Fallout 3 to ship without DRM

[Bateluer]

Shacknews

Shack: Similar question in the sense that it's an issue that can be overblown. What kind of copy protection will be included on the PC version of Fallout 3?

Pete Hines: Pretty similar to what we did for Oblivion, which was--we basically don't do any--we do the mildest form possible. I actually don't know if I even want to get into what it is that we exactly do, but we try to be really noninvasive when it comes to that stuff. [ed- Oblivion employed a simple DVD check.]

And it is a pain in the ass--it is a pain in the ass that we have to do it at all in the first place. But when you spend tens of millions of dollars, we don't think it's right to just put something out there and let everybody do whatever they want and pass it around.

And to have to support all of that--which is often the unspoken thing that nobody really wants to point to. You can argue all day whether or not somebody would have bought a copy of a game they pirated, but you can't argue, and you will never win the argument that I'm not having to provide tech support for those folks. Because I know for a fact that we are. We catch those folks all the time, where we're providing support for somebody who turns out didn't actually pay for the game and just downloaded a copy.

 

[Canai]

Awesome. Maybe it will be worth picking up at launch.

 

[IEC]

I hope Fallout 3 lives up to the Fallout name.

 

[Oakenfold]

Awesome! :thumbsup:

 

[Dumac]

Unsure about whether to get this game for PC or Console. PC is cheaper and has mods, but I'm worried the game will be streamlined for consoles.

 

[acheron]

Well, there's DRM egg sausage and DRM, that's not got much DRM in it.

Seriously, that's pretty good news. Glad to see not everyone's following the Spore model.

 

[Bateluer]

Originally posted by: Dumac
Unsure about whether to get this game for PC or Console. PC is cheaper and has mods, but I'm worried the game will be streamlined for consoles.

I'm guessing it will be streamlined the same way Oblivion was, mainly with a shitastic UI. Course, that UI was quickly addressed by modders.

I thought the core gameplay in Oblivion was boring, the story was lame, and the utter lack of memorable characters has meant that I haven't really played it in almost a year.

I sincerely hope Fallout will be better, but I still won't be rushing to buy the game on day one. Bethesda needs to prove that they can actually develop a story oriented RPG and not a 3rd person shooter with skills.

 

[Raduque]

Woohoo. This makes Fallout 3 a confirmed buy!


Edit: A side note, I don't think Oblivion did even a DVD check. The frist time I ran it after installing it, I had put the DVD back in it's slip case and it ran fine.

 

[EvilComputer92]

I hope they release modding tools for this game. Oblivion was pretty average when it first was released. It's unbelieveable how much better modders have made the game. It's seriously one of the best games I've ever played now. Anyone who thought the vanilla game was bad should take a look at some of the major mods released.

 

[gorcorps]

Originally posted by: Raduque
Woohoo. This makes Fallout 3 a confirmed buy!


Edit: A side note, I don't think Oblivion did even a DVD check. The frist time I ran it after installing it, I had put the DVD back in it's slip case and it ran fine.

I think they meant DVD check after install. Did it once then was done with it. Not sure though.

 

[Schadenfroh]

So, they are going to use the version of Sony's SecuROM DRM / pseudorootkit that does not require activation?

Oblivion: Game of the Year Edition had Sony's SecuROM DRM on it.

 

[mindcycle]

Good news.

 

[ConstipatedVigilante]

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh
So, they are going to use the version of Sony's SecuROM DRM / pseudorootkit that does not require activation?

Oblivion: Game of the Year Edition had Sony's SecuROM DRM on it.

Well, that sucks. The other version of OB just had a DVD check. A CD Image will prevent the need to keep the CD on hand, though (for legal copies only, of course).

 

[jdelrio22]

Bethesda will go bankrupt over this. I think they really under estimate how prevalent piracy has become.

 

[Malladine]

jdelrio22: i'm buying it.

When's it out?

 

[jdelrio22]

Originally posted by: Malladine
jdelrio22: i'm buying it.

When's it out?

I know there are some honest people who will spend their hard earned cash to buy the game. I also know at least 100 people in my area who haven't bought a game for the last year who happen to have every game that seems to interest them under the sun.

