 3 years ago

    "or the fact that pirating it will only mean the DRM will only get worse"
    Thats just bollocks, Lou.
    To begin with, it might increase the number of games with DRM, but that will increase the number of pirated copies at the same rate.
    Sales numbers will show that games with DRM actually decrease sales, and sooner or later the industry will learn and take after the music industry.

    Wish I could stay and chat, but sleep is vital atm ;c

  • UncleLou #73 3 years ago

    Great idea. Now people only need to stop pirating games without DRM, and publishers will realise that it's just the DRM that's to blame...

  • AphoticCosmos #74 3 years ago

    "Sales numbers will show that games with DRM actually decrease sales"

    What a load of sanctimonious shite.

    Obviously you haven't seen the charts lately, Spore's sales are exploding in the skyward direction.

    If someone can provide evidence that Crytek are actually including SecuROM in Crysis Warhead, I still couldn't care less. While, given the cracking of Spore within hours of it's release, it is something of a token gesture, who can blame them for wanting to at least try and secure their products from the scum/pirates who think it's their god-given right to pirate years of work for free. Show a little loyalty to our industry and there will be no need to use DRM.

  • smelly #75 3 years ago

    I wasnt gonna buy this.. But now I might buy this now I know it's got Securom on it.

    Just to piss off all those internet tards who are buying into all this hype all of a sudden about securom being the next "starforce" evil in the world - while not realising the people who start these rumours are the pirates who would prefer to NOT to have to crack a protection system on each new game.

  • Haloboy #76 3 years ago

    "Show a little loyalty to our industry and there will be no need to use DRM."

    Amen. EOD.

    Can we shift things back to discussing new Crysis now then? Crysis was awesome, Warhead looks like being even better. Crytek need to be shown that the rabid user base that have followed them ever since Far Cry are more than willing to splash out cash to fully support both them and anything they decide to release. And if what they say is true and most of the performance troubles have now been ironed out, there's more freedom from start to finish to play as you wish and the multiplayer has been made playable well...

    ROLL ON FRIDAY!

  • Nithron #77 3 years ago

    I like how when people are claiming DRM reduces sales, the game's position in the charts proves that it doesn't.

    But when people are claiming piracy doesn't significantly reduce sales, the game's position in the charts has nothing to do with it.

    Also, great, we've all agreed that this awful straw man of the chronic games pirate that copies 20 games a month that he otherwise would have bought at retail price on the release date, thus costing the industry thousands of pounds is a bastard. Great.

    Nobody however has come up with a convincing reason why the latest spate of rights-infringing DRM is somehow acceptable, despite the fact that it does precisely nothing at all to prevent piracy.

  • Bumhug360 #78 3 years ago

    Why do people always asume DRM is to do with piracy? SecuROM has been cracked, as proved last week with Spore the pirates can still get games out before retail. No PC copy protection is ever going to work, if someone can make it someone else can crack it and thats the problem with an open platform like the PC. What DRM does is kill the second hand market. The vast majority of people who download games wouldnt buy the game if they couldnt download it, some people who download games will buy the game if they like it. The effects of piracy have always been exagerated as the companies state that every download is a lost sale, while everyone else knows this isnt the case. The second hand market though has people who are willing to pay cash for games just not full price, by stopping the game from being resold these people will either pay full price or buy it in a sale. Either way publisher gets cash rather than retail store making huge profits.

    If everyone who pirates games dropped dead tomorrow the piracy problem would be wiped out, but DRM would still exist on games. Publishers would say its on to stop piracy and its working as nobody pirates games anymore

  • Nithron #79 3 years ago

    @Bumhug: Yeah, exactly my point. Everyone being pro-DRM completely ignores this issue and instead pounces on the most recent person to say they've copied it, because they're an easy target.

  • Farfarer #80 3 years ago

    If everyone's so pissed at this SecuROM DRM bullshit, why not just buy it on Steam?

    That way you can support the developer and skip the dodgy DRM for a trusted one.

