Starcraft 2 Getting DRM Protection
August 17, 2009 by srfto
Blizzard has always been one of those companies that did not worry about piracy at all. They had a very simple way of dealing with it and that was to kill the cd-keys and ban players.
However, in a recent interview from Incgamers with lead designer Dustin Browder, VP of creative development Chris Metzen and VP of game design Rob Pardo, it is reported that Blizzard is finally going to use DRM (Digital Rights Management) and the first game to use it will be Starcraft 2.
No its not end of the world and before you start going to SC2 forums and ranting about how this will kill the game, you should know that the form of the DRM protection would be very low.
Even though developer Pardo said “piracy really historically has not been that big of deal for [Blizzard].” He said there has been a few examples, but “for the most part we can shut down those services.”
The game will have a very low form of DRM protection in which:
In order to install the game, “you need to connect once to install the game,” StarCraft II lead designer Browder revealed. A player will also either have or sign up for a Battle.net account during the installation process.
I doubt anybody would be annoyed by this kind of DRM, but it is the first time Blizzard actually require players to be registered. For the most part it should sit well with fans of Blizzard, however, we have to remember that Activision loves DRM and most likely they will influence Blizzard to do the same.
Would love to hear what you all think about all this?
Related posts:
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The pirated version will surely overcome the internet problem somehow. They always do. It’s just a matter of tricking the game to believe that it has internet connection. It’s been seen on a bunch of games.
What is the point of adding DRM. within 24hours of it being a available to a warez group this WILL be cracked and any DRM removed. Another way to prevent lan support i see. Blizzard really has turned to crap since the merger /me sighs
I’ve been looking forward to SC2 since SC(1), now with LAN play stripped out and DRM, I’m thinking of not buying the game, and waiting to see if they ever make a SC3.
Just pirate it. I might a big might buy the first one but the other two yea they will be pirated for sure.
Blizzard, bad move. DRM never stops or even remotely effects piracy. Ever.
All DRM does is inconvenience your PAYING costumers. And you’ve already screwed up enough, with that regard, by not allowing LAN play.
Guess I’ll skip this, like I skipped Spore. Same damn reason too. -_-
Or, if I don’t want your crappy DRM on my computer, I could just pirate the game. LOL
See how counterproductive DRM really is?
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“As for LAN play, it is going to be built into battle.net. It will just require you to be connected to the internet.”
If it requires you to be connected to the internet, it’s not LAN, dumbass…there’s a reason it’s called LOCAL Area Network…
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If I am playing with a bunch of people at my house and, uh oh!, my internet goes out. I should still be able to play with them using my own router/hub. If I am required to be connected to Battle.net while I am playing on my own LAN, then it’s playing over then internet with people that also happen to be on the same LAN as me.
The internet net is by definition not a LOCAL area network. Just because the little button says “LAN” doesn’t make it a LAN.
By your definition any network that my local area network (my network of personal computers) connects to us a LAN.
Also, by your definition, if I did not have a local area network (just one computer) it wouldn’t be a LAN.
Ok.
Internet=worldwide network of computers
LAN=little network of computers that I can have in my house COMPLETELY SEPERATE of the Internet.
If I can’t play on my LAN without being connected to the internet, it would be playing on a LAN with the assistance of the Internet.
LAN gamming generally is used away from the internet. If you hold a rather large lan party you have ONE computer thats on the net for patches and such but the rest are off and on a closed network that is local one. If a game requires a internet connection it wont be played at a lan party. Cause 30+ machines fighting for the up bandwidth just doesnt work.
So no blizzards crappy LAN definition is not lan.
I can’t believe we actually have to give a definition of LAN here.
Local Area Network = LAN
No internet connection is required for LAN.
Actually that would be a VLAN. Take some simple computer classes then talk trash on the internet, not the other way around.
I know you will probably NEVER read this, but I feel I have to say it or else it will eat me up inside. Gizmaster, I thought you we’re replying to me and I thought your comment was geared towards me. I now realize my mistake after 11 days of posting. I feel that I must apologize because I know now that you were replying to kevin349. If I didn’t do this, I just couldn’t forgive myself. I know you will most likely NEVER read this, but I have to say it.
