Dead Space PC DRM?
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*chortle*Canada Join Date: 2002-01-23 Member: 7Members, Super Administrators, Forum Admins, NS1 Playtester, NS2 Developer, Constellation, NS2 Playtester, Reinforced - Shadow, WC 2013 - Silver, Subnautica Developer, Subnautica Playtester, Pistachionauts
in Off-Topic
Since Dead Space is an EA game, does anyone know what DRM it has on the PC version? I am not getting it on console (none) and I don't care about the debate about their DRM. I just want to know if the PC version has it, please keep the other debates out of here at least until we have a definite answer <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile-fix.gif" />
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Actually upon more searching, it's 5 activations instead of 3. So not exactly Spore's...
Apparently it comes out a few days after the console release.
Actually upon more searching, it's 5 activations instead of 3. So not exactly Spore's...<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Seems your google-fu tops mine, got a link for that info? And <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":(" border="0" alt="sad-fix.gif" /> if so.
Not that DRM is very smart in the first place (on the levels of what's usually talked about anyway), since it only hurts the legitimate customers. At most it'll delay the pirates a week.
Not that DRM is very smart in the first place (on the levels of what's usually talked about anyway), since it only hurts the legitimate customers. At most it'll delay the pirates a week.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Since I seem to have my answer, exactly. The *only* people this DRM will affect is legitimate customers. In theory it will cause no issues, but anything that can go wrong will just hurt the people who bought it. And it will still be pirated just like every other game. Seems I won't be getting this game anytime soon.
<img src="http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/steal_this_comic.png" border="0" class="linked-image" />
All the hit I found were mostly rumors based off of EA saying that they plan to have 'protection' on all their titles. Seeing how both Mass Effect and Spore had an online reg / install limits it's extremely probable that Dead Space will too. I doubt EA learned any kind of lesson.
<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I've never understood why people get worked up over a DRM scheme that is about as restrictive as, say, the operating system that they've chosen to install.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I've never understood why developers implement DRM software that is about as effective as pissing on a fire. DRM does not accomplish it's purpose, which is to stop, or at least deter, piracy. Instead it has the opposite effect of encouraging piracy and letting the people who pirate feel vindicated for such actions. DRM* is in no way an effective means of fighting piracy. A statement easily proven by the amount of times Spore has been stolen.
*DRM such as requiring a CD to be in the drive, online activation, or install limits. Requiring a valid CD key for online play or patches is a perfect example of 'smart DRM.' I'm all for companies protecting their work so they'll be around to make more games, but not when they do it like a bunch of morons.
Delaying the pirates for even a day results in a massive sales increase because Day 1 piracy is some of the most destructive to a game's sales potential. DRM often accomplishes that. Does this change anything, or do you still not want to buy it because the DRM that won't hurt you might end up hurting you? Why didn't this stop you from buying Windows?
The funny part is when they use DRM, and there is Day -5 piracy.
I was GOING to pirate the game, but it wasn't available yet, so I went and bought it instead!
Sigh, this is why I don't get into these debates... terrible analogies. Windows is needed for other stuff I want to use (ie: dead space), Dead Space is not needed for me to run other software. And yes, I loathe the windows system as well. Shockingly it recently broke at work and started claiming about 100 of out 150 copies of corporate XP were illegal (I did check, we had more than enough licenses). We are still trying to fix a few of them weeks later to make them run. Each day I am slowly learning linux cause I am getting sick of this windows crap more.
And like Snark said, many games get released before they even come out, heck Farcry 2 came out a week or so before on some of the consoles. That is a gamble whether it does or not. But really, I am not against DRM, I am just against stupid DRM. I use Steam, and love it to death. I can play it on whatever PC I want, download it as much as I want (well, not so much since EA is sticking their DRM on top of Steam's DRM now as well). Yes Steam may have issues in the future, but I am willing to use it still. ie: I refuse to get Farcry 2 off Steam or anywhere due to EA DRM placed on it.
So, in summary this DRM can only cause issues to legal customers, maybe saves a few customers(?) but also loses many like me, and prevents nothing in the end. Release it on something, direct2drive, steam without the extra DRM and I would be all over it.
As an example my system has become unstable over the past couple of weeks, I want to format but will put it off as I only installed Crysis Warhead a couple of days ago.
What makes this so deliciously ironic is that had I pirated the game I would be able to format and restore my PC but because I went legit I'm loathe to go to my 2nd activation copy so quickly after buying Warhead.
What Swiftspear said.
Let's pretend you actually have some figures to back this statement up, I still don't believe pirates are going to change their mind in a 24 hour period.... especially if DRM is involved. I would also argue against the idea that DRM somehow accomplishes the goal of preventing pirates. It almost seems like common sense that the more games ship with DRM the more it becomes an issue and the more pirates are vindicated.
