StarCraft II Gets DRM

[ayabe]

Originally posted by: 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!"].

Shhh.....

The hooples are hoopling.

In all seriousness some of you all are acting like the worlds biggest luddites.

1. DRM is here to stay, it will NEVER go back to the way that it was. I repeat, NEVER. If you can't handle it, then you need to give up PC gaming.

2. LAN play is dead. That's right, dead for just about every genre. It was rendered obsolete by high speed internet. It'll stick around for a few more years in some titles, but for most top tier games, it's gone. You will be connecting to some gaming service like Bnet/Steam and that's that. Outside of the college dorm scene, LAN gaming isn't a reality for most adults -unless you are still living in a flop house when you're 30.

3. Sorry if I just flat out don't believe you'll boycott the game due to DRM. It's going to sell millions and millions of copies and probably be the greatest thing since sliced bread, if you're willing to forgo that experience because you had to leave your computer hooked up to your router - like it is all day long, then you're not a real PC gaming enthusiast.

 

[mindcycle]

Originally posted by: ayabe
1. DRM is here to stay, it will NEVER go back to the way that it was. I repeat, NEVER. If you can't handle it, then you need to give up PC gaming.

The way it was.. DRM, aka roadblocks for legit customers, has always been there. I agree with you that it isn't going away. DRM software companies will continue to convince publishers it's needed, and the decision makers at the publishers will continue to justify their pay check. That much i'm certain of. The good news is we have companies like Stardock and many others that don't buy into it and realize it does nothing but inconvenience the people that keep them in business.

Originally posted by: ayabe
2. LAN play is dead. That's right, dead for just about every genre. It was rendered obsolete by high speed internet. It'll stick around for a few more years in some titles, but for most top tier games, it's gone. You will be connecting to some gaming service like Bnet/Steam and that's that. Outside of the college dorm scene, LAN gaming isn't a reality for most adults -unless you are still living in a flop house when you're 30.

Over 100,000 people disagree with you.

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

 

[zerocool84]

Originally posted by: Genx87

Originally posted by: CoinOperatedBoy

Originally posted by: Genx87

Originally posted by: CoinOperatedBoy

Originally posted by: Genx87
If possible. Ill buy it through Steam. Not a big deal.

Like all the other Blizzard games on Steam?

That is why I said "if" possible. Either way it isnt a big deal to me.

I guess I just don't know why you'd even mention Steam. It's not like it would be a better alternative than the mandatory activation mentioned in this thread.

Because I buy almost exclusively from Steam. And in doing so an activation doesnt bother me at all because of steam. With SC2 i will make an exception. But any other game that doesnt come via Steam doesnt see my money.

But I am "hoping" they offer it via Steam.

I'm pretty sure a huge game such as Starcraft 2 will get released via Steam.

 

[ShawnD1]

Originally posted by: ayabe
1. DRM is here to stay, it will NEVER go back to the way that it was. I repeat, NEVER. If you can't handle it, then you need to give up PC gaming.

Why are people not buying our PC games in such large numbers these days???? I don't understand!!!!!
Wasn't Activision one of the companies bitching about sales?


The activation and a using an account might not be so bad if done properly. Quake Wars worked pretty good.

 

[imported_Shaq]

I don't think they need to sell it anywhere else. It will sell millions and it will help with their battle.net. It will be like what HL2 did for Steam.

 

[NaOH]

Originally posted by: 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?

How are you "taking" it from the publisher if you bought the game.... explain that.

Exactly, they didn't work too well but they hindered you because you HAD to have the CD and you HAD to have a valid cd-key (what if you lost yours). What makes it so different now? They're trying something else that isn't as obtrusive as a root kit. All you have to do is be online for them to check =/. Yeah, lets hate on them because the consumer has aalllllwways been nothing but faithful to them...........why would they do such a thing..:roll:

If you bought the game legitimately then you are fine. There are no in-game ads, there isn't spyware being installed, your installs aren't being limited to only one machine, you don't have to call someone in India to activate your game. Quit with this slippery slope argument that buying the game will be "giving in" and lead to the downfall of the consumer when their solution is pretty mild, just like CD-Checks, and cd keys. Hell, you couldn't play on BNet without it "Activating/authenticating" your CD-Key anyways, this just keeps people from installing illegitimate copies even before they are on BNet (which people did A LOT to play at LAN parties and such).

