NVIDIA requires hardware verfication for game codes bundled with hardware

[Mira Yurizaki]

https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2017/02/nvidia-game-codes-gfe-hardware/

 

Quote

Previously, retailers sent promotional game codes to customers that purchased a qualifying product. Those codes could then be redeemed on Nvidia's website, which spit out the relevant Steam, Uplay, Origin, or Microsoft Store key. Since the promotional game codes were not tied to a specific account, many users took to either gifting spare keys to friends or selling them on eBay in order to offset the cost of the graphics card purchase.

 

Now, users have to redeem codes via the GeForce Experience (GFE) app, which is directly linked to third-party services like Steam and Uplay. Users must also ensure that the requisite graphics card is "installed before redemption." GFE then performs "a hardware verification step to ensure the coupon code is redeemed on the system with the qualifying GPU." It's not yet clear whether the codes will be tied to a specific serial number/hardware identifier, or whether they will be tied to an overall product line like a GTX 1070 or GTX 1080.

Just to clarify before people start blowing this up beyond what it probably is: you only need GFE to verify that you actually have the hardware you bought the game code for so you can redeem it for an actual code. It doesn't mean the game is tied to the hardware.

 

I never really bought hardware based on a promotional thing, but ick, if I get one of these things now I have to install GFE to use it. Oh well.

 

Also if the hardware verification is just checking to see if you have the product line, I'm going to bet someone's going to make a thing to spoof GFE into thinking you have said hardware.

 

edit: Actually this only takes care of the step to getting the actual game code. You could probably still do what you want once you have the game code itself.

 

Welp.

[Bouzoo]

I was just writing about this, good thing I double checked. 

 

6 minutes ago, M.Yurizaki said:

you only need GFE to verify that you actually have the hardware you bought the game code for so you can redeem it for an actual code.

Yes, only, and GFE only works with NV accounts which people are avoiding because:

1) Metadata

2) GFE is rubbish (GFE 3.0 less so, but it still is)

 

Also, even if it's possible to activate with having the same card is still horrible. Imagine if you wanted to give a double game to a friend that has AMD or any other NV card. Right. 

 

[Nena Trinity]

I do not even have crapware 3.0 aka cancer force 3.0 on my machines! ;__; ((well I will buy Radeon for sure next upgrade...))

[Scruffy90]

Tying redemption to gfe3 is bullshit. What I would like to know is how they would enforce a hardware tie in if the code game key after its redeemed in steam, origin, etc

[Guest]

Hmm, AMD been doing this already. At least for me. You have to sign in to AMD account or something to redeem game, you also have to go through a verification process to ensure you have an AMD based hardware (either GPU or CPU) then they give you the code

[Mira Yurizaki]

1 minute ago, Scruffy90 said:

Tying redemption to gfe3 is bullshit. What I would like to know is how they would enforce a hardware tie in if the code game key after its redeemed in steam, origin, etc

They're not. This is to fix problems in the supply chain. From the article itself:

 

Quote

Last year, Microsoft was forced to revoke codes for Gears of War 4 after an Amazon loophole allowed users to order a GTX 1070, receive the code, and then cancel the order.

 

[Scruffy90]

1 minute ago, M.Yurizaki said:

They're not. This is to fix problems in the supply chain. From the article itself:

 

 

I saw that. Its still nonsense though. Punish the end user because of how a merchant handles their promo codes. Theyre trying real hard to push everyone to gfe. 

[tlink]

1 minute ago, M.Yurizaki said:

They're not. This is to fix problems in the supply chain. From the article itself:

 

 

there where easier ways to fix this, sure this is a problem but they chose this route because they benefit from it. they could just as easily put a scratch away field inside the box.

[Guest]

3 minutes ago, M.Yurizaki said:

They're not. This is to fix problems in the supply chain. From the article itself:

 

 

In fact let me see if I can return my RX 480 to see if I got DOOM for free

[Bouzoo]

4 minutes ago, M.Yurizaki said:

Last year, Microsoft was forced to revoke codes for Gears of War 4 after an Amazon loophole allowed users to order a GTX 1070, receive the code, and then cancel the order.

The consumers shouldn't get the short end of the stick because Amazon was unable/incompetent to do their job. 

[Mira Yurizaki]

You know, you could just:

• Obtain said code
• Install GFE (use a burner email if you need to)
• Redeem code
• Uninstall GFE

And that would be the end of that.

[Scruffy90]

1 minute ago, Wikiforce said:

another bullshit policy by greedy nvidia, what is wrong in someone else using redeem like a family member or friend? Another reason could be they want to shove GFE down our throats which luckily fails to install on my pc but why is it mandatory to install in recent releases? fucking nuts. Their drivers itself are so bloated.

