PC Game Piracy: Why Bother With DRM?

[mindcycle]

If 2008 was the year of consumer resistance to digital rights management (DRM), then 2009 seems to be the year that developers are seeking more relaxed, gamer-friendly ways to thwart piracy.

EA has announced that when The Sims 3 is released next month, no online authentication will be required to play the game, simply a CD key.

"I definitely believe this is all the result of a change in the public perception of DRM, a sort of grass roots uprising," observes Ron Carmel, co-founder of San Francisco-based developer 2D Boy. "Gamers are much more vocal about it than they used to be, perhaps because they are so accustomed to downloading music without too many restrictions."

Carmel believes that the extent to which a game is pirated is approximately the same whether it uses any of the DRM technologies or not. If it is that ineffective, he asks, why use it at all?

"Spore was the final straw that broke the camel's back," recalls Brad Wardell, president and CEO of Plymouth, Michigan-based developer Stardock. "Someone who buys software does not want to be made to feel like a chump for buying it. Much of the outcry came from legitimate customers who said that they shouldn't be restricted by DRM, especially since people with pirated versions weren't."

But the Entertainment Software Association believes otherwise."DRM is a reasonable response to high piracy rates," says Ric Hirsch, senior VP for intellectual property enforcement at the ESA. "Just because some users circumvent DRM protections to gain unauthorized access to game software does not mean that the technologies don't serve their intended purpose. No security technology is 100% effective."

However, 2D Boy's Carmel says that DRM is used not so much to thwart piracy -- since it's not very good at that -- as it is to combat the used game market.

"Publishers aren't stupid. They know that DRM doesn't work against piracy," he explains. "What they're trying to do is stop people from going to GameStop to buy $50 games for $35, none of which goes into the publishers' pockets. If DRM permits only a few installs, that minimizes the number of times a game can be resold."

Carmel is aware that piracy is a problem, of course. In a recent blog, he reported the methodology he used to determine that 90% of the copies of World of Goo that exist are pirate versions.

Nevertheless, Carmel says he's not complaining; he says he's made good money off of World of Goo.

"I'm convinced that we lost very few customers because of piracy," he says. "People who pirate the game are people who wouldn't have bought it anyway. I don't know anyone who would try to find a cracked version and, if they can't locate one, they say, ?OK, since I can't find it for free, I'm going to go out and buy it.' I just don't think that happens."

The bottom line is that Carmel doesn't intend to use DRM protection on his next game -- or on any of his subsequent games.

The topic of DRM is apparently a controversial one these days -- neither EA nor Ubisoft would arrange for an interviewee for this story.

Instead, a corporate spokesperson at each company provided a written response.

Regarding the forthcoming The Sims 3, an EA spokesperson said that the giant publisher "listened to a lot of consumer feedback and worked to find a simple disc-based copy protection solution with which our customers were comfortable. There is no online authentication required to play the retail disc product."

Meanwhile, a Ubisoft spokesperson admits that the company is "aware that some DRM solutions have not lived up to the expectations of gamers for a smooth gameplay experience and so we continue to strive towards finding a solution that will please fans while also fulfilling our obligations as ... a healthy, profitable company."

Read the whole article here: http://www.gamasutra.com/view/...y_why_bother_with_.php

 

[Polish3d]

I think we as gamers have a responsibility to match the gaming companies' reponses by being rather emphatically against piracy in general. It also isn't doing the pc game industry any favors either, as apparently evidenced by the notable lack of good games in the last few years (IMO)

 

[coloumb]

I forsee a digital DRM similar or copying "goo" technology [I wouldn't be surprised to see Valve adopt this technology for STEAM]. It's a win-win situation for everyone - the impatient gamers will buy the game at full price while the cheap ass bastards will wait awhile to buy it used.

It's good to see the companies are finally realizing it's a losing battle - those who pirate probably wouldn't have bought the game anyway and those who do buy the game shouldn't have to jump through idiotic hoops just to play the game today, tomorrow, or 10 years from now...

