DRM... still intact?

[shiroshibal]

So... if I recall correctly, this game used to have DRM on it, which refrained me from buying it in the past.

But as it is now, the Store Page doesn't say anything about any DRM anymore other than the "Internet: INTERNET CONNECTION REQUIRED THE GAME ACTIVATION" in the System Requirements.

What exactly is meant by that?

Also I do have two sources, one stating that there still is DRM on this game and the other stating there isn't - great.

1. DRM http://pcgamingwiki.com/wiki/The_Big_List_of_3rd_Party_DRM_on_Steam#ACTControl
2. No DRM http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2704876&page=4

I'm hoping for someone who already owns the game to bring some clarity into the matter, cause this game really interests me...

A: Is there any sort of DRM still on this game? (Online Activation, Hardware-based) Including DRM files, which aren't required for the game to run, but still get installed (like f.e. with Risen 1)
B: If yes, is it still required or is it inert?

Thanks for reading and thanks alot if you can answer my questions :)

[Dies Irae]

A. Looks like not. All I see is a game being binded to Steam.
B. It is certainly reqired for adding the game to the library, once it's ok you can play the game via Steam offline mode.

[shiroshibal]

Alright thanks for your quick answer, still could I ask you if you maybe would check the game files for any remaining ACTControl related files, in the case of Risen 1 according to this discussion

http://steamcommunity.com/app/40300/discussions/0/882962139461536196/

the remaining TAGES files are located in the Redist and Bin folders and are being installed nonetheless, wouldn't like this to be the case here with GoT, too. Really hope there would be some clarity regarding this DRM matter, but as I said already, thanks for even answering so quickly :)

PS: the directories should be under Steam/steamapps/common/GameofThrones

[Dies Irae]

Er. First - there is no 'Bin' folder in the GoT game. I've looked up and down and I've found nothing remotely resembling those ACTControl files.
Second - I've had no trouble running it offline. It works the way I've said earlier.

[Dies Irae]

Here we go.
The root catalog: http://gyazo.com/5e422d0833a403b7f4cc0103e36e69b6.png
Data folder: http://gyazo.com/382cb0a47c283b9f1e185b34f03762d7.png
Redist folder: http://gyazo.com/1eaf8c0516a84b1ad683360c225d4f92.png

[shiroshibal]

Damn... well first of all thanks a bunch for the screenshots, very much appreciated indeed :D

I have 3 final questions then I'll leave you be forever (hopefully), sorry for the endless questions...

1. Is there a file called "acpc.exe" located anywhere in the Steam folders especially in "\Steam\SteamApps\common\game of thrones\Binaries\Win32" or "\Program Files|Program Files (x86)\Cyanide\Game of Thrones\Binaries\Win32"?

That seems to be the ACTControl activator .exe somehow, which needs a game key to work, which leads to my second question:

2. Did you get a key with the game? Either through Steam or through some initial activation?

3. In the screenshot of the root catalog there seems to be an "activation.x86.dll" and a "activation" text file... Do you think these are related in any way to some sort of DRM? I never recall seeing anything like those in another Steam game... granted I don't check the files of every Steam game either, but nomen est omen..?

Since there's the "Internet: INTERNET CONNECTION REQUIRED THE GAME ACTIVATION" thingy on the Store Page I'm guessing this'll have some sort of connection but I hate how vague it is, basically afaik every Steam game is being checked for validity by the Steam servers at initial install, but since that's a given, I'm just wondering why it is written out on this game :/

No matter what, thanks alot anyway for your continued help, it is very much appreciated :)

[Dies Irae]

1. I say again, there is no 'Bin' folder in the game route catalog. No such file in existing folders aswell.
2. Nope. I've bought the game through Steam so I did not put any key into anything.
My friends got the game from third-party reseller 'plati.ru', so they had to put the Steam Activation code in the Steam client to get the game. Just like that.
3. I'm sure that's not related to DRM as game runs in Steam offline mode flawlessly. I guess those files are present from the installation.

