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Questions about Amazon games

Total Posts: 23

Joined 2011-04-12

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Hi to all!

In case anybody doesn’t know it yet, Amazon US is making a massive digital PC games campaign, go check it out here:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/ref=Mayhem Deals?ie=UTF8&docId=1000716161

Their prices are so cheap I’m considering a “temporary visit to the US”, to buy some of these games! Oh, how I wish these games were on GOG, DRM-free and cheap and open to all countries.

IF any of the forum users have bought any of these games on Amazon, could you please talk about your experience with them and if they come with any kind of DRM attached? Any hints of Securom, Starfoce, Tages, etc? Any form of online validation/activation required?

Most of these say “by Viva Media”. I know at least one of their games, available at their online shop, needs online validation. Would this also be possible with Amazon?

Al Emmo and The Lost Dutchman’s Mine 2.5$
http://www.amazon.com/Emmo-Lost-Dutchmans-Mine-Download/dp/B0030GG118

Ghost Pirates of Vooju Island 2.99$
http://www.amazon.com/Ghost-Pirates-Vooju-Island-Download/dp/B004GHNG1I

Lost Chronicles of Zerzuza 8.99$
http://www.amazon.com/Lost-Chronicles-of-Zerzuza-Download/dp/B009WWHW0I/

Lost Horizon 2.5$
http://www.amazon.com/Deep-Silver-40435Lost-Horizon-Download/dp/B0042X9M0K

Secret Files - Tunguska 2.49$
http://www.amazon.com/Deep-Silver-40781-Tunguska6-Secret/dp/B005JF4OHG

Secret Files 2 - 2.49$
http://www.amazon.com/Secret-Files-Puritas-Cordis-Download/dp/B005JF4P9I

Black Mirror 2 - 2$
http://www.amazon.com/Viva-Media-40588ck-Mirror-21/dp/B004NNVE7S

Secret Files 3 - 7.49$
http://www.amazon.com/Deep-Silver-Secret-Files-Download/dp/B008VUG4A6

Gray Matter 3$
http://www.amazon.com/Viva-Media-40588Gray-Matter3-Download/dp/B004NNVE8M/

The Walking Dead 10$ (steam)
http://www.amazon.com/Walking-Dead-Online-Game-Code/dp/B007WWWF9I

Black Mirror 3 - 2$
http://www.amazon.com/Viva-Media-40644ck-Mirror-31/dp/B004W36PI2/

CSI: Deadly Intent 6$49
http://www.amazon.com/Ubisoft-1731-CSI-Deadly-Download/dp/B0030GG2TO

Haunted 6.99$
http://www.amazon.com/Viva-Media-Haunted-Download/dp/B00AHH580I

Gray Matter + Alter Ego + Black Mirror 2 + Black Mirror 3 - 5.99$
http://www.amazon.com/Viva-Media-40869ture-Bundle1-Adventure/dp/B006C5M5R8

     
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TechnoSpike - 17 May 2013 09:44 PM

Hi to all!
Any form of online validation/activation required?

I’ve only got the Nancy Drew games from there
They use the “Amazon Games & Software Downloader”

Its a download manager, but it also checks your account when you install the game
So… yeah DRM

If I remember right, after you install the game it leaves you alone

 

     

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Total Posts: 173

Joined 2012-08-06

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I’ve never tried the service but since I haven’t been able to locate a DVD version of Secret Files 3 for under $40, $7.50 seems too good to pass up. Thanks for the heads-up.

     

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Total Posts: 347

Joined 2006-07-30

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Amazon will list any 3rd party DRM (Steam, Securom) on the game’s page.  If nothing is listed, it will use the Amazon downloader as stated earlier.  FWIW, though, the downloader only has to be open the first time you start the game.  You don’t have to be online or have the Amazon program open from that point forward.

     

Total Posts: 23

Joined 2011-04-12

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SpeedBo - 18 May 2013 06:30 PM

I’ve only got the Nancy Drew games from there
They use the “Amazon Games & Software Downloader”

Its a download manager, but it also checks your account when you install the game
So… yeah DRM

If I remember right, after you install the game it leaves you alone

Interplay - 19 May 2013 01:43 PM

Amazon will list any 3rd party DRM (Steam, Securom) on the game’s page.  If nothing is listed, it will use the Amazon downloader as stated earlier.  FWIW, though, the downloader only has to be open the first time you start the game.  You don’t have to be online or have the Amazon program open from that point forward.

Thanks for your feedback!

So, the downloader is mandatory, and not optional like the one from GOG, right? Too bad, but I guess I could live with that… IF no more DRM would be involved…

Interplay, are you sure about the DRM listing? I’m asking this because of 2 very different examples I found:

Nancy Drew: Ghost of Thorton Hall, they say it’s DRM-free.
LA Noire Complete Edition, they don’t have any information about the DRM involved, but, based on the game’s Steam page there should be a “ton” of DRM involved (Initial online activation, Rockstar Games Social Club and GameShield).

So, I’m assuming they probably don’t follow a very detailed policy of full DRM explanation.

Did anybody here “caved in” and bought any of the games I mentioned?

 

     
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Total Posts: 299

Joined 2006-12-04

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Hello Technospike

I can help you with the only games I have downloaded from Amazon.com. They are…

Lost Chronicles of Zerzuza
Lost Horizon
J.U.L.I.A.

