Deep Silver has quickly taken notice of gamers accessing the "on-disc" DLC for Risen 2: Dark Waters. In response, the company has had Piranha Bytes to remove access to the disc-locked content with the latest patch released for the game.

The patch recently hit, as reported by Blues, which adds a few extra game features as well as takes a few away. I find it funny that the official list of updates made in the patch over at the Steam website completely foregoes the mention of removing console access to the disc-locked content. I imagine they could have added a simple line saying "Oh yeah, we nerfed that SOB feature which let paying consumers access everything in the packaged game. Suck on that, fools."

Well, how do we know that the on-disc DLC is no longer accessible from the in-game console if it's not in the patch notes? Gamers, of course...gamers.

According to adept PC gamers who have tried accessing the disc-locked content recently, they have responded saying that they are not able to access it anymore. A simple error now pops up in the console saying "spawn dlc1h failed" or "spawn dlc2h failed", etc.,etc. But guess what, there's a workaround for the patch that blocks the disc-locked content. Isn't that crazy?

So here's how you bypass the disc-locked content patch remover: first uninstall the game and then reinstall it but uncheck the option to automatically update the game if you're installing it via Steam. This enables you play the "vanilla" game before the latest patch, which allows you to use the console to access the disc-locked content with ease. Dexter111 has a simple walkthrough for accessing the DLC over at the Escapist forums.

This pretty much guarantees that Deep Silver will definitely make sure the disc-locked content for the Xbox 360 and PS3 version of the game will be tightly secured from any in-game workarounds. The only question now is if this on-disc DLC will still be premium DLC when the game launches for home consoles this July or if it will be accessible with the rest of the game's content as part of the initial retail package? Only time will tell.

And remember, if you don't want to see disc-locked content spreading more and more to some of your favorite games, you have to make sure you Hold The Wallet!

Okay, so you know how Deep Silver tried to pull a Capcom? Well, it didn't turn out so well. PC gamers, fiddling around and being fiddlers over at the Escapist forums, found out about the disc-locked content in Risen 2: Dark Waters. Well, the DLC was missing some sound files (a ruse used to give paying consumers the impression that there is content to download) however the sound files have appeared on torrents, and are currently available.

Take note that we don't condone piracy here at Gaming Blend, with that said the sound files can be acquired from one of the sub-domains of The Pirate Bay. If you didn't know, the main website for The Pirate Bay has been banned from all ISPs in the UK, as a result the peer-to-peer torrent site now has to circumvent the basic domain name blocks to continue to provide P2P services for users. As a result, this means that even if you're in the UK, you can still access The Pirate Bay and get the Risen 2: Dark Waters DLC sound files, which comes in three parts for each piece of DLC, for free.

I'm not encouraging anyone to download the files, but I am making it known that this is a good way to make your voice heard about not supporting disc-locked content, whether the publisher be big or small. It's a vile practice in the gaming industry that needs to come to an end immediately.

We also face another problem in the industry: not a lot of gaming websites outside of a select few are willing to take a stand against anti-consumer business practices. While video games are a booming market, pegged to soon near the $100 billion dollar annual revenue margin, it's still a consumer-driven market and as such, consumers (gamers) need to be mature enough to stand up for their consumer rights. In equal matters, gaming websites and journalists need to also do their part by informing and breaking down these matters to enlighten and educate consumers (gamers) about these kind of practices. It's a matter of the media maturing with the revenue.

Unfortunately, outside of a few sources including Ripten, VentureBeat, especially Forbes and on occasion, Destructiod, we don't have the thousands of gaming websites out there using the internet platform to educate their readers about vile tactics such as day-one DLC and disc-locked content the way they could. In fact, how many reviews for Risen 2 even mention the DLC?

While I don't expect IGN to suddenly turn pro-consumerist, we do have enough gaming blogs, bloggers and writing enthusiasts covering the video game market to make a difference. Consumers can only know about disc-locked content if they're informed about it and the dangerous slope this leads to with future releases and on-disc DLC campaigns.

You can learn more about some tricky gaming industry insight with the Top Misconceptions about the Gaming Industry.

