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Command and Conquer 4 Having DRM Problems

by Brian Leahy, Mar 22, 2010 12:20pm PDT

According to Eurogamer, Electronic Arts' Command & Conquer 4 is reportedly having playability issues due to its DRM scheme, which requires a persistent Internet connection. The issues are similar to the ones Ubisoft has been facing with the PC version of Assassin's Creed II, which also requires a persistent net connection.

It is not clear, at this time, if the issues with C&C4 have anything to do with denial or service attacks or pirated versions of the game, but the game's community manager is asking for more information from players experiencing problems in this forum post.

DRM that requires a constant Internet connection is becoming a bigger issue as of late, especially when it is required to play singleplayer content. The logic follows that gamers would want to play offline games when they are without connectivity.

Blizzard's upcoming StarCraft II will require Internet access to validate new copies, but will then offer an offline mode that will allow for campaign and skirmish play.

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27 Threads* | 113 Comments

#114

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By: Professer12 x Show Full Post

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Well one point that bears repeating:

C&C4 has not been cracked.

Assassin's Creed 2 has not been cracked.

Silent Hunter 5 has been poorly and only partially cracked.

This DRM scheme works. It stops 0-day pirating. It may stymie pirates for months and that is a good thing for the future viability of "hardcore" PC gaming.

Mar 30, 2010 8:55am PDT

Well one point that bears repeating: C&C4 has not been cracked. Assassin's Creed 2 has not been c... : Professer12

#23

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By: Angrakhan x Show Full Post

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So what is it with this new trend of DRM that requires a constant internet connection? I remember back when Microsoft came out with their activation mechanism for Windows OS and people freaked out about how draconian it was. Wasn't that good enough? I can see maybe a DRM that goes so far as to 'phone home' once during install... heck even 'phone home' once every 5-10 starts of the game (so you can play it a few times completely offline before it forces you to log on an revalidate), but a *constant* internet connection? Just seems fraught with problems (obviously). Hopefully the failures we're seeing with this constant connection DRM will get developers to move away from it.

Mar 22, 2010 1:21pm PDT

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So what is it with this new trend of DRM that requires a constant internet connection? I remember back w... : Angrakhan
Thread Truncated. Click to see all 26 replies.

#3

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By: Rehevkor x Show Full Post

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How long is it going to take for this shit to go away? It's good for no one, including the publisher.

Mar 22, 2010 12:32pm PDT

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How long is it going to take for this shit to go away? It's good for no one, including the publisher. : Rehevkor
Thread Truncated. Click to see all 4 replies.
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  Not until gamers stop being children, whining in forums, but actually unite in a way the publisher notice... : haysoos
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    The last thing anything amounted to a hill of beans was the deal with Spore on Amazon...and that was a pr... : thundergod79
    - ...that didn't really do much of anything. : thundergod79

#35

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By: Zero Hoki x Show Full Post

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It took me a week to install Mass Effect thanks to buggy DRM.

I'm not gonna buy any that require a persistant connection, until internet becomes free.

Mar 22, 2010 2:09pm PDT

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It took me a week to install Mass Effect thanks to buggy DRM. I'm not gonna buy any that require a per... : Zero Hoki
Thread Truncated. Click to see all 3 replies.
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  wtf are you talking about? i just finished it for the third time. bought on Steam. : Unkei
  - When it was first released it has activation based DRM which they have since removed. I tried playing it ... : thundergod79

#87

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By: megreedy x Show Full Post

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won't be buying games with persistant online connections.... period.... i'll take my money somewhere else.

Mar 22, 2010 11:17pm PDT

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won't be buying games with persistant online connections.... period.... i'll take my money somewhere else... : megreedy
Thread Truncated. Click to see all 2 replies.
- im with you but unfortunately i was suckered into buying this game because i wanted to play the beta i ha... : landaishan

#28

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By: mobab x Show Full Post

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denial or service attacks

denial of service

Mar 22, 2010 1:32pm PDT

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denial or service attacks denial of service : mobab
Thread Truncated. Click to see all 3 replies.
- denial of : Unkei
- denial : ragingdwarf

#9

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By: D-OveRMinD x Show Full Post

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I actually like the game, but have run into the DRM thing once. I was in between levels and got kicked out of my single player campaign becuase it lost connection to the servers...and it WASN'T my internet connection. Kinda ticked me off, but was able to get back in and it hasn't happened since.

Being able to move your base around with you and other changes have made this an incredibly tough game. But it's fun for what it is. It's damn sure no DoW or even DoW2, but it'll do for when I get tired of playing those.

Mar 22, 2010 12:49pm PDT

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I actually like the game, but have run into the DRM thing once. I was in between levels and got kicked o... : D-OveRMinD
Thread Truncated. Click to see all 3 replies.
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  You are a crazy person. If that happened to me, I would be done with the game, it's publisher and develo... : haysoos
  - Amen, Brotha! : nin-a

#34

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By: Downforce x Show Full Post

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it's funny how all of the sudden people are concerned about their internet connections.