You don’t understand routing do you? Playing over battle.net means that all game data will be going out and in my cute little comcast connection. I have 20 buddies over, that’s 20 streams in and out of bandwidth eaten up – bandwidth that I shouldn’t have to use.
Have 20 friends over, play TF2 or WoW some time. Great lolz.
Which means, any LAN gathering (conventions, 100K-man LAN, any local tourneys, etc.) will require HUGE bandwidth amounts. Remember when halflife2 came out, and the ’simple, non-intrusive’ DRM system left legitimate purchasers unable to play for DAYS! THAT is the DRM that Blizzard is implementing here. No more “you bought the game, go play it!”, it is now ‘Hey pirate, PROVE you bought the game! Every time you play!’
Because having the LAN button INSIDE Battle.net, means YOU HAVE TO BE ON THE INTERNET TO PLAY LOCAL GAMES PERIOD. And that is wrong – period.
Having DRM like Steam (authenticate the game online, have access anywere I log in) is not an inconvenience for me.
Having to search for the DVD… that would be inconvenient.
If they also add friend lists (like Steam – so I can chat from SC2 with a friend playing Diablo 3), statistics and achievements (which I’m sure they will) then the new battle.net will be great.
(No LAN still sucks, tho)
Cant wait to not pay for this travesty.Stupid stupid blizzard. I paid for everything I got from you. Twice… three times for diablo 2. And you know what, I didnt mind it at all because you where the company that respected the fellow gamers. Your liked your clients and they liked you, but you crossed the line of the trust/distrust relationship. I WILL NOT CONNECT, I WILL NOT SIGN UP, AND I WILL NOT PAY FOR YOUR PRIVACY INVADING BS SOFTWARE. Now I have to go get a copy from stupid two bit hacker, see what you did now. Clear the DRM of any sort and I will come back. You know how to disable key’s, you know how to ban. Although I already HAD a Battle.net account I will let it rot like you are rotting the core of your fan base. Please by all means destroy your hardcore gamer fan-base for a larger casual gamer assortment. Let us see how long that lasts you when your cash cow (WOW) stops producing milk. Till then I will stand firmly on the other side of the line, exactly where YOU left me blizzard.
wow this is a great manifesto
amen
Say it ain’t so…
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So, in short, you have organization issues?
Organization issues is the least of his problems.
“I applaud what they are doing.”
Why? Just… Why?
“We all know the game is gonna make a bazillion dollars anyways.”
Not even the original StarCraft could reach a “bazillion” sales, considering that the world’s population hasn’t even reached quadrillion, and not everyone of the population bought StarCraft.
And my point is? With the stripping down of LAN and the addition of DRM, the WoW in Space known as StarCraft II will sell even less.
Yes, even if you count the sale of the parts of the game that they cut off.
The “expansion packs” required to play as the other races.
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More money than cents huh?
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This kind of DRM is especially difficult to deal with for folks in the military.
If I’m on deployment, underway for months at a time, and only in port for a few days, then I certainly have no means to wire my laptop into the internet to play a game.
I had a friend who wasted 60 dollars or so on Mass Effect just so he could look at the box.
It’s a significant inconvenience to deal with. Hopefully I’ll be home when SC2 is realeased…
Agreed, I am currently on a remote in S.Korea and have intermittent at best internet connections. And it sucks when I want to play my newer games tat required me to register, and connect to verify every effing time. I have a CD key, I PAID FOR and the idiots at these companies think this will stop or slow pirating. Quite the contrary, the pirates will remain pirates and pissed of consumers like me will rely on the pirates to give the stupid companies a bloody lip till they learn they need to be friends with their fan-base and not their overseer’s. It matters not anymore because I cannot wait for the press release’s that follow this w/blizzard trying to justify their next newer better knife in the back of the faithful.
