StarCraft II Gets DRM

[Elcs]

Originally posted by: SunnyD

Originally posted by: Elcs
Dawn of War 2 had this with GFWL/Steam. It ended up being a non-issue to most people.

The only problem I had with DoW2 was when my internet was down for a few days due to my ISP hooking me up to one of their 50 meg servers and not upgrading my modem, I was able to launch the program but without being able to login to GFWL it refused to let me play a skirmish vs. the computer.

For single player and LAN, I would hope that no internet access is required beyond an initial activation. To me this represents common sense and a "level of DRM" which is acceptable. If it requires an "always on" connection whilst playing in a traditionally offline mode then in my opinion they are making a mistake and I would hesitate on my purchase, perhaps until it had been patched out and/or bargain binned.

For online multiplayer, it becomes a non-issue.

I was left a little frustrated that Blizzard had adopted DRM when I saw the Thread Title. However upon reading the text I find that it seems that it could be a bit of a stick in the mud or it could be a complete non-issue.

There is no LAN for Starcraft 2.

So far, correct.

I was however making a generalisation with regards to this type of DRM. It fits for all games, just remove Singleplayer/LaN/ Online Multiplayer as appropriate.

 

[Onita]

If this were any other company but Blizzard, shit would be hitting the fan right now.

 

[AyashiKaibutsu]

Originally posted by: loki8481
I'm sure this will cause problems for a small number of people, but at the end of the day, I blame the pirates for making companies do this, not the companies themselves.

it's a business and I can't blame them for trying to do everything they can to ensure that their product isn't stolen en mass.

If they created death squads to go out and hunt software pirates would you not blame them? Now, that you admit there are cases that aren't excusable maybe you can blame companies for doing everything they can to hassle paying customers and remove their rights (first-sale) while not affecting pirates at all in the false name of stopping pirates.

 

[SunnyD]

Originally posted by: Elcs

Originally posted by: SunnyD

Originally posted by: Elcs
Dawn of War 2 had this with GFWL/Steam. It ended up being a non-issue to most people.

The only problem I had with DoW2 was when my internet was down for a few days due to my ISP hooking me up to one of their 50 meg servers and not upgrading my modem, I was able to launch the program but without being able to login to GFWL it refused to let me play a skirmish vs. the computer.

For single player and LAN, I would hope that no internet access is required beyond an initial activation. To me this represents common sense and a "level of DRM" which is acceptable. If it requires an "always on" connection whilst playing in a traditionally offline mode then in my opinion they are making a mistake and I would hesitate on my purchase, perhaps until it had been patched out and/or bargain binned.

For online multiplayer, it becomes a non-issue.

I was left a little frustrated that Blizzard had adopted DRM when I saw the Thread Title. However upon reading the text I find that it seems that it could be a bit of a stick in the mud or it could be a complete non-issue.

There is no LAN for Starcraft 2.

So far, correct.

I was however making a generalisation with regards to this type of DRM. It fits for all games, just remove Singleplayer/LaN/ Online Multiplayer as appropriate.

Not so far... there won't be. Blizzard has already discussed it at length. "LAN" play will not exist - you will need an internet connection to do matchmaking through battle.net, even for LANs. Other than that, I gathered you were making a generalization.

 

[Necrolezbeast]

Originally posted by: Red Irish

Originally posted by: loki8481
I'm sure this will cause problems for a small number of people, but at the end of the day, I blame the pirates for making companies do this, not the companies themselves.

it's a business and I can't blame them for trying to do everything they can to ensure that their product isn't stolen en mass.

Surely you don't feel that DRM prevents piracy?

Yes, it most surely does... Does it prevent all piracy? Hell no, but there are plenty of people that have no idea what to do to crack a game and would otherwise "borrow" the game from a friend and install/burn it without question. There will always be piracy no matter how tight the DRM is, but as long as there is DRM it does not hit mainstream like it could or would. Remember, MOST people are not nerds who read around on forums nor even know you can obtain cracks or torrent games/movies, we are the minority.

 

[ZzZGuy]

Originally posted by: peritusONE

Originally posted by: ZzZGuy
Hate it all you want, Bateluer is right.

As a paying consumer you speak with your wallet. By buying a game with X DRM you are telling that company that you love the game and the DRM, and there are no problems in using X DRM in the future.

Please. Simply buying a game doesn't imply to the developer that you automatically love it. That's a fucked up way of looking at things. Regardless of that viewpoint, you can still buy a product for certain purposes but hate other things about it.