  • UncleLou #81 3 years ago

    You're confusing a few things here. Noone is "pro-DRM", but for all your sarcasm in your earlier post about sales numbers and DRM, you're just as willing to make bold claims.

    Bioshock has already been mentioned as a game where the DRM most likely did work - it wasn't cracked for a week or two after its release (let alone before, which seems to be the standard these days), and lo and behold, look what Gamasutra hd to report about the opening weekend:

    "While the Xbox 360 version is the more popular of the two in the U.S., BioShock on PC nevertheless manages to make a strong overall sales impression that few PC titles manage to achieve. Interestingly, though, the PC port outsells both the regular and limited Xbox 360 editions in Europe, where BioShock's PC version emerges as the week's biggest-selling software title on any platform."- something pretty much unheard of otherwise in this day and age.

    Proof? No. But there are lots of signs that there is a direct relation between a game being available on warez sites before its release (or lack thereof), and sales. No, I don't like it either - I haven't pirated a game in 20 years, yet I am a affected by those who do.

    No idea why it doesn't work for Spore. Anyway, that wasn't the point. Don't like DRM? Fine. Don't buy the game. Write an Email to EA, explaining how you spent your money elsewhere. But don't download it, and make the situation worse for all of us, just because you think yo have a God-given right to dictate your own terms of sales.
    Edited by 2 at 13/09/08 @ 20:57

  • Nithron #82 3 years ago

    @UncleLou: I wasn't actually saying that piracy didn't affect sales, I was pointing out that "DRM doesn't affect sales because this title had DRM and sold lots of copies" was exactly the same as saying "Piracy doesn't affect sales because this title got pirated and sold lots of copies"; both of them are equally wrong for the same reason.

    Maybe "Pro-DRM" was the wrong choice of words. But I see plenty of people in these comments threads that've ended up talking about this issue who try and defend this "limited installs" form of copy protection and I simply can't see how you can defend something which does not prevent piracy and still punishes legitimate customers.
    You may be right about Bioshock, but it certainly hasn't helped either Mass Effect or Spore, as they were both cracked more or less immediately. You could just argue that Bioshock would've sold that well anyway.

    I suppose the whole "The mega-corporations are destroying our rights, man! we need to stick it to the man, by pirating, man! man!" style of argument from some of the commenters that disagree with these new copy protection measures isn't helping the matter, though.

  • UncleLou #83 3 years ago

    Yeah, fair enough, pretty much agree.

    I don't get the "3-limited installs" mechanism, anyway - what's the intention behind this? To keep people from installing the game, and giving the game to someone else (either with a no-DVD crack or because you don't need the DVD anyway, in the case of ME and Spore)? Kill the second-hand market? Or is there a reason behind the install limit that directly tries to prevent that it gets cracked in the first place (even if it doesn't work). I've already googled around a bit a while ago but found absolutely no answers.

    I wish someone from the games press would insist on a direct answer from EA on this point.

  • smelly #84 3 years ago

    I've just bought my copy on amazon!

    Thanks Securom! I bought this game BECAUSE of you!

  • Haloboy #85 3 years ago

    Hopefully Warhead will now not only be seen as a new graphical tour de force, but also become known far and wide as yet more proof that PC gaming is as healthy as ever right now. It could still be a long while before we see anything Crysis related on a console, so I intend to enjoy the exclusivity it has while I still can.

    QUICK EDIT: Psycho rawks!
    Edited by 1 at 13/09/08 @ 23:18

  • IneptPercy #86 3 years ago

    Is there only me who doesn't actually care if it installs DRM?

    Saying that I am sure I already have it form bioshock, it has made no difference to my system.

  • dsmx #87 3 years ago

    Securom is by any definition a virus.

  • dryden555 #88 3 years ago

    5 - 7 hours long -- I can wait until the price goes down for this one

  • Red-Moose #89 3 years ago

    @dsmx: well Microsoft's own Rootkit Detector certainly regards Securom as a rootkit!