I hear you, I am annoyed that I can play the game out of the box. I’m a paying customer – the same paying customer that Blizzard/Activison is now expecting to jump through hoops.
I am getting really tired of companies “assuming” I am a thief – I don’t mind registering for extra content but DRM is annoying and we all know the cracks will be out there for those that want them.
And don’t get me started on the LAN issue
it’s not like it’ll stop the pirates =.=
It’s like, in this case, the pirates are the people helping the consumers, not the developer helping the consumer.
tsk3 blizzard is really pissing of their fans! first the LAN play then this…
Great, when they shut down that DRM server in the future they turn your discs into $50 coasters.
Well… I *was* going to rush out and buy SCII when it came out, and I *was* looking forward to playing it… But on the bright side, Blizzard just saved me >$50 dollars.
Blizzard,
Bring back LAN play (no internet connection required) and kill the DRM. Your fans will love and adore you for it. Can you really put a price on customer loyalty?
-NetworkError
I will cost more then $50.00
They split the game into three parts.
My bet is that they sell each part for $20-$25 each!
So it will be at least 60 bucks!
I guess Blizzard doesn’t really care about sales in the developing world. Not everyone has a reliable, fast internet connection. No wonder piracy is so rampant in the developing world…
Guess, I’ll skip this one and find something else to play.
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I know I’m a huge minority, but I don’t play these games online, or with others. Except that they require it for installation I will have no need of a bnet account. There are also a lot of other players who wouldn’t need it, if they allowed standard lan play.
Also, while this article states it will be minor DRM, we have seen no details on how they will actually implement their one time privacy invasion. Some games in the past have done this by silently installing software that has harmed some customers’ computers and was very difficult to detect or remove.
DRM has proven over and over again to be of little to no value in preventing piracy of games. Yet companies continue to use it. Since it can’t accomplish it’s stated purpose, I don’t see how it can be interpreted as anything but a companies disregard of their client.
See this?
http://brickgamers.blogspot.com/2009/08/brick-gamers-35-online-games.html
Had not the news came out after this was done SC2 will be on the list too.
Happy listed as non apoc friendly SC2
“I doubt anybody would be annoyed by this kind of DRM”
Jedi mind trick fail.
I have yet to encounter any form of DRM that is not annoying. Even steam which is very nice most of the time, can be invconvenient in certain situations, such as those mentioned by the military folks above.
I should just get SC2 from the pirates, since they will be offering a superior product.
LOL! I can see it now.
“Get your SC2 Pirate Edition here! Now Land Friendly and DRM Free. and of course as always No-CD!”
Give it 24-48 hours and this will be on every bittorrent site.
Opps..
Correction..
Lan Friendly
Re: Prime
Why are we so angry? We’re angry for a few reasons.
1. One of the things that made StarCraft (and other old Blizzard games) so attractive was their player-friendly design. You could just play the games, single-player or LAN multi-player, with absolutely no strings attached. In fact, Blizzard added some special sauce to make this experience extra friendly. (Remember installing spawns?)
2. Most StarCraft players are still playing StarCraft on their LAN today. It’s a timeless game that we all want to enjoy for decades to come. If there are strings attached to this new version (i.e. Must activate new installs with Blizzard server; Must start a LAN game by way of BattleNet), it drastically reduces the flexibility and freedom-of-play that StarCraft fans are used to.
Because of our long, loyal history with Blizzard, we expect *more* from them.
In one sense, this version doesn’t really take much away from the old version *if* you have a reliable Internet connection and Blizzard’s server continue to run for as many years as you want to play.
*If*, on the other hand, your Internet connection is dodgy or Blizzard decides to end-of-life support for StarCraft II’s servers, the game becomes a pile of… nothing.
By it’s very nature, a game with such strings attached cannot be timeless… Cannot be a classic. Eventually the external services that are required in order to make it perform as designed will go away.
We, the StarCraft fans, weep collectively because we already know the inevitable outcome of our beloved game’s current course. And sadly, the only way to prevent it from eventually fading into obscurity will be to circumvent Blizzard’s carefully crafted dependence on external services. But even this will not fully replace what is missing by design.
