"Gamers/Modders can they install, desinstall and reinstall, successively, several versions of the games from the DRM client ... ? Free ? And unconstrained as permitted vanilla version ?"
This has been answered already, and the answer is yes.
Because in fact you seem, Certainly more inclined to protect the interests of the hoster of this site, rather than the rights of the community, and we need to know this, and demonstrate your lack of impartiality : here, seems proven.
What rights of the community need to be protected here? Seriously?
About your value judgment, Which I think is beyond your functions (and of course, in these circumstances, does not affect us), "I never had much love for people trying to play the victim." I wonder if the victim is not you ... finally ? .
Modders/Gamers need in their workstation/for their entertainments, multiple installations . How to handle it with DRM ? Modders/Gamers can they clone different images of the game for their tests/mod ? Free ? And unconstrained as permitted vanilla version ?
Again, you can have multiple installations of the game on the same PC, I just don't know if you'll have to activate each installation (and if you do this won't be restricted because there's no limit to the number of activations).
"I just don't know if you'll have to activate each installation"
This is precisely what we are trying (for some time already), to know (with all that entails inconveniants), and we rely on your diligence in this case as in the others .
T.Y.
Quality Control Customer Care
P.S. : I will add this: In the present state of things, leave us in expactive, undeniably led us to ask ourselves : About the seriousness of your services for the quality control & customer care ?!
I'm not a part of Overhaul, I'm just a moderator on the boards. I think you're going overboard by complaining about quality control (huh?) and customer care.
@Tanthalas you just took word out of my mouth I think he though you were OverHaul and that's where the "censorship" from some post came from
@salomonkane as far as I had understood, it was for each installation. Otherwise you could in theory just copy/paste the full directory on another computer, and that specifically requires an authentication. You can install much more then once, but don't expect Overhaul to accept a thousand install per day. I might take a wild guess here, but is english doesn't seem to be your first language and that might raise some misunderstanding issue in this debate
I Seriously don't see what all this fuss is about DRM, from what i can gather its non invasive, quick and painless. All you will need is an internet connection for a couple of seconds which you will need anyway to download the game. The ONLY reason I can see for anyone to complain about this is if they wanted to pirate the game. Give the guys at Overhaul some love for their hard work! Otherwise there would'nt be a BG:EE to complain about!
The ONLY reason I can see for anyone to complain about this is if they wanted to pirate the game.
Since DRM is not a concern to you, I don't think you have an educated opinion on this. I have no intent or desire to pirate any game. I do want to play this, but I will NOT pirate this game. I also hope that anyone that is taking a stand against DRM will do so by not purchasing and by not pirating a game. Instead of taking those few minutes to search for and download a pirate copy, use that time to write an informed email to the publisher and developer letting them know that they lost a sale due to using DRM.
Let me say that I consider DRM anything that relies on someone other than me to get a game working. CD checks and installation keys are not DRM to me, since I maintain control over those. Interplay is not the same company they used to be. If the original Baldur's Gate series used online activation, I highly doubt those servers would be around today. I still have my disks, manuals, keys, etc., and I know I can install and play them anytime I want to. With some of the great mods made for those games, there is still replay value in them. Media checks are still a problem at times though, I have some Amiga games that I bought back then that don't want to play nice with my Amiga Forever emulator due to the copy protection on the floppies. I keep games forever. In case there is anyone here that thinks emulation is wrong, buying Amiga Forever gives you a license to use all the included ROMs legally to emulate the computer. C-64 forever is the same.
As for pirating, if this is like any other game, it will be pirated on the day it is released. There have been a few success stories where DRM stopped piracy for a decent amount of time, but there were also complications to the legit consumer. Once the first new DRM gets cracked, future releases get cracked much quicker. My opinion is the only level of piracy DRM prevents is the casual user that can't copy the game for his friend, which is a small percentage. Wasn't Spore one of the most pirated games?
My opinion is the only level of piracy DRM prevents is the casual user that can't copy the game for his friend, which is a small percentage.
And actually, the casual user can still do that; he just has to be the one to install it. You couldn't make ten copies on discs and distribute them to your local college campus, but Overhaul's hope is that this level of DRM will encourage low-level sharing among friends, rather than widespread bootlegging. This level of DRM is basically equivalent to saying, "We don't want you to bootleg this game, but feel free to share it with a few of your friends."