 

[mindcycle]

Originally posted by: NaOH
How are you "taking" it from the publisher if you bought the game.... explain that.

Lets say you visit your local Honda dealer and start talking to a salesman there. "Hey, I saw an ad on TV for the new Accord and I want one, but I heard this rumor that it doesn't come with a cigarette lighter, is that true?"
The salesman says "Yeah, that's because we figure that cigarette lighters are outdated technology and no one uses those anymore. Oh, and once you buy the car make sure you connect to the internet when you get home and sign up a honda.net account or you won't be able to continue driving the car."
"But wait.. I already bought the car so why do I have to do all that?"
"Sorry sir but that's just the way things are done now."
"We'll I guess so. If that's the way it is nowadays.."

That's what I mean by taking it.

Originally posted by: NaOH
Exactly, they didn't work too well but they hindered you because you HAD to have the CD and you HAD to have a valid cd-key (what if you lost yours). What makes it so different now?

The main difference is now they are going after our first sale rights. What it boils down to is nothing more than additional roadblocks for potential customers. It's effect on piracy will be zero.

If you want to keep supporting junk like this then be my guest. Just realize that your wallet and your opinion can and do have an effect on decisions like this. Look at EA and The Sims 3 as an example of what happens when people speak their mind.

Originally posted by: NaOH
Quit with this slippery slope argument that buying the game will be "giving in" and lead to the downfall of the consumer when their solution is pretty mild, just like CD-Checks, and cd keys.

How is standing up for consumer rights a slippery slope argument?

 

[NaOH]

Originally posted by: mindcycle

Originally posted by: NaOH
How are you "taking" it from the publisher if you bought the game.... explain that.

Lets say you visit your local Honda dealer and start talking to a salesman there. "Hey, I saw an ad on TV for the new Accord and I want one, but I heard this rumor that it doesn't come with a cigarette lighter, is that true?"
The salesman says "Yeah, that's because we figure that cigarette lighters are outdated technology and no one uses those anymore. Oh, and once you buy the car make sure you connect to the internet when you get home and sign up a honda.net account or you won't be able to continue driving the car."
"But wait.. I already bought the car so why do I have to do all that?"
"Sorry sir but that's just the way things are done now."
"We'll I guess so. If that's the way it is nowadays.."

That's what I mean by taking it.

Originally posted by: NaOH
Exactly, they didn't work too well but they hindered you because you HAD to have the CD and you HAD to have a valid cd-key (what if you lost yours). What makes it so different now?

The main difference is now they are going after our first sale rights. What it boils down to is nothing more than additional roadblocks for potential customers. It's effect on piracy will be zero.

If you want to keep supporting junk like this then be my guest. Just realize that your wallet and your opinion can and do have an effect on decisions like this. Look at EA and The Sims 3 as an example of what happens when people speak their mind.

Originally posted by: NaOH
Quit with this slippery slope argument that buying the game will be "giving in" and lead to the downfall of the consumer when their solution is pretty mild, just like CD-Checks, and cd keys.

How is standing up for consumer rights a slippery slope argument?

Example makes no sense because your car doesn't drive on the internet. It doesn't have anything to do with the internet. This is akin to someone needing to activate a gift card by calling the number on the back. Pure and simple. Explain how it's a roadblock. And I'm not arguing it's effects on piracy. No one can say that it's effects will be zero. That's foolish, to think that it will do absolutely nothing (and I'm not saying it will be dramatic enough to be worth it). The point is, it is unobtrusive as protections on the previous games and countless other things in existence. But you bitch like it's going to be up in your face making it some kind of obstacle to install it. You say you're standing up for consumer rights? What does that even mean? They don't HAVE to cater it to your liking, that's not your right. If you don't like it (just like any other product), then you have the right NOT to buy it.