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ummm Root kits can actually be quite destructive – they can open the door to virus’s, trojans etc.. Think; Spore and F.E.A.R (and Sony) – just google Root Kit and any of the above or go to wiki and see “SecuROM”.
It’s not about LAN – it’s about control and possibly broadcast rights in South Korea.
SecuROM and most current DRM are not actually real rootkits.
“real” ? meh
By requiring that I connect to their servers in order to install the game that I bought, they are putting the continued viability of the product I paid for into their own hands.
Imagine if you bought a book and then couldn’t read it because the publishing company had gone out of business.
Even if we assume that companies like Blizzard will keep their activation servers up until they go out of business (despite plenty of historical evidence that this simply isn’t the case), I own dozens of games from companies that no longer exist. And if you think that Blizzard is Eternal because they’re Really, Really Big, then I have a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you.
Damn DRM crappy files in my cpu that I don’t want,
I was going to buy the game but now I am just going to, pirate all of blizzard games from now on.
I was goin gto buy 5 copies now I am gonig to pirate them as hard as I can.
If I buy the game I get no LAN play but DRM.
If I get a cracked copy I get LAN play and no DRM.
Which copy do you think I will choose ?
You forgot you have to buy the game in three parts.
Damnit, this means that I won’t be able to create new accounts when my record becomes 0-50-50.
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I am outraged that you’re outraged at my outrage.
Who’s more bitchy? The bitch-fitter? Or the bitch-fitter who bitch-fits about the first bitch-fitter?
But seriously. It’s a big deal to us. We’re voting with our dollar. It’s not a big deal to you. … Nifty. Go buy the game when it comes out.
You Sir! are a twit!
Blizzard can better protect itself through offering patches, mods, forums and rewarding the buying public’s good behaviour rather than assuming that we are all thieves even though we would buy it off the shelf. If they took some ideas from the Chinese they might also included a poster or figurine in a box (as long as it’s quality) I would pay a little bit more for a quality product.
I am sure the majority here will consider downloading SC2 with the no DRM, LAN patch (even if they do buy the original) simply for ease of use.
You are right in part, DRM will affect only the percent of people who buy the product – personally IF (and it’s a big if) I do buy SC2 it will only be if there is a working DRM patch, no CD crack and LAN patch (hell I can wait two weeks
Nobody cares about your hate or ignorance of the issues here, perhaps you should go back to playing Pokemon.
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God has very little to do do with it.
Are you not reading the thread? internet isn’t for everyone (Cost, reliability, personal preference, whatever).
The question is why do they NEED us to connect to the internet? it’s not about service or piracy, It’s about control and it’s delaying the launch of the game by another six (6) months at least.
Hearing this I now would not feel bad pirating sc2. Since paying customers will get worse service than those using warez.
How about blizzard starts charging for battle.net and multiplayer service directly since that is currently the big draw anyhow for starcraft 2 users?
this is BS!
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Dude,
You must not hit the torrent sites very often. The pirate version is sometimes out before the real version is. I would be suprised if it takes more then 48 hours
Sad but true – How long will we have to wait for the bundle; No CD and No LAN patch – it’s also sucks because I was always the guy buying it in store. But not this time I think.
this kind of thing kills those of us who go out to sea for months at a time. we were so happy when one of the wive’s sent a copy of red alert 3 only to find out we couldnt install it.
I think it’s great that they’re including DRM. With Modern Warfare 2 set to fly off the shelves and 8 million people+ paying £8-15 a month on WoW, I was worried that Activision and Blizzard might spend their profits on jets or fast cars or admins or GMs or product support or something!
I happen to think that restricted game access, rootkits, arguing with customer support about account status and limited installs are the rights of a paying customer and ha ha to the pirates and keygen coders and hamachi users who will not be able to get these as part of their gameplay experience!
And all for a significant part of my disposable income! We’ve come so far since the dark old days where you just got a game for pocket money.
Three cheers for modern gaming!