    @UncleLou: regarding no rights to "dictate terms of sales" - consumers do have that right, and have the right to return products which are not functioning, broken or which do not function as indicated. There are consumer rights laws on this. If the back of the box had a comment saying "Can only be installed 3 times", that would be fine. However, I think EA might find retail sales drop to nothing if that was clear from the point of sale. So, goods have been misrepresented. Consumers DO have rights regarding terms of sale. EULAs have zero enforcement ability over statutory rights, and a EULA that can not be read before purchase or installation is equally worthless and has zero legs to stand on. Hence why HMV have already taken back Spore here if returned(Dublin).

    Still no comment from EG on how many times a purchaser can install Crysis Warhead before it locks up.

  • dsmx #90 3 years ago

    Any bets as to how many days before the superior cracked version of warhead will be up on the pirate bay?
    Edited by 1 at 14/09/08 @ 00:55

  • UncleLou #91 3 years ago

    @UncleLou: regarding no rights to "dictate terms of sales" - consumers do have that right, and have the right to return products which are not functioning, broken or which do not function as indicated. There are consumer rights laws on this.

    Yes, of course. That's not what I was talking about though. I meant people don't have the freedom to take something for free just because they don't agree with the terms.

  • smelly #92 3 years ago

    >Is there only me who doesn't actually care if it installs DRM?

    Nope i dont care either.

    All these scare stories come from the pirates. They did the same with starfox (and won) now they're on securom.

    Yes they'll get around it anyhow - but it's effort for them, they'd rather just get it, copy it, and put it out (rather than make the effort to hack the protection out of it). Hell starfox pissed off the pirates quite a bit as it usually ended up needing ALL the files to be altered in one way or the other (so the crack became an install) - and not to mention you could get hours into the game THEN find a starforce protected bit the pirates missed (they hated that) - thus the internet backlash where everyone knew someone who knew someone who knew someone who had their computer "die" because of it (but no-one actually had it happen to them).

    Quite spooky when you think about it - how fast internet rumours/bandwagons start.. Dunno when this securom hate started - Its been used in games for YEARS - hell during the starforce problems people were saying "well if you MUST use drm - can you at least use securom rather than starforce?)

    Hell the last game i worked on before getting out of the industry almost 8 years ago had securom in it.. But apparently its only now people "hate" it.. after having it for years...

  • smelly #93 3 years ago

    @Red Moose:

    I have a tin of beans in front of me.. Nowhere does it say on the packaging "Can only be eaten once"

    Hey.. and i've just noticed some kitchen tissue.. that doesnt have "can only be used a few times before it falls apart in your hands".

    I'm gonna go and complain.. this is SERIOUSLY effecting my CONSUMER right to sell this bog roll second hand after i've finished using it.

    Edited by 1 at 14/09/08 @ 02:05

  • Nithron #94 3 years ago

    Securom's been around for ages. It hasn't limited your installs up 'til now, though. That's what everyone hates. Noone gives a damn about the other aspects.

  • smelly #95 3 years ago

    >Noone gives a damn about the other aspects.

    Erm what about all the posts in this thread about it being a virus which breaks your pc and all that garbage?

    The limited install thing doesn't HAVE to be used by the publisher.. AFAIK only a few games use it...

    But at the end of the day.. i'll buy this - complete it within a day.. play online for a bit, etc etc.. Why would i want to uninstall it/install it multiple times? I have 3 TB of disk space! This isnt the wii here!



    Edited by 1 at 14/09/08 @ 02:21

  • Nithron #96 3 years ago

    Ah, fair nuff, I can only speak for myself and i'm not against any form of copy protection, or securom in general, just the install limits. Which you have to admit, are pretty wank. I mean, these are PCs we're talking about, sometimes they die and you need to reinstall things.

    Also, you have to reactivate some games if you change your hardware too much. And y'know, one of the points of having a PC is to be able to upgrade it. Especially if you're a gamer.

    And it doesn't stop piracy, which is my whole point, how do you defend something that messes with legitimate customers and leaves the pirates alone? What is the point in that?