It's because you're turning this activation into some kind of monstrosity of a DRM (enough not to buy the game) when several people and the article you linked state that it's unobtrusive. Why don't you bitch about cd-keys, cd checks, the fact that you can't back up your games easily then? The fact that they check your cd-key when you try to play a game online. If piracy didn't exist then yeah, we'd all be gravy, but it does and companies can't sit idly by and tell their shareholders that they wanna use the honor system.

As long as they come up with a good efficient way that will deter it, then I'm all for it. Limiting installs, rootkits, etc etc are a no go for me.

 

[Red Irish]

Originally posted by: NaOH

Originally posted by: mindcycle

Originally posted by: NaOH
How are you "taking" it from the publisher if you bought the game.... explain that.

Lets say you visit your local Honda dealer and start talking to a salesman there. "Hey, I saw an ad on TV for the new Accord and I want one, but I heard this rumor that it doesn't come with a cigarette lighter, is that true?"
The salesman says "Yeah, that's because we figure that cigarette lighters are outdated technology and no one uses those anymore. Oh, and once you buy the car make sure you connect to the internet when you get home and sign up a honda.net account or you won't be able to continue driving the car."
"But wait.. I already bought the car so why do I have to do all that?"
"Sorry sir but that's just the way things are done now."
"We'll I guess so. If that's the way it is nowadays.."

That's what I mean by taking it.

Originally posted by: NaOH
Exactly, they didn't work too well but they hindered you because you HAD to have the CD and you HAD to have a valid cd-key (what if you lost yours). What makes it so different now?

The main difference is now they are going after our first sale rights. What it boils down to is nothing more than additional roadblocks for potential customers. It's effect on piracy will be zero.

If you want to keep supporting junk like this then be my guest. Just realize that your wallet and your opinion can and do have an effect on decisions like this. Look at EA and The Sims 3 as an example of what happens when people speak their mind.

Originally posted by: NaOH
Quit with this slippery slope argument that buying the game will be "giving in" and lead to the downfall of the consumer when their solution is pretty mild, just like CD-Checks, and cd keys.

How is standing up for consumer rights a slippery slope argument?

Example makes no sense because your car doesn't drive on the internet. It doesn't have anything to do with the internet. This is akin to someone needing to activate a gift card by calling the number on the back. Pure and simple. Explain how it's a roadblock.

R-E-S-A-L-E

 

[NaOH]

Originally posted by: Red Irish

Originally posted by: NaOH

Originally posted by: mindcycle

Originally posted by: NaOH
How are you "taking" it from the publisher if you bought the game.... explain that.

Lets say you visit your local Honda dealer and start talking to a salesman there. "Hey, I saw an ad on TV for the new Accord and I want one, but I heard this rumor that it doesn't come with a cigarette lighter, is that true?"
The salesman says "Yeah, that's because we figure that cigarette lighters are outdated technology and no one uses those anymore. Oh, and once you buy the car make sure you connect to the internet when you get home and sign up a honda.net account or you won't be able to continue driving the car."
"But wait.. I already bought the car so why do I have to do all that?"
"Sorry sir but that's just the way things are done now."
"We'll I guess so. If that's the way it is nowadays.."

That's what I mean by taking it.

Originally posted by: NaOH
Exactly, they didn't work too well but they hindered you because you HAD to have the CD and you HAD to have a valid cd-key (what if you lost yours). What makes it so different now?

The main difference is now they are going after our first sale rights. What it boils down to is nothing more than additional roadblocks for potential customers. It's effect on piracy will be zero.

If you want to keep supporting junk like this then be my guest. Just realize that your wallet and your opinion can and do have an effect on decisions like this. Look at EA and The Sims 3 as an example of what happens when people speak their mind.

Originally posted by: NaOH
Quit with this slippery slope argument that buying the game will be "giving in" and lead to the downfall of the consumer when their solution is pretty mild, just like CD-Checks, and cd keys.

How is standing up for consumer rights a slippery slope argument?