It will be interesting to see how it plays out.

 

[ggnl]

Originally posted by: jdelrio22
Bethesda will go bankrupt over this. I think they really under estimate how prevalent piracy has become.

I don't think even the most onerous of DRM schemes has ever kept a game from being cracked and pirated.

In the end DRM only punishes the people that pay for the game.

 

[VashHT]

Originally posted by: jdelrio22
Bethesda will go bankrupt over this. I think they really under estimate how prevalent piracy has become.

I don't agree with you at all, when Oblivion came out I had to go to multiple stores to find a PC copy, it was sold out at the first two stores I went to. I think Oblivion did well for PC, and Bethedsa was apparently happy with it seeing as they're still releasing PC versions on the same day as the console versions.

You sound like you work for Epic or something, if piracy was as rampant as you claim Oblivion would've flopped on PC.

 

[skace]

jdelrio22's comment is pretty funny if you read it sarcastically, at least thats what I did.

 

[jdelrio22]

You guys are technically right since it is a multiplatform release. They won't go bankrupt over it, however it will still be interesting to see how it plays out on the PC end.

 

[Xavier434]

Originally posted by: VashHT

Originally posted by: jdelrio22
Bethesda will go bankrupt over this. I think they really under estimate how prevalent piracy has become.

I don't agree with you at all, when Oblivion came out I had to go to multiple stores to find a PC copy, it was sold out at the first two stores I went to. I think Oblivion did well for PC, and Bethedsa was apparently happy with it seeing as they're still releasing PC versions on the same day as the console versions.

You sound like you work for Epic or something, if piracy was as rampant as you claim Oblivion would've flopped on PC.

Oblivion is still selling copies today. Why? Because it is a great game that many people like. I realize that calling a game "great" is obviously a subjective opinion, but more or less and I talking sales figures here. Bethesda will not go bankrupt over Fallout 3.

 

[imported_protoz]

Originally posted by: jdelrio22
Bethesda will go bankrupt over this. I think they really under estimate how prevalent piracy has become.

It seems to be working for Stardock's releases. I could easily download Sins of a Solar Empire but I won't because I like the no DRM path.

Oblivion had a DVD check and it did very well on PC.

Piracy has always been an issue since I started playing PC games so this sudden outcry gets little sympathy from me.

 

[Oyeve]

Originally posted by: jdelrio22
Bethesda will go bankrupt over this. I think they really under estimate how prevalent piracy has become.

Maybe they just love gaming on the PC. Kudos to them. They will save a fortune by NOT employing soem DRM scheme as all games get hacked anyway.

 

[rivan]

Originally posted by: jdelrio22

Originally posted by: Malladine
jdelrio22: i'm buying it.

When's it out?

I know there are some honest people who will spend their hard earned cash to buy the game. I also know at least 100 people in my area who haven't bought a game for the last year who happen to have every game that seems to interest them under the sun.

It will be interesting to see how it plays out.

So what you're saying is that DRM isn't slowing them down.

I don't think "No DRM" will turn them into customers, but I can say that the copy of Spore I picked up on a whim is still shrink-wrapped and will be returned next time I'm at Target because of it's DRM.

 

[mindcycle]

Originally posted by: rivan

Originally posted by: jdelrio22

Originally posted by: Malladine
jdelrio22: i'm buying it.

When's it out?

I know there are some honest people who will spend their hard earned cash to buy the game. I also know at least 100 people in my area who haven't bought a game for the last year who happen to have every game that seems to interest them under the sun.

It will be interesting to see how it plays out.

So what you're saying is that DRM isn't slowing them down.

I don't think "No DRM" will turn them into customers, but I can say that the copy of Spore I picked up on a whim is still shrink-wrapped and will be returned next time I'm at Target because of it's DRM.

Exactly. Pirates aren't being slowed down by DRM, but they shouldn't be considered potential customers in the first place. The problem is when legit customers are treated like pirates. This is what's happening with the DRM on spore, mass effect, crysis warhed, stalker clear sky, etc.. You purchase the game yet you are guilty until proven innocent. It should be the other way around. When you have to call to "reactivate" a game you paid for it's gone into ridiculous territory IMO.