Not including any DRM at all would be equivalent to not saying that.
To me the unfortunate thing about this is that, without a boxed edition that would allow you to authenticate without being online, the game is sort of limited to those players with a stable internet connection (or, in the case of laptop users, a nearby wi-fi hot spot). And that part really is unfortunate. To me, that's the biggest argument against DRM in general: it limits the userbase to only those with access to the internet. Even as prevalent as internet access is these days, it still kind of rubs me the wrong way.
Unfortunately it was not Overhaul's option to include DRM in this game. They were forced by the IP owners to add some kind of DRM to the game.
So in this case, it is my opinion, that by not buying the game you'll be punishing the wrong party and sending a message to a company that actually agrees with you but can do nothing to change the situation right now.
@Jalister I think DRM also is a huge barrier to games that have online components, as well. I can't play BG:EE online with the same copy, and this is true for other games with online multiplayer. Granted, one still would have single player with a pirated copy, but would nevertheless lack full functionality.
I do agree though, that DRM is mostly a barrier to physical copy sharing, which is all but obsolete these days. And I wish I could give you more likes for not espousing piracy as a valid alternative, but rather to be a vocal protester of the publishers who require DRM.
I think BG:EE is a huge opportunity to send a message to the IP holders. We want to buy your games, but this DRM stuff has gotten old and outright difficult. And honestly, given the relatively light touch we've gotten here, I think its a good opportunity for us to demonstrate that we're grown ups and are willing to meet in the middle.
Not including any DRM at all would be equivalent to not saying that.
I don't agree. CD Projeckt Red did not put DRM on the Witcher 2 GOG release, and removed DRM from the retail version. That does not mean they are saying it's OK to copy the game for others, and have specifically stated that they do not condone piracy. From what I have read, even though they don't like the fact games get pirated, they are still happy with the number of purchases they have had. As I have stated in an earlier post, CDPR is concerned with making the costumer happy, since it's the customer that paid them money. There are plenty of publishers and developers that understand this, and have proven it can be profitable. If not for those examples, I might feel different.
It's been common knowledge for years that it's not OK to make copies of things that are paid for. We've known for years that it was not OK copy books, records, cassettes, VHS, CDs, DVDs etc. Yet copying media, both physical and virtual, has been going on a long time. Attempts to thwart that have not worked, or at least not worked for long, and can effect the legitimate consumer in negative ways.
DVDs were cracked very quickly. HD-DVD was also cracked fairly quickly. Blu Ray BD+ held out for a while, but now that it's been cracked, it's nothing more than a hassle for legitimate users. And why do we keep getting more and more FBI warnings on movies we buy? I bought it, I know, stop treating me like I'm the criminal. Ubisoft has a good run with Assassin's Creed 2, but that's been taken care off. There has been more than one case of legit Ubi users that couldn't play a single player game because of DRM. Check Amazon reviews for the PC version of Spore, and how many people had DRM problems.
Don't be fooled. DRM is not to stop piracy. It's got to be about user tracking, or stifling the used game market. In the case of the big publishers, like EA and Ubisoft, it may just be about control.
Although I am against any form of DRM, the DRM restrictions in BG:EE will be vey mild. I just hope that some kind of a problem with validation or w/e doesn't emerge on release day.
Although I am against any form of DRM, the DRM restrictions in BG:EE will be vey mild. I just hope that some kind of a problem with validation or w/e doesn't emerge on release day.
I know what you mean. I have every Blizzard collector's edition that they have released. Against my better judgement I purchased Diablo 3 collector's edition. It really was a nice package, and I wanted to keep my collection complete. I think most people know what a mess that launch was, and it wasn't just on day one. I won't be pre-ordering anything that requires online activation again. If I decide to get a game anyway, I will wait until it has been out for a while. This will give me a chance to wait for some reviews, and I can wait for the price to drop while I'm at it.
Don't be fooled. DRM is not to stop piracy. It's got to be about user tracking, or stifling the used game market. In the case of the big publishers, like EA and Ubisoft, it may just be about control.
Well, I wouldn't go as far as saying the intent is not to stop piracy, for I'm sure there are some good intentions out there. It just doesn't stop it very well, and can be a blatant inconvenience to the customer depending on different perceptions. Which is the issue. Not for everyone, but definitely for some.
I don't think it's really there for user tracking per-say, though I know companies like EA definitely mines data for game development or marketing, which is more their problem than anything else.
