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Magister Lajciak

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Posts posted by Magister Lajciak

    The last game you will ever play

    in Computer and Console

    Posted

    Do I get to finish the game before all the computers die or is there a set time limit?

     

    I was also initially thinking about MMOs or some other never-ending games to circumvent the restriction, but I am guessing there would have to be a set time-limit to prevent such abuse.

     

    My first though was actually Simcity. :thumbsup:

     

    That's exactly what I meant. SimCity is a fine example of a never-ending game! :sorcerer:

    *The* DRM thread

    in Computer and Console

    Posted

    On another note, I've been thinking about EA's recent comments. Assuming that they genuinely intend to follow through with their promises, I think the combination of user-deactivations and a future patch removing activation limits altogether addresses most of the practical complaints most customers would have with DRM.

     

    I'd sooner believe Devil, than anyone from EA... especialy, when they are talking about supporting their games... i've seen lot of promises from them about Origin, Westwood and Bullfrog... and we all know how these promises ended up...

     

    Although I wouldn't sooner believe the devil and I think that EA's promises are a major step in the right direction, I agree that I wouldn't exactly rely on them. Nobody will convince me that a failing publisher (unless its a very unique publisher indeed and EA ain't it) that has trouble paying for the upkeep of its activation servers and is failing to meet its commercial obligations or obligations to its employees will spend its precious resources on patching its entire backlog library of games with DRM just so that players can enjoy playing them after it goes bankrupt. I have before advocated an auto-expiry function on DRM that would solve this issue. The DRM, however, needs to expiry completely autonomously without a need for a patch from the publisher/developer and without the need to go online to check with some kind of server, because if the game needs to do this than we are back to square one.

    *The* DRM thread

    in Computer and Console

    Posted

    Also, how exactly does "Steam" (I have never used it, but it appears many folks on here have done so and it is frequently mentioned) work in the context of DRM?

    Games you buy via Steam are attached to your Steam account. To start up a game, you log on to Steam, which authenticates you with a password (similar to an online game), and then launches the game locally installed on your machine. If you wish to play offline, you can just authenticate your account once and then go into offline mode, following which you can play any Steam game as many times as you wish without an internet connection. Of course, if you want to download updates or purchase any new games, you'll want to log on again.

     

    So, Steam does exert some amount of control over your activities as a user, but I like the fact that it does allow you to go offline if you wish. I don't think I've ever used Steam in offline mode, but it's important for me to have the freedom to do so.

     

    In return for its (mostly minimal) interference in your activities, Steam offers a handful of useful value additions (unlike any other DRM scheme):

    • You can often pre-stream game data into your hard drive before some game releases. On release day, you either purchase an activation key online, or go to the store, purchase a box and get the activation code from within. Enter the activation code into Steam and your game is good to go.
    • The steam servers maintain a record of the games you own. You can delete and re-install your games as and when you choose without having to look for your CDs.
    • Patches and updates for all your installed games are streamed in and applied automatically the moment you log onto your Steam account.
    • You can log out of your account on your home machine, get to work, log onto Steam on your work machine and start playing Half Life 2. You'll probably get fired though.

    So yes, it's DRM, but the application works perfectly, it does not install rootkits on my machine, it allows me to install and play my games on as many machines as I want to (as long as I have my login information), it does allow me to go offline if I so wish, and in exchange for the limited control it exerts, it provides a bunch of useful services. I think that's the key distinction between Steam and all other DRM methods: all other methods provide ZERO benefits to the end user, Steam actually gives you a reason to use it.

     

    Thanks for the explanation!

     

    It doesn't sound as bad as the DDRM used by the EA, but it still doesn't tacke the (for me) crucial longevity issue. Basically, you have to authenticate online to install/activate the game, which will become impossible if Steam should disappear in the future (say if Valve goes bankrupt in 10 years). That happens to be my main problem with DDRM, more so than even rootkits.

    BioWare/Lucas Arts game unveiled Oct 21

    in Computer and Console

    Posted

    If it all possible I'd appreciate the thread not be closed, but I wouldn't mind if people stopped trying to derail the thread with stuff they've already commented on ad nauseum.

     

    I have enjoyed the discussion about potential good/bad of the SWTOR MMO from gameplay, as well as financial success and whatnot. I don't want that to stop.

     

     

    Yes, I must agree.

    BioWare/Lucas Arts game unveiled Oct 21

    in Computer and Console

    Posted

    "I'm glad you just admitted to being full of yourself, and arrogant. Not to emntion selfish. You want ALL the gory, and don't want to share it - not even with your 'friends'. You'd make a poor Jedi. Jedi shouldn't fall prey to such pride and arrogance - that was Anakin's downfall"

     

    ehem

     

    Darth.....Trayus.......D.A.R.T.H. Trayus. Darth T.R.A.Y.U.S. like beTRAYAL and TRAItor. Would I really make a jedi of any kind? :ermm:

     

    :sorcerer: I must admit that this is pretty hilarious!

    BioWare/Lucas Arts game unveiled Oct 21

    in Computer and Console

    Posted

    Well, Hello all! I'm new here...the noobie. I will probably be blamed for not continuing the current chain of thought but I joined for one reason.....TO VENT!

    MMO??????????

     

    ARE YOU SERIOUS??????? I WAS LOOKING FOWARD TO THE BIGGEST RPG RELEASE FOR THE 360!!!! and then on my occasional check around the internet I come across this nonsense about THE OLD REPUBLIC MMO!????

