Graphics card upgrade triggers activation and SecuROM can’t be removed, but you can install the game as many times as you like.
After the Hot Coffee fiasco follwing the release of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, not to mention all the media circus surrounding Bully (Canis Canem Edit), Rockstar has earned itself a name as a risk-taking, maverick developer. As such, it may come as a disappointment to some people to learn that the PC version of Grand Theft Auto IV will be loaded up with SecuROM 7 DRM.
In a Q&A session with IGN, Rockstar explained its reasoning, saying that ‘we invest a considerable amount of time and effort to release each title, and employ a large number of people in the process. Having copy protection allows us to protect the integrity or our titles and future investments… SecuROM is the most effective form of disc based copy protection and allows us to manage authenticity on a global level for Grand Theft Auto IV.’
On the plus side, Rockstar says you can install the game as many times as you want, and on any number of PCs. Plus, although you’ll need to activate the game online, you can achieve this with any Internet-connected PC, and not necessarily the PC on which the game is installed, which could be a bonus to anyone without an Internet connection. You can then play the single-player game without going online, although you’ll apparently need to reactivate the game if you upgrade major piece of hardware in your PC, such as the graphics card. You’ll also need Disc 1 from the game in your drive to play the game
On the downside, you won’t be able to remove SecuROM completely, and Rockstar states that ‘some traces will remain.’ However, the developer also says that it’s currently ‘working with SecuROM to post information on our support pages regarding how to remove these inactive traces of the program for users who wish to do so.’
Rockstar says that ‘vocal 'board posters' seem to be most down on the SecuROM feature that limits the number of installations,’ and adds that ‘we recognize that the installation limits have been a major issue, so we have not limited the number of installations for the retail disk version of GTA IV PC.’ However, the other controversial issue surrounding SecuROM is the inability to remove it and the UAService7.exe service that can prevent some other software from loading.
Any of you hoping to avoid SecuROM by downloading the game from Steam will also be in for a bit of disappointment, as Rockstar says that ‘all versions of the game will use SecuROM functionality,’ and this includes both the retail version and all the online versions.
Also, in answer to anyone who says they’re going to download a cracked version of the game, Rockstar points out that ‘aside from the fact that warez are a great place to pick up a Trojan or key logger, using a cracked copy of GTA IV PC will result in varying changes to the game experience. These can range from comical to game-progress-halting changes.’
