# Mass Effect DRM. I own a DVD burner. Will the game work? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [August 18, 2008, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mass-effect-drm-i-own-a-dvd-burner-will-the-game-work/460451 "2008-08-18T18:02:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2008, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mass-effect-drm-i-own-a-dvd-burner-will-the-game-work/460451/1 "2008-08-18T18:02:12Z")
The reviews on Amazon can be summarized as follows: Game = Good. DRM = Evil and stupid. One reviewer was unable to install the game simply because he HAPPENED TO OWN a DVD burner drive. He got it working by installing an ordinary DVD drive. I don’t want to do that (I don’t have a DVD drive and am not going to get one just to play one computer game) I DO want to play a good one-player game. Any dopers got Mass Effect? Had issues? ---
**Author:** ![Headrush042](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a5b964/32.png) [@Headrush042](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Headrush042)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2008, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mass-effect-drm-i-own-a-dvd-burner-will-the-game-work/460451/2 "2008-08-18T19:01:23Z")
I’ve had no issues at all with ME’s DRM, but there are quite a few people who do. It seems like most people don’t, but if you happen to be one of the unlucky ones, then you’re just kinda hosed. I have a DVD burner, for what it’s worth. The odds are probably in your favor, but it’s still somewhat of a crap shoot as to whether or not you’ll have issues caused by SecuROM. You can also buy ME as a digital download – that way, if the installer freaks out about your DVD burner, you can just disable it anyways. I actually resisted purchasing ME for a really long time specifically because I didn’t want to give money to publishers who are moronic enough to still believe that DRM is a cool idea, but I got so many glowing reviews from my friends that I eventually broke down and bought it anyways (and I felt bad about punishing the devs for something their idiot publishers are doing). And yes, it really is as good as everyone says it is 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2008, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mass-effect-drm-i-own-a-dvd-burner-will-the-game-work/460451/3 "2008-08-18T19:08:17Z")
I’ve got a DVD burner and it installed fine. ---
**Author:** ![Kinthalis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kinthalis/32/16084_2.png) [@Kinthalis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kinthalis)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2008, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mass-effect-drm-i-own-a-dvd-burner-will-the-game-work/460451/4 "2008-08-18T19:26:31Z")
Same here. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2008, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mass-effect-drm-i-own-a-dvd-burner-will-the-game-work/460451/5 "2008-08-18T19:40:17Z")
I guess I’ll risk the purchase! I’ve been sort of bingeing on single-player games lately after a loooooong period of not playing games at all. I’ve exhausted what there is of the Half Life universe, I’ve finished Far Cry, Crysis, Am in the middle of re-playing the Medal of Honour series (except for Airborne, which has mixed reviews) And a friend lent me a game the name of which escapes me (you’re a native American in an alien spaceship with weird balance-messing portals) ---
**Author:** ![rayh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@rayh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rayh)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2008, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mass-effect-drm-i-own-a-dvd-burner-will-the-game-work/460451/6 "2008-08-18T20:19:58Z")
[QUOTE=Lobsang] And a friend lent me a game the name of which escapes me (you’re a native American in an alien spaceship with weird balance-messing portals) [/QUOTE] Prey. Also try S.T.A.L.K.E.R. - Shadow of Chernobyl ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2008, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mass-effect-drm-i-own-a-dvd-burner-will-the-game-work/460451/7 "2008-08-18T21:35:49Z")
DVD burner with no problems here. Prey was good. STALKER so-so The first FEAR was good. The sequels acceptable. Call of Cthulhu was disturbing. Really enjoyed it. Assassins Creed is good. Looking forward to a sequel. Thief: Deadly Shadows is in the replay pile. Avoid like the plague Genesis Rising Revelation something else. I’ll have to look it up when I get home. Really horrid random animations during dialogs. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2008, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mass-effect-drm-i-own-a-dvd-burner-will-the-game-work/460451/8 "2008-08-19T13:25:35Z")
[QUOTE=Lobsang] I guess I’ll risk the purchase! [/QUOTE] I don’t know what your options are there in the Isle of Crazy Motorbike Racing, but Electronics Boutique in Australia have a no questions asked return policy. Game doesn’t work, take it back, don’t like the game, take it back, like the game and finished it in seven days and don’t think you’ll play it again, take it back (we’ll not really, that’s not in the spirit of the policy but you could if you really wanted too.) The other option, if there are no stores with similar policies, is to rent it from a video store. But then you have to spend $5 extra just to find out whether it works or not. ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2008, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mass-effect-drm-i-own-a-dvd-burner-will-the-game-work/460451/9 "2008-08-19T13:43:40Z")
[QUOTE=1920s Style “Death Ray”] I don’t know what your options are there in the Isle of Crazy Motorbike Racing, but Electronics Boutique in Australia have a no questions asked return policy. Game doesn’t work, take it back, don’t like the game, take it back, like the game and finished it in seven days and don’t think you’ll play it again, take it back (we’ll not really, that’s not in the spirit of the policy but you could if you really wanted too.) The other option, if there are no stores with similar policies, is to rent it from a video store. But then you have to spend $5 extra just to find out whether it works or not. [/QUOTE] I don’t know 100% that the return policy or rentals would be available, since the DRM for Mass Effect limits you to installing the game on three computers instead of requiring that you keep the DVD. You can get more activations by contacting EA, but the system does seem to encourage someone to install the game and then keep on playing it after they return the DVD. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2008, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mass-effect-drm-i-own-a-dvd-burner-will-the-game-work/460451/10 "2008-08-19T13:52:44Z")
