World in Conflict Patch 10 Arrives, Removes DRM

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Developer Massive Entertainment has released the tenth patch for World in Conflict. The update is now available on FileShack for the US, UK and German versions.

The download fixes several bugs, re-balances some units, and removes the DRM that required the DVD disc to be in the drive during single-player missions.

The update also enables multiplayer compatibility with the Complete Edition re-release and the stand-alone Soviet Assault expansion. Both hit this week, with the expansion arriving as a digital download, while the Complete Edition, containing both the original PC strategy game and Soviet Assault expansion, goes off to retailers.

    This tenth update for "World in Conflict" makes the original version compatible for multiplayer games with the upcoming March release of "World in Conflict Complete" and "Soviet Assault". It also includes several new features and bug fixes. The missing maps issue preventing players from joining certain servers has been addressed, a new difficulty level has been added for bots, helicopters can now fire at targets directly beneath them, single-player missions have been balanced and tweaked in several ways, admin spectators can now chat to both teams and much more. For additional details on this update, "World in Conflict Complete" or "Soviet Assault" please visit www.massgate.net.

    New features:

    • Securom protection has been removed, the DVD disc is no longer required in the drive during Single Player play.
    • WIC now has a launcher application that shows the latest news from Massgate.
    • A -playonline command line option has been added. When used, the game starts at the Massgate login window.
    • Command line options will function as previously after pressing the Start Game-button.
    • Added option to set bot difficulty level. Add bots to a multiplayer game (LAN or Massgate) to create a skirmish game.
    • Multiplayer servers with outdated maps or maps the user is missing are highlighted in red in the server browser.
    • The names of the missing maps are shown in red in the Info-pane.
    • User will be warned when joining servers with maps they are missing.
    • When server cycles to a map the user is missing, the user will be kicked from the server.
    • Admin spectators can now chat to both teams.
    • The units and names of your friends on Massgate will now be colored green (same as names in the friends-list).
    • Improved feedback to the clients when the host quits the game.
    • Rank balance has been disabled for servers with bots on.
    • In-game links that previously pointed to Massgate, e.g. the user profile picture, will now open a web browser window to the corresponding page on Massgate.net.
    • Benchmark run now supports ghost runs and additional statistics.
    • Improved compatibility with TV screens: Game now defaults to desktop resolution properly in 16:9 aspect ratios.
    • Ad Hoc connectivity for wireless network cards. Windows XP users will need an update from Microsoft to run this.
    • High resolution Line of Sight rendering on mini map and mega map (enable in Advanced Graphics options).
    • Extra debris on explosions (enable in Advanced Graphics options).
    Units and balancing:
    • When an attack order is given while a unit is moving, the unit no longer stops before starting off towards the target.
    • Increased visibility of TA markers.
    • Max range and accuracy of Anti-Air Fortification has been increased.
    • Armor piercing and blast radius of Carpet Bombing TA has been increased.
    • Medium helicopters can now fire on targets directly beneath them.
    • Demolition Engineers' "Demolition Charge" special ability now gives TA points and unit experience.
    • Several balance changes and tweaks on Single Player missions.
    Bug fixes:
    • Improved the napalm and incendiary forest clearing code. Creating new paths to Command Points (on for instance Countryside) should now be a viable option.
    • "Mute All" button should now always work.
    • Fixed a bug where custom colors would sometimes carry over to other players.
    • Fixed a bug where you could not vote via the buttons in the scoresheet.
    • Fixed a bug where sometimes buildings would become untargettable for helicopters.
    • Fixed a bug where helicopters could become impossible to attack during certain circumstances.
    • Fixed a bug where "Enter nearest transport" would stop working.
    • Fixed a bug where a request icon would catch clicks when it shouldn't.
    • Fixed a bug where a unit icon wouldn't catch clicks the way it should.
    • Fixed a bug where the "Waiting for players" screen would show an incorrect number of players.
    • Fixed a bug with line of sight rendering issues on some graphic cards.
    • Fixed a bug where game crashed when using heat haze without water reflection.
    • Fixed a bug in road rendering when switching between high and low shader settings
    • Fixed a bug that caused the wrong soundtrack to play on multiplayer end screens.
    • Fixed various bugs on the do_Quarry map.
    • Single Player missions now start automatically after the pre-mission prelude has finished.
    • Seattle level has been optimized for better performance.
    • Various stability issues have been solved.
    • Several bug fixes and tweaks on Single Player missions.

Chris Faylor was previously a games journalist creating content at Shacknews.

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From The Chatty
  • reply
    March 10, 2009 10:16 AM

    i wonder how much money these companies waste hiring someone like SecuROM and then removing the protection anyway. this is not the first time i've seen this... i think...

    • reply
      March 10, 2009 10:18 AM

      Many games remove SecuROM after their supposed peak sales period has passed.

    • reply
      March 10, 2009 10:39 AM

      Even if it's 1$, it's a LOT, if only for the bad feelings it causes for the people buying the games, when usually a pirated version without the stupid DRM restrictions will be available from day 1 (or even before).

      Any game that carries SecuROM (especially its latest versions with the limited number of installs) already has 80% less chance that I'll buy it. And I know I'm not the only one.

      • reply
        March 10, 2009 10:56 AM

        especially its latest versions with the limited number of installs

        It's not a "later version" that adds that, it's a larger package of stuff from SecuROM.

    • reply
      March 10, 2009 11:30 AM

      DRM is only supposed to help prevent piracy in the first week or two of its release. After that companies don't care.

    • reply
      March 10, 2009 11:54 AM

      Does this even use SecuROM?

      • reply
        March 10, 2009 1:23 PM

        Disc check for single player (separate exe could be used for online play with no disc check).

      • reply
        March 10, 2009 1:58 PM

        its uhm.... the first bullet.....

        New features:

        * Securom protection has been removed, the DVD disc is no longer required in the drive during Single Player play.

    • reply
      March 10, 2009 12:01 PM

      To be fair, it was Sierra who put the DRM there in the first place, and now Ubisoft (The new publisher) is removing it.

      • reply
        March 10, 2009 2:22 PM

        Ubi's actually been pretty cool about drm. At least for some of their games. I don't know about all of them. The second HoMM IV expansion even shipped without any drm at all.

    • reply
      March 10, 2009 2:50 PM

      Maybe their license has expired with whatever DRM software they use? If it's in-house DRM then never mind this post.

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