This level of DRM is basically equivalent to saying, "We don't want you to bootleg this game, but feel free to share it with a few of your friends."
It's very light, but I think a more accurate statement would be: "We don't want you to bootleg this game, but we don't want to scare people away because of excessive DRM either."
The ONLY reason I can see for anyone to complain about this is if they wanted to pirate the game.
This comment is completely slanderous. Many of the people who have been complaining about the DRM are people who have already pre-ordered the game. I'm one of them. Don't believe me? Check out my pre-order badge.
Just because you don't have a problem with the DRM doesn't mean that there aren't legitimate reasons for others to be concerned about it.
ok fine my apologies:) All I am trying to say is that the DRM is so light that it should not be an issue....for most people;) and that alot of the people on the forum are making a bigger deal out of it than it should be...
UBI is ditching the constant connection DRM and moving to what reads like a Beamdog DRM model. Obviously, public outcry does make a difference to companies who wish to stay in business. However, I also think that one should be realistic in one's expectations. It's extremely unlikely that companies are going to drop DRM altogether when the public seems accepting of one-time installation checks that come with no strings.
@Vortican I think that's all anyone really could expect. Its not ideal, but I for one can live with it. I think people just want to be left alone, even if they have to check in with Big Brother once or twice.
@Vortican You said it perfectly. If the public accepts one time installation checks that will become the norm. I do not want that norm and do not want to accept installation checks. Just like the community got the point across to Ubisoft I hope to drive the point further to Beamdog.
While I may be willing to accept this compromise from Ubisoft if they release HoMM6 this way, I expect more from an indie publisher that should be more in tune with the community. That may seem unfair, but I pre-ordered this digital game just to help support the developer. I would never consider pre-ordering anything from a mega corp like Ubisoft as they don't need the help. It works both ways. Beamdog wants and needs our support. I'm happy to lend it. In return I would like to not be treated like a criminal, no matter how politely they check.
Yeah, I read the Ubisoft news. We should not be happy with Ubisoft for dropping the always on DRM. It's still the same DRM, it just requires one online activation at install. Future titles will still probably require Uplay. Also, don't be so quick to trust a copy that served up Starforce, dropped it due to consumer complaint for a short while, served up SecurROM, then dropped that for a short while, then they threw the always on DRM at us. How long will it be one time activation until they decide you need to allow them full access to your computer before you can play? Ubisoft have proven over and over they do not have our best interests at heart. Anyone happy about this news is slowly being beaten into submission (now they are only slapping me in the face, when yesterday they were punching me in the face).
Now I'm not saying Beamdog is like Ubisoft, but DRM is DRM. I also know BG:EE is not using the Beamdog client, but it's still online activation. Steam, GFWL, Origin, UPlay, Beamdog, Green Man, Onlive... how many clients do I need to install and run on my computer?
Steam got me after years of being in service with Left 4 Dead, an online only game. Sometimes I still regret that decision, because now I have grown a bit of a library there. Due to the DRM scheme there though, I never buy new, and always buy at a ridiculously low price. A lot of my titles are actually from the indie bundles.
Origin got me with Mass Effect 3 and Dragon Age 2, but that stops at real Bioware titles. I will not buy anything else through Origin, no matter how cheap.
GFWL is junk, and I wouldn't take a free game that uses that.
Blizzard had been great until recently. CD checks removed from some of their games, and the CD keys are only used for online play. Entering my keys into Battle.net also provides the service of letting me download my games if I need too, also DRM free. A feature that many publishers claim is a reason for having the DRM. Blizzard proved it can work without a DRM client. But then there is the mess that is Diablo 3. Online only, and the auction house. I think I am done with Blizzard now too.
Ubisoft, I so distrust them now that I passed on the opportunity to buy a few games they offered on Uplay for $1. You read that right, I passed on $1 games due to the DRM. I even passed on the Assassin's Creed for free promotion last week for the same reasons. Besides, I had it already on GOG.