  • aids #97 3 years ago

    smelly, not everyone has 3TB of space. need room for pron too.
    Edited by 1 at 14/09/08 @ 04:47

  • Yeevle #98 3 years ago

    Holy crap 9/10?

    You must be joking, Crysis is never that good in any shape.

  • Haloboy #99 3 years ago

    "You must be joking, Crysis is never that good in any shape."

    Oh no you didn't!

    No point starting an argument as to why I think you are so very wrong, but I guess you like Halo 3 more eh? Uh huh?

  • UncleLou #100 3 years ago

    You must be joking, Crysis is never that good in any shape.

    Not played on Delta difficulty and/or on an old PC, then.

  • Pablo2k5 #101 3 years ago

    Can't wait to buy this game, looks awesome.

    ...and NO. I don't give a FLYING FUCK about DRM.

  • dsmx #102 3 years ago

    Considering most of the people who buy crysis are the tech hungry people who upgrade and format their hard drives regularly each change in hardware is another activation gone, each format another activation gone.

  • karstux #103 3 years ago

    I wish someone could confirm the existence or absence of an install limit. I liked Crysis, but I'm not buying games with that kind of DRM. (I won't pirate them either, because I like my credibility.)

  • FooAtari #104 3 years ago

    Drm sure works

    As of Thursday afternoon, "Spore" had been illegally downloaded on file-sharing networks using BitTorrent peer-to-peer transfer 171,402 times since Sept. 1, according to Big Champagne, a peer-to-peer research firm. That's hardly a record: a popular game often hits those kinds of six-figure piracy numbers, says Big Champagne Chief Executive Eric Garland.

    But not usually so quickly. In just the 24-hour period between Wednesday and Thursday, illegal downloaders snagged more than 35,000 copies, and, as of Thursday evening, that rate of downloads was still accelerating. "The numbers are extraordinary," Garland says. "This is a very high level of torrent activity even for an immensely popular game title."

    What annoys me about SecuROM is the stealth nature of the install. No where does it tell you the game will install additional third party software. That further makes fundamental changes that can cause issues. To add insult it's a pain in the ass to uninstall. I do not have a problem with devs/publishers trying to protect their game. I do have a problem with the SecuROM and limited install methods of doing it. Especially when I can often by the same game on a console, play it without any such restrictions and sell it on again.

    Anyway I don't believe EA have the right to stop you selling on the game, or giving it to someone.

  • AphoticCosmos #105 3 years ago

    "Holy crap 9/10?

    You must be joking, Crysis is never that good in any shape."

    No, it really, really was definitely that good. Crysis was one of the highlights of my PC gaming career. It still is a tour de force on how to put together a great FPS, in my opinion anyways.

    Significantly better optimised Crysis with more guns, Sgt. "Kickass" Psycho, new weaponry and vehicles and a new sub--plot? Yes please . . . nao

    The only thing I hate about it is that it comes out on the same day as SW:TFU, so I will probably implode with indecision as to which one I play first before putting either disc in my machines.

  • ChthonicEcho #106 3 years ago

    No, it really, really was definitely that good. Crysis was one of the highlights of my PC gaming career.
    Must be a very short PC gaming 'career', then.

  • Haloboy #107 3 years ago

    "Must be a very short PC gaming 'career', then."

    Er, how many other fps titles can you think of where you could literally spend 2-3 hours on just one single mission? Crysis was all about playing through the game (well the first half especially) at your own speed and in your own unique way. And if like myself you often chose the stealthy approach as opposed to the ram through it all one, steady mission planning alone could take up a large amount of time prior to actual execution.

    And now with Warhead being purely about making choices when and where you are ready, I can see me spending even longer on each mission. Which excites me no end.

  • Pablo2k5 #108 3 years ago

    ChthonicEcho said... "Must be a very short PC gaming 'career', then."

    I hate this kind of comment, it's his opinion you dumb ass! No need to mock someone.

  • ChthonicEcho #109 3 years ago

    I hate this kind of comment, it's his opinion you dumb ass! No need to mock someone.
    It's my duty as a citizen of the Internet, I'm afraid.

