If i buy the box version? Currently a local e-commerce site selling some boxed games for a good discount.

I want to buy:

Singularity
Metro 2033 - Have a "Games for Windows" thingy at the picture of the box :(
Alice Madness Returns
Call of Duty
Ceville(If it is a good game)
Company of Heroes(If it is a good game)
Supreme Comamander(Have a "Games for Windows" too)
Prototype(Chessy or good? Have a "Games for Windows" too.)
Space Marine(do you like it?)

But don't know if they had DRM. Where can i find this information?

I can't speak for the retail version, but the download version of all of those games come with DRM. I'd be very surprised if the retail version isn't the same.

I usually check Wikipedia first (if the DRM of the game was an issue, then it'll usually be mentioned), and I also have a look of online distributors who sell boxed copies, like Amazon - sometimes the DRM is mentioned in the product description or in user reviews. Googling for fan forums of the game can also help.

Some have the DRM on the boxes if it's something heavy (like Starforce & Securom I think have had it in small print on the box.) The best way is to google them though. Games for Windows is just a Vista/7 thing to say it runs/is designed for them and it's not the same as Games for Windows Live which is the one people groan about. The Live suffix is usually underneath in bronze/gold colouring.

Company of Heroes is absolutely great but if you use steam, you can usually get all 3 games VERY cheap in their sales and the first expansion (Opposing Forces) is very good.

Ceville is a good Point & Click Adventure, think it's mainly just a CD check on that one. Supreme Commander is also a brilliant Strategy game with a lot more depth than most but can be a bugger to get working online & means installing the Publisher's stupid GPGNet which is a horrible online interface (only for online play).

Prototype I didn't think that much of. It was fun for a while but got dull quick and felt poorly polished.

Singularity is a fun horror FPS that has some interesting game mechanics but if I had to pick between that and Metro 2033 I'd go for Metro 2033 as I found it more engrossing and atmospheric (& preferred it to Fallout 3/New Vegas despite it being more linear.)

Not played Alice Madness Returns or Space Marine but they're on my want list.

Daemon Tools Game Database has the best list that I know of . . . =)

In principle: Ask your retailer. He should know and he should tell you about it.

In practice: They don't have a clue and they don't give a damn either. If your lucky there is some smallprint that says something like "one time activation necessary" or "permanent internet connection required" or "third party membership necessary". Then you know there is DRM, only you still don't know which exactly and what exactly it does.

That's a big shame that they do not inform customers clearly about DRM. A site collection such information is greatly missing.

However the best way is to search in forums and such. Usually all the retailers sell the same DRM'ed version.

For example there is an SMAX retail version including the expansion but also DRM (disc protection) while there is an SMAC download version without the expansion but also without DRM.

Sometimes there is DRM initially but patched out later. Sometimes (quite often, luckily not here) there is no DRM for the vanilla version but the neccessary patches to bring the game to a satisfying level are hidden behind an activation wall at least.

This is an excellent resource, thanks for posting it. I use Daemon myself and I knew nothing about this!

I think Mobygames should start listing them, as they list all kinds of special editions of all games anyway. The only problem is that many times MobyGames seem to have a bit of lag getting the page up for brand-new games, and I guess it is mainly the very latest games that people seek for DRM (and other) information.

But for a GOG gamer, Mobygames is a heaven for searching info on different releases, versions, expansion packs etc. of games.

http://www.drmdatabase.net/database

http://www.reclaimyourgame.com/content.php

I noticed in your opening post your worried about games having the 'Games for windows' slapped on the front cover. That doesn't actually mean it has DRM though, Only if it says 'Games For Windows LIVE' on it should you be concerned.

Alice Madness returns has Securom i believe and it's an EA game anyway so i'm not sure if Origin is required. Apart from that you can usually just search 'Metro 2033 Retail DRM' into google or something and usually on a forum somewhere will there be information about it. Also try the wikipedia pages of said games they usually mention what DRM the games contain.

Thanks to Cleidophoros and Stuff for the links!

(Ha! I always wanted to use the "... and stuff" phrase in a way that actually made sense. Thanks for allowing me to accomplish that! :) )

You're welcome, glad I could assist . . . with the phrase as well . . . =)

In the case of Supreme Commander one of the first patches for the game removed the CD check and it just used a CD-key for multiplayer. At least on my copy it did. I can play single player without a CD in the drive. Multiplayer via GPG.net might be a little but tricky to get working simply because the updated client must be downloaded manually(the auto-update doesn't work) but there doesn't seem to be anything wrong with the client.

I think the executable may still save securom but it doesn't affect it or at least doesn't appear to.

In the case of Company of Heroes you either log-on to relic online(the default) or use a CD check. And yes its a very good game. If it detects a internet connection it will always try to connect otherwise its securom disk check I believe. (Originally it didn't have the disk check but versions after Opposing Fronts came out included it.

Note: this information is from the US versions I don't know if the euro/Turkey versions are different.