DRM - Service vs Product
Quantomas
Member Posts: 1
First, I very much like your work, from the idea and concept to the implementation.
For this reason I came here to support you by purchasing one copy, I know that your success with BGEE matters whether you will move forward with BG2 and beyond, so I am all for it. I own the original BG and its expansion, and while I do not expect to have the time to play BGEE anytime soon, I reasoned to add the enhanced digital edition to my personal archive.
Here is what put me off. I am an indie developer myself and we discussed extensively whether using DRM at all. My reasoning is typically this: if you can add a non-intrusive DRM that the users can validate on their own, it diminishes the value of the product only slightly. If you add a DRM that requires an action on your part, online activation for example, you technically change the nature of the product to a service that the user can only use with your consent. My position on this is that I am normally not prepared to pay more than $10 for a service of this kind unless it is exceptionally good.
If I understood correctly (please correct me if I am wrong) you did exactly this, you turned BGEE into a service that can only be used with your consent. I believe this will harm your success, because you are putting off people who would support you out of their goodwill, and I strongly urge you to reconsider this feature. After all Gabe Newell pointed frequently and rightly to abundant data that confirms that sales do not change after a crack is available, and the success of GOG tells its own story.
For this reason I came here to support you by purchasing one copy, I know that your success with BGEE matters whether you will move forward with BG2 and beyond, so I am all for it. I own the original BG and its expansion, and while I do not expect to have the time to play BGEE anytime soon, I reasoned to add the enhanced digital edition to my personal archive.
Here is what put me off. I am an indie developer myself and we discussed extensively whether using DRM at all. My reasoning is typically this: if you can add a non-intrusive DRM that the users can validate on their own, it diminishes the value of the product only slightly. If you add a DRM that requires an action on your part, online activation for example, you technically change the nature of the product to a service that the user can only use with your consent. My position on this is that I am normally not prepared to pay more than $10 for a service of this kind unless it is exceptionally good.
If I understood correctly (please correct me if I am wrong) you did exactly this, you turned BGEE into a service that can only be used with your consent. I believe this will harm your success, because you are putting off people who would support you out of their goodwill, and I strongly urge you to reconsider this feature. After all Gabe Newell pointed frequently and rightly to abundant data that confirms that sales do not change after a crack is available, and the success of GOG tells its own story.
1
Comments
The verification here only occurs at the time of installation, and whenever you update the game through the launcher. So it's about as unobtrusive as you can get without eliminating it altogether. After activating your installation, you never have to ping their servers again--not even if you want to play multiplayer.
Think Ubisoft and Assassin's Creed 2 PC, that was awful.
P.S Good luck with the indie game development.
What else could they have done? A CD-key? And what happens when you lose it? With online activation you don't have to worry about keeping some key within reach. Just connect to the Internet.
Everyone who complains about this activation "DRM" should go and get an Ubisoft game. That'll shut you up.
The DRM as it is will cause some inconveniences to certain people, that's for sure, but I'd rather have a BG:EE with that than no BG:EE any day of the week.
There are far worse DRM systems out there.