Weekend Open Forum: Has DRM spoiled your fun?

[T77]

I haven't played any latest games,but the few that I played which had online validation(crysis warhead,dead space) didn't cause me any major inconvenience.Although some publishers do have that annoying "always on" DRM.So far i haven't played any game with that feature.

 

[foreverzero89]

i think instead of companies having the mentality of "what can we do to make the game pirate proof"(of witch there is so such thing) they should instead be thinking "what can we do to turn pirates into paying customers". that would solve the problem of DRM, also piracy AND make them more money.

 

[LNCPapa]

I had a really bad experience several years ago with DRM (I believe it was in TOCA or TOCA2) where after installing the software and rebooting my machine wouldn't normally boot again. I remember that even Safe Mode had issues and I had to boot into something else in order to clean up that mess. I also had issues when Steam first came out... it was a mess. I'm so happy they've got that fixed and working so well now. I've also purchased a game and had so many issues with the DRM before that I've downloaded a bootleg version that had the DRM removed. Hate to admit it but sometimes the pirates have it easier dealing with some of this software.

 

[superty12]

"I'm just going to play The Sims 3. Why won't it recognize my disc? That's my PS3 disc. I'll go get my PC disc. Wait. Where is my PC disc? Stupid DRM won't let me play without a disc!"
I blame DRM on pirates. If the stuff wasn't downloaded by pirates, then there would be no DRM. I am describing a perfect world.

 

[MrAnderson]

Mass Effect would not install on my PC because of DRM. The bad thing is I purchased it when it first came out. But I'm one of those that might by things and not play them for months due to my work schedule. I expect my games to just play... when I get them I take them out of the case and put them in a binder with the rest of my library. I recycle the DVD case and packaging. So months later I can do nothing. I check forums and it seemed like EA knew this issue and I could have swarn that someone stated that it was suggested that they repurchase the game that would not install for another system, or purchase a new optical drive. I was floored. Now I don't buy PC games till they have been thurally been reviewed for technical issues and the DRM technology is known. In most cases many publishers have lost me as a customer due to DRM. Ubisoft more recent with their need to tether my single player campaign to Online. I'm a paying customer and I refuse to allow this kind of abuse of power. Untile companies reward us or pay a percentage of my internet bill to use to report back to their servers that I'm still playing my legal copy yet again... they can forget it. Now I purchase their games on consoles when they hit the bargin bin. Or the PC version when it is a bargin and I install it on a older PC that can handle better than current gen graphics... but it is banded from my new PC.

 

[blimp01]

The most trouble i've had is with any GWFL game, especially GTA4. right when it came out it wasn't on steam and you only got 5 activations, revoking hardly even worked for me and I found it impossible to transfer securom and gfwl activations over to a new machine, I had to call them a few times to get new keys

 

[Greg S]

I refuse to buy stuff that has all kinds of drm built into it. Why not just download viruses while your at it. It's really annoying when trying to back stuff up and having to find special programs to backup cd's.

 

[Guest]

I think limited installation DRM has probably caused problems for serious gamers at least once, if it was a game they actually enjoyed. Limiting your installs to as low as 3 times for a game you love is absurd.

Additionally, I know games that require an online activation have resulted in serious frustration for me several times, because the publisher's servers inevitably can't handle the Day-1 traffic.

Ignoring those types, though, I remember when my copy of Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising arrived, the DRM (SecuROM, if I recall correctly) wouldn't recognise my dvd drive. I don't know if it was too old or something, but it just flat out refused to install the game. I could get onto the auto-play splash screen, but as soon as I clicked on anything SecuROM popped up with an error about my dvd drive. I know I wasn't alone with this problem.

After a few days of frustration and useless tech support, I simply pirated the game I'd paid for in order to be able to play it. These days I just won't buy games with brutal DRM. Steam's is about the only kind I can stand.

 

[Rage_3K_Moiz]

I haven't faced any issues with DRM simply because I don't buy my games when they're launched. I wait a couple weeks, to let them release any patches or sort out other stuff, before pitching in. Even been able to get it for a little cheaper sometimes.

Ubisoft's first always-on implementation of their DRM was buggy as hell. They've improved it since and it hasn't given me any issues recently.

 

[Guest]

DRM ruined my life. but atleast, according to laws, you may use a personal-use 'backup' of software in case of failure (AKA DRM) so yeah, after the 3 shitty limited machine activations you just go pirate that ****. i purchased a game, i didn't loan the right to use it!