 

[mindcycle]

Originally posted by: coloumb
It's good to see the companies are finally realizing it's a losing battle - those who pirate probably wouldn't have bought the game anyway and those who do buy the game shouldn't have to jump through idiotic hoops just to play the game today, tomorrow, or 10 years from now...

:thumbsup:

My thoughts exactly.

 

[fatpat268]

DRM doesn't bother me much as a whole anymore, but really bugs me is the install limits. It's absolutely ridiculous to impose a 5 time install limit (Crysis Warhead, I'm looking at you). Invariably, I'm going to reformat once in a while (I do it quite often actually, for various reasons) and I usually forget to use the revoke tool, so I'm screwed out of an install. That's stupid. I realize that your average PC gamer doesn't reformat too often, if they do it once a year, that's a lot. But even at that point, eventually anyone will reach that limit. What happens say 10yrs down the road, you want to play a game that you've already bought? Oops sorry, you installed it too many times. Screw that. Yea, maybe EA will eventually patch the game to get rid of the install limits, but it shouldn't even get to that in the first place.

Moreover, is the system that dumb that it can't recognize that I'm using the exact same computer, just with a reinstalled OS? Itunes can do it when you authorize computers. I reinstall the OS, sign in, and it instantly recognizes that I'm using the same god damn computer. What's so hard about this?

 

[ShawnD1]

Originally posted by: Polish3d
I think we as gamers have a responsibility to match the gaming companies' reponses by being rather emphatically against piracy in general.

:thumbsup:


Aside from the install limits crap, I wish they would stick to CD checks on playing the game rather than installing it. Do you have any idea how much bullshit I had to do to install Oblivion? I spent hours reading through forums, trying to figure out what the hell was wrong with the install. It installs half way then freezes. It turned out I needed to uninstall Nero before it would install the game.

 

[Red Irish]

By this stage, it should be clear that piracy is being used as a pretext to attack the second-hand market. DRM does not combat piracy: never has, never will.

Moreover, the companies have proved willing to sacrifice customer satisfaction in their attempts to limit used sales. The problem is that users have become increasingly aware of the motives behind DRM and have become increasingly vocal in their objections. We can also assume the companies are starting to realise that they are losing more sales and doing more damage to their image by using DRM.

Hopefully the use of less stringent DRM is a trend that will mark the future of pc gaming and rebuild the tarnished credibility of the companies.

 

[lupi]

Oh look, a very coherent article by a designer talking about most of the items the majority on this forum have discussed and coming to the same conclusions. I'm totally shocked.....


Stardock said he's going to allow users to remove cdkeys from their account, if steam did the same and install limits/online activation does go away for good then pc gaming would be in a much better place.


And I still say, and I dare anyone to disagree, that if similar identical methods were undertaken for console titles and were announced tomorrow for all new disc shipping from the manufacturers that there would be an even louder consumer complaint segment to be heard and if not instantly reversed a good portion of that market would collapse.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

I like what I just read, but my cynical side insists this is more about demographics. Specifically, ensuring that the millions of soccer moms that buy this for little Suzy, won't have undo difficulty getting this up and running. I hope my cynicism proves unwarranted.

 

[Red Irish]

Originally posted by: DAPUNISHER
I like what I just read, but my cynical side insists this is more about demographics. Specifically, ensuring that the millions of soccer moms that buy this for little Suzy, won't have undo difficulty getting this up and running. I hope my cynicism proves unwarranted.

So do I.

 

[mindcycle]

Originally posted by: lupi
Oh look, a very coherent article by a designer talking about most of the items the majority on this forum have discussed and coming to the same conclusions. I'm totally shocked.....

lol maybe they've been watching us..

Originally posted by: lupi
And I still say, and I dare anyone to disagree, that if similar identical methods were undertaken for console titles and were announced tomorrow for all new disc shipping from the manufacturers that there would be an even louder consumer complaint segment to be heard and if not instantly reversed a good portion of that market would collapse.

I agree. In actuality they would never need to do it since the console systems are pretty closed by design and not easily cracked by your average user. But if it ever came close to what we have on the PC side there would be a huge uproar.

