Bioshock - SEE STICKIED THREADS.

[Yegolev]

Any of you filthy pirates get your Personal Piracy Computer version to work, while sitting out in international waters waiting for unaware fishermen?

[Riggswolfe]

Just on a funny side-note. When I called EB to ask if the release date had been bumped up he said no in that tone that was "why are people asking this today?" Then he went on to add that some stores, like Walmart had sold it today, but that the police had actually gone out to Walmart to stop it or something.

[Furiously]

Just on a funny side-note. When I called EB to ask if the release date had been bumped up he said no in that tone that was "why are people asking this today?" Then he went on to add that some stores, like Walmart had sold it today, but that the police had actually gone out to Walmart to stop it or something.

No, they didn't. There is nothing criminal about breach of contract.

[Riggswolfe]

I know, it's why I said it was a funny side-note. I think the EB guy was trying to scare me off of looking for it at other places.

[Fabricated]

Man, I'm tempted to get Bioshock over steam, but I'm wondering if I really need another layer of "online activation" so to speak OVER what Bioshock has itself. I see nothing but problems.

That and the nerd in me wants that Bioshock box in my computer desk.

[Yegolev]

I didn't realize I could get it on Steam.  Looks like I am going to buy this one twice.

[Sky]

Does the box say 'internet connection required'?

An internet connection requirement for a game without an online component is FUCKTARDED.

I'm sure it will stop pirating, though.

[Ironwood]

No, it probably won't.

What it will do is tell you down to the unit how many you've sold and have in the field.

[Zetor]

Hmm, if I buy it over steam, will it only be playable on the 24th [EU release], even though it'd technically be sitting on my hard drive on the 21st [US release]?

If so, some people need to die in a DRM fire.


-- Z.

[Yegolev]

Valve + 2K Games = anger, it seems.

[murdoc]

I can really see how consolitis has hurt this PC game.

I think I'll be pretty happy with my 360 version on the 21st.

[Kitsune]

It's not even a breach of contract that a company would give a damn about.  "Oops, some of the minimum-wage register-monkeys sold it early by mistake." is a far cry from "The CEO of Toys-R-Us intentionally instructed the stores to start selling the game."  The latter is a breach of contract, the former is just Murphy's Law.  I doubt the Take Two execs even bothered to pick up the phone and call over to complain over such a minor leak.

And under no instance is the consumer bound in any way, shape, or form by street date agreements; not their job to give a damn about when the company wants something sold.  As long as they've properly paid for the item, they've performed their legal duty of not stealing it, and are in the clear.

Which does not, of course, prevent the company from taking steps to ensure that the game can't be used before that date.  It's a bitch move, but a legal one.

[murdoc]

2k responds!

publisher 2K has responded to the premature sales -- but doesn't appear to be too bothered by them.

"It recently came to 2K Games' attention that one of our retail partners prematurely sold some copies of BioShock prior to the game's official launch date. Retailers are typically shipped product in advance to ensure they can meet launch day demand on street-dated product. As a result, a few people were able to purchase the game early. Additionally, a TV advertisement for BioShock prematurely ran that incorrectly indicated that the game was available for purchase. 2K Games has reached out to our retail partners and is maintaining the street date of August 21st in North America and August 24th in Europe, when BioShock will be available at retailers. 2K Games is appreciative of the gamer excitement and critical acclaim leading up to the title's launch."

At the time of this writing, eBay auctions for early copies of BioShock were up to $157.50

[angry.bob]

Any of you filthy pirates get your Personal Piracy Computer version to work, while sitting out in international waters waiting for unaware fishermen?

I would comment, but I had a thread denned by steering a person to a specific newsgroup to find something that wasn't even computer related. So no definite answer on what you asked. However, I will say that this was one game I had intended to support by actually buying, but after reading this thread decided not to bother waiting. Shiver me timbers, a winnar is me.

[UnSub]

Any of you filthy pirates get your Personal Piracy Computer version to work, while sitting out in international waters waiting for unaware fishermen?

I would comment, but I had a thread denned by steering a person to a specific newsgroup to find something that wasn't even computer related. So no definite answer on what you asked. However, I will say that this was one game I had intended to support by actually buying, but after reading this thread decided not to bother waiting. Shiver me timbers, a winnar is me.