I watch Shacknews and other sites for great deals. I can say that I never even waste time looking at the offers from Beamdog, GameFly, Get Games, Green Man Gaming, Impulse, Origin, Ubisoft due to clients and/or DRM. I check GOG, DotEmu, Gamers Gate, Desura, Steam and Amazon. GOG and DotEmu are simple, nothing there has DRM, GOG always wins though. Gamers Gate is good about stating which games are DRM free, so they have gotten some purchases from me where there is no DRM. Steam is Steam, but I've stated how I buy there already. Amazon is a bit tricky because it is not always clear which are DRM free. If I see a really good deal, I need to do a little investigating before committing. There are even some titles I bought direct from the publisher due to being DRM free. Legend of Grimrock, Trine 2, NyxQuest, Project Aftermath. I have 4 games from Amazon, 10 from Gamers Gate, 5 from DotEmu, and 95 from GOG. Oh, and every Humble Indie Bundle, which always has DRM free versions of all games.
I guess my point is that there are so many choices out there. There are publishers and developers that believe in DRM free, and in giving the customer the best experience. Much like cable TV, there are more choices than you can ever hope to play. Spend your time and money on the people that trust their customers, and that care more about making the buyers happy than worrying about making the pirates unhappy. Trust that the pirates are always happy, and I think a little happier when they get a game that "HAD" DRM in it.
I started to take notice of indie developers when I realized that they seem to care about the customer, and the big corps seem not too. I love CD Projekt Red and Frozenbyte for their attitude, and I eagerly wait to see what they release next.
On a final note, I read the earlier posts about censoring these forums. I agree with the moderator. I can say I believe they are not censoring these boards, which I truly appreciate. It's been nice to have a thread to be able to express our thoughts on either side of the coin. I keep coming back to this thread because of how I feel about DRM, I am highly interested in BG:EE, and I hope it will someday be released in a way that I will purchase it.
@insolentbug I fully expect you to be gone by morning, but in the interest of exposition:
It's my understanding that you were banned the first time for trolling and for flaming other users. When you created a second account, you didn't start from a clean slate; everyone still remembered your behavior from before. So when you continued this behavior, people were less willing to give you the benefit of the doubt. And really, you didn't earn it.
So when you create another account to complain about how unfair it is that you've been banned, twice, for behavior that is both destructive and rude to the moderator staff and to the members of this site...
Let's just say, don't be surprised when it happens again. Please, don't come back this time.
I mentioned Ubisoft offered Assassins Creed 1 for free on their store. Looks like they made a mistake, and they are revoking the keys for it. In return, they are offering a 50% off coupon on the next store purchase. So they either made a legitimate mistake and not living with it, or it was another tactic to get new people onto Uplay with a free game, then revoking it and giving a discount coupon for another Uplay game. I'm glad I didn't get lured in with the $1 and $0 offerings.
Y' know, the reason this DRM on BG:EE is so silly is that the original Baldur's Gate games are readily available and have no such DRM.
Basically, it's like they're adding server activation to a DLC pack for a 14-year-old game.
Let's put into perspective just how silly it is. Let's take another venerable game from 1998, Unreal. What if Atari Inc. (the current IP holder of Unreal) decided to release an "Enhanced Edition" with hi-res textures and a few more maps? Nevermind that many Unreal modders have already given away their hi-res texture packs and maps for free.
Adding a server activation check to such "enhancements" would be overkill and absurd, especially when the original software only had a CD check.
The original Baldur's Gate didn't have a server activation check, and yet that didn't hurt its financial success: it sold over two million copies worldwide, leading to TotSC, BG2:SoA and ToB, console spin-offs and.. well, this Beamdog project.
So if the original award-winning content didn't need server activation and sold fine, why do some lite "enhancements" to the original need it?
Adding a server activation check to such "enhancements" would be overkill and absurd, especially when the original software only had a CD check.
The original Baldur's Gate didn't have a server activation check, and yet that didn't hurt its financial success: it sold over two million copies worldwide, leading to TotSC, BG2:SoA and ToB, console spin-offs and.. well, this Beamdog project.
So if the original content didn't need DRM and sold fine, why do some lite "enhancements" to the original need it?
That's a really loaded argument when CD-checks are essentially a form of DRM.
Y' know, the reason this DRM on BG:EE is so silly is that the original Baldur's Gate games are readily available and have no such DRM.
Basically, it's like they're adding server activation to a DLC pack for a 14-year-old game.
Let's put into perspective just how silly it is. Let's take another venerable game from 1998, Unreal. What if Atari Inc. (the current IP holder of Unreal) decided to release an "Enhanced Edition" with hi-res textures and a few more maps? Nevermind that many Unreal modders have already given away their hi-res texture packs and maps for free.
