... DRM or "How do I control my customers!" ...

Mass Effect have now by and can also report what the game itself:

Packing:
Mass Effect comes as almost all the games now in a DVD-ROM envelope that you have probably accept so, however, it creates Mass Effect one of the few games too small a DVD-Rom to use shell and the second DVD (language files) is easy unloving and scratch prone hidden in a cardboard sleeve behind the instructions. If I buy a game with two DVDs I expect a corresponding packaging.
Nice that the ME is already pointed to the front of the packaging it requires an Internet connection to play. In addition, (a bit too small in my opinion, but still) pointed to the back of the package on the game copy protection technologies includes the conflict with some DVD-ROM, may cause DVD-RW and virtual drives.

Instructions:
At length, b / w, large area with support contact, very exemplary.

Installation:
Easy to install, especially interesting that everything is present in compressed archives, which means you can install, the installer should once fail also perform manually.

Configuration:
The best way to configure game, time you have more setting options, the initial setup, however, is also the configuration of the launcher to use.

Game start, the I .:
I have the data stream recorded times with Wireshark.
The launcher itself establishes a connection to the BioWare website and searching for a particular page (probably news updates, DLC, etc.)
The ME .exe connects using TCP to an EA site and downloads them (what wants to be good, I do not understand, but whatever ...), the packages I have not yet examined in more detail, have also not really know how I this could and must do about it only once in more detail inform.
I had no problems during activation (at least until now) ... will the ME .exe but time still for a while to keep in mind to see if they are not yet signal at irregular intervals to the outside! The fact is that sends the .exe packages to EA servers and I do not know what's inside ... a queasy feeling :)
I also had no problems with installed programs, so I could start ME without stopping previously Daemon Tools.

Game start, the II .:
Start the second time I have not experienced any connection to EA Severn, but the packages shipped to me sometimes still look.

In Game:
About the game itself, I am a little ambivalent ... one hand, the story is really epic, I have never seen so much atmosphere, tension, density and feeling experienced in a generated only for a computer game world (clear Kotor certainly had everything, but how much goose bumps conjures up a universe in itself to be able to be active in KOTOR the thought on the skin finally in Star Wars, with ME this universe is created and only supported by 3 films). It is always flooded with new stimuli, really beautiful! But far too short! I would go for the main story times expect a playing time of approximately 10-12h.
On the other hand, then the side missions ... in the beginning makes it still fun, but over time it is just boring to always be exactly to fight the same building, always seeing the same worlds, which differ only in their color differ. The quests to be well presented and of the story probably some of the best I've played on side quests in one game, but really comforting that does not have to always constant flow in always consistent bunkers, Forschungseinrichtugen, outpost away.
The culmination of the side mission misery then makes the control or the behavior of the Mako. It makes absolutely no fun with the Mako to go on the planet, the only scenes in which the Mako in the game's fun are the scenes in which you need him for the main story.
Also, I find the total playing time a little short, I had played in ME by 25h and am of the opinion that I have left me plenty of time to explore and for the side quests!

Conclusion:
Mass Effect lags behind my (admittedly very high) expectations, the side quests and the short playing time tarnish the then yet so compelling and engrossing story. Mass Effects story itself is masterful and exactly meets my expectations even though it was quite fast to the end (but it is indeed by Remedy Part 2 & 3 :)).

Also spoils the overall impression of the copy protection of forces me to register a single-player game online and forward to 3 installations (yes, I delete a game usually only when I do my Windows flat again, and then I need a new activation) limited before I must justify to reinstall it must!

In stars i will start audrücken it this way:
Fun: *** 1/2
All In All: **

Update (2008-06-04)
"Compote" has made me into a commentary pointed out that the crack only in so far as you have to work up to continue playing using the star map!
But still no truly functioning Crack, but rather a "demo" of a crack ...

Update (2008-05-30)
The game has been cracked in two days! So much for the publishers want to protect their game with SecuROM ... Review for the game and get to the data used SecuROM once I got the game are here ... (after it has been cracked I can buy me, already sadly this statement! )
Unfortunately, there is no precise information on the SecuROM by customers who have the game already, therefore remains the first part of my review still stand as first and will not be updated!

I find it even indeed stupid to write a review as long as the game has not yet appeared, but it can not hurt to know a few things about the copy safely:

State of affairs at the moment (2008-05-14 18:50):

1. SecuROM - DRM or malware?
Mass Effect will use SecuROM copy protection (DRM) - it involves the same copy protection has driven in the past Bioshock buyers into madness.

SecuROM installs itself not wiederfindbar on the user's system and verbinded to be sent to a server using the Internet to Specifications for the PC and the CD-Key, this checks the data and decides whether the user may start the game, while it is the Publisher possible (and quite common) to limit the number of registered PCs. Moreover SecuROM can if it finds certain programs (eg Deamon Tools, Nero, etc.) on the computer refuse to serve or provide a system crash! Also known are reports according to which SecuROM hardware damage caused to DVD drives after a DVD-R (W) would be burned!
It is as yet not known whether Mass Effects SecuROM possesses these characteristics.

2. I buy a game or I rent it?
Mass Effects SecuROM is 3x activated (or deactivated as you ?? no idea that best expresses) be, that is, according to BioWare, that you can install it on 3 different computers. However, if the computer physically (possibly also by software) change (ie new hardware to be installed) so it can thereby to the computers come is no longer recognized by the server and you lose an "activation"
BioWare does not have any data about it published what is needed is a PC so to go to build one "activation" lost!

3. Extension of the "subscription"
one should not "activations" will have more choice, the EA must contact Customer Service you. For this purpose on how to do this, what you have to provide as proof to show that you have actually bought the game and if it is free BioWare has not expressed until now!

4. Mass Effect Online - Online Single Player Game
To enable Mass Effect MUST on which it is to be installed at the first launch of the game, the computer connected to the Internet! Also after each update and the installation of additional content (Bring Down the Sky), the computer must be connected to the Internet to Mass Effect continues to run!
There will be no 10-day REVIEW !!!

5. good customer - bad customer ...
This type of copy protection will have all versions of Mass Effect PC release, except for the Russian national! The Rusische version is without a copy coming of an internet connection required! (Which does not mean that there will be no copyright protection in the Russian national version!)

6. 3 ... 2 .. 1 mine ??!
For the above reasons, it is unlikely to be possible that bought Mass Effect with the current copy protection easy to buy second hand (because you can never be sure whether there is still "activations" are left) or else be hard their own again Sale !!

more info can be found (in English only) in Mass Effect - BioWare Forum (unfortunately does not allow URLs!)