That sux big time. I was looking forward to buy this game. Just because blizzard was aware of the bullshit that all of the narrow minded drms bring. U can suck on my torrentz now blizzard. WTF is it with those industry guys who cannot see that just connecting means a hell lot for some gamers out there.
And as usuall i guess that is the fucking reason to postpone the bloody release.
Blizzard,
The only reason I’ve ever bought your games has been for LAN play with my friends, and the OCCASIONAL battle over b-net. It’s much more fun playing with people in the same room, and you’re making things absurdly convoluted for no reason. I’d never have even know about Starcraft if it hadn’t been for LAN play. Some people have some laptops and a game router, no internet. We go camping, we go to the middle of nowhere, and PLAY STARCRAFT!
I was considering planning to upgrade my computer and possibly buy a new one, JUST TO PLAY STARCRAFT 2. This is very expensive. I have to start saving the minerals and gas soon or I won’t have enough when you actually release the game. In order to do this I have to know it’s a smart build. I have to know your game is going to actually be a better version of Starcraft.
In the past week I’ve had my internet have problems 3 times, it was completely down. NOT UNCOMMON! A good friend is in town. My friend loves Starcraft as much or more than me. We watch pro matches on his big-screen TV. We had some epic matches just this week without internet, all with our legally purchased copies of starcraft, we were able to play without internet.
Do you WANT to force b-net to have more people on it, making it cost more to run? Apparently. It sounds like it’d be easier not to, since often times people will just want to play locally.
There are other people that have old computers and will need to upgrade. It’s much easier to convince them once they play the game over LAN with a friend.
Everyone will praise you for your ability to listen to fans if you do the right thing, like the did with Starcraft.
It sounds to me like you are building mass sunken colony when you are fighting nothing but siege tanks and wraiths. Think about the end-game here dudes!
And to all you seasoned Blizzard employees who know that this is a bad idea,
Don’t let a bunch of chuckleheads tell you how to do things. Fight back, put your jobs on the line. It’s not too late and you all know it.
I’m only one of the many.
You’ve seen the movie the Matrix, when cypher pulls the plug on Switch.
That’s what you are doing to me.
“Not like this. Not like this.”
Being an old-school Starcraft player, back when battle net over 56k was impressive, I am very disheartened by the turn that Blizzard is taking here.
3 things have really irked me about Starcraft II
1) No LAN – you have got to be kidding me, Starcraft would not have become Starcraft without the LAN play…in fact as I grew up with 56k having 2 people play together would be near impossible with Starcraft II.
2) 3 releases for campaigns? really? So I have to buy what is essential the same engine with different art 3 times?
and now
3) DRM. yes, I always have an internet connection, yes I am fine with signing up with battlenet (I would anyways), but DRM is only a hinderer to the consumer. What was wrong with the old “cd-key” system? Did someone make up some figures to sell you the false sense of security that is DRM?
I really do hope the pirates come out with a better version with LAN without DRM, maybe I will just buy a copy of the legit game and download/play the pirated version….then I cover my legal standings AND get the features I demand.
And yes, I know no one from Blizzard will read this, I know no one cares. It will catch up with them eventually, and hopefully another indie publisher will learn the lesson and replace them.
well put Subrosa,
Rumours suggest “no LAN” might have to do with broadcast rights in Korea.
Blizzard might be reading the threads here, a number of companies employ social media people to keep an ear out. This means they know the petitions are out there and know that a large percent of people wont “out” themselves online they will simply pirate the game.
It’s a shame Blizzard/Activison have not learnt from EA-Spore, Blizzards failure to understand pirates and their customer base will cost them millions (mind you not as much as Bobby’s 15 million dollar salary).
I won’t pirate it, I’m a software engineer.
But I also, won’t buy it, I’ll spend my money on another game, even after waiting so long to see a SC2.
There’s always hope for Diablo 3.
That sux big time. I was looking forward to buy this game. Just because blizzard was aware of the bullshit that all of the narrow minded drms bring. U can suck on my torrentz now blizzard. WTF is it with those industry guys who cannot see that just connecting means a hell lot for some gamers out there.
