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Mass Effect 2: No copy protection, release date and system requirements - Update: New cinematic teaser

With Mass Effect 2 EA strikes a new path. The publisher will only use a serial key as copy protection for Bioware's forthcoming RPG. But it is most likely that the DLC system of Dragon Age: Origins will be used, too. The release date and system requirements have already been published.

Mass Effect 2 (13) [Source: view picture gallery]

Original article: November 25, 2009
Apparently Electronic Arts has learned from the mistakes made with the first part of the Mass Effect trilogy. The PC version of Mass Effect 2 will only have a serial code copy protection like Dragon Age: Origins. Online authentication or similar annoying concepts are not planned. The key is supposed to be printed into the manual. Furthermore the number of installations is not limited. But although this is good news, some gamers might be upset by EA's plans to use the system for downloadable content that is known from Dragon Age: Origins.

Mass Effect 2 will be released on January 26, 2009 (North America) respectively January 29, 2009 (Europe) for PC and Xbox 360. Besides the normal edition there will also be a Collector's Edition with several gimmicks like the "Art of Mass Effect 2” book, issue number one of the Mass Effect Redemption comic or unique weapons and armors in the game.

Update: December 1, 2009
Bioware has released four new screenshots of the forthcoming Mass Effect 2. The pictures, which you can find in our gallery below, show Commander Shepard and some of his crew members.

Mass Effect 2: System Requirements
Minimal:
• Windows XP SP3 / Windows Vista SP1 / Windows 7
• 1.8GHz Intel Core 2 Duo or equivalent AMD CPU
• 1 GB RAM for Windows XP / 2 GB RAM for Windows Vista and Windows 7
• 15 GB disc space
• DirectX 9.0c sound card
• Keyboard / Mouse
• 256 MB (with Pixel Shader 3.0 support). Supported Chipsets: NVIDIA GeForce 6800 or greater; ATI Radeon X1600 Pro or greater.
Please note that NVIDIA GeForce 7300, 8100, 8200, 8300, 8400, and 9300; ATI Radeon HD3200, and HD4350 are below minimum system requirements. Updates to your video and sound card drivers may be required. Intel and S3 video cards are not officially supported in Mass Effect 2.

Recommended:
• Windows XP SP3 / Windows Vista SP1 / Windows 7
• 2.6+ GHz Core 2 Duo Intel or equivalent AMD CPU
• 2 GB RAM
• ATI Radeon HD 2900 XT, NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT, or better recommended
• 100% DirectX compatible sound card and drivers (DirectX August 2008)
NOTES: For the best results, make sure you have the latest drivers for your video and audio cards. Laptop or mobile versions of the above supported video cards have not had extensive testing and may have driver or other performance issues. As such, they are not officially supported.

Update: December 14, 2009
A new cinematic teaser for Mass Effect 2 has been released. The video doesn't give away much information, but shows some new material of Commander Shepard and his team. Besides that the teaser announces a full trailer for December 22nd on Xbox Live.

More articles related to Mass Effect 2:
• Mass Effect 2: Collector's Edition and Enemies video
• Mass Effect 2: Release date - New screenshots
• Mass Effect 2: Subject Zero - Sexy screenshots of Shepards new companion

Picture gallery

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Author: Andreas Link (Dec 14, 2009)

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ruyven_macaran

Re: Mass Effect 2: No copy protection, release date and system requirements - Update: New cinematic teaser

Super Moderator

14.12.2009 15:33

Most games will take longer then 1-2 weeks, to be released in e.g. germany (and we are still an "early" market compared to e.g. australia), so its not unusual, that illegal copy can be obtained earlier, then legal copies. Also considering contemporary game quality, I would never buy a game within 1-2 months after releases but always wait for the worst bugs to be fixed.

I don't know, what applies to the average US-customer, but I doubt, that your average game earns more money in the first two weeks after release, then has to be paid for copyprotection and associated testing/bugfixing/...

connos

Re: Mass Effect 2: No copy protection, release date and system requirements - Update: New cinematic teaser

Senior Member

14.12.2009 13:30

Quote: (Originally Posted by bugmenot007)

Copy protection at this time is just a waste of money for game makers. The game will be pirated eventually, so the protection is useless. Also protections are known for causing problems with games, like random crashes and stutter.

Of course they gonna crack it but that's not why they use copy protection. It only to give them 1-2 weeks before a some one crack it.

Ar.Pi	Re: Mass Effect 2: No copy protection, release date and system requirements - Update: New cinematic teaser
Senior Member 30.11.2009 18:46	EA doing something good for a change. Red snow tomorrow (as they say in Russian).
Senior Member 30.11.2009 18:46

Acantee09	Mass Effect 2 No copy protection release date and ...
Banned 30.11.2009 18:38	I read about this on SF and was going to ask you about it. Do you need any matches and petrol? LOL
Banned 30.11.2009 18:38

ironduke

Re: Mass Effect 2: No copy protection, release date and system requirements - Update: New cinematic teaser

Junior Member

26.11.2009 09:14

I agree copy protection is a waste of time. For someone like me who builds a new rig about every 18 months, it's a pain having to uninstall and reinstall, so being able to just install on the new rig without having to loose saved game files/stats is a bonus.

I like the idea Steam has, but it really doesn't work in off line mode. Nothing will work without an internet connection as I found out when at my parents house for a few weeks with my leg in plaster, and no internet. All I had left was the complete collection of Star Trek Enterprise to entertain me,

So yes, a serial number is useful, but any extra is pointless as games are fast going from New Release to Budget bins.

bugmenot007	Re: Mass Effect 2: No copy protection, release date and system requirements - Update: New cinematic teaser
Junior Member 25.11.2009 18:55	Copy protection at this time is just a waste of money for game makers. The game will be pirated eventually, so the protection is useless. Also protections are known for causing problems with games, like random crashes and stutter.
Junior Member 25.11.2009 18:55

connos	Re: Mass Effect 2: No copy protection, release dat...
Senior Member 25.11.2009 13:58	With or without copy protection it doesn't matter for me, preorder is planed.
Senior Member 25.11.2009 13:58

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