PC Games - DRM

[CrazyAsano]

Assume you're a game company and you want people to give you money for a game you just made. Would you implement any sort of copy protection? If so, how would you maximize inconvenience to pirates and minimize inconvenience to legit customers?

[ADC]

I think that, right now, the use of CD keys is about as good a balance as can be struck for games delivered on physical media. It's enough of a roadblock to keep honest people honest; and the thieves are going to find a way around your copy protection no matter what because that's what they do. As for downloaded games, they can keep making the passwords more elaborate, longer, bound to your name, bound to your credit card, whatever; it won't make a difference to the thieves (again). You can't fucking-asshole-proof computer software.

That said, if I were making a downloadable game, I would put it right at the top of the EULA that if your password pops up on multiple copies of a game, I'm charging your credit card for each copy. If that puts you over your limit, or drains your checking account, it's your problem, not mine.

[indigo0086]

That said, if I were making a downloadable game, I would put it right at the top of the EULA that if your password pops up on multiple copies of a game, I'm charging your credit card for each copy. If that puts you over your limit, or drains your checking account, it's your problem, not mine.

The problem is, if your game is easily exploitable (via bad programming), then you can end up in the hotseat for putting that reasponsibility in the hands, wallets, of your customer.

Key-code, online/phone verification, that's the "middleground" that should be met. You don't have to spare the rod, but you can't punish the many for the few that MAY pirate your game. You're not going to succeed, and will be known as a douche bag developer and people will remember that. Ubisoft what what.

[Chacranajxy]

I wouldn't have anything more than a simple CD key. CD Keys keep the unmotivated wannabe pirates out. If someone really wants to play your game without paying, they're going to find a way. By implementing all that protection shit that companies use, you're just wasting time and money on protection schemes that will only alienate the end user and serve as little more than a nuisance to pirates.

[lostnomad84]

I think that, right now, the use of CD keys is about as good a balance as can be struck for games delivered on physical media. It's enough of a roadblock to keep honest people honest; and the thieves are going to find a way around your copy protection no matter what because that's what they do.

That is the simple reality of bootlegs. If someone wants to rob it, they will find a way , no matter what. It is also becoming an even simpler fact that too much DRM can do just as much harm to the customer as it can to the pirate.

[Sensuifu]

Assume you're a game company and you want people to give you money for a game you just made. Would you implement any sort of copy protection? If so, how would you maximize inconvenience to pirates and minimize inconvenience to legit customers?

As a company, I would invest in implementing hardware dongles (USB keys, etc.) that authenticate/unlock the game/program ala software like Cubase. Sure they'll be hacked some way or another (via virtual dongles, etc..) but most often than not those methods only destroy the usability of the software. Requiring these keys may come at an expense to the customer, but it does create a headache for pirates to circumvent. The only inconveniences of these are: you're screwed if you lose them (repurchasing a key required), you'll always need it to load the game/program, and they can be made non-transferable to other computers if they're system-ID dependent. Other than that, pirates will have a tougher time cracking/emulating them.

[covnam]

While I'd like none, I suppose I'd use the old standard of a cd-key and maybe online activation. It would depend on the type of game though. A single player game is harder to protect but at the same problem really shouldn't require something like online activation when you don't play online. An online game though is much easier with a cd-key since a key gets tied to an account and you use the account whenever you go online.

[JCDenton]

Unfortunately, this recent online activation debacle with Bioshock, my only option to play is to find a cracked version. If 2K Games continues this trend, they'll be losing my business. Like the previous poster said, if people want to pirate a game, they'll find a way. I have no problem with the CD or even Starforce kind of thing, although I know others have had problems with the latter.

[CrazyAsano]

I think I have to agree with everyone who said CD Key only.

[Sensuifu]

I think I have to agree with everyone who said CD Key only.

page 8, 2nd paragraph, 3rd sentence, 5th word.

[CrazyAsano]

I think I have to agree with everyone who said CD Key only.

page 8, 2nd paragraph, 3rd sentence, 5th word.
Zuh?

[FigNewton]

I think I have to agree with everyone who said CD Key only.

page 8, 2nd paragraph, 3rd sentence, 5th word.
Zuh?


In olden times, computer games, instead of having cd keys, would often ask the player to input a specific word from the instruction manual. The above is the phrasing the game would use telling you which word to use.

Some games asked you to do this... every. time. you played.

Given your age, this practice was abandoned long before you were likely to have ever encountered it.

[Chacranajxy]

I think I have to agree with everyone who said CD Key only.

page 8, 2nd paragraph, 3rd sentence, 5th word.
Zuh?


In olden times, computer games, instead of having cd keys, would often ask the player to input a specific word from the instruction manual. The above is the phrasing the game would use telling you which word to use.

Some games asked you to do this... every. time. you played.

Given your age, this practice was abandoned long before you were likely to have ever encountered it.

I remember that. I wanna say that it was "good times," but it wasn't. Actually, the only game I played that had that was Wolfenstein 3D: Spear of Destiny... I still remember the questions like "How many eyelets does BJ have on page 8 of the manual" or some other random moronic question. I want to shoot people, not play Jeopardy with you, prick.

[Sensuifu]

I think I have to agree with everyone who said CD Key only.

page 8, 2nd paragraph, 3rd sentence, 5th word.
Zuh?

:D Sorry. Thought you were already familiar with that 'anti-piracy' method.

[Fencedude]

I think I have to agree with everyone who said CD Key only.

page 8, 2nd paragraph, 3rd sentence, 5th word.
Zuh?


In olden times, computer games, instead of having cd keys, would often ask the player to input a specific word from the instruction manual. The above is the phrasing the game would use telling you which word to use.

Some games asked you to do this... every. time. you played.

Given your age, this practice was abandoned long before you were likely to have ever encountered it.

Oh I distinctly remember it, and I'm only a couple of years older than him.

Bad things happened when I lost my X-Wing instruction manual.

[Kellory]

I think I have to agree with everyone who said CD Key only.

page 8, 2nd paragraph, 3rd sentence, 5th word.
Zuh?


In olden times, computer games, instead of having cd keys, would often ask the player to input a specific word from the instruction manual. The above is the phrasing the game would use telling you which word to use.

Some games asked you to do this... every. time. you played.

Given your age, this practice was abandoned long before you were likely to have ever encountered it.

Oh I distinctly remember it, and I'm only a couple of years older than him.

Bad things happened when I lost my X-Wing instruction manual.


I just got bad Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego flashbacks. :cry:

[FigNewton]

Oh I distinctly remember it, and I'm only a couple of years older than him.

Bad things happened when I lost my X-Wing instruction manual.


Honestly you're both kinda on the cusp of it. Kinda that sweet spot where I could believe you'd remember for users who started out young (wow that sounds weird), but completely unsurprised by a 23 year old having no recollection of it whatsoever.

Unlike the old timers (30 here... oh wait, I just turned 31... fuck) who dealt with it on too many games to count for too many years and no hope of avoiding it. :(

[CrazyAsano]

I think I have to agree with everyone who said CD Key only.

page 8, 2nd paragraph, 3rd sentence, 5th word.
Zuh?


In olden times, computer games, instead of having cd keys, would often ask the player to input a specific word from the instruction manual. The above is the phrasing the game would use telling you which word to use.

Some games asked you to do this... every. time. you played.

Given your age, this practice was abandoned long before you were likely to have ever encountered it.
Actually, I do remember that now. Most prominent example in my memory is Maniac Mansion: Day of the Tentacle.