I just installed an older 2.x gfe, changed the updater file name so it never launches and ive had minimal issues since. I refuse to install gfe3

[Scruffy90]

5 minutes ago, deXxterlab97 said:

In fact let me see if I can return my RX 480 to see if I got DOOM for free

They have no methods of revoking codes. I redeemed a bunch of game codes when I got my Vive and after returning it (due to incompatibilities with my older rig) my game licenses stayed.

 

Edit- I mean this specific to returns, not merch fuck ups like gow4 and amazon

Edited February 2, 2017 by Scruffy90

[Guest Kloaked]

I don't see a problem with this, but already I can see people saying "OMG THIS IS ONE STEP CLOSER TO GAMES BEING 100% EXCLUSIVE TO CERTAIN HARDWARE OMFG"

[GoodBytes]

Desperate for people to use the crap that is GFE.

[Scruffy90]

3 minutes ago, Kloaked said:

I don't see a problem with this, but already I can see people saying "OMG THIS IS ONE STEP CLOSER TO GAMES BEING 100% EXCLUSIVE TO CERTAIN HARDWARE OMFG"

The problem is forcing their telemetry down everyones throats. Id have no problems with gfe 3 were it not for the mandatory updates (from gfe2 )and if they werent so hell bent on sharing metrics

[Rune]

No problems here.

[Scruffy90]

2 minutes ago, GoodBytes said:

Desperate for people to use the crap that is GFE.

I only use gfe for shadowplay. Too much of a headache to set up obs for gaming (at least in my case) 

[Guest Kloaked]

Just now, Scruffy90 said:

The problem is forcing their telemetry down everyones throats. Id have no problems with gfe 3 were it not for the mandatory updates (from gfe2 )and if they werent so hell bent on sharing metrics

AMD and Microsoft have the same type of telemetry in their software. It's not new.

[Scruffy90]

2 minutes ago, Kloaked said:

AMD and Microsoft have the same type of telemetry in their software. It's not new.

I know, but I have qualms with windows 10 metrics and their mandatory updates, I usually try to disable metric and tracking as much as I can. I havent used an AMD product in ages. Didnt  realize they were getting telemtry from their hardware. 

[Bouzoo]

9 minutes ago, Kloaked said:

I don't see a problem with this

I do see 2 problems, so to say. What if I got, for instance, Watch Dogs 2, and I don't even want the game but that was the only game I could get? I may want to give it to my gf, friend, or someone else who I know wants it. Or even better, I got Watch Dogs 2, but I already own it, but I want to give it to someone who doesn't have a 1080. More than few giveaways on this forum with the later scenario as a matter of fact.

[Guest Kloaked]

1 minute ago, Scruffy90 said:

I know, but I have qualms with windows 10 metrics and their mandatory updates, I usually try to disable metric and tracking as much as I can. I havent used an AMD product in ages. Didnt  realize they were getting telemtry from their hardware. 

Telemetry includes crash reports and other things that aren't personal information, but data that can help the company fix whatever issue you may be having in a future update.

 

Just about any piece of software that has online capability does this.

 

1 minute ago, Bouzoo said:

I do see 2 problems, so to say. What if I got, for instance, Watch Dogs 2, and I don't even want the game but that was the only game I could get? I may want to give it to my gf, friend, or someone else who I know wants it. Or even better, I got Watch Dogs 2, but I already own it, but I want to give it to someone who doesn't have a 1080. More than few giveaways on this forum with the later scenario as a matter of fact.

That's a fair criticism.

[Guest]

4 minutes ago, Bouzoo said:

Or even better, I got Watch Dogs 2, but I already own it, but I want to give it to someone who doesn't have a 1080.

That does sound like selling the key to someone but for free

[Scruffy90]

2 minutes ago, Kloaked said:

Telemetry includes crash reports and other things that aren't personal information, but data that can help the company fix whatever issue you may be having in a future update.

 

Just about any piece of software that has online capability does this.

 

That's a fair criticism.

That makes sense. 

 

And I know someone who complained about a similar scenario to what @Bouzoo brought up. He gets 2 GPUs for sli and gives away the second code. What happens to the second code?

[Guest Kloaked]

3 minutes ago, Scruffy90 said:

That makes sense. 

 

And I know someone who complained about a similar scenario to what @Bouzoo brought up. He gets 2 GPUs for sli and gives away the second code. What happens to the second code?

Nvidia eats it I guess. It's a fair criticism of this system as it "hurts" (wrong word) the honest people who don't turn around to resell the keys. Then again, you're not paying anything extra to get the code except buying the video card anyways.