 

[Guest]

I am currently attending an online university that uses a eBook reader. Despite the recent change from one eBook reader to another, it has still cause me to go through a lot of headache. The DRM policy for this new company says I can only use the books on two desktops and two mobile devices. I really did not mind this until I was faced with trying to run it on my desktop, laptop and then my laptop died so I needed to get a new one. Then I also needed access because I changed from Windows 7 to Linux, which by the way does not have a client for the computer. Then with the mobile devices, I have my smartphone, my cheap tablet and an old eReader. Well one has to left out of the wash. I understand, it is a blessing that today we can carry around thousands of books in our pocket. But for those who actually bought the product they face restrictions. Constant emails and tech support forum to clear their authorized computers. I also like to use my wife's netbook or her sisters because they are a lot more portable. Can I freely? No...Actually I take that back, yes, I can, just give me five minutes, Google and I can find my content DRM-free on a torrent site.

 

[Kraemepoo]

The poll should have an "all of the above" option.
Yes, it has spoiled a couple games,
No, I consider it a minor inconvenience most of the time,
and No, I have avoided a few DRM games (Didn't buy Assassin's Creed 2 after reading the fan forums)

So really, I only care about poorly implemented DRM.

 

[Guest]

@ivangela..Punkbuster is not drm.Punkbuster is an anti cheat program seperate from the game.Dont blame a game, or even punkbuster for your lack of knowledge on how to open your firewall to it.It`s your ignorance of pc`s that`s the problem.

On the subject of is drm annoying me? No, i just don`t buy the games that try to take my money and make life difficult.I`ve been burnt in the past with limited activations and the like and i just torrent those types of games now.I would have willingly paid for them if they were drm free but obviously they are keen to make a pirate out of paying customers.

 

[Renrew]

If you hate DRM like I do, vote with your wallet.

 

[Emin3nce]

DRM is gay. Ruined my fun, ruined my life, terk mah jerb, terk mah woman... DRM is satans ballsack in disguise.

 

[superty12]

If you hate DRM and won't do why they put it there anyways, there is a solution. Buy the console version.
DRM is "digital rights management". Off to find a way to get DRM to be illegal.
UPDATE: Under Title I, secton 103, DRM circumvention for interoperability is protected. You may remove anything related to online DRM, under the law. AT YOUR OWN RISK!!!

 

[Archean]

You will be in trouble only ......... if you get caught, until then law is always blind

 

[TorturedChaos]

The worst experience I have had with anything DRM like is nProtect GameGuard that came with AION. (I dont know if its actually a DRM setup but I know it supposed to stop botting/hacking).
Back during the public beta, I got beta key for AION and was trying to play it over the weekend, but spent most of my time arguing with GameGuard. It kept locking up or not updating correctly so I couldn't even get to the AION launcher - stupid thing by ncsoft that several other MMO's use. The NCSoft launcher didn't want to play nice either half the time.

Other than that I haven't had too much trouble with DRM. TBH a lot of games that have it I have installed then cracked so I don't have to deal with it. Especially EA and Ubisoft games.

I have dealt with a few DRM setups that I didn't even really notice they are there. SC2 isn't intrusive at all and the few Steam games I have played don't really but me at all.

But having constant programs that run just for DRM or anti-hacking/botting usually are what give me all the trouble.

 

[Guest]

DRM on the game Chaos League caused me major problems. The StarForce protection (which apparently includes some sort of physical modification of the disk) was unreadable by my DVD player. The game was stuck at loading while trying to validate the StarForce copy protection...
Customer support had a way of deactivating this check by asking for proof that your copy was legit and then sending you a personal code. The problem is, this code somehow was not valid anymore after I reinstalled my PC...
Perfect case of screwing the loyal, paying customer. A pirated copy has none of these issues...

 

[Guest]

While I still use many programs and games that have DRM, I don't have to like it. Like others, I also try to skip those with the more insane forms of DRM, like the crap UbiSoft's doing. I was burnt badly when I couldn't reinstall my $150 video editing software after a clean install of Win7 upgrade. The DRM in question required connecting to their site during install to obtain a new unique activation (based on a supplied key + system info). Because the company was no longer in business, I obviously couldn't connect to get the required activation to happen, and my install wouldn't activate. That's just stupid.

Any form of DRM requiring online verification has the same potential weakness. The only place where I can see this even being tolerable is for something like an MMO game, where you couldn't play anyway if the company is no longer around.