And as usuall i guess that is the fucking reason to postpone the bloody release…
Pfft! I was really looking forward to StarCraft 2 and Diablo 3, but no thanks, I’ll pass. Requiring an internet connection for a single-player game is a deal-breaker for me. Too bad for Blizzard… There are a ton of other games out there, and I’ll gladly spend my money on the ones that aren’t intentionally broken…
EA made the same mistake… As a result, I’ve skipped Spore, Mirror’s Edge, Mass Effect, Dead Space, and also have no intention of playing Dragon Age or Mass Effect 2 they activate the same way… Brilliant move EA! Great way to lose a long-time customer!
Wow man, you really missed out. Spore and Mirror’s Edge are pretty meh, but Mass Effect and Dead Space were well worth any inconvenience (I played em’ on 360 though, so I can’t be sure). In addition to this, I’ve almost always found that people who pirate games do it whether or not there is DRM, even though they often claim they’d pay for it if the company went without, this never seems to happen when games lack the DRM of course. It’s kind of a lose/lose situation for the company. The pirates pirate either way, but now at least they can make the gaming experience inferior to the pirates (eg no lan means that multiplayer will proble be impossible for pirates) so whether or not I agree with it, I can understand their justification, and sympathize with these companies which are losing tremendous amounts of money due to piracy and are trying desperately to prevent this. We can only hope they change their standpoint before the game’s final release next year.
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wow Swifty, do you have a Blizzard tattoo anywhere?
You do realise we are takling about Starcraft here not some “WOW in Space” right?
I personally have never logged on to b.net – others here might have but for me the game was never about meeting new people (or kid’s online) it was a fun way for me to get together with mates (real people) and sit in a room with pizza and too many soft drinks.
If you are need of a girlfriend – I can’t help you there – but since our LAN’s actually had girls there too (you do know that girls play games right?). Girlfriends and LAN’s always worked for us… you just need the balls to manage a group of people.
Thank as well for your helpful suggestions on costs but this doesn’t equal other peoples reality around the world and neither does logging to to register a game I have already purchased in store. (America is only one country in the world).
DRM assumes the holder of the game is a thief or pirate, when the reality of piracy is so very different. I should be rewarded for purchasing a game from a store not punished.
It’s never been about cost Swifty – I owned and played Starcraft ten years ago – and have been earning six figures for some years now. With Blizzard / Activison it’s a respect thing and let’s face it – you just don’t get it – maybe it’s a puberty thing? don’t know, don’t really care.
Be a sheep by all means – I will be buying games that my friends and I can play together and that’s where my money will be spent and nothing some Blizzard troll say’s is going to make a difference.
Have a good day Swifty!
I don’t have interent access on my gaming/home pc (speed, reliability and price reasons) so even requiring me to ‘authenticate’ the game once during install is going to lose Blizzard my £30!
Oh well more money to spend on hobbies where they treat you like a customer and not a criminal. Remember innocent until proven guilty!
Right on, I just like playing devil’s advocate. I think blizzard has plenty of stupid mistakes and decisions. Mostly the decision to wait to release a game that’s done by most standards strictly for the multiplayer aspect. All i’m saying is if you can’t find a free wi-fi connection somwhere for 10 minutes…crap maybe you shouldn’t be spending your money on SC, since you must live in a 3rd world country.
“DRM assumes the holder of the game is a thief or pirate, when the reality of piracy is so very different. I should be rewarded for purchasing a game from a store not punished.”
