Ever since the announcement that Spore will come packaged with Digital Rights Management (DRM) the whole internet has been a hail storm of abuse, negativity and anger, a bit like a paintballing session with Darth Vader, or how I’d imagine it anyway.
The whole frustration behind DRM is that in Spore’s case it means you can only install the game 3 times before having to contact EA for a new CD key, which means either waiting for an EA support rep to contact you by email or facing a costly telephone call.
Of course in the grand scale of things DRM is supposed to help developers ensure people don’t pirate their software, meaning more sales for them, and in theory, more money to help make better games for us.
Sadly it doesn’t work out like that, Spore for example was cracked and readily available to download from the internet days before it hit store shelves, clearly the DRM did a great job on that.
I understand a developer wanting to protect their games from software pirates and it’s not something I disagree with. Anyone who creates something, be it film, music or games, all have a right to sell their product, it is after all, how they make their money.
However, I cannot see the understanding of using a system like DRM in games. At the end of the day those who want to pirate it, will pirate it. The DRM software is easily worked around by those that want to. Yet, for the average gamer they are being punished.
This is what I suppose aggravates me the most about it all. The fact that the average gamer, the one who buys their games, is being punished. Yes, you could argue that 3 installs is plenty, but how many people will install Spore not only on their home PC, but their laptop as well? That’s two installs gone right there. What if they upgrade or get a critical hardware failure? Sure there’s the option to go to EA and get a new serial, but why should we have too?
What happens when EA stops support for the game? What will happen then? What about the effect on game shops that have a pre-owned section, not just big retailers but indie stores too?
Doesn’t this add to the development costs of games too? Then there’s 3rd party software that apparently lingers on your computer after the games removal too. Not to mention DRM having random urges to just suddenly stop working on your PC for no reason! When someone buys the game, are they informed there is only a 3 time install on the game?
There are a lot of questions being bandied about and not really many answers.
I understand the reasoning behind it, but I can’t help get the feeling it is one step forward, two steps back. Games will still be pirated with or without a DRM system and any use of one (by today’s means) is simply punishing the regular, game buying, honest gamer.
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