I was reading the reviews in the latest issue of PCGamer and half the games listed had a "DRM Alert". That's PCGamer's warning when something like SecureRom is installed. All had 3-5 install limits.
WTF? Am I going to have to become a full time pirate just to avoid being treated like one?
I should also mention that in the same issue, one of the writers talk about this being a golden age of gaming due to the vast number of titles and how good they are and I chuckled.
How is this the golden age of gaming? Sure the games may be awesome, but the consumer is being treated like a petty thief that needs to be under constant surveillance.
Can we stop calling the transaction between the consumer and whomever is selling the PC game a "purchase" and instead start calling it a rental? On top of that, if we're not going to get full rights to something we are "purchasing", then I think it's time for the prices to drop substantially. Since we don't actually own the software, aren't they nothing more than rental chains, ala Blockbuster?
Edited By Leisher on 1228398209
DRM explosion
Also in that issue was a big article about consumer backlash against the current DRM shit and how companies are already figuring out ways to move away from it.
"Happy slaves are the worst enemies of freedom." - Marie Von Ebner
"It was always the women, and above all the young ones, who were the most bigoted adherents of the Party, the swallowers of slogans, the amateur spies..." - Orwell
"It was always the women, and above all the young ones, who were the most bigoted adherents of the Party, the swallowers of slogans, the amateur spies..." - Orwell
Yeah, the whole 3/5 installs thing wouldn't bother me if they'd just call it a rental and charge me $20 for something currently costing $60. I only get pissy when something I own is jacked up by their DRM policies.
If I own it (and especially if I paid $60) I will damn well play it how I want, where I want, and when I want, you bastards.
Edited By TPRJones on 1228401403
If I own it (and especially if I paid $60) I will damn well play it how I want, where I want, and when I want, you bastards.
Edited By TPRJones on 1228401403
"ATTENTION: Customers browsing porn must hold magazines with both hands at all times!"
Crysis is pretty sweet. I might play through it again soon.
Left4Dead is getting great reviews, but I'm going to wait until folks here pick it up so we can multi it.
Left4Dead is getting great reviews, but I'm going to wait until folks here pick it up so we can multi it.
"Happy slaves are the worst enemies of freedom." - Marie Von Ebner
"It was always the women, and above all the young ones, who were the most bigoted adherents of the Party, the swallowers of slogans, the amateur spies..." - Orwell
"It was always the women, and above all the young ones, who were the most bigoted adherents of the Party, the swallowers of slogans, the amateur spies..." - Orwell
Seems to be working well.
I think 7 of those games have some version of securom.
Edited By WSGrundy on 1228635509
I think 7 of those games have some version of securom.
Edited By WSGrundy on 1228635509
EA decides to release some non-drm games on Steam.
December 18, 2008. Just in time for the holidays, Valve announced that, Spore™, Spore Creepy & Cute Parts Pack, Warhammer® Online: Age of Reckoning™, Mass Effect®, Need for Speed™ Undercover and EA SPORTS FIFA Manager 2009 are available now to gamers in North America via Steam, a leading platform for PC games and digital content with over 15 million accounts around the world.
In the coming weeks, Mirror's Edge™ , Command & Conquer™ Red Alert™ 3, and Dead Space™ will also be added to the catalog of EA's titles available via Steam.
"EA is one of the industry's largest publishers," said Gabe Newell, co-founder and president of Valve. "The EA titles coming to Steam this holiday include some this year's top PC titles."
It's not me, it's someone else.
Interesting step.
But I'm still a collector, I still want the box, and I wont buy any of that while it has SecureRom.
And the used games market still suffers.... can't sell your Steam download to a store or buddy.
EA has given up nothing except an expensive license to SecureRom.
But I'm still a collector, I still want the box, and I wont buy any of that while it has SecureRom.
And the used games market still suffers.... can't sell your Steam download to a store or buddy.
EA has given up nothing except an expensive license to SecureRom.
"Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid."