Later this year

"DeAnn" <DeAnn000.DeleteThis@gmail.com> wrote in message news:5994570e-876f-4431-aad2-
Alas, with the DRMs that have been used recently, I'll be waiting a
while anyway, to see what people think of the DRM. Waiting to see
what they think of the game is almost an afterthought.
.....Which is really, really sad if you think about it.
..
(This has turned into a lecture, but I didn;t intend to start out that way.
I was saying, heck, yes, and agreeing with you, then I got on my soap box.)

But inevitable, don't you think? <sigh...>
When you consider that the software houses are in business for one reason,
and one reason only, and that is to make money, to pay wages, rates, etc.
etc...
Every game pirated means a loss of income. The businessman's response is to
use the best means in their stable to prevent copying.
Now the arguments start... ( I don't mean in this board)
IF the games were cheaper, cry the masses, then we wouldn't need to grab
pirated copies. This offends the businessman's whole world view because they
will be pushing for the highest price the public will stand; not that they
say this. Like every other business they talk about research, and ploughing
back profits and future expansion.
..
The actual software writers haven't had a look in yet. Their motives might
be various. Some of them are strange beasts. Businessmen are not strange
beasts. They like what they have but want more of it. A LOT more. In fact,
all of it, so they can achieve a balance sheet that has more and more coming
in and less and less going out.
This is called success, and they will never find it because there is always
another penny to be added to the income column.
..
The larger the software house, the more business is involved in dictating
policy. Heck, look how many small software houses there are out there
pushing quite acceptable little games on the web and for peanuts when you
consider it? Big games though, mean big stables of writers, publicity, admin
staff - just for one game - and bigger and more complex computers means
bigger and more complicated games, which means more writers, more wages,
more... And all the time, in the background, the users of the current game
are telling the producers what they should put in expansion packs, and how
they could improve things and everybody has a different idea of what would
turn game number one into a black-busting bells and whistles game number
two.
In other words, you write it and we will buy it.
The business man's eyes light up at this. Nothing like a captive audience to
make their mouths water.
And so the cycle starts all over again, only in the new version, there are
bigger and better ways of stopping the pirates - for the time being...
..
It's a vicious circle.
I could start on about the new-found result of authors publishing for free
online discovering that this move of quiet desperation actually resulted in
an increase of hard copy sales. Now nobody expected that, but books are not
software and even if game prices fell to rockbottom there would always be
those out there who think it is clever, or smart to get what they want for
free whether they can afford to pay for it or not..
..
I can understand why the buzzard businessman does what he does but upon my
life I cannot approve of the way he is going about it. Are they so sure of
our money that they think we will put up with any inconvenience or mangling
of our precious computers just to get our hands on game two? At any price?
Did they learn nothing from the Spore Amazon attack?.. I wish to God I had
taken note of the reviews and not drooled so much. Was the price worth a
month or so of playing before disenchantment set it? Ws it worth it just to
see?' No.
Is there anything, anything at all we, the buying public can do? Or, will we
swallow hard, and buy the games anyway? Is it our own fault then?
..
It's a pretty problem all right.
..
GbG
 >> Stay informed about: Later this year 

Lydia Dustbin said:

> It's a vicious circle.
> I could start on about the new-found result of authors publishing for
> free online discovering that this move of quiet desperation actually
> resulted in an increase of hard copy sales. Now nobody expected that,
> but books are not software and even if game prices fell to
> rockbottom there would always be those out there who think it is
> clever, or smart to get what they want for free whether they can
> afford to pay for it or not.. .

Didn't they? You get to sample for free, you like, you buy more. When I
was young and music was on vinyl, my friends and I always used to listen to
recordings before buying them, in the booths provided for that purpose. I
have stood through an entire album before deciding if I wanted it. But I
didn't have money to waste so I wouldn't get it all otherwise.

Books I can get free, for a time - go to the library. I still buy them
though. The library will rent me videos, dvds, cds - for a small sum.
Those you really like you then buy.

There will always be thse who want something for nothing, but provide what
people want and most will happily pay - and if they already know they are
going to like it, even more will choose to spend their money on that
product.


> I can understand why the buzzard businessman does what he does but
> upon my life I cannot approve of the way he is going about it. Are
> they so sure of our money that they think we will put up with any
> inconvenience or mangling of our precious computers just to get our
> hands on game two? At any price? Did they learn nothing from the
> Spore Amazon attack?.. I wish to God I had taken note of the reviews
> and not drooled so much. Was the price worth a month or so of playing
> before disenchantment set it? Ws it worth it just to see?' No.
> Is there anything, anything at all we, the buying public can do? Or,
> will we swallow hard, and buy the games anyway? Is it our own fault
> then? .
> It's a pretty problem all right.
> .

The more they try to protect their stuff the less they will succeed.
Currently they are upsetting people and each time more are put off. iTunes
are now selling their music DRM free. Maybe others will follow.

I have a house to clear, and a holiday to go on within a month of the
release date, so I am sitting back and waiting - I can't afford the time to
get hooked in late February. I hope I can take note of all the reviews
before I get sucked in.....

--
kat
>^..^<
 >> Stay informed about: Later this year 

kat wrote:
> Lydia Dustbin said:
>
>> It's a vicious circle.
>> I could start on about the new-found result of authors publishing for
>> free online discovering that this move of quiet desperation actually
>> resulted in an increase of hard copy sales. Now nobody expected that,
>> but books are not software and even if game prices fell to
>> rockbottom there would always be those out there who think it is
>> clever, or smart to get what they want for free whether they can
>> afford to pay for it or not.. .
>
> Didn't they? You get to sample for free, you like, you buy more. When I
> was young and music was on vinyl, my friends and I always used to listen to
> recordings before buying them, in the booths provided for that purpose. I
> have stood through an entire album before deciding if I wanted it. But I
> didn't have money to waste so I wouldn't get it all otherwise.
>
> Books I can get free, for a time - go to the library. I still buy them
> though. The library will rent me videos, dvds, cds - for a small sum.
> Those you really like you then buy.
>
> There will always be thse who want something for nothing, but provide what
> people want and most will happily pay - and if they already know they are
> going to like it, even more will choose to spend their money on that
> product.
>
There is also the fact that you can read curled up in a chair by the
fire, in your bed, in the bathtub, or in the car riding down the road,
but if you download an ebook for free, you are pretty much stuck sitting
in your computer chair staring at a bright screen in order to read it.
I spend a great deal of money on books, not as much lately as I have in
years past, but I still have a personal library of over 2000 books and I
add at least two or three a month. Some I have read so many times, the
spine is broken. Others I've only read once. I have several ebooks,
too, but I've almost always got the hard copy of it as well.

Jeanie
 >> Stay informed about: Later this year 

Actually more Spore games were pirated, because of the DRM and limited
installs, than were sold according to several magazines and sites. This
form of piracy protection doesn't work, it only caused the actual buyers,
honest users, to suffer with this overboard and quite useless form of
antipiracy. Greed with EA will always win out even if it doesn't help them
in the end, thus the many lawsuits against them. Bioshock released this
archaic form of protection, and then many of us went out and bought it.

I am not saying piracy is right. I don't believe in it. But neither is
this form of antitheft. It doesn't help and it makes pirates out of
person's who would have never thought of it before. It is just plain wrong.
It has nothing to do with the price of the game at all so what is this you
keep hitting on? Fallout 3 was expensive but sold like crazy. It is the
TYPE of DRM and LIMITED INSTALLS that people are crying about.

"Lydia Dustbin" <marrowjam@[wild]blueyonder.co.uk> wrote in message
news:igYel.25412$Sp5.13700@text.news.virginmedia.com...
>
> "DeAnn" <DeAnn000 RemoveThis @gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:5994570e-876f-4431-aad2-
> Alas, with the DRMs that have been used recently, I'll be waiting a
> while anyway, to see what people think of the DRM. Waiting to see
> what they think of the game is almost an afterthought.
> .....Which is really, really sad if you think about it.
> .
> (This has turned into a lecture, but I didn;t intend to start out that
> way. I was saying, heck, yes, and agreeing with you, then I got on my soap
> box.)
>
> But inevitable, don't you think? <sigh...>
> When you consider that the software houses are in business for one reason,
> and one reason only, and that is to make money, to pay wages, rates, etc.
> etc...
> Every game pirated means a loss of income. The businessman's response is
> to use the best means in their stable to prevent copying.
> Now the arguments start... ( I don't mean in this board)
> IF the games were cheaper, cry the masses, then we wouldn't need to grab
> pirated copies. This offends the businessman's whole world view because
> they will be pushing for the highest price the public will stand; not that
> they say this. Like every other business they talk about research, and
> ploughing back profits and future expansion.
> .
> The actual software writers haven't had a look in yet. Their motives might
> be various. Some of them are strange beasts. Businessmen are not strange
> beasts. They like what they have but want more of it. A LOT more. In fact,
> all of it, so they can achieve a balance sheet that has more and more
> coming in and less and less going out.
> This is called success, and they will never find it because there is
> always another penny to be added to the income column.
> .
> The larger the software house, the more business is involved in dictating
> policy. Heck, look how many small software houses there are out there
> pushing quite acceptable little games on the web and for peanuts when you
> consider it? Big games though, mean big stables of writers, publicity,
> admin staff - just for one game - and bigger and more complex computers
> means bigger and more complicated games, which means more writers, more
> wages, more... And all the time, in the background, the users of the
> current game are telling the producers what they should put in expansion
> packs, and how they could improve things and everybody has a different
> idea of what would turn game number one into a black-busting bells and
> whistles game number two.
> In other words, you write it and we will buy it.
> The business man's eyes light up at this. Nothing like a captive audience
> to make their mouths water.
> And so the cycle starts all over again, only in the new version, there are
> bigger and better ways of stopping the pirates - for the time being...
> .
> It's a vicious circle.
> I could start on about the new-found result of authors publishing for free
> online discovering that this move of quiet desperation actually resulted
> in an increase of hard copy sales. Now nobody expected that, but books are
> not software and even if game prices fell to rockbottom there would
> always be those out there who think it is clever, or smart to get what
> they want for free whether they can afford to pay for it or not..
> .
> I can understand why the buzzard businessman does what he does but upon my
> life I cannot approve of the way he is going about it. Are they so sure of
> our money that they think we will put up with any inconvenience or
> mangling of our precious computers just to get our hands on game two? At
> any price? Did they learn nothing from the Spore Amazon attack?.. I wish
> to God I had taken note of the reviews and not drooled so much. Was the
> price worth a month or so of playing before disenchantment set it? Ws it
> worth it just to see?' No.
> Is there anything, anything at all we, the buying public can do? Or, will
> we swallow hard, and buy the games anyway? Is it our own fault then?
> .
> It's a pretty problem all right.
> .
> GbG
>
 >> Stay informed about: Later this year 

Jeanie said:
> kat wrote:
>> Lydia Dustbin said:
>>
>>> It's a vicious circle.
>>> I could start on about the new-found result of authors publishing
>>> for free online discovering that this move of quiet desperation
>>> actually resulted in an increase of hard copy sales. Now nobody
>>> expected that, but books are not software and even if game prices fell
>>> to
>>> rockbottom there would always be those out there who think it is
>>> clever, or smart to get what they want for free whether they can
>>> afford to pay for it or not.. .
>>
>> Didn't they? You get to sample for free, you like, you buy more. When I
>> was young and music was on vinyl, my friends and I always
>> used to listen to recordings before buying them, in the booths
>> provided for that purpose. I have stood through an entire album
>> before deciding if I wanted it. But I didn't have money to waste so
>> I wouldn't get it all otherwise. Books I can get free, for a time - go to
>> the library. I still buy
>> them though. The library will rent me videos, dvds, cds - for a
>> small sum. Those you really like you then buy.
>>
>> There will always be thse who want something for nothing, but
>> provide what people want and most will happily pay - and if they
>> already know they are going to like it, even more will choose to
>> spend their money on that product.
>>
> There is also the fact that you can read curled up in a chair by the
> fire, in your bed, in the bathtub, or in the car riding down the road,
> but if you download an ebook for free, you are pretty much stuck
> sitting in your computer chair staring at a bright screen in order to read
> it.
> I spend a great deal of money on books, not as much lately as I have
> in years past, but I still have a personal library of over 2000 books
> and I add at least two or three a month. Some I have read so many
> times, the spine is broken. Others I've only read once. I have
> several ebooks, too, but I've almost always got the hard copy of it as
> well.
>

I get ebooks, but only to try out new stuff really. I have a like Palm
thing I can read them on - but not in the bath, I might get it wet!

If I like them then I go to the library or buy as much as I can find room
for. I have books - paperbacks as well - that I have had since I was a
tenager and they are yellowed, well thumbed, cracked spined and much loved.



--
kat
>^..^<
 >> Stay informed about: Later this year 

"windyvoice" <windyvoice RemoveThis @no.spam> wrote in message
news:C32fl.1632$yb.770@bignews4.bellsouth.net...
> Actually more Spore games were pirated, because of the DRM and limited
> installs, than were sold according to several magazines and sites. This
> form of piracy protection doesn't work, it only caused the actual buyers,
> honest users, to suffer with this overboard and quite useless form of
> antipiracy. Greed with EA will always win out even if it doesn't help
> them in the end, thus the many lawsuits against them. Bioshock released
> this archaic form of protection, and then many of us went out and bought
> it.
>
> I am not saying piracy is right. I don't believe in it. But neither is
> this form of antitheft. It doesn't help and it makes pirates out of
> person's who would have never thought of it before. It is just plain
> wrong. It has nothing to do with the price of the game at all so what is
> this you keep hitting on? Fallout 3 was expensive but sold like crazy.
> It is the TYPE of DRM and LIMITED INSTALLS that people are crying about.
>
One of the arguments against the software houses is price. Just one of the
arguments.
What I keep 'hitting on' is the motivation of the larger software houses
which you said yourself: Greed. And why not? Western society is based round
it; it's natural enough we should all fall into line.
..
And who says antitheft 'is plain wrong?' from the software houses point of
view it is a damn good idea. You think it's wrong.. Just saying that is no
answer. It means nothing. WHY is it wrong? Because you, you and you, for
instance 'don't like it'? Well, now that is a damn shame.
Not liking something is poor argument, in fact it is no argument at all.
..
Why have you picked up on a side issue? Just like going on about ebooks and
having filled bookshelves That was an illustration as to how things don;t
always work out as planned, not my sole point. It was a side issue and a
minor one at that.
..
As it is you have offered no solution or made no suggestion as to what the
consumer can do about buying software, at any price, that doesn;t always
work, that may well, in fact, will probably, compromise your computer or
your playing/install times or might even be not very good...
Fine....
Well let me make a suggestion. If you don;t like it then don;t buy it. I am
afraid it is the only argument the sellers will understand.
But that won't happen, will it, boys and girls?
..
GbG
 >> Stay informed about: Later this year 

I did not say antitheft was wrong. I clearly said THIS FORM of antitheft.
You obviously can't read. If I want to "go on" about a side issue I have
every right and so do the others here. From the way you talk, you must work
for EA. You seem to pick up and twist all of our words including the eBook
issue. If those people want to talk about eBooks it is their right. And as
I have said before this post I have no intention of buying it. You need to
learn to read more carefully before you rant. You don't seem to realize you
aren't the only one on the net. We all have our opinions and you need to be
referred to as MS. EA since you so heartily defend them and the others who
treat their customers like pirates and yet the pirates steal and post their
work. What kind of antitheft is that?

"Lydia Dustbin" <marrowjam@[wild]blueyonder.co.uk> wrote in message
news:Dr2fl.25607$Sp5.9955@text.news.virginmedia.com...
>
> One of the arguments against the software houses is price. Just one of the
> arguments.
> What I keep 'hitting on' is the motivation of the larger software houses
> which you said yourself: Greed. And why not? Western society is based
> round it; it's natural enough we should all fall into line.
> .
> And who says antitheft 'is plain wrong?' from the software houses point of
> view it is a damn good idea. You think it's wrong.. Just saying that is no
> answer. It means nothing. WHY is it wrong? Because you, you and you, for
> instance 'don't like it'? Well, now that is a damn shame.
> Not liking something is poor argument, in fact it is no argument at all.
> .
> Why have you picked up on a side issue? Just like going on about ebooks
> and having filled bookshelves That was an illustration as to how things
> don;t always work out as planned, not my sole point. It was a side issue
> and a minor one at that.
> .
> As it is you have offered no solution or made no suggestion as to what the
> consumer can do about buying software, at any price, that doesn;t always
> work, that may well, in fact, will probably, compromise your computer or
> your playing/install times or might even be not very good...
> Fine....
> Well let me make a suggestion. If you don;t like it then don;t buy it. I
> am afraid it is the only argument the sellers will understand.
> But that won't happen, will it, boys and girls?
> .
> GbG
>
>
 >> Stay informed about: Later this year 

Lydia Dustbin wrote:
>>
> One of the arguments against the software houses is price. Just one
> of the arguments.
> What I keep 'hitting on' is the motivation of the larger software
> houses which you said yourself: Greed. And why not? Western society
> is based round it; it's natural enough we should all fall into line.
> .
> And who says antitheft 'is plain wrong?' from the software houses
> point of view it is a damn good idea.

I have no problem at all with antitheft measures. I am perfectly happy if a
game wants me to continue to put the actual cd in the cd drive or any other
rerasonable measure. I don't even have a huge problem with the high price of
most games. I only buy ones that history has shown I will like and I budget
for those. I wouldn't dream of pirating just because I live on disability
and am poor by the standards of the world I live in.

I do have a problem when anti theft measures bleed over into measures that
limit my use of the game. That's why I didn't buy Spore and if Sims3 has
install limits I won't buy it either. I have never once lent my game to
someone else to install despite pressure to do so and I resent the notion
that without some limit I might do that or whatever else they think they
prevent with limits. What they prevent is my updating my computer and still
having the use of it or using it when I travel on my laptop or whatever.

I know it's a profit driven industry and when I look in my computer desk I
have certainly done my bit for those profits but the types of DRM that are
now out just will not do. They won't drive me to piracy. I don't believe in
it. I will however likely play more games where DRM isn't an issue.

Gareeth
 >> Stay informed about: Later this year 

"windyvoice" <windyvoice RemoveThis @no.spam> wrote in message
news:tK2fl.1595$S8.257@bignews3.bellsouth.net...
>I did not say antitheft was wrong. I clearly said THIS FORM of antitheft.
>You obviously can't read. If I want to "go on" about a side issue I have
>every right and so do the others here. From the way you talk, you must
>work for EA.
..
Heh!
..
GbG
 >> Stay informed about: Later this year 

"Gareeth" <gareethnews.RemoveThis@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:OA3fl.6899$PH1.5291@edtnps82...
> Lydia Dustbin wrote:
>>>
>> One of the arguments against the software houses is price. Just one
>> of the arguments.
>> What I keep 'hitting on' is the motivation of the larger software
>> houses which you said yourself: Greed. And why not? Western society
>> is based round it; it's natural enough we should all fall into line.
>> .
>> And who says antitheft 'is plain wrong?' from the software houses
>> point of view it is a damn good idea.
>
> I have no problem at all with antitheft measures. I am perfectly happy if
> a game wants me to continue to put the actual cd in the cd drive or any
> other rerasonable measure. I don't even have a huge problem with the high
> price of most games. I only buy ones that history has shown I will like
> and I budget for those. I wouldn't dream of pirating just because I live
> on disability and am poor by the standards of the world I live in.
>
> I do have a problem when anti theft measures bleed over into measures that
> limit my use of the game. That's why I didn't buy Spore and if Sims3 has
> install limits I won't buy it either. I have never once lent my game to
> someone else to install despite pressure to do so and I resent the notion
> that without some limit I might do that or whatever else they think they
> prevent with limits. What they prevent is my updating my computer and
> still having the use of it or using it when I travel on my laptop or
> whatever.
>
> I know it's a profit driven industry and when I look in my computer desk I
> have certainly done my bit for those profits but the types of DRM that are
> now out just will not do. They won't drive me to piracy. I don't believe
> in it. I will however likely play more games where DRM isn't an issue.
>
> Gareeth
>

Exactly, thank you!
 >> Stay informed about: Later this year 

On Jan 25, 5:08 pm, "windyvoice" <windyvo....RemoveThis@no.spam> wrote:
> "Gareeth" <gareethn....RemoveThis@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>
> news:OA3fl.6899$PH1.5291@edtnps82...
>
>
>
>
>
> > Lydia Dustbin wrote:
>
> >> One of the arguments against the software houses is price. Just one
> >> of the arguments.
> >> What I keep 'hitting on' is the motivation of the larger software
> >> houses which you said yourself: Greed. And why not? Western society
> >> is based round it; it's natural enough we should all fall into line.
> >> .
> >> And who says antitheft 'is plain wrong?' from the software houses
> >> point of view it is a damn good idea.
>
> > I have no problem at all with antitheft measures. I am perfectly happy if
> > a game wants me to continue to put the actual cd in the cd drive or any
> > other rerasonable measure. I don't even have a huge problem with the high
> > price of most games. I only buy ones that history has shown I will like
> > and I budget for those. I wouldn't dream of pirating just because I live
> > on disability and am poor by the standards of the world I live in.
>
> > I do have a problem when anti theft measures bleed over into measures that
> > limit my use of the game. That's why I didn't buy Spore and if Sims3 has
> > install limits I won't buy it either. I have never once lent my game to
> > someone else to install despite pressure to do so and I resent the notion
> > that without some limit I might do that or whatever else they think they
> > prevent with limits. What they prevent is my updating my computer and
> > still having the use of it or using it when I travel on my laptop or
> > whatever.
>
> > I know it's a profit driven industry and when I look in my computer desk I
> > have certainly done my bit for those profits but the types of DRM that are
> > now out just will not do. They won't drive me to piracy. I don't believe
> > in it. I will however likely play more games where DRM isn't an issue.
>
> > Gareeth
>
> Exactly, thank you!- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Myself, I would just like to see a law requiring that both the LICENSE
and the DRM used must be published visibly on the package so that
customers can easily see what they are buying before they pay their
money. Odds are, no one would buy software guaranteed to rootkit
their machine.
 >> Stay informed about: Later this year 

On Jan 26, 4:37 pm, "Engram" <engram... DeleteThis @yahoo.com.au> wrote:
> "DeAnn" <DeAnn... DeleteThis @gmail.com> wrote in message
>
> news:f34fefd5-7c4f-4b25-8f1b-96d5e5d1ae3b@s1g2000prg.googlegroups.com...
>
> >Myself, I would just like to see a law requiring that both the LICENSE
> >and the DRM used must be published visibly on the package so that
> >customers can easily see what they are buying before they pay their
> >money.  Odds are, no one would buy software guaranteed to rootkit
> >their machine.
>
> The problem is that many, if not most, will not understand what the DRM is
> in the first place. So many of the people who are sqealing over TS3 have no
> idea about what they are actually getting. They have no idea about SecuROM
> or about installation limits. Whenever I mention either or both to these
> people I get the internet equivalent of the blank stare in the form of
> "what's SecuROM?" and "what do you mean 'installation limits'?" From the
> sounds of it the vast majority of them are like the army guys in the
> beginning of Men In Black - no idea what's going on, they're just excited to
> be here.
>
> I totally agree that the gaming houses should be upfront about the license
> and DRM. It would be a nice touch for those who actually know how to use
> that sort of information.
>
> And going back a few threads, to the comment about Fallout 3 being such a
> hit - do you know why it didn't have DRM? In an article in Playstation
> magazine that I read a few months back, they said that the DRM was removed
> at the request of US soldiers going to the war in the Middle East. They said
> they could only buy a limited number of copies to share amongst the troops
> and they did not have internet on the laptops they would be using to play
> the game - so the gaming house removed the install limits and internet
> requirement for gameplay. Wouldn't it be nice if the US Army played The Sims
> as well?
>
> Cheers!
> Engram

Hmm, I've avoided F3 because I thought it HAD a 3-game limit. I'm
pretty sure I read a number of threads about it. And had a
conversation with my son who 'bought it anyway', though he also did
not like the limit. Maybe they changed midstream. If i could be SURE
they had changed, I'd probably buy the game.
 >> Stay informed about: Later this year 

"DeAnn" <DeAnn000.RemoveThis@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:f34fefd5-7c4f-4b25-8f1b-96d5e5d1ae3b@s1g2000prg.googlegroups.com...
>Myself, I would just like to see a law requiring that both the LICENSE
>and the DRM used must be published visibly on the package so that
>customers can easily see what they are buying before they pay their
>money. Odds are, no one would buy software guaranteed to rootkit
>their machine.

The problem is that many, if not most, will not understand what the DRM is
in the first place. So many of the people who are sqealing over TS3 have no
idea about what they are actually getting. They have no idea about SecuROM
or about installation limits. Whenever I mention either or both to these
people I get the internet equivalent of the blank stare in the form of
"what's SecuROM?" and "what do you mean 'installation limits'?" From the
sounds of it the vast majority of them are like the army guys in the
beginning of Men In Black - no idea what's going on, they're just excited to
be here.

I totally agree that the gaming houses should be upfront about the license
and DRM. It would be a nice touch for those who actually know how to use
that sort of information.

And going back a few threads, to the comment about Fallout 3 being such a
hit - do you know why it didn't have DRM? In an article in Playstation
magazine that I read a few months back, they said that the DRM was removed
at the request of US soldiers going to the war in the Middle East. They said
they could only buy a limited number of copies to share amongst the troops
and they did not have internet on the laptops they would be using to play
the game - so the gaming house removed the install limits and internet
requirement for gameplay. Wouldn't it be nice if the US Army played The Sims
as well?

Cheers!
Engram
 >> Stay informed about: Later this year