Did i read that correctly? You spend money on a game, and by registering it,you are-in essence- saying you didn’t buy it? I don’t really get what your statement means…
SC is the ONLY game I’ve ever like from blizzard…I’ve never even played WoW and I think Diablo is the most redundant “click,click,click” game ever invented. So you can call me a fanboy-but by no means am i a “blizzard troll”
I just think everyone is acting like a big baby about change. Change happens, deal with it. Register your game you “pirates” or don’t buy it like you said you aren’t. =) If you’re about playng multiplayer with your friends,and not multiplayer online, I’d say you are a very slim margin and the gaming industry shouldn’t have to cater to you anyway. It’s about money, ergo they’ll cater to the masses. If you have an internet connection to flame about it on here, you ought to have that connection to connect for gaming. If not, bummer. Guess you’ll have to stick with SC1, which is still an awesome game. =) Now excuse me while I go change my son’s diapers, give him a nap, and try to make more babies with my girlfriend. =) Good day sirs.
With the amount of piracy happening today, why wouldn’t they incorporate DRM? It’s like buying a car without having to go to the DMV. If i stole your car and drove it around, and a cop pulled me over…and i could just say,”it’s ok, i payed for this” and get let go…well you can see where your logic is flawed,can’t you? Thank blizzard for waiting so long to make DRM a requirement. If you bought it at the store, and have an internet connection, what’s the difference between typing a key-code or logging online for about 2 minutes? The difference is everyone has to pay to play, as they should. Just be thankful it’s taken this long to go into effect mr “I make six figures” lol
DRM isn’t a requirement – copy protection worked when the transfer of information was poor but the times have moved on or ‘changed’.
With groups of dedicated hackers around the world and the fan base (or potential market for sales) being so large the cracked version will be out in hours, just like Spore…
I don’t understand your point about the DMV? If you could download a car then yes people would steal them I guess. But games are different – at least with Dawn of War the no cd was removed as part of the installation of the later expansions. It’s nice to be treated with respect.
You will never stop people from stealing anything, it’s simply a matter of opportunity and these days a click away. The only way to win against piracy is to offer more rewards for being a good customer than assuming everyone who walked in the door is a thief out to get you.
Imagine I guess – Blizzard / Activision as a store who strip-searches customers entering/exiting the store on the off chance that someone might shoplift. Would you shop there Swifty?
I have no real objection on registering my purchase for a product (it’s my choice to do so) – I do find something objectionable about a game (company) demanding I ‘prove’ that my legal copy is in fact legal…
A better DRM car analogy is…
DRM ‘protected’ car: Having to phone up the dealer and ask them to bring you the keys every time you want to use the car. If they have gone out of business, its the weekend or they no longer support your model of car then you can not drive it
Normal car: You get in, turn the key and drive off.
In a normal car you are given the key when you purchase it. In the DRM ‘protected’ key you are effectively looking after the car for the dealer and have to beg to be able to use it.
“In a normal car you are given the key when you purchase it. In the DRM ‘protected’ key you are effectively looking after the car for the dealer and have to beg to be able to use it.”
should read
“In a normal car you are given the key when you purchase it. In the DRM ‘protected’ car you are effectively looking after the car for the dealer and have to beg to be able to use it.”
Sorry about the typo
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“The fact that you are upset you have to prove you aren’t a douchebag hacker,well, insinuates that you are one….”
I always subscribed to the ‘Innocent until proven guilty’ methodology. In your world everyone is a guilty until…
1. They have enough money for a monthly subscription to the Internet (both ISP and line rental charges)
2. Even after handing over money for a game they then have to prove that they legally purchased it at install and every time they want to run said game
3. Are willing to had over complete control of the game to a 3rd part for as long as they can be bothered to support said product at which point the game will no longer be installeable/runnable.
Yes change happens, but there is a difference between change that happens because its needed and change for changes sake. Any form of checking for single player (i.e. offline) is not needed and ultimately hurts the customer when it goes wrong.
“like 90% of the other players out there who accept change and see DRM as a step in the right direction” – Link to a study that proves this please.
“The fact that you are upset you have to prove you aren’t a douchebag hacker,well, insinuates that you are one…. “ – Wow you really are very short sighted if that’s the only conclusion you can come up with.
P.S. I have no problem with publishers protecting their IP so long as they do it in a way that does not inconvenience me or cause me to possibly be unable to use what I fairly paid for.
Couldn’t have said it better myself, sir. Well done.