Originally posted by: ZzZGuy
And what the hell is with the lack of imagination in here? Not buying a game because of DRM, "ZOMG he's gona pirate it!!". Online activation will cause problems for many, "YOUR A PIRATE" / "But EVERYONE in the ENTIRE WORLD has the internet, duh!!" Many here don't seem to realize someone can not buy a game and not pirate it as well, or that not everyone can get internet in their homes (some countries more then others), have a extremely slow connection or go to remote areas to work.

I never said anybody was going to pirate it because of the DRM, just making a statement. Quit trying to read so much into it.

First half: You bought it, they have your money and whatever they did worked. Only problem for them would be if not enough people like it and thus not buy it. As I mentioned you can help overcome being nothing but a number by sending a email stating your dissatisfaction with X aspect of X game.

Second half: I was referring to a number of posts actually, not yours.

 

[ZzZGuy]

Originally posted by: Necrolezbeast

Originally posted by: Red Irish

Originally posted by: loki8481
I'm sure this will cause problems for a small number of people, but at the end of the day, I blame the pirates for making companies do this, not the companies themselves.

it's a business and I can't blame them for trying to do everything they can to ensure that their product isn't stolen en mass.

Surely you don't feel that DRM prevents piracy?

Yes, it most surely does... Does it prevent all piracy? Hell no, but there are plenty of people that have no idea what to do to crack a game and would otherwise "borrow" the game from a friend and install/burn it without question. There will always be piracy no matter how tight the DRM is, but as long as there is DRM it does not hit mainstream like it could or would. Remember, MOST people are not nerds who read around on forums nor even know you can obtain cracks or torrent games/movies, we are the minority.

So I'm a evil criminal for lending my friend my 360 console while I'm away? I mean, he didn't buy it or the games. You know what, I think you must be a evil criminal too. You must have lent someone something in your life so they didn't have to buy it.

 

[Necrolezbeast]

Originally posted by: ZzZGuy

Originally posted by: Necrolezbeast

Originally posted by: Red Irish

Originally posted by: loki8481
I'm sure this will cause problems for a small number of people, but at the end of the day, I blame the pirates for making companies do this, not the companies themselves.

it's a business and I can't blame them for trying to do everything they can to ensure that their product isn't stolen en mass.

Surely you don't feel that DRM prevents piracy?

Yes, it most surely does... Does it prevent all piracy? Hell no, but there are plenty of people that have no idea what to do to crack a game and would otherwise "borrow" the game from a friend and install/burn it without question. There will always be piracy no matter how tight the DRM is, but as long as there is DRM it does not hit mainstream like it could or would. Remember, MOST people are not nerds who read around on forums nor even know you can obtain cracks or torrent games/movies, we are the minority.

So I'm a evil criminal for lending my friend my 360 console while I'm away? I mean, he didn't buy it or the games. You know what, I think you must be a evil criminal too. You must have lent someone something in your life so they didn't have to buy it.

hmm... I put the quotes around "borrow" implying that if installed/burned on another computer and played by 2 different people at 2 different locations is definitely stealing. Sorry if you see it otherwise, but if there was no DRM at all I could burn 20 copies of my favorite game, insert title here, go give it to all my friends to "borrow" (a common phrase used to justify theft)... Don't take thing so damn literally when you could read the quotes there implying people doing what they should know is theft.

To the accusation of me being an evil criminal, yeah I have cheated and downloaded lotsa stuff in the past, these days since I have a job and small amount of spending money, I have stopped that. But I can see the point from their end, I wouldn't want someone to steal something that took my time, and I would try to prevent as much of that as possible.... Almost like how I take the keys out of my car and lock the doors, lock my bike up when I go riding, etc. I don't want my stuff to be stolen, and I try to prevent that, sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't...

If you seriously can't see why DRM exists then you are retarded, end of story.

Edit: Almost forgot, last of all...I imagine you didn't magically clone you 360 and give him a pseudo copy of the system and games that works like originals, did ya? If not, then no you didn't steal or cheat someone out of their work and product.

 

[Red Irish]

Originally posted by: Necrolezbeast

Originally posted by: ZzZGuy

Originally posted by: Necrolezbeast

Originally posted by: Red Irish

Originally posted by: loki8481
I'm sure this will cause problems for a small number of people, but at the end of the day, I blame the pirates for making companies do this, not the companies themselves.

it's a business and I can't blame them for trying to do everything they can to ensure that their product isn't stolen en mass.

Surely you don't feel that DRM prevents piracy?

