Alone in the Dark protected with SecuROM, requires online authentication

Plus we’ve got the PC version’s official system requirements down pat, but we know that’s just after you’ve decided to acquire another SecuROM-ified game. We’re told through official means that Atari and Eden Games‘ Alone in the Dark for the PC will be coming with similarly robust digital rights management security as BioShock and Mass Effect, and like them, will require an online connection to play the game. We’ve got the skinny at the full story.

Atari and Eden Games have officially announced the Games for Windows certification of Alone in the Dark for the PC, and it will be available for either Windows XP and Windows Vista as soon as it ships to shelves.

But this news also comes with a disconcerting announcement that SecuROM software is bundled with Eden Games’ pseudo-episodic, horror action game, and users sensitive to often problem-prone DRM utilities should be forewarned.

According to the official press wire, PC gamers are expected to have Internet access in order to download an additional component from web servers to install and run the game. Yes – install and run. After the installation and download has completed, the DRM security will allow the player to play offline without Internet connection.

We’re told that the serial key provided by Atari will only serve one activation. If players want to install the game in another system, the initial installation must be removed via uninstall, and the serial key revoked through the uninstall means provided. Yet again, this procedure requires Internet connection, and it’s completely automatic.

Atari and Eden Games have called the absolute minimum system requirements for the PC version of Alone in the Dark PC, and they are as follows:

• Operating System: Windows XP – 32-,64-bit; Windows Vista – 32-,64-bit
• Processor: Intel Pentium 4 2.8 GHz or AMD Athlon X2 3800+ (Recommended: Intel Pentium 4 3.4 GHz; AMD Athlon 64 4000+)
• Memory: 1 GB RAM (Recommended: 2 GB RAM)
• Hard Disk Space: 9.5 GB free
• DVD-ROM: 4x speed or faster
• Video: NVIDIA GeForce 7600; ATI Radeon X1950 (Recommended: NVIDIA 7800 GTX; ATI Radeon X1950 XTX)
• Sound: DirectX 9.0c-compatible audio
• DirextX: DirectX 9.0c (required version included in DVD)

Expect Alone in the Dark (PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, Windows, Wii, Xbox 360) to hit your gaming machines soon, as Europe gets their copy today. US gamers will find their versions on shelves by June 24.