DRM on PC games

[Dolph]

I moan about DRM because it's so easy to bypass, and every game you download gives you thorough instructions on how to use the cracks and whatnot. So this is not a case of only the technically minded pirates being able to do it, it's anybody who downloads the game. DRM is completely ineffectual.

DRM is expensive to license and is no doubt factored in to the final suggested retail price before it goes out to be sold. Not only are you, specifically, being treated like a criminal (I say you, because the criminals are unaffected) but you're probably paying a few quid extra for the privilege.

That's why DRM annoys the hell out of me, and that's why my conscience isn't going to bother me whilst I'm happily playing an illegitimate version of Spore until my retail copy arrives (dispatched today). This isn't a justification, before you jump on that, as I am not under the impressions that I'm doing nothing wrong.

I agree with you to a point, but I'm also considering the situation from the publisher's point of view, rather than a purely personal viewpoint.

All these threads do is confirm that the publishers belief that they can't trust users to be honest, this idea is what drives the publishers to make DRM ever more draconian.

 

[[TW]Fox]

I'm sorry Dolph, but DRM in its current forms IS pointless. I see the need for it, but there being a need for something does not justify it being utterly ineffective.

Current DRM does NOTHING but inconvenience legitimate paying users. I do not pirate PC games - I buy every single game I play. And then have to **** about uninstalling emulation software, hunting down keycodes when I renistall a game, finding a disc every time I want a quick blast.

Meanwhile, the pirates get round ALL the DRM in a game in the first release onto torrents. It deters nobody.

If DRM actually worked, fair enough. But it doesn't - get rid of it, or heavily revise it without further ****ing off the paying customers.

 

[m4cc45]

Agree with Fox.

Didn't Sony get fined for having the crap that installs itself onto PC's when playing certain Audio CDs? If that's the case then how the hell SecuROM et al get around it is mind blowing. Some of the crap they install is almost trojan based.



M.

 

[Tefal]

Meanwhile, the pirates get round ALL the DRM in a game in the first release onto torrents. It deters nobody.

If DRM actually worked, fair enough. But it doesn't - get rid of it, or heavily revise it without further ****ing off the paying customers.

We also get it before you get your delivery

Iirc though isn;t the drm on the ps3/blu ray still uncracked?

 

[Rameses]

I only just installed Dirt for the first time and was gobsmacked at this starforce crap!

I hope I never have a disk with this rubbish on again, terrible.

People can have Steam for instant cache of games, but please trying to force this DRM onto game disks is awful!

 

[Darkwave]

If DRM actually worked, fair enough. But it doesn't - get rid of it, or heavily revise it without further ****ing off the paying customers.

This is exactly my view as well. I am sure publishers know how utterly pointless it is.

Iirc though isn;t the drm on the ps3/blu ray still uncracked?

No, you can rip Blu-Rays. You just can't get fake Blu-Ray games working in the PS3 IIRC.