Yes, it most surely does... Does it prevent all piracy? Hell no, but there are plenty of people that have no idea what to do to crack a game and would otherwise "borrow" the game from a friend and install/burn it without question. There will always be piracy no matter how tight the DRM is, but as long as there is DRM it does not hit mainstream like it could or would. Remember, MOST people are not nerds who read around on forums nor even know you can obtain cracks or torrent games/movies, we are the minority.

So I'm a evil criminal for lending my friend my 360 console while I'm away? I mean, he didn't buy it or the games. You know what, I think you must be a evil criminal too. You must have lent someone something in your life so they didn't have to buy it.

hmm... I put the quotes around "borrow" implying that if installed/burned on another computer and played by 2 different people at 2 different locations is definitely stealing. Sorry if you see it otherwise, but if there was no DRM at all I could burn 20 copies of my favorite game, insert title here, go give it to all my friends to "borrow" (a common phrase used to justify theft)... Don't take thing so damn literally when you could read the quotes there implying people doing what they should know is theft.

To the accusation of me being an evil criminal, yeah I have cheated and downloaded lotsa stuff in the past, these days since I have a job and small amount of spending money, I have stopped that. But I can see the point from their end, I wouldn't want someone to steal something that took my time, and I would try to prevent as much of that as possible.... Almost like how I take the keys out of my car and lock the doors, lock my bike up when I go riding, etc. I don't want my stuff to be stolen, and I try to prevent that, sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't...

If you seriously can't see why DRM exists then you are retarded, end of story.

Edit: Almost forgot, last of all...I imagine you didn't magically clone you 360 and give him a pseudo copy of the system and games that works like originals, did ya? If not, then no you didn't steal or cheat someone out of their work and product.

No need to insult, we all know why DRM exists: to kill the second-hand market.

 

[skace]

HOW AM I GOING TO GET ON THE INTERNET?!!?!?!?!

 

[Red Irish]

Originally posted by: skace
HOW AM I GOING TO GET ON THE INTERNET?!!?!?!?!

Good question, second only to "HOW AM I GOING TO RESELL THIS ONCE I'M DONE?" or "WHERE CAN I PICK UP A CHEAPER SECOND-HAND COPY?"

 

[Necrolezbeast]

That statement was rhetorical and not meant as an insult, if needed I can edit it out...just pointing out the irony of all this DRM bashing non-sense and the ignorance of a good portion of the people just waiting to jump on and hate anything that has it....

 

[mindcycle]

Originally posted by: loki8481
I'm sure this will cause problems for a small number of people, but at the end of the day, I blame the pirates for making companies do this, not the companies themselves.

Pirates don't make anyone do anything it's a decision made by the software publisher, in this case Activision. They are worried that without DRM their shareholders are going to be upset when the game is inevitably pirated. With DRM employed they can say "Well, we tried..".

The thing they miss is that DRM only affects legitimate customers. Pirates will get to play the "better" version of the game without any potential hangups. I'm sure publishers are aware of this, but they'd rather play dumb and please their shareholders since it's all about maximizing profits, not about treating your customer right.

it's a business and I can't blame them for trying to do everything they can to ensure that their product isn't stolen en mass.

Unfortunately, it won't do a thing to stop that. What it will do is cause lost sales from those who refuse to buy into all these great "features", like required bnet access, needing the internet to install, no lan, etc.. Creating more roadblocks is not the correct way to sell more copies of a game.

 

[Red Irish]

Originally posted by: Necrolezbeast
That statement was rhetorical and not meant as an insult, if needed I can edit it out...just pointing out the irony of all this DRM bashing non-sense and the ignorance of a good portion of the people just waiting to jump on and hate anything that has it....

I hate having my rights infringed or restricted, why don't you? Moreover, given that we agree that DRM does nothing or very little to combat piracy, why should we passively accept it?

 

[Necrolezbeast]

Originally posted by: Red Irish

Originally posted by: Necrolezbeast
That statement was rhetorical and not meant as an insult, if needed I can edit it out...just pointing out the irony of all this DRM bashing non-sense and the ignorance of a good portion of the people just waiting to jump on and hate anything that has it....

I hate having my rights infringed or restricted, why don't you? Moreover, given that we agree that DRM does nothing or very little to combat piracy, why should we passively accept it?