[shiroshibal]

Alrighty, so I guess there isn't any CD key on the library page of the game either? (On the right hand side listed under LINKS)?

If not, which I highly assume now, I guess this is it and I'm eternally thankful for all your help by answering all my tedious questions :)

Cheers!

[Dies Irae]

Yep, there's no CD-Key thing at the usual place in the right hand tab:
http://gyazo.com/647a2628b7be25fa309a24184efdc787.png

Feel free to ask, I'm ready to help if I see the msg.

[Wurenben]

http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2704876&page=4
The dev replied this

[shiroshibal]

Yes, but the whole message is somewhat... ambiguous, I got multiple sources telling me there is and there isn't DRM.

Another one would be Amazon's Steam Download of GoT, which says: This game utilizes Steam DRM in addition to Actcontrol DRM.

Now if the Steam Store were "clean" and there was no mention whatsoever of the word "Activation" I would buy it after all the proof I got so far. But there's still that final line in the System Reqs and absolutely no developer answers on this forum (in comparison to the one on Of Orcs and Men). So, given my backlog and my probable purchase of OOaM, I'll have to give this game yet another pass, for now at least - hoping for a dev comment on this matter, I'm guessing if they can comment on OOaM they should also be able to do so here.

[Dies Irae]

Originally posted by Shiroshibal:

Yes, but the whole message is somewhat... ambiguous, I got multiple sources telling me there is and there isn't DRM.

Another one would be Amazon's Steam Download of GoT, which says: This game utilizes Steam DRM in addition to Actcontrol DRM.

Now if the Steam Store were "clean" and there was no mention whatsoever of the word "Activation" I would buy it after all the proof I got so far. But there's still that final line in the System Reqs and absolutely no developer answers on this forum (in comparison to the one on Of Orcs and Men). So, given my backlog and my probable purchase of OOaM, I'll have to give this game yet another pass, for now at least - hoping for a dev comment on this matter, I'm guessing if they can comment on OOaM they should also be able to do so here.

So what I've said is not enough. Meh.

[psytic]

You have done more than enough and I applaud you for bothering to continue to help this fellow I would of been done after the first post. It's not like you're making commission off the sale of this game or anything lol.

Originally posted by Curity:

Originally posted by Shiroshibal:

Yes, but the whole message is somewhat... ambiguous, I got multiple sources telling me there is and there isn't DRM.

Another one would be Amazon's Steam Download of GoT, which says: This game utilizes Steam DRM in addition to Actcontrol DRM.

Now if the Steam Store were "clean" and there was no mention whatsoever of the word "Activation" I would buy it after all the proof I got so far. But there's still that final line in the System Reqs and absolutely no developer answers on this forum (in comparison to the one on Of Orcs and Men). So, given my backlog and my probable purchase of OOaM, I'll have to give this game yet another pass, for now at least - hoping for a dev comment on this matter, I'm guessing if they can comment on OOaM they should also be able to do so here.

So what I've said is not enough. Meh.

[Elgar]

Originally posted by Shiroshibal:

Yes, but the whole message is somewhat... ambiguous

Mmm, it seems you don't understand English. Please, what is ambiguous in :

There is no ActControl DRM in the Steam version of the game.

This is an official statement from an official Focus Home Interactive representative on the official Steam forum.

Can you explain what is ambigous? And you have the testimony of Curity. I can also attest there isn't any DRM.

[Ser Cartoon of House Head]

Steam is the biggest DRM of the lot

[Dies Irae]

Originally posted by psytic:

You have done more than enough and I applaud you for bothering to continue to help this fellow I would of been done after the first post. It's not like you're making commission off the sale of this game or anything lol.

Originally posted by Curity:

So what I've said is not enough. Meh.

I'm just a guy that want to help everyone with the game. I like both GoT books and movies series, so, well, I consider myself as a fan. Game expands the GoT lore, so it's great for me, too.

Fans have a right to be passionate on the subject, right? :3
Thanks for the good words, anyway.