I'm sure the persistent connections work just fine when using their torrent programs, we don't hear any complaints.

Mar 22, 2010 2:05pm PDT

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it's funny how all of the sudden people are concerned about their internet connections. I'm sure the p... : Downforce
Thread Truncated. Click to see all 9 replies.

#1

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By: pimpium x Show Full Post

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Poor ole DRM having issues. :(

Mar 22, 2010 12:28pm PDT

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Poor ole DRM having issues. :( : pimpium
Thread Truncated. Click to see all 2 replies.
- waaah waaaaaah cry some more : Unkei

#38

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By: devpaul x Show Full Post

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with this kind of DRM in place I wouldn't even pick this up in a bargain bin

Mar 22, 2010 2:37pm PDT

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with this kind of DRM in place I wouldn't even pick this up in a bargain bin : devpaul
Thread Truncated. Click to see all 5 replies.
- my thoughts exactly : angelrubio
- If you did, what would you be able to do with it anyway? : briktal
- The irony is, if you buy a game now the servers or auth has DRM issues, if you buy it as a bargain you ca... : Lukiopimp
- seconded. : Unkei

#52

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By: BeanFlea12 x Show Full Post

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I was really looking forward to AC2 on pc, but I will not be buying the game until the stupid DRM is removed. My internet connection is via a USB wireless adapter (I know, upgrade pending), and I often lose connection whilst in a game. Even if I do buy AC2, I';ll get it from my local vendor - rather give the money to them than UBISOFT right now. This is the first game I have boycotted, and I often see the good things in terrible games, but this is just rediculous.

Mar 22, 2010 3:23pm PDT

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I was really looking forward to AC2 on pc, but I will not be buying the game until the stupid DRM is remo... : BeanFlea12
Thread Truncated. Click to see all 5 replies.

#49

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By: samduhman x Show Full Post

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Why in a world buy a game thats reliant on online servers in order for you to play single player. I have games from the 90s that I still haven't played. No way am I counting on a publisher to look out for my best interests. EA and UBISOFT have lost my business. Not only are they trying to deter pirates they have deterred the honest customers who buy their games, NICE JOB. So how soon till we see the press release about poor sales of these games because PC gaming is dying/poor sales? <sarcasm>

Mar 22, 2010 3:05pm PDT

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Why in a world buy a game thats reliant on online servers in order for you to play single player. I have... : samduhman
Thread Truncated. Click to see all 2 replies.
- Slightly unrelated, but since you brought it up, what games from the 90's do you own and have not played? : jeffcox111

#81

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By: Desmond4231 x Show Full Post

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DRM causing problems!?! No way! Couldn't have seen this one coming.

Mar 22, 2010 5:38pm PDT

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DRM causing problems!?! No way! Couldn't have seen this one coming. : Desmond4231
Thread Truncated. Click to see all 2 replies.
- Arrogant sense of entitlement. It might take 10 years to iron the bugs out of DRM and I'm happy to wait. : dubiousbrick

#66

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By: Fpsnut x Show Full Post

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What if I wan to play this on my laptop while I'm on the road, which is most of the time? IDIOTS. But judging from review I won't want to play this at all.

Mar 22, 2010 3:45pm PDT

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What if I wan to play this on my laptop while I'm on the road, which is most of the time? IDIOTS. But j... : Fpsnut
Thread Truncated. Click to see all 4 replies.
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  You want to play this offline?. YOU MUST BE A FUCKING PIRATE! (yeah, that's all the reasoning you can ... : paketep
  - Or you have a laptop. A STOLEN LAPTOP WITH A JOLLY ROGER ON IT! : Johnnsen
- Go buy a 360 you pirate and stop finding excuses to discredit a honest company. : te[R]ror

#56

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By: fw_rams x Show Full Post

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*trollmode on*
why does this game have drm? i wouldn't touch it if it would be a free download.
*trollmode off*

Mar 22, 2010 3:31pm PDT

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*trollmode on* why does this game have drm? i wouldn't touch it if it would be a free download. *troll... : fw_rams
Thread Truncated. Click to see all 6 replies.

#64

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By: usedillusion x Show Full Post

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Apparently the Pirated version of this has an emulated local server, so afaik doesn't even go online.
By the sounds of the reviews Its not even worth pirating anyway. Just a series that has stagnated and has superior competition.

It is annoying though when the online drm doesn't work. Relic online is a good example, there were often nights when I couldn't actually play COH due to it being offline :(

Mar 22, 2010 3:43pm PDT

Apparently the Pirated version of this has an emulated local server, so afaik doesn't even go online. By... : usedillusion

#36

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By: Loxodrome x Show Full Post

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This story has it all wrong. It's not DRM, it's a feature: "Command & Conquer 4 has NO DRM. Zip, zero, zilch, none" according to the EA forum shill. So the headline should read: "Command and Conquer 4 Having Problems With Its Persistently Awesome Persistent Internet Requirement Which Enhances The Single-Player Experience And Is Absolutely Not In Any Way A Form Of DRM."