Your piracy is perfectly justified under such circumstances.

On a related note, if you have Bioshock for the PC, you should expect that 2K is going to turn on the servers at some point before the street date launch in order for them to be up and running prior to official launch. So you might get a 24 hour head start, or something.

[NiX]

The 360 version is up on some torrent sites. No sign of the PC one that I can find and NFOrce has nothing, so I doubt its been done yet.

[Azazel]

Petty? Yes, a company is holding a product back and keeping you from giving them money to be petty. Please.

If you don't understand the concept of a street date, do some research. The authentication servers aren't turned on because the company has no reason to expect people to be wanting to authenticate at this point.

pffft. I understand the concept, I just don't much care for the whole thing in the way that they've set up with online authorisation in this instance. Especially if the game has no fucking online gameplay.


As far as actual piracy on my part as opposed to talking shit on the internet, I'm way too fucking lazy to actually bother to pirate games these days (and besides, it'd interfere with my downloading of the back catalogue of long running quality/camp UK Sci-Fi programs, and with my well-paying job I've gotten into the habit of buying software, even of some things I pirated and finished years ago. I likes the boxes. Shiny.

[Ironwood]

If anyone should be bitching here, it's me.

The 24th.  I have to wait till then for my birthday present.

My Precioussss.

[schild]

No you don't, proxy into steam.

[Ironwood]

You interest me strangely, young man...

[MrHat]

Seriously, just wait.  It's not like they'll be scarce.

[Sky]

The activation thing irritates me, but not at all enough to make me want to grab an illegal copy of the game. After the debacle with Freedom Force somehow not doing well, a company is at steak, and I love Irrational. They get $$ from me at retail. You slavering nutjobs need other hobbies to keep you busy before big releases ;)

[Azazel]

Didn't Freedom Force have Starforce on it? That's why I never went near it.

Just checked - yeah the Euro version does. Since we get about 50% Euro and 50% US releases here, (and who the fuck knows what the "localised" ones are?) I skipped it entirely.

[DraconianOne]

No you don't, proxy into steam.

Sounds kinky.

[Ironwood]

It's OK to punish a firm for Starforce.  It's not so ok to do so for having a release date.

IMO.

[NowhereMan]

edit: Oops, my bad. That'll teach me not to pay better attention until next time I don't.

[DraconianOne]

European release is Starforced? Fuck them in their anti-customer assholes, what the fuck did we to deserve the extra 3 day wait and getting crotch-rot on our disks?

erm.. on Freedom Force, yes.

[Ironwood]

European release is Starforced? Fuck them in their anti-customer assholes, what the fuck did we to deserve the extra 3 day wait and getting crotch-rot on our disks?

As D-One says, we were talking about Freedom Force, not Bioshock.  Calm.  Chew the pills.  Put the chair down.

[Yegolev]

I am not in a hurry, despite my efforts to stir up trouble.  In fact I will probably not get Bioshock (360 version) until Tuesday, but I guess that depends on how eager my wife is.  She went into TRU today looking for it, and the guy behind the counter said "Yeah!  What's the deal with them running commercials when we don't have it rawr rawr rawr!"  I suspect he's been getting lots of queries.

As for the PC version, I will probably buy that too.  Depends on what else might be distracting me.

[murdoc]

IGN reviewed

This game is a beacon. It's one of those monumental experiences you'll never forget, and the benchmark against which games for years to come will, and indeed must, be measured.

I'm not a big IGN fan, but Bioshock is getting pretty much universal love.

[Tebonas]

They get love from me as well. I can actually play the version sold here in English, no localization forced on me or getting an import version (or in this case steam version) for more money. Yay them. Already preordered.

[Ironwood]

IGN are real dicks, aren't they ?

What a shitty thing to say.

[cmlancas]

What? Did we read the same post or is that so dark green it turned white?

[NiX]

Ironwood doesn't like green. It did bad things to him.

[Kitsune]

The important question is: Where were all of these assholes when System Shock was new?  If the number of people currently masturbating over Bioshock had bought System Shock, it'd've been a super-duper best-seller like it deserved rather than languishing in the pit of mediocre sales.