What right is infringed by the company who makes a product requiring use of their service to install or play their game? Yes, some DRM does cross the line but that is not what is being addressed in this thread. DRM does stop the mainstream from pirating, like soccer moms buying games for their kids... which is the largest consumer base for most gaming platforms

 

[KMFJD]

Oh No, no cheap used copy of SC2 for sale now

 

[Red Irish]

Originally posted by: Necrolezbeast

Originally posted by: Red Irish

Originally posted by: Necrolezbeast
That statement was rhetorical and not meant as an insult, if needed I can edit it out...just pointing out the irony of all this DRM bashing non-sense and the ignorance of a good portion of the people just waiting to jump on and hate anything that has it....

I hate having my rights infringed or restricted, why don't you? Moreover, given that we agree that DRM does nothing or very little to combat piracy, why should we passively accept it?

What right is infringed by the company who makes a product requiring use of their service to install or play their game? Yes, some DRM does cross the line but that is not what is being addressed in this thread. DRM does stop the mainstream from pirating, like soccer moms buying games for their kids... which is the largest consumer base for most gaming platforms

Can I resell it?
We are no longer owners, but rather licensees. The change is subtle and adversely affects paying customers rather than pirates. You can no longer make back-up copies of your own music or software in the US as this now constitutes piracy, indeed, you no longer own anything. If you are unconcerned about the direction of things, that's fine; however, it does appear foolish to attack people who are fighting to ensure that you enjoy more rights and a better service when you hand over your money.

 

[CoinOperatedBoy]

Originally posted by: Necrolezbeast
DRM does stop the mainstream from pirating, like soccer moms buying games for their kids... which is the largest consumer base for most gaming platforms

[citation needed]

You're talking out of your ass. DRM in its current form is pointless, but this has been retreaded so many times now.

 

[Beev]

I don't even get why this is getting lumped in with DRM. It's no different than a CD-Key (which yes, I know is a form of DRM). It phones home ONE time. If you honestly don't plan to play online (and if that's the case, why tf do you even care about Starcraft?) then make a throwaway bnet account and move on.

 

[mindcycle]

Originally posted by: Necrolezbeast

Originally posted by: Red Irish
Surely you don't feel that DRM prevents piracy?

Yes, it most surely does... Does it prevent all piracy? Hell no, but there are plenty of people that have no idea what to do to crack a game and would otherwise "borrow" the game from a friend and install/burn it without question. There will always be piracy no matter how tight the DRM is, but as long as there is DRM it does not hit mainstream like it could or would. Remember, MOST people are not nerds who read around on forums nor even know you can obtain cracks or torrent games/movies, we are the minority.

Considering that 100,000 people signed the Starcraft II LAN petition, I would say there are a lot of nerds that do in fact read up on what is happening to a game they'd like to purchase.

http://www.destructoid.com/ove...-petition-144437.phtml

Even if the majority doesn't know or care about DRM or the missing LAN play, they will once it affects them. DRM only causes frustration for legit customers. So you have to ask yourself.. Are they going to gain more sales by taking away LAN play and including draconian DRM?.. Or will throwing up more and more roadblocks actually lose sales, thus having the opposite effect of what they are trying to accomplish here..

It's debatable sure, but I do know that they've already lost a few potential sales this thread alone, including me.

 

[Red Irish]

Originally posted by: KMFJD
Oh No, no cheap used copy of SC2 for sale now

precisely

 

[LeetViet]

Originally posted by: Kromis
What the fuck? Fuck that shit!

Damn motherfuckers...

This was my exact reaction after reading.

 

[coloumb]

Well... not too bad - phone home once to ensure the install copy is legit [can be a modem or high speed connection] - same thing you have to let Windows do in order to become legit, correct? I wonder though - the requirements are to sign up for a bnet account -does this mean the game will forever be bio linked to your soul - or hopefully you can revoke the license [my gut feeling tells me NO].

Get use to this kind of "DRM" unless you want to take the high seas ["ayyyyeee... mateys!"].

 

[NaOH]

You guys are such pussies. It's time like these that I'm glad not all my friends are computer geeks. They don't start crying when a game company asks them to activate a game they bought. They get the game, play and have fun.

Besides they've added copy protection and disc check before on their games AND a cd-key (which was easily stolen in stores etc etc).

 

[mindcycle]

Originally posted by: NaOH
You guys are such pussies. It's time like these that I'm glad not all my friends are computer geeks. They don't start crying when a game company asks them to activate a game they bought. They get the game, play and have fun.

Yes, we're pussies for standing up for consumer rights and not just bending over and taking it from software publishers.. You may want to rethink what you just said there.

Originally posted by: NaOH
Besides they've added copy protection and disc check before on their games AND a cd-key (which was easily stolen in stores etc etc).

Didn't work then, what makes you think it will work now?