    Er, how many other fps titles can you think of where you could literally spend 2-3 hours on just one single mission?
    I would tire and most likely fail naming all of the first person shooters. I mean, even in Half-Life 2, I can walk around in circles like a retard for 3 hours.

  • smelly #110 3 years ago

    @AphoticCosmos:

    I *totally* agree.

    I loved the original.. Right up to when it stopped being a free roaming jungle warfare game, and had that space ship section.

    Oh.. and the section where you're FORCED to fly that aircraft was REALLY shit - despite having all my options up to the maximum allowed with windows XP, it was like playing a 10 year old game with shit loads of fog blocking the way.. While the character i was controlling the plane with was drunk.

  • smelly #111 3 years ago

    Oh and the final boss had a bug in it which rendered the game uncompletable under some circumstances "lock on with the missile" when mine wouldnt lock on.

    ..( at advice of gamefaqs) i had to restart the whole level and replay the final boss without saving/loading..

  • FooAtari #112 3 years ago

    Agree with smelly. It was pretty awesome right up until that aliens part then it all went downhill a bit.

    Interest video comparrison here

    Disclaimer:
    This is just to show what Crysis does well, I'm not bashing on CoD 4. I loved CoD 4 although everything he says about it is true. At the same time you expect CoD to be very scripted and it does what it does very well.

  • UncleLou #113 3 years ago

    I would tire and most likely fail naming all of the first person shooters. I mean, even in Half-Life 2, I can walk around in circles like a retard for 3 hours.

    Well, just goes to show. Crysis isn't a game for people that need hand-helding through a linear level corridor. Not everyone's cup of tea, obviously.

  • AphoticCosmos #114 3 years ago

    @ Smelly

    I personally loved the alien, snow and carrier levels but the VTOL section was definitely mediocre. Thankfully you can literally just pour on the afterburner and just fly through the level if you have the basic controls nailed.

    The VTOLs work well in multiplayer where they're expensive, slow and cumbersome but powerful compared to everyone else, but they should've had a Korean hunter killer chopper for that section, or a new type of hunter/killer VTOL. The transport VTOL just didn't work well.

  • sergeantdisco #115 3 years ago

    Just don't uninstall more than once.

  • sergeantdisco #116 3 years ago

    That's the rub for me, I have no problem whatsoever with developers trying to protect their software. I do sometimes wonder how much it has to do with piracy though, I mean it's a pretty piss poor effort when the pirates get it before paying customer who pre-ordered it several years ago. The 3 installs thing is clearly an attempt to maximise sales, and while that's understandable it's an extremely cockish way to go about it.

  • Windsong #117 3 years ago

    Hmm, so this game has the infamous SecuROM DRM eh?

    Guess now I know how I'm going to acquire this game.

  • IneptPercy #118 3 years ago

    these people who take DRM as a reason to download/steal it:

    Why not buy the game leave it in the wrapper then download it, you have paid for it and get you DRM free version (which makes no difference anyway)

    Also the install limited won't affect you and if you ever wish to sell it you should be fine.

    its only £14.99 for gods sake!

  • dsmx #119 3 years ago

    So you should buy a game your not going to use and give EA your money to fund and support the DRM bullshit?

  • smelly #120 3 years ago

    Im a pirate.. i'm gonna come up with an excuse for being a pirate scumbag to make myself feel better about it..

    .. hmm.. what shall i pick.. i know DRM!

    and if the game doesnt have DRM.. i'll blame it on the price.. But if the price is cheap (15 quid).. then i'll blame it on the game being too short.. etc etc etc.

  • legendmir #121 3 years ago

    hmm i understand about secuROM and all that but ive pre ordered this because:

    1. its £15
    2. Its got rave reviews
    3. It has online functionality (which you cant get with pirated version presumably)
    4. I downloaded Crysis and feel a little guilty so want to give some money to crytek!

  • IneptPercy #122 3 years ago

    You about you anti DRM people donate £15 to charity when you download it then?