     

    It will not only be kotor 3 but "3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9," they said. I don't know. I'm feeling about ready to give em that number of PUNCHES!

     

    KOTOR I was awesome. KOTOR II could have been better but still acceptable. KOTOR III was supposed to be the big SHOWDOWN!!!! LIKE THE HALO TRILOGY! But it turns out now that it's just going to be a never ending war that will drag on and on for hundreds and hundreds of years in the star wars timeline without any of the main characters......sort of like my girlfriend but thats besides the point!

     

    I do not want to play as some droid of some nameless Jedi or sith! I wanted a good rpg where the storyline picks up form KOTOR II and centers around the character I'm playing. Not that I don't like mulitplayer games but COME ON! WHAT GIVES????

     

    All in all, this was truly disappointing. I have no idea why bioware did this and for that matter I don't care. I do not like MMOs because they are all just a simple excuse for the fat *******s to make more money. I do not like this MMO even more because it tears a three hundred year gap into the storyline.....

     

    p.s even though it does get old after a while.....I admit that that there is just something really attractive about the "galaxy in your hands" bit. And this MMO where the galaxy is in you and your friend's hands.......that kind of takes away from the........well....I can't think of the right word for now.

     

    Yeah, we all need to vent sometimes. It might help you to try to look at the announcement this way: At least now we can finally give up on the KOTOR franchise and not hold on to any false hope that KOTOR 3 will be made in the future.

    *The* DRM thread

    in Computer and Console

    Posted

    One thing I was just thinking, is that if games tend to need mini-patches and downloadable content, is that pirates probably will start to find ways to crack them.

     

    This possible, but most pirates will probably consider these to be small fry and not bother unless these are practically essential for the game.

     

    One nice thing about something like Impulse is you have to verify your purchase before you can download it. I'm not sure how difficult it would be to track this download and release standalone patches though.

     

    What is "Impulse" and how does it work? Also, how exactly does "Steam" (I have never used it, but it appears many folks on here have done so and it is frequently mentioned) work in the context of DRM?

     

    Though a concern here is that developers could be encouraged to sell games that are incomplete, and letting users download final chapters of the game to ensure legitimacy.

     

    Yes, this is a concern and would be a very negative development indeed in my eyes at least. It would also probably motivate pirates to pirate these extra things too if they were practically essential to the game.

    *The* DRM thread

    in Computer and Console

    Posted

    I am still baffled by someone that would buy a game purely based on the DRM implementation (or lack thereof). Would you still buy the game if you didn't think you'd actually like the game?

     

    Some people might do so to help support the company. Personally, I wouldn't buy a game just because it didn't have DDRM - it would also have to be a game that appeals to me.

    *The* DRM thread

    in Computer and Console

    Posted

    Nothing, but if you look at torrents of, for example, Sins of a Solar empire you will find loads of people condemning those pirating the game.

     

    What? You mean people are posting comments condemning piracy? What on earth does that have to do with fighting piracy.

     

    People are less likely to download if they're being rewarded rather than punished.

     

    Pirate downloads game, pirate downloaded DLC/patches/mods/whatever.

     

    How are people being rewarded or punished?

     

    The basic premise is that you have to have a legitimate copy to download the extra content and that pirates don't bother to crack these mini-patches.

    *The* DRM thread

    in Computer and Console

    Posted

    It could mean that Dragon Age will relent on DDRM and rely on downloadable post-release content to fight off piracy.

     

    I would buy it for that reason alone if they actually did not use any draconian DRM. :down:

     

    Well, I guess we will have to wait and see - it was just a hint... not a statement of commitment yet.

    Japanese Woman Jailed After Killing Virtual Husband

    in Computer and Console

    Posted

    the point is, in a criminal case anywhere in the english-speaking world, you'd have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the person not only didn't have permission but knew they didn't have permission. i'm not saying that the crazy japanese lady hasn't done anything wrong, i'm saying that it's a hysterical overreaction to treat what she did as in any way criminal.

     

    That may well be, but my point is that she is not being tried for virtual murder as the title of the article seems to imply.

    BioWare/Lucas Arts game unveiled Oct 21

    in Computer and Console

    Posted

    I'd say Star Wars is about the worst setting possible for an MMO. It can't work when everybody wants to be a jedi.

     

    I'm going to disagree. Say everyone is a force user - how many is that per server? 25,000 divided among Jedi and Sith plus the force using NPCs, but Star Wars is supposed to be an entire galaxy. Even if every PC is a Jedi/Sith, they'd still make up a small part of the galaxy's total population.

     

    You just have to imagine that there are a trillion NPCs on each serverwho, completely by coincidence, never show up anywhere. :sweat:

     

    How is being a Jedi different from being a Mage?

     

    There will be tons of non-Jedi NPCs. You will probably slaughter thousands of them as you progress in the game. SW:TOR is about playing a hero in a galaxy of regular folk. Yep, 80% of PCs will be lightsaber wielding, but the idea is that the PCs are not the only people in the galaxy.

     

    I think the point they are trying to make is that Jedi are supposed to be rare. In a single player game, if a player plays a Jedi, that is the player's unique experience, because the only other characters in the game, the NPCs, reflect the appropriate structure of the population for the setting. In MMOs, however, players interact with numerous other players... thus drastically altering the perception of 'rarity' of the Jedi. Of course, the same problem can occur in MMOs in other genres with popular characters that are supposed to be rare.

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