Mar 22, 2010 2:35pm PDT

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This story has it all wrong. It's not DRM, it's a feature: "Command & Conquer 4 has NO DRM. Zip, zero, zi... : Loxodrome
Thread Truncated. Click to see all 4 replies.

#4

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By: Bill32399 x Show Full Post

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They actually sold copies of this game? Shelves are still full at the stores around here.

Mar 22, 2010 12:35pm PDT

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They actually sold copies of this game? Shelves are still full at the stores around here. : Bill32399
Thread Truncated. Click to see all 4 replies.
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  It's been selling pretty well on Steam, sadly. : danly
  - toggle
    There were 9k players doing the MP stuff when I checked a half hour ago. Usually hits around 15kish durin... : limpossible
    - Wow! 15K idiots ! Ive not read one good review for this game. Its an abomination of an RTS at best, an... : lewchenko

#13

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By: Rape.Farm x Show Full Post

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A fitting end to an awful failure of a series. The original C&C was a fantastic game, and Red Alert was quite good as well. Unfortunately, it only went horribly downhill from there for the vast majority of original fans. They had a slight resurgence of coolness with Generals, but not enough for most people to favor it over WC3's Frozen Throne, which was released the same year.

The rest of the Tiberium-themed C&C games were simply terrible games IMO.

Mar 22, 2010 12:53pm PDT

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A fitting end to an awful failure of a series. The original C&C was a fantastic game, and Red Alert was ... : Rape.Farm
Thread Truncated. Click to see all 5 replies.
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  I just reinstalled Generals. That game still holds my attention. No population caps make for a pretty s... : Hit in the Head
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    Yes. Several of my RL friends bought Tiberian Sun (i think? whatever the 2nd non-red alert one was) to ... : Rape.Farm
    - Still love the original C&C and red alert. Sometimes I install it just to make 1 billion machine gunners... : haysoos
  - CNC1 and 3 I really enjoyed. 2 was kind of meh. 4? Its hardly even a CNC... but its not really all that b... : limpossible

#42

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By: Bboygorge x Show Full Post

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yeah count me out of any games that require an internet connection to play single player campaigns. if my internet is out, i want to play my games, which is what i paid for! until DRM is consolidated to multiplayer only, you aren't getting a dime from me or my network of friends.

Mar 22, 2010 2:45pm PDT

yeah count me out of any games that require an internet connection to play single player campaigns. if my... : Bboygorge

#25

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By: dookiebot x Show Full Post

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Quick question- if you lose internet connection while playing does the DRM have the courtesy to save the game before disconnecting you or do you have to start from your last save?

Mar 22, 2010 1:22pm PDT

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Quick question- if you lose internet connection while playing does the DRM have the courtesy to save the ... : dookiebot
Thread Truncated. Click to see all 3 replies.
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  Have to start from your last save (autosaves during each complete objective). Just tested it out. : limpossible
  - Well thatâ€™s goofy. Not the end of the world, but an annoyance at best. The customer experience in ... : dookiebot

#32

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By: serenj x Show Full Post

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This review sums up the game rather well 2/5. http://www.giantbomb.com/command-conquer-4-tiberian-twilight/61-27130/reviews/

Mar 22, 2010 1:38pm PDT

This review sums up the game rather well 2/5. http://www.giantbomb.com/command-conquer-4-tiberian-twiligh... : serenj

#2

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By: limpossible x Show Full Post

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I can honestly say that the DRM in CNC4 has given me zero problems.

Mar 22, 2010 12:30pm PDT

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I can honestly say that the DRM in CNC4 has given me zero problems. : limpossible
Thread Truncated. Click to see all 6 replies.
- well, i guess it's ok then : chrisschutz
- awesome... keep us updated on this. : razoric
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  If CNC4 is not giving you problems then why are other people lieing? : dookiebot
  - I'm merely saying this because everytime somebody mentions this game its constantly "OMG THE DRM! Look, n... : limpossible
- Is that because you were smart enough to not buy this turd of a game? : JimladSeraph

#29

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By: et72 x Show Full Post

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Almost bought it, decided to go for SC2 and Lazylauncher instead

Seems like a great call so far

Mar 22, 2010 1:33pm PDT

Almost bought it, decided to go for SC2 and Lazylauncher instead Seems like a great call so far : et72

#26

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By: Smurfy12 x Show Full Post

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Good one EA.

Mar 22, 2010 1:25pm PDT

Good one EA. : Smurfy12

#16

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By: razoric x Show Full Post

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Way to punish paying customers EA.

Mar 22, 2010 1:07pm PDT

Way to punish paying customers EA. : razoric

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