That's why I don't understand when people defend invasive DRM and publishers continue to use it, because it's not the way the gaming industry as a whole is moving. Consoles are very locked down, but they aren't preventing the kind of things that PC DRM is trying to prevent (like resale), and thus games are selling very well on consoles. I'm surprised it's taken these big publishers so long to make the connection. Make PC games easy to install, play, sell, replay, etc.. like games on consoles, and you will please the gamers and thus gain more sales. Instead they focus more on a problem they can't begin to fight and screw the people supporting them along the way.

It's like the "war" on drugs. So much money goes into fighting it (our tax money), but it's never been proven to do anything. If anything it's gotten worse despite our efforts. But instead of admitting defeat and approaching it in a different way, the government continues to pour money into it while we pay the price. Kind of an extreme example, I know, but I bring it up to illustrate how fighting something you can't win is a lose lose situation for everyone.

 

[Manticorps]

Wow, you thieves really are cool. I mean, how dare these companies try to protect their property!! The shame of it all.

 

[mindcycle]

Originally posted by: Manticorps
Wow, you thieves really are cool. I mean, how dare these companies try to protect their property!! The shame of it all.

What thieves? Why would thieves care about DRM? They aren't the ones who have to deal with it..

Contrary to popular belief (or should I say unpopular belief), most of us against DRM aren't pirates. We're actually paying customers who are tired of being treated like criminals.

 

[NoWhereM]

Originally posted by: mindcycle

Originally posted by: Manticorps
Wow, you thieves really are cool. I mean, how dare these companies try to protect their property!! The shame of it all.

What thieves? Why would thieves care about DRM? They aren't the ones who have to deal with it..

Contrary to popular belief (or should I say unpopular belief), most of us against DRM aren't pirates. We're simply paying customers who are tired of being treated like criminals.

I like to think of it as contrary to the ravings of the few lost souls looking for redemption from their own egregious conduct, not the least of which is the judas kiss they so often inflict on their fellow gamers, the true brave and noble gamers through discourse alone fight the evil designs of the oppressive game conglomerates to steal the same particular which they have just sold.

 

[ShawnD1]

Originally posted by: mindcycle

Originally posted by: Manticorps
Wow, you thieves really are cool. I mean, how dare these companies try to protect their property!! The shame of it all.

What thieves? Why would thieves care about DRM? They aren't the ones who have to deal with it..

That's so true. Go to pirate bay and read the comments for any piece of software. Even software like autocad has lots of people saying it works great and was easy to install. For people like me who need to deal with the real copy, it's a huge pain in the ass. Like Windows, it requires phoning the company to get an activation code then connecting to an authentication server.

Pirates don't deal with any of that.

 

[wanderer27]

Originally posted by: mindcycle

Originally posted by: Manticorps
Wow, you thieves really are cool. I mean, how dare these companies try to protect their property!! The shame of it all.

What thieves? Why would thieves care about DRM? They aren't the ones who have to deal with it..

Contrary to popular belief (or should I say unpopular belief), most of us against DRM aren't pirates. We're actually paying customers who are tired of being treated like criminals.

I believe that was intended as sarcasm.

At least I hope there's no one that naive on here - I've been wrong before though . . . .

 

[Red Irish]

Originally posted by: wanderer27

Originally posted by: mindcycle

Originally posted by: Manticorps
Wow, you thieves really are cool. I mean, how dare these companies try to protect their property!! The shame of it all.

What thieves? Why would thieves care about DRM? They aren't the ones who have to deal with it..

Contrary to popular belief (or should I say unpopular belief), most of us against DRM aren't pirates. We're actually paying customers who are tired of being treated like criminals.

I believe that was intended as sarcasm.

At least I hope there's no one that naive on here - I've been wrong before though . . . .

I see no sarcasm: I think that she/he is simply an ass (wouldn't be the first one on a DRM thread).

 

[Maximilian]

Originally posted by: Red Irish

Originally posted by: wanderer27

Originally posted by: mindcycle

Originally posted by: Manticorps
Wow, you thieves really are cool. I mean, how dare these companies try to protect their property!! The shame of it all.

What thieves? Why would thieves care about DRM? They aren't the ones who have to deal with it..