    Paid for game... check
    No DRM... check
    No Money to EA... check
    Might buy a place in heaven... check

  • IneptPercy #123 3 years ago

    How is it a punishment, it installs silently, runs silently, has no effect on your system...

    I know when I am playing it on friday I will feel really hard done to with my top quality game for £15...

  • IneptPercy #124 3 years ago

    This arguement that DRM is treating paying customers like criminals...

    Does this mean everytime I lock my car its because I think everybody is going to try and steal it, treating everybody like a criminal...

    In both cases it will stop a lot of people but a true thief will get past it.

    DRM does work, no it doesn't stop everybody but it does stop the less educated just copying and giving it there mate or installing it on there PC etc. I do believe no DRM would increase piracy.

  • IneptPercy #125 3 years ago

    I do think DRM does pirates some good int he sense it has to be cracked so will come from a few groups, which you may trust one or two.

    With no DRM everybody will be making ISO's and sharing and it would be harder to find a good virus free version.

    Also not everybody is very competent on a computer, you would be amazed how many people have asked me to install a downloaded game because they can't figure it out, in every case I point them to the cheapest place to buy it.

    I know there is a lot of people who it will stop, you have to consider that most people on here will be capable of cracking a game, but there is a lot of people not on here who can't.

  • Buran #126 3 years ago

    I'm ending the fourth level of Warhead. The game is better than Crysis in some aspects:

    PROS:
    -More weapons, earlier acces to them, different kind of explosives, much more ammunition, more tactical choices.
    -A lot more enemies and things to blow, more fast pace, much better alien combat patterns, intense gameplay with few pauses, constant action.
    -Huge maps with large areas to accomplish the missions in several ways, new vehicles.
    -Much better multiplayer, with the "TDM" adition and some sci-fi new maps.
    -Best technical department ever, with constant framerrate -no framerrate fall in the frozen areas-, better lightning, but worse poping.
    -No need of disc inside in both sp and mp after the installation.
    -Great soundtrack and voice actors.
    -Good price.

    AGAINST:
    -Shorter sp campaign and not very cohesive sometimes..
    -Worse cinematics, not much concommitances with the Nomad story -graveyard extraction point, assault seaport... -.

    I'll take me still a few hours to finish the game but imo is better than Crysis himself.
    Edited by 1 at 25/09/08 @ 01:17

  • VMerken #127 3 years ago

    Oh God F***!! Warhead has SecuRom with functionality a la Bioshock?! And there I was, thinking it was going to be as reasonable as the original Crysis.

    Good thing I discovered this before unwrapping the box - time to return it and get my cash back (not that it's much - Warhead's price is dead on right, I'll certainly give it that :).

    Jesus, F***. Until DRM becomes reasonable, does not pose a threat to me reselling the game second hand and allows me to install the game as many time as -I- F****** please on any machine meeting the specs, I will keep sending those wrapped boxes back. It's a good deed actually: that way, players who don't give a cr** about install limits will see their purchase eventually becoming a coaster and they'll love it how they are unable to resell it to anyone else.

    I believe Fallout 3 has SecuRom. Will it, too, feature this kind of dreck? I hope not - but if it does, maybe I should just get a console version instead...

    To whoever thought up the install limit functionality: here are my two middle fingers, you know what's next. I'm normally a quite calm player, but this SH** has to stop.
    Edited by 1 at 26/09/08 @ 21:33

  • Buran #128 3 years ago

    VMerken:

    I can't agree. First, because the limit of installs is melted to temporal restrictions only, which means that after -usually- 8 to 12 months the SecuRom restrictions ENDS.

    Second, because that at least gives you the chance to play without the discs in both Warhead and Crysis Wars, which is fine is you are playing a few games at the same time -as me, with Diablo II, WAR, Soulstorm and Quake Wars-. Is good that Warhead, Crysis Wars and Quake Wars don't require the disc inside the system and it prevents constant DVD changes.

    Third, SecuROM is a poor excuse to decline the experience of been not playing Warhead: the game is one of the finest fps in the gameplay department developed in the last 10 years, and without a doubt the zenit of all things in the technical department.