Adding a server activation check to such "enhancements" would be overkill and absurd, especially when the original software only had a CD check.
The original Baldur's Gate didn't have a server activation check, and yet that didn't hurt its financial success: it sold over two million copies worldwide, leading to TotSC, BG2:SoA and ToB, console spin-offs and.. well, this Beamdog project.
So if the original award-winning content didn't need server activation and sold fine, why do some lite "enhancements" to the original need it?
Because one of the IP holders demanded it and it was one of the conditions imposed to Overhaul if they wanted the rights to make an EE?
That's a really loaded argument when CD-checks are essentially a form of DRM.
I for one don't consider CD checks or installation keys DRM. As long as I maintain my media and/or keys, I can count on being able to install and run anytime I want. I prefer keys over CD checks, since CD checks do prevent backing up.
To me DRM is online activation of any kind. I should not have to rely on having internet access or rely on a distributor staying in business and keeping their servers running. I would also consider aggressive CD checks like Starforce and SecurROM DRM also because of the rootkit like manner in which they install. There have been many games I passed on before online activation because of Starforce and SecuROM.
Heh, Starforce... I just remembered Ubisoft also used that for a while, I had to pass on Splinter Cell Chaos Theory. I would think a company as large and old as Ubisoft would get it by now. They have had public outcry, and even lawsuits in some cases, on every type of DRM they have implemented since Starforce.
Maybe I should be thanking all of these companies for Starforce, SecuROM and DRM. They have saved me a ton of money.
I for one don't consider CD checks or installation keys DRM.
But it is DRM. The thing is that 10 years ago there really was no digital market for games like there is now. Most (if not all) PC games were sold on a physical format so the DRM was included in that physical format (the CD check), to limit the illegal distribution of the game. Times have changed and now many (most?) PC games are sold as a digital download and so DRM has evolved to what we see today.
Comments
Modding questions & DRM :
Gaming questions & DRM :
Multiple installations & DRM ?
(Bis) ,
Also :
Modders/Gamers need in their workstation/for their entertainments, multiple installations .
How to handle it with DRM ?
Modders/Gamers can they clone different images of the game for their tests/mod ?
Free ?
And unconstrained as permitted vanilla version ?
T.Y.
Gaming questions & DRM :
Multiple installations & DRM ?
Unconstrained ?
(Ter)
@Tanthalas :
"I just don't know if you'll have to activate each installation"
This is precisely what we are trying (for some time already), to know (with all that entails inconveniants), and we rely on your diligence in this case as in the others
T.Y.
Quality Control
Customer Care
P.S. :
I will add this:
In the present state of things, leave us in expactive, undeniably led us to ask ourselves :
About the seriousness of your services for the quality control & customer care ?!
I'm not a part of Overhaul, I'm just a moderator on the boards. I think you're going overboard by complaining about quality control (huh?) and customer care.
@salomonkane as far as I had understood, it was for each installation. Otherwise you could in theory just copy/paste the full directory on another computer, and that specifically requires an authentication. You can install much more then once, but don't expect Overhaul to accept a thousand install per day. I might take a wild guess here, but is english doesn't seem to be your first language and that might raise some misunderstanding issue in this debate
Let me say that I consider DRM anything that relies on someone other than me to get a game working. CD checks and installation keys are not DRM to me, since I maintain control over those. Interplay is not the same company they used to be. If the original Baldur's Gate series used online activation, I highly doubt those servers would be around today. I still have my disks, manuals, keys, etc., and I know I can install and play them anytime I want to. With some of the great mods made for those games, there is still replay value in them. Media checks are still a problem at times though, I have some Amiga games that I bought back then that don't want to play nice with my Amiga Forever emulator due to the copy protection on the floppies. I keep games forever. In case there is anyone here that thinks emulation is wrong, buying Amiga Forever gives you a license to use all the included ROMs legally to emulate the computer. C-64 forever is the same.
As for pirating, if this is like any other game, it will be pirated on the day it is released. There have been a few success stories where DRM stopped piracy for a decent amount of time, but there were also complications to the legit consumer. Once the first new DRM gets cracked, future releases get cracked much quicker. My opinion is the only level of piracy DRM prevents is the casual user that can't copy the game for his friend, which is a small percentage. Wasn't Spore one of the most pirated games?
Not including any DRM at all would be equivalent to not saying that.