Maybe, it’s been a long time since I’ve used EBs return policy. Come to think of it, I don’t even know that I’ve seen PC games for rental, maybe only console games. That’d make more sense as you normally need the disc for those. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Angel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d26b3c/32.png) [@Johnny\_Angel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Angel)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2008, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mass-effect-drm-i-own-a-dvd-burner-will-the-game-work/460451/11 "2008-08-19T22:43:49Z")
I not only have a DVD burner installed, I also have DVD-emulator. Mass Effect has given me no trouble in that regard. ---
**Author:** ![Merhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@Merhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merhouse)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2008, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mass-effect-drm-i-own-a-dvd-burner-will-the-game-work/460451/12 "2008-08-20T02:55:45Z")
Just curious, are any of you who haven’t had any DRM problems using Vista? From a Sims 2 group I frequent, seems most people who are having the DVD problem are those using Vista, where those using XP, not so much. I’m using XP, and have stopped buying the Sims 2 expansion packs because I’m afraid of breaking what works so far. But I’m a chicken. ---
**Author:** ![Headrush042](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a5b964/32.png) [@Headrush042](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Headrush042)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2008, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mass-effect-drm-i-own-a-dvd-burner-will-the-game-work/460451/13 "2008-08-20T10:26:34Z")
I’m using Vista32 Ultimate. No issues. ---
**Author:** ![Merhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@Merhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merhouse)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2008, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mass-effect-drm-i-own-a-dvd-burner-will-the-game-work/460451/14 "2008-08-20T20:20:17Z")
[QUOTE=Headrush042] I’m using Vista32 Ultimate. No issues. [/QUOTE] Thanks, good to know, but now I’m just more confused ☹ I wish there were a way to find out why it seems to really mess up some machines while leaving others unscathed. So weird. ---
**Author:** ![CutterJohn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/91b2a8/32.png) [@CutterJohn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CutterJohn)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2008, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mass-effect-drm-i-own-a-dvd-burner-will-the-game-work/460451/15 "2008-08-21T00:06:18Z")
[QUOTE=Projammer] Avoid like the plague Genesis Rising [/QUOTE] Oh dear god yes.. I am truly ashamed that i actually purchased that game. In my defense, i didnt read any reviews.. i just saw the box and thought 'Cool! Homeworld clone!". Worst. Game. Ever. And Mass Effect is wonderful. Bit short if you dont do the endlessly repetitive sidequests. Itemization is a bit weak. Elevators(You’ll understand). Takes a bit too long to get to the action. Some other stuff. Don’t be fooled. Its not a perfect game. It has many shortcomings and drawbacks. But what they did right is done so right it doesnt really bother you. If they learn from their mistakes, Mass Effect 2 will be the best RPG ever. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Angel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d26b3c/32.png) [@Johnny\_Angel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Angel)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2008, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mass-effect-drm-i-own-a-dvd-burner-will-the-game-work/460451/16 "2008-08-22T05:13:53Z")
Speaking of DRM, I’m trying to download their new content, and I have to log into their website with my CD Key. It’s not printed on the manual or on this Alienware ad I got. I don’t know how the hell after fifteen years of saving every scrap of paper I ever got with a game I bought I have managed to misplace this. What does it look like? Is it on a piece of cardboard? I do not throw away shit like this. Can it be read from your installation anywhere? ---
**Author:** ![slaphead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9bcb4/32.png) [@slaphead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slaphead)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2008, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mass-effect-drm-i-own-a-dvd-burner-will-the-game-work/460451/17 "2008-08-22T14:24:51Z")
[QUOTE=Johnny Angel] Speaking of DRM, I’m trying to download their new content, and I have to log into their website with my CD Key. It’s not printed on the manual or on this Alienware ad I got. I don’t know how the hell after fifteen years of saving every scrap of paper I ever got with a game I bought I have managed to misplace this. What does it look like? Is it on a piece of cardboard? I do not throw away shit like this. Can it be read from your installation anywhere? [/QUOTE] I seem to recall that it was printed on the back of the manual, I’ll try to check when I get home but the house is a bit of a mess at the moment (new kitchen going in). ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2008, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mass-effect-drm-i-own-a-dvd-burner-will-the-game-work/460451/18 "2008-08-22T15:02:26Z")
[QUOTE=Johnny Angel] Speaking of DRM, I’m trying to download their new content, and I have to log into their website with my CD Key. It’s not printed on the manual or on this Alienware ad I got. I don’t know how the hell after fifteen years of saving every scrap of paper I ever got with a game I bought I have managed to misplace this. What does it look like? Is it on a piece of cardboard? I do not throw away shit like this. Can it be read from your installation anywhere? [/QUOTE] I just bought it, and for me, it was on a square of white paper about 3"x3". VERY plain looking. Really fookin’ stupid. In fact, I’m gonna write it on the DVD right now, so I never will lose it. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Angel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d26b3c/32.png) [@Johnny\_Angel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Angel)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2008, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mass-effect-drm-i-own-a-dvd-burner-will-the-game-work/460451/19 "2008-08-23T18:43:26Z")
Fortunately, it turns out that you can find your CD Key unencrypted in the registry. But now I have my code written, filed away electronically and entered into my account on [Bioware.com](http://Bioware.com). Whew. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2008, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mass-effect-drm-i-own-a-dvd-burner-will-the-game-work/460451/20 "2008-08-23T18:57:51Z")
Usually the dvd burners arent the problem, but some dvd burning software like alcohol 120% have been deemed as pirate ware and will prevent you from playing. Securerom is crippleware though and i would be very wary of installing any product that uses it because its damn near impossible to get off and can cause lots of problems.