I mean, if anything what stops a pirate isn't DRM... it's the fact that the game is 8 gigs and they want to play it now.
<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->do you still not want to buy it because the DRM that won't hurt you might end up hurting you?<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Pay $50 and chance never being able to play what I paid for again, or pay nothing and have no restrictions. Hmmm, what sounds more logical?
No, but ancy customers do. Pirates don't pirate just for themselves, they create the torrents and illegal copies for other people to download/purchase. People who fail to get a pirated copy on day one might run out and buy a copy out of laziness.
If DRM were to "wear off" after two months I think it would solve most of the big issues while letting long-time customers use the game to their hearts content.
Hmm, interesting idea.
<!--quoteo(post=1690804:date=Oct 19 2008, 09:26 AM:name=Haze)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Haze @ Oct 19 2008, 09:26 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1690804"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->People who fail to get a pirated copy on day one might run out and buy a copy out of laziness.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I thought torrents were for lazy people because it was easier to download them than go to the store.
If DRM were to "wear off" after two months I think it would solve most of the big issues while letting long-time customers use the game to their hearts content.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Ugg... The whole point is that NO ONE willing to pirate will decide to buy a game first because the game comes out 24 hours earlier than the torrents. It doesn't work that way. I might buy a game because a pirated copy isn't going to be available any time soon, but that's really not what DRM does, it just delays, by a short period, the inevitable. A customer is someone who buys, and someone who buys either does not know how to download and play illegally through piracy, or buys because they have made a moral/ethical decision not to pirate. If one or the other is not true, no short delay is going to make $50 leave the hands of the player in question.
Piracy is the illegal downloading or sharing of games. DOWNLOADING IS PIRATING. DRM is much much less effective than good supportive development practices in reducing piracy. In fact, in general, DRM increases significantly piracy, because it rewards pirates and punishes customers.
I do feel bad for the developers since it's generally the publishers that add the DRM.
That's because it's their money to lose at that point. The developers were paid a wage to develop the game and they're not going to get royalties. The publisher is the one that paid those wages and needs to recoup the money.
I agree DRM is a shame though. Almost all publishers could be just as profitable(probably more so) without these elaborate DRM schemes. If you want to avoid DRM I'd recommend some indie games. I just bought a couple from Greenhouse(the same guys that sell the PA game).
So basically you just capped off a long post on why DRM limits you with a sentence on why it doesn't matter. It seems to me, then, that you're not being hurt by DRM at all and shouldn't really care what the publisher does to try to stop piracy.
I agree DRM is a shame though. Almost all publishers could be just as profitable(probably more so) without these elaborate DRM schemes. If you want to avoid DRM I'd recommend some indie games. I just bought a couple from Greenhouse(the same guys that sell the PA game).<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Most development studios get royalties. They just aren't huge(the last article I read on it is a few cents per copy).
As to DRM: I think just about anybody who has looked at the figures can definitely say, Piracy is bad and all, but DRM hurts worse. Also, most games nowadays are overdeveloped- spending $60,000,000 on a single game, expecting it to recoup its costs, is asking to lose. Publishers should be looking for ways to make game development cheaper(EA does a good job of keeping their prices down, and they share resources across all of their studios- and the quality of their games stays rather outstanding, altogether), not just finding new AAA releases time and time again.
Stardock's method of "developing for the customer, not the user" is best, in my eyes: Low cost, high yield. They made Sins of a Solar Empire for under a million, and its sold half a million- recouping their costs so completely and easily, its ridiculous. 100,000 of those were digital download too- bringing more and more profits in. And the game is ######ing amazing, to boot. And never once did they use DRM.
Talent makes great games, not money. And I think publishers should recognize that, drop DRM, and start focusing on hitting good markets with good products, that they make for cheap. It'll allow more creativity, and over time, more innovation.
Piracy can help games.
I personally don't like shelling out $50 for a game I won't like. That's why the reviewing industry got so big, to help us channel our money to the good games. However, why not just get a pirated version, see if it's any good, then decide if it's worth supporting? Then again, that's what the demos used to do. What ever happened to releasing demos anyways?
However, if there's a nasty DRM, it makes one less likely to shell out that $50.
<!--quoteo(post=1690880:date=Oct 20 2008, 10:57 AM:name=Quaunaut)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Quaunaut @ Oct 20 2008, 10:57 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1690880"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Most development studios get royalties. They just aren't huge(the last article I read on it is a few cents per copy).<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Yeah I was thinking about royalties to the developers but I've never really checked to see how much studios actually get.