As for Risen 2: Dark Waters, take note that while PC gamers can access the DLC and the sound files for free, it may not be such a walk in the park for console gamers this summer, when Risen 2 releases for the Xbox 360 and PS3. For the most part, we're all awaiting Deep Silver's response as to whether or not the disc-locked content will be included in the game as part of the $60 package or stripped and sold later.

Deep Silver has announced its forthcoming action role-playing game, Risen 2: Dark Waters, has received a lengthy delay for its console versions. The PC version, however, will still stick to its intended April 27th release date.

The publisher unveiled that the Piranha Bytes-developed sequel will now launch on the PlayStation 3 and the Xbox 360 during the summer. Risen 2: Dark Waters will release on both platforms on July 31st within North America while Europe receives the game on August 3rd.

PS3 and Xbox 360 gamers will get a consolation prize for the delay. Deep Silver said the console version will include the episode "The Air Temple". It's apparently "several hours" long. The episode will see heroes trying to locate the lost temple, the apparent source of "air magic."

Risen 2: Dark Waters sees players experiencing the Inquisition sending out a hero in order to embark on a mission to locate a remedy against massive sea creatures. The creatures have posed a problem to the Inquisition as they're becoming intrusive to the shipping lines, consequently halting the islands' supplies they would have otherwise received.

Gameplay elements, meanwhile, sees the deliverance of players being able to utilize firearms -- a series' first. In addition, skills entitled 'Dirty Tricks' have been implemented which allows players to either confuse or attack enemies during combat.

When Risen 2: Dark Waters's PC version launches next week, it will be released exclusively via digital distribution in North America.

With Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides heading into theatres Deep Silver figured now would be the perfect time to amp up the promotion of their very own pirate RPG, Risen 2: Dark Waters. The new screenshots for the game features a few pioneering pirates doing battle with each other as well as fighting some unlikely foes on an island paradise. It’s just what the pirates ordered.

We don’t get many games within this kind of era…specifically the kind where guns are as useful as they are cumbersome and swords are still the preferred weapon of choice. We also don’t get many games set around seafaring exploits, despite the fact that the life of a pirate is oftentimes is as popular as it is in the world of fiction.

Anyway, Risen 2 advances on everything that was offered in the first game and then some. An improved graphics engine lies at its core and additional improvements to the gameplay have been made, including more and better ways to engage in combat as well as all new scenic environments to explore.

You can get a small taste of what Risen 2 has to offer in the new screenshots below. To learn more about the game be sure to head on over to the Official Website.

There are some games on the horizon that really do push the envelope when it comes to visuals and aesthetic immersion, I’d like to believe that Risen 2: Dark Waters is a dark horse in the category that seeks to push said envelope. A batch of new screenshots were released for Risen 2, featuring the day-to-night cycle, and some exotic locales that fit in well with the game’s pirate themes.

Piranha Bytes took the same concept of instilling original atmospheric elements from their popular Gothic series and using it for this pirate faring open-world action-RPG. The game is running on an multiple advanced engines to help convey both immersive environments and world interaction. As you’ll notice in the screenshots below, the game world looks flat out amazing.

You can keep up to date with the game or learn more about it by visiting the Official Website. Risen 2: Dark Waters is due out for the Xbox 360, PS3 and PC.

Deep Silver and Piranha Bytes are working on their latest immersive-RPG and it’s the sequel to the fairly celebrated title, Risen. The new game takes on an entirely new theme set within the dark era of pirates and monsters.

The game picks up several years after the original game featuring raging titans on a quest to kick the living crap out of humans and blast them to the very brink of extinction. With such a troubling thought pacing through the minds of humans, a member of the Inquisition sets out to thwart the titans by joining with some ruthless pirates, as players venture through exotic locations and small island paradises riddled with dark magic and brooding enemies.

The game seems pretty cool and it’s open-ended enough where the entire game will change and alter the path that players will take based on player decisions, ala The Witcher. Risen 2: Dark Waters is planned for release on the Xbox 360, PS3 and PC. For more info feel free to visit the Official Website