Rockstar Games has announced that the PC version of Grand Theft Auto IV, which is shipping shortly, will be bundled with everyone’s favorite anti-piracy software, SecuROM. I’m running out of excuses for the game industry’s continued use of the software, which is constantly ill-received and boycott-educing, causing agony for many PC gamers.

It isn’t so much that I don’t understand them trying to prevent people downloading their games – I get that, I understand that part of the plan. It makes sense to me that they would attempt to prevent software pirates from spreading around illegal copies of their game, especially after World of Goo’s developers have stated that nearly 98% of the people who have played their game downloaded it illegally. That is all fine and dandy, the problem I have with SecuROM is that it doesn’t work. It doesn't. It just freaking doesn't. SPORE was one of the highlight games with the software and it was leaked over a week before its retail release. Every PC game using it has been cracked before, or within hours of release, and it’s incredibly clear that it simply doesn't do what developers claim it should.

That said, most of the people complaining online are being petty, since most of the issues (internet-capable computer needed to activate the product, “installation tokens,” etc) aren’t really worth worrying about. If you’re complaining and rallying boycotts on forums you obviously have a PC with internet capabilities, and the “installation tokens” are more to prevent sharing with friends, which is understandable. Plus, it appeases stockholders, which is always a good thing.

Or is it all sort of some crazy plan? Is SecuROM paying developers to use the software for some crazy reason? Is it like Virus Protection Companies creating spyware and malware in the basement? I don't know, but I'm sure there's more to this story we don't know.

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