To me the unfortunate thing about this is that, without a boxed edition that would allow you to authenticate without being online, the game is sort of limited to those players with a stable internet connection (or, in the case of laptop users, a nearby wi-fi hot spot). And that part really is unfortunate. To me, that's the biggest argument against DRM in general: it limits the userbase to only those with access to the internet. Even as prevalent as internet access is these days, it still kind of rubs me the wrong way.
So in this case, it is my opinion, that by not buying the game you'll be punishing the wrong party and sending a message to a company that actually agrees with you but can do nothing to change the situation right now.
I do agree though, that DRM is mostly a barrier to physical copy sharing, which is all but obsolete these days. And I wish I could give you more likes for not espousing piracy as a valid alternative, but rather to be a vocal protester of the publishers who require DRM.
I think BG:EE is a huge opportunity to send a message to the IP holders. We want to buy your games, but this DRM stuff has gotten old and outright difficult. And honestly, given the relatively light touch we've gotten here, I think its a good opportunity for us to demonstrate that we're grown ups and are willing to meet in the middle.
It's been common knowledge for years that it's not OK to make copies of things that are paid for. We've known for years that it was not OK copy books, records, cassettes, VHS, CDs, DVDs etc. Yet copying media, both physical and virtual, has been going on a long time. Attempts to thwart that have not worked, or at least not worked for long, and can effect the legitimate consumer in negative ways.
DVDs were cracked very quickly. HD-DVD was also cracked fairly quickly. Blu Ray BD+ held out for a while, but now that it's been cracked, it's nothing more than a hassle for legitimate users. And why do we keep getting more and more FBI warnings on movies we buy? I bought it, I know, stop treating me like I'm the criminal. Ubisoft has a good run with Assassin's Creed 2, but that's been taken care off. There has been more than one case of legit Ubi users that couldn't play a single player game because of DRM. Check Amazon reviews for the PC version of Spore, and how many people had DRM problems.
Don't be fooled. DRM is not to stop piracy. It's got to be about user tracking, or stifling the used game market. In the case of the big publishers, like EA and Ubisoft, it may just be about control.
This says a lot about the state of DVDs. I can't find the Blu Ray version of this that I have laying around.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4032/4369403959_fe90464b27_o.jpg
I don't think it's really there for user tracking per-say, though I know companies like EA definitely mines data for game development or marketing, which is more their problem than anything else.
Just because you don't have a problem with the DRM doesn't mean that there aren't legitimate reasons for others to be concerned about it.
I think you owe us an apology.
http://www.bluesnews.com/s/134958/ubisoft-scrapping-always-on-drm
UBI is ditching the constant connection DRM and moving to what reads like a Beamdog DRM model. Obviously, public outcry does make a difference to companies who wish to stay in business. However, I also think that one should be realistic in one's expectations. It's extremely unlikely that companies are going to drop DRM altogether when the public seems accepting of one-time installation checks that come with no strings.
While I may be willing to accept this compromise from Ubisoft if they release HoMM6 this way, I expect more from an indie publisher that should be more in tune with the community. That may seem unfair, but I pre-ordered this digital game just to help support the developer. I would never consider pre-ordering anything from a mega corp like Ubisoft as they don't need the help. It works both ways. Beamdog wants and needs our support. I'm happy to lend it. In return I would like to not be treated like a criminal, no matter how politely they check.
Now I'm not saying Beamdog is like Ubisoft, but DRM is DRM. I also know BG:EE is not using the Beamdog client, but it's still online activation. Steam, GFWL, Origin, UPlay, Beamdog, Green Man, Onlive... how many clients do I need to install and run on my computer?
Steam got me after years of being in service with Left 4 Dead, an online only game. Sometimes I still regret that decision, because now I have grown a bit of a library there. Due to the DRM scheme there though, I never buy new, and always buy at a ridiculously low price. A lot of my titles are actually from the indie bundles.
Origin got me with Mass Effect 3 and Dragon Age 2, but that stops at real Bioware titles. I will not buy anything else through Origin, no matter how cheap.
GFWL is junk, and I wouldn't take a free game that uses that.
Blizzard had been great until recently. CD checks removed from some of their games, and the CD keys are only used for online play. Entering my keys into Battle.net also provides the service of letting me download my games if I need too, also DRM free. A feature that many publishers claim is a reason for having the DRM. Blizzard proved it can work without a DRM client. But then there is the mess that is Diablo 3. Online only, and the auction house. I think I am done with Blizzard now too.