Guess I didn’t acnser your DMV question earlier. YOu buy a car, you have to go to the DMV to register/title it. Buy a game, you go online and register it. How hard is that to understand? Figured you’d know all about the going to DMV, seeing as you must have a plethora of cars with your six-figure salary and all.
XD
Actually in Australia – you do not have to register a vehicle or even have a license if the vehicle in question is used on private property and roads.
And you shouldn’t be using the word ‘register’ registering a game is putting your hand up and saying I purchased a game. What Blizzard is trying to do is what companies before now have done 9EA with Spore) and is to sell a locked product which can not be used until it is ‘unlocked’ and verified online. (Which people without a reliable internet connection or those of use worried about quality, privacy etc.. object too).
I couldn’t care if you think I am a hacker – I just think the money they are wasting on DRM could be better spent on game development and quality control.
One last thought Switfy – what happens with the Blizzard Activation/Verification Server goes down?….it could be one year, two years or even attacked by DOS? What will you play then? (all it takes is one dodgy connection or a Trojan that means you have to reinstall the game and there will be tears).
Come find us playing Dawn of War – Soulstorm, if I buy something from store it’s mine! no-one can assume that I stole it if I am walking down the street with it in my bag – Why would I give my rights to a greedy multinational gaming company whose CEO makes 15 Million? he certainly doesn’t have my best interests at heart.
OMG. Buy the game, go home and install. Connect to B.net to verify. Play the game until your computer takes a shit or you reformat. It’s a ONE TIME DEAL. Why doesn’t anyone seem to understand that? You dont need to connect to blizzard every day if you want to play. They just want to make sure you didn’t download it from a torrent site for free. What is wrong with a company protecting their rights?
I dont think you’re a hacker 1975, i just think you talk like one.
I don’t think a police officer in the USA is going to come on your land and ask for a title for your car without it reported stolen or good cause either, so that point is moot. Although they do have to register farm vehicles,technically. But if you never leave your house,land, or roads on your private land-then of course you don’t have to register the damn thing.
I don’t think everyone is guilty until proven innocent, i just think the outrage over a SOFT DRM is freaking rediculous. Instead of a keycode, you connect to the companies server. Hey, you paid for this, thanks! Enjoy the game, and enjoy the (most likely) freaking awesome B.net 2.0 for free, unlike most other companies *cough* MSoft *cough* that require you to pay a monthly fee. Considering they are giving multiplayers a free,upgraded service to ensure a better gaming atmosphere…the least you can do is prove you paid for the product you are going to use on the free servers they have to pay to maintain and upgrade.
What a Biased,one sided discussion we’d have here, if I wasn’t shaking it up a bit, eh?
“like 90% of the other players out there who accept change and see DRM as a step in the right direction” – Link to a study that proves this please.
There is no study. Although 82% of statistics are made up on the spot. XD
But if you find someone to do a stufy like that, Let me know. I’m sure the number wouldn’t be half that-if this forum is any indication.
OMG OMG the server went down!!!! Whatever am I to do with myself! Good god!! I can’t play!!! What am I supposed to do!?!? Go OUTSIDE!?! OMFG OMFG
Seriously? Get bent or get laid.
Get over it. Change is here. If you want to play the game, log onto b.net for a minute. If you dont, STFU and get outta here. Boycott by not buying the game, see if blizzard gives a shit. =D
LBK
“Why would I give my rights to a greedy multinational gaming company whose CEO makes 15 Million? he certainly doesn’t have my best interests at heart.”
You make six figures, who says I should listen to you anyway you greedy wanna be CEO. rofl…
“..wanna be CEO…” ahh no thanks. I have better things to do with my time.
like for example; troll hunting (it’s free)
but feel free to attack me personally if you like, it’s not like you’re able to debate my points on Starcraft, it’s marketing or say anything of any relevance..
a smart person (swifty) might have asked what my speciality is and why they are willing to pay for my services… far easier to assume everyone else is dumber than you perhaps?
Whats this?
Blizzard turn into EA now?
That’s right, let it die.