The good, the bad and the ugly - not the movie

I've been sick the whole week, so I took yesterday off stayed at home to play some computer game.

The good:
I bought The Witcher - Enhanced Version, came in 5 whooping DVDs, very heavy case... I've been wanting to play this for a while, but after reading the reviews, I thought I'd skip, 'cause I just couldn't bear the looong game loading time... Now, they finally fixed it, woohoo!

The bad:
After spent 30min install the game, the game won't start! What the heck!? It gives me all sorts of error, dll missing... So, I googled the missing dll, downloaded them, put them into the game directory... still no go... more errors... As it turned out, The Witcher requires Windows XP or Vista! And I'm running Windows 2000. Doh! Lucky I have a copy of XP Pro 64bit I got for free when I brought my AMD combo at an AMD event; and a Vista Business from attending some seminar. XP 64bit, not a lot of software support, guess I'll go with Vista.

The ugly:
Installed Vista, no problem, the partition size albeit a lil small - 10GB, but installed OK. Installed Partition Magic 8 to resize partition - doh, it doesn't support Vista.

Looking at the Symantec's website, they don't have a new version of the Partition Magic. Anyway, I'd pretty fed up with Symantec already, they frequently repackage the same software to make it look completely different, I ended up bought 2 copies of Partition Magic 8 - since they look completely different. So, I searched the net found a free software called: Easeus Partition Manager, completely free for home users. It look and feel just like the Partition Magic.

Let me back track a bit... The Windows 2000 install only takes about 5GB, however, the Vista took almost 10GB! What the heck is in the Vista, Mr. Gates?

The Witcher was installed on a separate partition, I was hoping it will just run - but it doesn't. So, I installed it for the 2nd time...

Vista must have had the auto update enabled, after The Witcher install, it asked for reboot to install updates. Ok, since I need to reboot, I might as well resize the partition to a bigger 15GB... I installed Easeus Partition Manager, resized the partition to 15GB, reboot.

"No system disk detected, please instead a system disk and press any key". WHAT!!! I just spent all the time install Vista and Witcher... With a heavy sign, I installed Vista again... The Witcher again...

So, how many times I installed The Witcher? 3 times - just try to start the game. And each time, I forgot to de-authorize any install. If The Witcher had DRM, I've used up all the installs I'm allowed.

I'll buy DRM enabled game when hell freezes over.

Games looking forward to buy

Fallout 3
Diablo 3
Jagged Alliance 3
Deadspace

However, if there's any DRM in these game, they can kiss my cash goodbay!

The recent Spore and Crysis game has DRM and install de-authorization - that let you de-authorize an install. However, what good is it, if the game company no longer exists. You can'tr ever install the game, as it requires online authorization.

I was browsing the SirTech website for Wizardry 8 game patch. The game was release in 2001, and the company bite the dust a few years back. It listed various sites that host the patch file, most of them landed me a 404 page - that means the file is no longer there, 1 requires to register and pay - however I'm not sure they has it. See, if a few years done the road, the game company folds, their server shuts down - you the consumer are screwed!

No DRM!!!

Say No to "Spore" and DRM!!!

Spore, interesting game from EA. I thought about buying it. But due to the strict DRM included in the game, I'm not going o buy it or play it!

Only able to activate it 3 times? Forget it!!! I have mt X-COM games, how old is that? 15 years? I still play it now and then. A few years back, I was playing it one time every single year! When I buy a game I want to be able to play it whenever I want, however often I want. Even if they bump it 50 activations, I still won't buy it - it a matter principle. Would you buy a TV that they only allow you to move to different rooms 3 times? Or buy a DVD, they only allow you to watch 3 times? Hell NO!

Boycott DRM!!