Topic on Talk:Mass Effect 2

With my disc version I always needed DVD in the reader.

With Steam version I believe it should behave similarly to ME1 (thus Steam DRM)

With Origin version, though things are a bit different.
If you don't touch anything after installation and run directly the game executable (Origin can even be closed), a pop up comes out and ask you to log-in with your EA account (where I guess a ME2 license has to be registered).
After that %PROGRAMDATA%\Electronic Arts\EA Services\License\mass_effect_2_ce.dlf is created (file name may differ between game localizations)

Then the game starts flawlessly forever with nothing in background.
Or you could start the game through Origin that should automate the process (I don't even think a normal person could notice that)

This is quite problematic since unexperienced people could report wrong information (like me before some brain work)

Anyway, I'm quite sure this can be called "Online activation".. but should that even be Account-based activation?
The description in the drm page is quite messy imo

You can launch the game normaly through Origin, then it's DRM is Origin. If you can launch the game without Origin then just add it in the notes, I truly have no idea what the hell you are even trying to say here.

A game is not DRM-protected if it can be launched through Origin (or Steam or whatever)
It's DRMed only if the game must be started through said programs.

Anyway, that was indeed the problem. Somebody wrote the game has to be launched through Origin... just because the icon on his desktop probably linked to origin.
And I am sure instead I was used to just skip that.

Though, since I haven't it installed -and I'm not planning to give a check soon- I left that note (which since you don't seem to own the game I don't know how is so certain for you)