GTAIV: PC Installation Stories
my brother convinced me to give GTAIV a try, since he had a copy of it and it seems that many have named it one of the top games of 2008. I inserted the DVD and started installing 1.5 hours ago.
I still haven’t played it yet.
steps to install GTAIV (DVD Version) on a PC!
1. install from DVD. 2 DVDs. bah. I hate having to come back to the PC and see it prompt for the next disc. And then at the end it needs the first disc again.
note: at the start of installation it tells you
installation of GTA4… requires installation of Rockstar Games Social Club, Sony DADC SecuROM, Adobe Flash, Microsoft .NET Framework, Games for Windows – LIVE, Internet Explorer, and DirectX.
Wow, that’s a long list.
finally, after installing game files…
2. check online to see if game release date has passed
3. enter serial key and activate online
(what if I don’t have an internet connection at the moment?)
wait! another thing before you play…
4. need to sign up for Rockstar Social Club.
note: I just realized that maybe you don’t really have to, you can opt to run in offline mode. However for the purposes of today’s lesson, we’re aiming to get the full experience out of the game.
5. need to link rockstar social club account to windows live account for achievements (i think that’s what its for)
finally, got that all out of the way… can I play the game now? No.
6. need to download and install (manually) the latest Games for Windows – LIVE update.
I wonder if the Steam version has similar problems. I’m pretty happy with Steam’s services so far.
Update: Woohoo! The game finally launched. Well something did. “To save your progress and achievements you have to sign in to your Live account.” OK, sounds good. “An update for this game is available. you will have to update it before you can play it with Windows Live.*”
!@#$%^
*I can’t remember the exact wording. but it was something along the lines of “update it or you can’t get the full experience”
Why can’t they just check and slipstream the update during installation? they already require the net to check for release date.
lol hey.
funny thing is that GTA4 PC is under the Games For Windows initiative… meaning it should have upheld the “insert-disc-clik-and-play” standards.
anyways too bad it didnt work out..and yeah i totally agree that there’s just way to much hassle to get the game going..but i think it has somethinggg to do with legitimizing issues.
dont forget, GTA4 PC *was* un-pirateable on the it’s pc debut..im not too sure of the latest ‘crack updates’ if theres any.
-thumbs up to Rockstar-
Sam
15 Jan 09 at 9:11 pm
I doubt it still is un-pirateable today. In fact a google search seems to show many available that claim to work.
Awhile back I remember reading somewhere that someone said that no form of protection is uncrackable (he was referring to DRM for music, but here we have a form of DRM as well) for the simple reason that the there has to exist a decrypting algorithm in order for you to be authorized to use your stuff, and sooner or later someone will figure out that algorithm. In other words, any lock has to have a key to it, unless the locked object is not to be used by anyone, including its legal owner. Eventually, someone will figure the shape of that key and be able to manipulate the lock.
So in this case, it took awhile before pirates figured out how to crack the locks, but they did it eventually. What Rockstar has ended up doing is create more hassle for their customers. Now that the pirates have gotten to it (which was inevitable) the only people being penalized are their loyal paying customers.
A common flaw in any form of DRM… you create so much inconvenience for your regular customers, but some crazy pirate is going to get past your protection anyway.
hsadan
31 Jan 09 at 10:57 pm