Example makes no sense because your car doesn't drive on the internet. It doesn't have anything to do with the internet. This is akin to someone needing to activate a gift card by calling the number on the back. Pure and simple. Explain how it's a roadblock.

R-E-S-A-L-E

Why don't you complain about WoW too?

 

[NaOH]

This DRM thing has gotten out of hand. When people freak out and immediately declare that they won't buy something because it infringes on their "freedoms". Without taking into account what DRM method is being used. Games have had DRM on them for ages.

 

[lupi]

Originally posted by: NaOH
This DRM thing has gotten out of hand. When people freak out and immediately declare that they won't buy something because it infringes on their "freedoms". Without taking into account what DRM method is being used. Games have had DRM on them for ages.

and for ages you never had to worry about install limits, having an internet connection, or the ability to sell your owned property to someone.

 

[golem]

and for ages you never had to worry about install limits, having an internet connection, or the ability to sell your owned property to someone.

Well to be fair, for ages developers didn't have to worry about 0-day warez, pirates being able to download a game in an hour etc etc.

 

[lupi]

Originally posted by: golem

and for ages you never had to worry about install limits, having an internet connection, or the ability to sell your owned property to someone.

Well to be fair, for ages developers didn't have to worry about 0-day warez, pirates being able to download a game in an hour etc etc.

and in those days it was easier for the average user to bypass any installed protection features.

 

[golem]

Originally posted by: lupi

Originally posted by: golem

and for ages you never had to worry about install limits, having an internet connection, or the ability to sell your owned property to someone.

Well to be fair, for ages developers didn't have to worry about 0-day warez, pirates being able to download a game in an hour etc etc.

and in those days it was easier for the average user to bypass any installed protection features.

Maybe I'm not understanding what you are saying. But if it was easier to bypass protection features back then, doesn't that mean the newer protection features are working?

 

[lupi]

Originally posted by: golem

Originally posted by: lupi

Originally posted by: golem

and for ages you never had to worry about install limits, having an internet connection, or the ability to sell your owned property to someone.

Well to be fair, for ages developers didn't have to worry about 0-day warez, pirates being able to download a game in an hour etc etc.

and in those days it was easier for the average user to bypass any installed protection features.

Maybe I'm not understanding what you are saying. But if it was easier to bypass protection features back then, doesn't that mean the newer protection features are working?

Yep

 

[mindcycle]

Originally posted by: NaOH
Example makes no sense because your car doesn't drive on the internet.

lol.. It's called an example for a reason. I was illustrating another situation that would be equally as ridiculous.

Originally posted by: NaOH
You say you're standing up for consumer rights? What does that even mean?

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=consumer+rights

Originally posted by: NaOH
It's because you're turning this activation into some kind of monstrosity of a DRM (enough not to buy the game) when several people and the article you linked state that it's unobtrusive.

Yeah, a representative from Blizzard says it will be unobtrusive.. That automatically makes everything ok. lol

If you'd like you can read up on the rights you are giving up when you support companies like Activision and their "unobtrusive" DRM.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_sale_doctrine

Originally posted by: NaOH
As long as they come up with a good efficient way that will deter it, then I'm all for it. Limiting installs, rootkits, etc etc are a no go for me.

So you think requiring an online connection to install the game will be an efficient way to stop piracy? I'm not for limited installs either, and feel this is not as draconian as that, but I fail to see how any of this will be efficient at all. Let us install the game and play it. If we want to play online we need a key and a bnet account. That's acceptable and works pretty well for most games with a multiplayer component. The need to be connected to the net and signup for bnet before you can install it is not doing anything but guaranteeing we won't be able to sell the game.

 

[mindcycle]

Originally posted by: lupi

Originally posted by: NaOH
This DRM thing has gotten out of hand. When people freak out and immediately declare that they won't buy something because it infringes on their "freedoms". Without taking into account what DRM method is being used. Games have had DRM on them for ages.

and for ages you never had to worry about install limits, having an internet connection, or the ability to sell your owned property to someone.

