I'm in two minds about doing this.

This activation sucks, but isn't the PC version enhanced though?

rock-and-a-hard-place time

PC version doesn't have texture pop-in.  The 360 version still got 9's and 9.5's everywhere though.  I've been through it two and a half times and haven't hit anything too annoying.

It depends whats important too you.  PC has a slightly better version, but if you ever run into computer issues (or EA shuts down their ME verification servers) your stuffed.

You can install an unlimited amount of times on 3 different computers. It isn't as bad as you're making it.

Piracy will simply avoid that by making it think it checked on the internet. Its pretty close to impossible to actually beat the pirates.

There has to be a happy middle ground between pirates and DRM for regular consumers. DRM is not going away, they just need to find something that is more acceptable to users.

On a more positive note, all DRM was removed from PC Bioshock today. Maybe timed restrictions are they way things will go in the future.

EA is funny. They make their (uncracked) versions unusable for honest customers. And complain that no honest customer buys their games anymore. Self fulfilling prophecy.

Actually, they just allow unlimited installs/no-checks, etc. The SecuROM security is still on there and the server is still active. It's not as bad as before, but it's still on there.

Posted by 2K Elizabeth

"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."

http://forums.2kgames.com/forums/showthread.php?p=296125#post296125

So, if I buy Mass Effect for PC and for some reason need to install it more than three times, I need to contact EA and sit through likely an hour + of being on hold, just to use a game that I already paid money for and already own.

Yep, glad I purchased that there 360.

Any PC game with ridiculous copy protection schemes gets a pass from me.

If I didn't own this for 360 already, I wouldn't buy it now :| I still remember buying my copy of Tribes Vengeance years ago and being unable to install thanks to the copy protection. Returned the first, got another, wouldn't install either. I had to download a pirated copy just to install and then use my legit CD key to play multiplayer online.

They just lost my purchase - at least initially and at full price. I'm a patient soul on PC - I'll pick it up when they drop the system a'la Bioshock which probably means at a much lower price as well.