    Fourth, if you buy the game through Steam probably you can download it as times as you wish, as in the digital downloads in the PS Network Store in PS3 .

  • VMerken #129 3 years ago

    Buran: I can't agree. First, because the limit of installs is melted to temporal restrictions only, which means that after -usually- 8 to 12 months the SecuRom restrictions ENDS.

    This links to the official Crytek Crysis Warhead F.A.Q.:

    [link url=http://www.crymod.com/ thread.php?threadid=36974&threadview=0&hilight=&hilightuser= 0&page=1
    ]http://ww w.crymod.com/thread.php?threadi...[/link]

    Kindly direct me to the passage which confirms what you said. Or provide a different, official link. And no, I'm not interested in promises made by the devs, or things that "might" happen.

    Edit: oh wait, I found this:

    [link url=http: //www.crymod.com/thread.php?threadid=36999
    ]http://ww w.crymod.com/thread.php?threadi...[/link]

    Sounds like good news, but after witnessing the Bioshock revoke tool, I'll just wait with the champagne until the mentioned fix is released. Especially since EA's thinking about developing it. However, if it's really good, I'll buy the game, which by then is probably available at a nicely reduced price.

    Second, because that at least gives you the chance to play without the discs in both Warhead and Crysis Wars, which is fine is you are playing a few games at the same time -as me, with Diablo II, WAR, Soulstorm and Quake Wars-. Is good that Warhead, Crysis Wars and Quake Wars don't require the disc inside the system and it prevents constant DVD changes.

    If you like it, no problem but (a) I can live with disc switching since I do it with care and (b) disc switching is absolutely the least of my worries with this kind of DRM. In fact, I didn't even mention it because the other arguments are far, far more relevant.

    Third, SecuROM is a poor excuse to decline the experience of been not playing Warhead: the game is one of the finest fps in the gameplay department developed in the last 10 years, and without a doubt the zenit of all things in the technical department.

    I wasn't going to talk a lot about SecuRom, but since you brought it up...

    First, I'd like to say that SecuRom has been around - my comments pertain to the new iteration of SecuRom which has the "great" install limits (aka rental) functionality. This functionality began with Bioshock, and now appears to become popular in the dev scene because the people are voting yes with their wallets. That the high-selling games are actually good has nothing to do with it, no, the new SecuRom is preventing Piracy(tm) at last!

    One, there is no mention of Securom on the box (I only buy boxed copies and will probably never use STEAM), so you know, something just installed itself on your PC without you knowing it! Hey, trusted computing, right?

    Two, SecuRom will run in the background, do stuff you know nothing about, use processing time and is not turned off easily! But hey, your processor can more than handle it, and at least your game is protected. And there is the general consensus that SecuRom luckily is but a harmless rootkit.

    Three, it is possible that SecuRom will not allow you to run game discs (of other games) if you are using a DVD-RW drive (plus another drive, I think) or Pirating(tm) tools such as Nero. Because people with DVD-RW drives and/or Nero must be Pirates(tm), you know.

    Four, SecuRom will NOT uninstall along with the game and it will just keep monitoring your system! Yes sir, you have to uninstall it manually if you so wish to! A cookie if you can find the full 100% working uninstallation instructions for Crysis Warhead's SecuRom implementation on the internet. Bonus cookie if you honestly think the manual uninstallation procedure is an easy, foolproof, risk-free undertaking.

    Edit: wow, a lot has happened since kast year - uninstalling SecuRom was a pain back then! For reference, here is a link to the SecuRom uninstaller, provided by SecuRom itself:

    http://ww w.securom.com/support/SecuROM_U...

    Cookies for me I guess :). It does leave a few files on your system behind, but only to keep your game activations intact, of course.

    Still think SecuRom's a poor excuse, even though it wasn't used as an excuse in the first place?