Contrary to popular belief (or should I say unpopular belief), most of us against DRM aren't pirates. We're actually paying customers who are tired of being treated like criminals.

I believe that was intended as sarcasm.

At least I hope there's no one that naive on here - I've been wrong before though . . . .

I see no sarcasm: I think that she/he is simply an ass (wouldn't be the first one on a DRM thread).

Ya if he was being sarcastic he wouldve used a "" sign or something.

 

[wanderer27]

Originally posted by: Maximilian

Originally posted by: Red Irish

Originally posted by: wanderer27

Originally posted by: mindcycle

Originally posted by: Manticorps
Wow, you thieves really are cool. I mean, how dare these companies try to protect their property!! The shame of it all.

What thieves? Why would thieves care about DRM? They aren't the ones who have to deal with it..

Contrary to popular belief (or should I say unpopular belief), most of us against DRM aren't pirates. We're actually paying customers who are tired of being treated like criminals.

I believe that was intended as sarcasm.

At least I hope there's no one that naive on here - I've been wrong before though . . . .

I see no sarcasm: I think that she/he is simply an ass (wouldn't be the first one on a DRM thread).

Ya if he was being sarcastic he wouldve used a "" sign or something.

I know there are quite a few DRM lovers/developers on here, but with the low post count I was giving them the benefit of a doubt.

 

[HumblePie]

Personally, I hate DRM. I still buy games, and then use "pirate" copies except when it's an online game. If it is single player why the hell am I going to deal with a headache?

Seriously, I have about 50 PC games sitting on a bookshelf with the shrink wrap still on. I've played them all because in good conscience I don't "pirate". However, I won't install the games on my shelf from the disks because of the DRM.

I actually go out of my way lately to buy games WITHOUT annoying and invasive DRM even if I may not like the game but I know it's still a good game. A perfect example for this would be Sins of a Solar Empire. I bought this game hearing it's good AND that it doesn't have invasive DRM. Woohoo! I played for about 15 minutes and decided I didn't like it but could see it could be a lot of fun. However, I am just not that into super micro management RTSs anymore. Don't have the time. However, I am not at all upset about buying the game. It was easy enough to pass it on to someone else as a gift that would like the game. Why? NO STUPID DRM.

As such, I will continue to buy Stardock games in the future that look like they could be fun. I know if I don't like it, I have no problem reselling it or giving it away to someone else who would enjoy the game and might become *GASP* a future customer for Stardock. However, unless it's a game I specifically know I am going to like, because I got to play it or see someone else I know play it, I won't go out on a whim to buy it if I know it has invasive DRM. No more impulse gaming buys from me anymore.

So anyone that claims DRM only thwarts pirates and not customers, sorry I am living proof that claim is absolutely wrong. Yes I am a "because it's the principle of it" type of person, but as such game developers lose my money.

 

[mindcycle]

Originally posted by: HumblePie
I actually go out of my way lately to buy games WITHOUT annoying and invasive DRM even if I may not like the game but I know it's still a good game. A perfect example for this would be Sins of a Solar Empire. I bought this game hearing it's good AND that it doesn't have invasive DRM. Woohoo! I played for about 15 minutes and decided I didn't like it but could see it could be a lot of fun.

I actually picked up Sins for the exact same reason, but I ended up liking it and playing it for a few weeks. I picked up Dark Sector recently, which is 100% DRM free, so i'd suggest picking that one up too if you haven't already as it's a pretty fun no-brainer action game.

Originally posted by: HumblePie
So anyone that claims DRM only thwarts pirates and not customers, sorry I am living proof that claim is absolutely wrong. Yes I am a "because it's the principle of it" type of person, but as such game developers lose my money.

I'm in the exact same boat as you, and I think many others are as well.

 

[brblx]

DRM coupled with the fact that devs are less and less likely these days to actually FINISH a game before its release, means piracy is never going to decrease.

i've actually begun to pirate games more- after paying good money for multiple unplayable, unfinished titles over the past couple years. these devs don't seem to realize that that's the way it's going to go until they get their lazyass act together- less people are going to pirate games for monetary reasons and more are going to do it for spite.