Mass Effect PC activation procedures screw over legitimate copy owners

We know that the copy protection scheme that BioWare and Electronic Arts implemented in the PC version of Mass Effect were for granting the convenience of not needing the game disc every time you play, and of course, for combating piracy. But the latest inquiries to the activation procedures would have you thinking twice about either convenience or piracy, because what we have waiting for you at the full story would either have you facepalming till kingdom come, or gasping out loud, “Piracy wut?”

We hear from BioWare‘s official forums for Mass Effect PC (MEPC) that the new copy protection scheme and its three-activation limit has still been apparently overlooked in the undesirables department.

While most game users have been happy to learn that the online verification mechanics were limited to just a few times, those that finally did pick up a copy of Electronic Arts‘ Mass Effect for Microsoft Windows have learned that they were still “screwed over.”

Now we all know that EA and BioWare limited activations to just three. According to Marlon V., an EA Support representative, uninstalling Mass Effect PC will not give you back any activation.

With this new information in mind, be warned that you could only activate your game three times before it becomes a reflective paperweight. BioWare said that you only have to call EA Support to gain another activation, though that means having to spend a good amount of money just to make the call.

Okay, now panic. Hell’s bells! Wait, whatever happened to the activation revocation (aka, activation refund)? And why is the activation revocation cleared up after the game released?

We don’t want to pour salt into the wound anymore than the next man would, but we have to add that the existence of SecuROM’s persistent and sneaky DRM software on your Windows machine could hinder the operation of other drives and software.

Plus spending time and money on the phone with a rep that doesn’t even play the game in order to get your game going is no one’s idea of fun.

Now you’ve got to admit that with these problems cropping up, you’d actually have more convenience going the way of the swashbuckler and circumvent – not copy protection, mind you – but the hassles that BioWare and EA’s new schemes have dumped onto your lap.

We guess plenty of PC gamers are glad they’ve held true to their reservations and didn’t pick up Mass Effect before the real procedures in copy activation cropped up. For the rest who didn’t, well, here’s to hoping BioWare and EA does something to alleviate you from your troubles.

Hey, it’s possible – we’re already hearing that 2K Games are already lifting the activation limits. That and more as we confirm them.

Via BioWare Forums