    And while I'm sure that Crysis Warhead's a great game and technical achievement - actually a game I would love to play considering that I loved Crysis - the fact that (a) I cannot install the game as many times as I want and (b) enjoy it for as long as the DVD is still in working condition, makes it no sale for me (I returned the box to the store today, btw, and got reimbursed). Yes, I'll possibly miss out on something great. No problem, there are other interesting games out there without this type of DRM for the time being.

    Fourth, if you buy the game through Steam probably you can download it as times as you wish, as in the digital downloads in the PS Network Store in PS3 .

    Yes, and then I'm probably paying AGAIN for the game once the 5 install limit has been breached. But oh wait, I can call a premium number for EA support after which (if they are anything like 2K Games (Bioshock)) they'll probably ask me to mail them a picture of the game dvd, box, serial number, and so on to prove I really, really have a legit copy of the game. And after that, I get to wait a week before customer support has filed the necessary paperwork to give the green light for reactivation. Or the authorisation tool does work great! Yay, that sounds good! Oh, and this type of DRM doesn't kill the second hand market one bit.

    Finally, something which is a consequence of this type of DRM and which really pisses me off: it is really the company saying to us, "We don't trust YOU". Yes, Cevat Yerli probably meant what he wrote in the F.A.Q. and he really appreciates our dedication and hearts and souls are poured into their games and whatnot. But then, at some point, other factors begin to play and suddenly, the company can no longer trust that YOU do the right thing. And so they are going to tell YOU what to do and basically sell you a rental at full price. You have to trust them on their word that they will ensure that you can always play the game.

    Only: if the company doesn't trust you, why should you trust the company?

    I believe that the company has the right to protect their product and deploy security measures. I also believe that when I pay full price for said product, I have the right to a game disc which doesn't become a coaster over time. That the deployed security measures should be fair and not insulting me (see "trust" above). That it should only be normal that SecuRom uninstalls along with the game in a trivial manner.

    Until a better solution is developed, I vote with my wallet and refuse to buy games with this kind of heinous DRM. And should the majority votes otherwise, then we will not see the end of it - but that's okay in a democracy - and I'll graciously bow out of PC gaming. Enough to do in real life, anyway :).

    Thanks for your reply, Buran, keep enjoying your game and take care.
    Edited by 4 at 27/09/08 @ 11:40

  • Buran #130 3 years ago

    VMerken: thanx for your explanations, some of them were not kwnowed by me; I don't like and don't use- Steam mainly because the monitoring functions that eveade the user control, so now I must admit that I agree in some degree with your opinions about SecuROM.

    Anyway, with or without the restrictive DRM, imo Warhead deserves the money,and since I like a lot the Crytek games and want to suppurt his efforts in the PC fps scene, the act ob buying the game was right to me. I don't want a developer focusing his talented workers in the delpoy of games oriented to the "multi platform" scenary or nerfeing these ones in any way because the technical limitations of consoles and pads.

  • VMerken #131 3 years ago

    Buran: thanx for your explanations, some of them were not kwnowed by me; I don't like and don't use- Steam mainly because the monitoring functions that eveade the user control, so now I must admit that I agree in some degree with your opinions about SecuROM.

    Well, apparently there's now a SecuRom uninstaller by SecuRom (see my post above), so at least we now have the option to remove the monitoring whenever we want. Quite a relief. But yeah, while you play games, SecuRom and/or STEAM are watching you, not exactly something I like, either.

    Anyway, with or without the restrictive DRM, imo Warhead deserves the money,and since I like a lot the Crytek games and want to suppurt his efforts in the PC fps scene, the act ob buying the game was right to me. I don't want a developer focusing his talented workers in the delpoy of games oriented to the "multi platform" scenary or nerfeing these ones in any way because the technical limitations of consoles and pads.

    Hey, you did what you believe in, and that's great - I completely respect that. Me, I will gladly support Crytek and other great PC game companies once I can feel like I'm actually buying games again rather than having these Big Brother, rental-like, second hand market killing, unmentioned-on-the-box-and-EULA restrictions built in. If the protection works and is fairly communicated and implemented, then let the buying commence (in my case :).

  • Execta #132 3 years ago

    A must-buy.