View Full Version : Why can't you
Rent computer games?
You can't play whith out the disk.
Gio Takahashi
06-16-2008, 17:08
Because you can very easily make copies of them.
Most stores won't even take back computer softwares that are open box.
I don't know how many times i baught something and couldn't take it back cus it didn't work. :mad:
Gio Takahashi
06-16-2008, 17:41
yeah. get an exchange then.
Seegtease
06-16-2008, 19:11
I remember years ago, Windows 95 era, the rental store near where I lived had some PC games. I rented Sim City 2000 once, and installed it. It didn't require the CD to play so I had it permanently. Pretty sweet. I was sad when they stopped the PC game rentals.
Now, copying is obviously the problem.
I guess that's why you should try to demo games whenever possible, especially for PCs. It's not a fool-proof means, but it's something.
Seegtease
06-16-2008, 19:25
Or read reviews. Benefit from somebody else's suffering.
Also, check the system specs on a game before you buy it. I made that mistake once in my life, in my noob days. Never again.
Gio Takahashi
06-16-2008, 19:33
Yeah, also check google as well, bring up the game, and add in with "vista" and see what people are saying. you'll get a good answer on it.
llama_egg
06-19-2008, 22:31
The reason why you can't rent? Best example is bioshock, 3 installs...meaning they can rent the game out a max of 3 times, then they would have to buy the game again. Demo's are really your best bet.
Oh, and an interesting site for requirements...http://www.systemrequirementslab.com/referrer/srtest
DoomKitty
06-20-2008, 04:17
Some games can't be installed more than a few times. So it would really be quite pointless. And I'm pretty sure they wouldn't make much money off of renting out computer games. They can make more of a profit with gaming systems, because it's easier to play games on a system. You don't have to worry about whether or not your computer can play the game or installation.
Gio Takahashi
06-20-2008, 08:39
Games can be installed multiple times, there's no doubt about that. People will come up with hack to circumvent various software's security program to prevent illegal distribution.
Seegtease
06-20-2008, 19:26
The reason why you can't rent? Best example is bioshock, 3 installs...meaning they can rent the game out a max of 3 times, then they would have to buy the game again. Demo's are really your best bet.
Wait, how do they enforce this? Data isn't written to the CD, so how can they count? And why would they do that? What if you had to format multiple times?
Bloodcinder
06-20-2008, 19:30
It installs a Windows service to monitor you. However, the limit has actually been removed.
Seegtease
06-20-2008, 20:02
But that would be local to your computer, so there'd be no multiple computer restrictions, right?
Arainach
06-20-2008, 20:19
It's a rather simple service: Register the CD key against an online service. That online service maintains a counter.
Bloodcinder
06-20-2008, 20:20
I believe the service recorded data on some servers somewhere.
EDIT: Yes, what Ary said.
Gio Takahashi
06-20-2008, 22:16
Very much like how you can't activate Windows multiple times. (at least XP and later)
Seegtease
06-20-2008, 23:43
Oh. I didn't know it required a net connection, being that it is a single player game, that seems restricting. Not that most people don't have one.
Bloodcinder
06-20-2008, 23:46
They promised to take all net-checks out if the game ever goes offline only.
I'm not 100% shure but i thought you could rent in other countrys like uk.
Arainach
06-21-2008, 13:20
Nope.
I understand why they wouldn't want you to rent computer games and return them. It just sucks, though. You can't be sure you will like a game just by reading the box. And if for whatever reason it isn't compatible with your computer, you're screwed. I'm wanting to buy Medieval II: Total War and I just hope that it will run.
Yes it sucks big time.I once acedently baught a online only game while i knew it said it was an online game i also thought there would be singel play there wasn't.
I understand why they wouldn't want you to rent computer games and return them. It just sucks, though. You can't be sure you will like a game just by reading the box. And if for whatever reason it isn't compatible with your computer, you're screwed. I'm wanting to buy Medieval II: Total War and I just hope that it will run.
If you find a computer game to buy and you find that it isn't compatible with your computer, then you didn't research enough.
Most PC games give people plenty of info they need to determine whether or not their equipment/software meets the required/recommended specs.
If you meet all the requirements of a particular game and it still does not work, then more research/troubleshooting will need to be done. It is one of the caveats of PC gaming..if it works right off the bat, great. If not, you need to be willing to troubleshoot your problems.
Knowing whether you like the game or not is always going to be a toss up, whether it is before you rent or before you buy. So it is up to the gamer to take the steps necessary to help them decide whether or not they want to spend money on the game. With online articles, print articles, word of mouth, demos...there are many paths for a person to take in helping them decide whether or not they want a game. And even after all of that, you still may not like it.
Gio Takahashi
06-21-2008, 22:15
Right, which is why you need to research before you buy computer games. fortunately, most games (software) would usually have a limited demo for you to play and 'try out' (shareware).
then again, that's not something that I see regularly like the games in the 90s.
As for Bioshock...
Our other methods of copy protection remain. You will still have to activate your copy, and you will still need to keep the disc in the drive. SecuROM has not been removed -- just the activation limits on number of installs and number of computers you can install BioShock on simultaneously.
As I promised that the activation limits would go away, I can promise that if we ever stop supporting BioShock in the ways you speak of, we will release a patch so that the game is still playable. I believe, as you seem to, that BioShock will be the kind of game we will want to revisit 5, 10, 15 or more years from now. I want my copy to be playable, just as you do, and so does 2K.
source (http://forums.2kgames.com/forums/showthread.php?p=296193#post296193)
(http://forums.2kgames.com/forums/member.php?u=2)
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