:thumbsup:

 

[ShawnD1]

Originally posted by: golem

Originally posted by: lupi

Originally posted by: golem

and for ages you never had to worry about install limits, having an internet connection, or the ability to sell your owned property to someone.

Well to be fair, for ages developers didn't have to worry about 0-day warez, pirates being able to download a game in an hour etc etc.

and in those days it was easier for the average user to bypass any installed protection features.

Maybe I'm not understanding what you are saying. But if it was easier to bypass protection features back then, doesn't that mean the newer protection features are working?

Easier depends on who is doing it. If you know how to use a computer, cracking stuff is easier today because it's often as simple as copying 1 file; we no longer need to photocopy instruction manuals or code cards. If you're the kind of person who buys gaming computers from Dell or Alienware, it's not so easy. One of my friends couldn't figure out how to run a TV show he downloaded because it was a bunch of files like name.r00, name.r01, name.r02. It seems trivial, but a lot of people really don't know what to do with stuff like that. For the vast majority of people, piracy is nowhere near as simple as people on Anandtech think it is.

 

[shortylickens]

Originally posted by: PieIsAwesome

Originally posted by: SunnyD

Originally posted by: Slick5150
Yeah, I don't see why this would be any real concern to anyone. Its unobtrusive.

Two words:

NO RESALE.

Resell Starcraft? MADNESS!!11

Madness?
THIS
IS
AUIRRRRR!!!

 

[Nik]

Originally posted by: RyanPaulShaffer

Originally posted by: ayabe
*yawn*

Yeah I'm sure you guys aren't going to buy this game now, what a joke. :roll:

I won't be buying it now, but this DRM is just one of the reasons, not the main reason.

Bingo.

 

[zerocool84]

I've never sold a PC game I've bought cus I only buy quality games that I know I will play again and again. Starcraft 2 will be one of them. So just as in I hate women (hating the woman but loving the vagina) I hate DRM but love Starcraft so I am going to make that sacrifice.

 

[Red Irish]

Originally posted by: zerocool84
I've never sold a PC game I've bought cus I only buy quality games that I know I will play again and again. Starcraft 2 will be one of them. So just as in I hate women (hating the woman but loving the vagina) I hate DRM but love Starcraft so I am going to make that sacrifice.

You need one of these:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F...rtificial_vagina-4.jpg

Women in your vicinity need one of these:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Fourbats.jpg

 

[zerocool84]

Originally posted by: Red Irish

Originally posted by: zerocool84
I've never sold a PC game I've bought cus I only buy quality games that I know I will play again and again. Starcraft 2 will be one of them. So just as in I hate women (hating the woman but loving the vagina) I hate DRM but love Starcraft so I am going to make that sacrifice.

You need one of these:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F...rtificial_vagina-4.jpg

Women in your vicinity need one of these:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Fourbats.jpg

:laugh:

 

[Sureshot324]

Originally posted by: mindcycle

Originally posted by: ayabe
1. DRM is here to stay, it will NEVER go back to the way that it was. I repeat, NEVER. If you can't handle it, then you need to give up PC gaming.

The way it was.. DRM, aka roadblocks for legit customers, has always been there. I agree with you that it isn't going away. DRM software companies will continue to convince publishers it's needed, and the decision makers at the publishers will continue to justify their pay check. That much i'm certain of. The good news is we have companies like Stardock and many others that don't buy into it and realize it does nothing but inconvenience the people that keep them in business.

Originally posted by: ayabe
2. LAN play is dead. That's right, dead for just about every genre. It was rendered obsolete by high speed internet. It'll stick around for a few more years in some titles, but for most top tier games, it's gone. You will be connecting to some gaming service like Bnet/Steam and that's that. Outside of the college dorm scene, LAN gaming isn't a reality for most adults -unless you are still living in a flop house when you're 30.

Over 100,000 people disagree with you.

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

What kind of LAN isn't connected to the internet anyway? RTS games are generally either P2P, or one player acts as the server. Battle.net just acts as a matchmaking service and once the game starts, if you're all on the same LAN, the network traffic stays on the LAN.