Ubisoft, I so distrust them now that I passed on the opportunity to buy a few games they offered on Uplay for $1. You read that right, I passed on $1 games due to the DRM. I even passed on the Assassin's Creed for free promotion last week for the same reasons. Besides, I had it already on GOG.
I watch Shacknews and other sites for great deals. I can say that I never even waste time looking at the offers from Beamdog, GameFly, Get Games, Green Man Gaming, Impulse, Origin, Ubisoft due to clients and/or DRM. I check GOG, DotEmu, Gamers Gate, Desura, Steam and Amazon. GOG and DotEmu are simple, nothing there has DRM, GOG always wins though. Gamers Gate is good about stating which games are DRM free, so they have gotten some purchases from me where there is no DRM. Steam is Steam, but I've stated how I buy there already. Amazon is a bit tricky because it is not always clear which are DRM free. If I see a really good deal, I need to do a little investigating before committing. There are even some titles I bought direct from the publisher due to being DRM free. Legend of Grimrock, Trine 2, NyxQuest, Project Aftermath. I have 4 games from Amazon, 10 from Gamers Gate, 5 from DotEmu, and 95 from GOG. Oh, and every Humble Indie Bundle, which always has DRM free versions of all games.
I guess my point is that there are so many choices out there. There are publishers and developers that believe in DRM free, and in giving the customer the best experience. Much like cable TV, there are more choices than you can ever hope to play. Spend your time and money on the people that trust their customers, and that care more about making the buyers happy than worrying about making the pirates unhappy. Trust that the pirates are always happy, and I think a little happier when they get a game that "HAD" DRM in it.
I started to take notice of indie developers when I realized that they seem to care about the customer, and the big corps seem not too. I love CD Projekt Red and Frozenbyte for their attitude, and I eagerly wait to see what they release next.
On a final note, I read the earlier posts about censoring these forums. I agree with the moderator. I can say I believe they are not censoring these boards, which I truly appreciate. It's been nice to have a thread to be able to express our thoughts on either side of the coin. I keep coming back to this thread because of how I feel about DRM, I am highly interested in BG:EE, and I hope it will someday be released in a way that I will purchase it.
PS - Sorry about the long post.
It's my understanding that you were banned the first time for trolling and for flaming other users. When you created a second account, you didn't start from a clean slate; everyone still remembered your behavior from before. So when you continued this behavior, people were less willing to give you the benefit of the doubt. And really, you didn't earn it.
So when you create another account to complain about how unfair it is that you've been banned, twice, for behavior that is both destructive and rude to the moderator staff and to the members of this site...
Let's just say, don't be surprised when it happens again. Please, don't come back this time.
http://www.shacknews.com/article/75626/morning-caffeinated-assassins-creed-key-revoked-mmo-debate
Basically, it's like they're adding server activation to a DLC pack for a 14-year-old game.
Let's put into perspective just how silly it is. Let's take another venerable game from 1998, Unreal. What if Atari Inc. (the current IP holder of Unreal) decided to release an "Enhanced Edition" with hi-res textures and a few more maps? Nevermind that many Unreal modders have already given away their hi-res texture packs and maps for free.
Adding a server activation check to such "enhancements" would be overkill and absurd, especially when the original software only had a CD check.
The original Baldur's Gate didn't have a server activation check, and yet that didn't hurt its financial success: it sold over two million copies worldwide, leading to TotSC, BG2:SoA and ToB, console spin-offs and.. well, this Beamdog project.
So if the original award-winning content didn't need server activation and sold fine, why do some lite "enhancements" to the original need it?
Looks like a good reason to me...
To me DRM is online activation of any kind. I should not have to rely on having internet access or rely on a distributor staying in business and keeping their servers running. I would also consider aggressive CD checks like Starforce and SecurROM DRM also because of the rootkit like manner in which they install. There have been many games I passed on before online activation because of Starforce and SecuROM.
Heh, Starforce... I just remembered Ubisoft also used that for a while, I had to pass on Splinter Cell Chaos Theory. I would think a company as large and old as Ubisoft would get it by now. They have had public outcry, and even lawsuits in some cases, on every type of DRM they have implemented since Starforce.
Maybe I should be thanking all of these companies for Starforce, SecuROM and DRM. They have saved me a ton of money.