I can tell you that I have burned the downloaded files to all 3 of these games to disk. All three install and play just as it would if you bought the disk versions. (see picture below of my burned disks) Each one had autoplay install screen pop up when disk was put into drive. I was curious and to make sure that my burned disks weren’t looking for anything on the Internet or a downloader on the computer I originally downloaded to so I just installed all 3 to another computer that is not connected to the Internet or have the Amazon Downloader program. I can tell you that each game disk Installed and played perfectly like a regular disk version game. Because I created these disks after I played the games on my main Internet computer I can’t say for sure that you would have to Install the game first before burning the downloaded files to disk. So I would have to say that these 3 that I have are DRM free. I might add that I had bought each one of these games when originally released.

     

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My download of Secret Files 3 can be burned to a DVD and installed on another computer, but unfortunately it does require a new online activation license file. HEAVY DRM.

     

Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day.

Give a man a rod and he will sit on a boat and drink beer all day. - USA Network

Total Posts: 23

Joined 2011-04-12

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GreyFuss - 29 May 2013 08:35 AM

Hello Technospike

I can help you with the only games I have downloaded from Amazon.com. They are…

Lost Chronicles of Zerzuza
Lost Horizon
J.U.L.I.A.

I can tell you that I have burned the downloaded files to all 3 of these games to disk. All three install and play just as it would if you bought the disk versions. (see picture below of my burned disks) Each one had autoplay install screen pop up when disk was put into drive. I was curious and to make sure that my burned disks weren’t looking for anything on the Internet or a downloader on the computer I originally downloaded to so I just installed all 3 to another computer that is not connected to the Internet or have the Amazon Downloader program. I can tell you that each game disk Installed and played perfectly like a regular disk version game. Because I created these disks after I played the games on my main Internet computer I can’t say for sure that you would have to Install the game first before burning the downloaded files to disk. So I would have to say that these 3 that I have are DRM free. I might add that I had bought each one of these games when originally released.

Hello GreyFuss! Thanks for your input! It seems at least those 3 games can indeed be DRM-free. I’m curious about Lost Chronicles of Zerzuza, published by Viva Media. I don’t have any knowledge about Deep Silver, but, from my understanding, Viva Media games should require an internet activation/validation in the first installation of the games (I know at least one of the games they sell through their online store has this). Guess that might not be the case for all of their games, or at least, not the ones sold through Amazon.

So, if I understood correctly, you had to have prior installed the Amazon downloaderc client, which then allows you to download your Amazon bought games, in the form of installers (which you then managed to burn into DVDs), is this it?

RayB - 29 May 2013 12:03 PM

My download of Secret Files 3 can be burned to a DVD and installed on another computer, but unfortunately it does require a new online activation license file. HEAVY DRM.

Humm, I wonder if this is the same kind of copy protection the retail editions come with (ProtectDisc)?

     
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Total Posts: 299

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I am going to download Zerzuza again just to see exactly what you could expect. All your game downloads are kept in your account in a library and can be downloaded again. It may take a while as it is a large file.

You do have to use the Amazon Downloader which is really a good thing as it is a good downloader. When you click on the button to download your game a link is downloaded to your computer. You click on that and the game starts to download through the Amazon downloader its really easy, IMO.

I will get back with you with the information on what it looks like after its done downloading.

     

Don’t Hate Me Because I Am Beautiful…There Are Many Other Reasons

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TechnoSpike - 30 May 2013 09:05 AM

Humm, I wonder if this is the same kind of copy protection the retail editions come with (ProtectDisc)?

I would assume so although with this version it is aptly called ProtectSoftware.

I would also have assumed that whatever DRM scheme in utilized on a particular game will be carried through in the amazon download edition but if GreyFuss really can start a new game of Lost Chronicles of Zerzura via a DVD without the online activation/verification then I guess I’m wrong.

     

Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day.

Give a man a rod and he will sit on a boat and drink beer all day. - USA Network

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Total Posts: 299

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Just redownloaded to a USB Flash Drive moved it to a different computer, burned files to a blank DVD installed and played the game. I wouldn’t know about any other games from Amazon but I did the same thing with each of these games and had no problem with DRM in burning to a disk. Maybe I just got lucky.

TechnoSpike

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Don’t Hate Me Because I Am Beautiful…There Are Many Other Reasons

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GreyFuss - 30 May 2013 05:56 PM

Just redownloaded to a USB Flash Drive moved it to a different computer, burned files to a blank DVD installed and played the game. I wouldn’t know about any other games from Amazon but I did the same thing with each of these games and had no problem with DRM in burning to a disk. Maybe I just got lucky.

TechnoSpike

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Thanks a lot for your help, GreyFuss! Now I think I understand more of what to expect from the Amazon downloader.

     

Total Posts: 23

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RayB - 30 May 2013 03:45 PM
TechnoSpike - 30 May 2013 09:05 AM

Humm, I wonder if this is the same kind of copy protection the retail editions come with (ProtectDisc)?

I would assume so although with this version it is aptly called ProtectSoftware.

I would also have assumed that whatever DRM scheme in utilized on a particular game will be carried through in the amazon download edition but if GreyFuss really can start a new game of Lost Chronicles of Zerzura via a DVD without the online activation/verification then I guess I’m wrong.

Yeah, that seems to be from the same company (http://www.protectdisc.com/).

Perhaps there are more games without DRM, would be great if they actually had that information clearly written.

     

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