Big Fish Games - Bad DRM

[Reece]

Hi, my wife purchased a game called Ravenhearst for her laptop that doesn't have internet connection, the box says absolutely nothing about having to have an internet connection but you are expected to go online to purchase the game, I followed this up on my pc and although I'm annoyed at this I followed the guide and discovered that I have to have an account, then I discover that I am expected to pay a further $8 for this.:nope:
On principal I refuse, I have sent an email but wont hold my breath on getting an answer, needless to say my wife is p!ssed!!
This DRM crap today is getting absolutely stupid, pirates get it free with no hassles but look what the honest guy has to go through and still can't play it!!:damn:

[krashkart]

Is that the Mystery Case Files: Ravenhearst?

[Reece]

Yes, with nothing mentioned on the box I think this is appalling! especially expecting you to pay another $8 to be able to play the game!!:nope: Will probably just throw it in the bin, I could have returned it but we live in the country and only go down to the city once a fortnight, and game returns at EB only last a week!:oops::doh:

[Gerald]

http://games.justadventure.com/game.htm?code=112197467&RefId=jareview

Famous,sensitivity game (DRM i`ts sucks) :down:

[krashkart]

Man that's a bummer, Reece. I looked over at their website and did a dry run to purchase the game. I wasn't warned at all about any DRM at any point. The system requirements on the game's page didn't mention anything about it, either. :-?

[Reece]

Amazing that if I pirate a copy it's free with no hassles but if I pay money for it you can't play it!:x Why do these guys punish the paying customer??:damn:
This type of DRM is promoting Piracy!!:doh: Idiots!:shifty:

[krashkart]

I hope the industry does an about face before these protection schemes become too widespread, 'cuz I think you're right about that. Seems like the more pressure they put on the bad guys the louder we squeal. It should be the other way around with Team Haxor pulling their hairs out in frustration. Why haven't the publishers figured that out yet? :haha:

The other thing, too, is that for every measure the industry takes there is always a team out there that will break the protection. It doesn't really make much of a difference. Damned if they do, damned if they don't. :-?

So somewhere along the line there has be a compromise. Stolen software, or unhappy customers? I'd almost bet money that looser restrictions would actually net more gains for the industry, but they'll have to figure that one out before we can see any change for the better. Positech Games is giving no-DRM a try, and I guess there are a couple of other companies around doing the same. Cross your fingers and hope they can help turn the tide.

Kinda frustrating, but there are plenty of titles in the genres at least. Publisher B, meet my wallet! :D

[Reece]

Yes I have probably purchased hundreds of games over the years, I usually try the demo, read reviews and if I like it I buy it!:yep:
Now you have to check out certain sites to find the protection method (online requirement etc) before purchasing, gone are the days of just going to EB and looking through the pile, (and I used to enjoy this), now if you see something you like you have to go over the fine print carefully on the box to find out the type of DRM, even then like this game, nothing is mentioned on the box so you don't know where you stand!:shifty: Lets hope, as you say, that this changes and goes back to the good old days!:yep:

[Skybird]

I feel lucky and truely blessed that - maybe due to age reasons? - I have lost interest in 90% of computer gaming that I once had fun with: that means I am not interested in new releases at all. It's very, very rare these days that I find some title catching my interest, and this possibly then is some kind of a niche product from none of the great publishers.

I also wonder if maybe they are pushing DRM crap like they do in order to make people giving up the PC segment alltogether and move towards consoles in strength, so that they can give up PC developement alltogether. For High end simulations like Blackshark, this does not seem to make sense, but for many normal games published on consoles and PC as well - who knows.

[HunterICX]

IF nowhere in the game's case/manual (or website) refers to a Online requirement DRM you should be able to get the game refunded.

I can't blame devs trying to protect their game, but they are way going over their heads with DRM's that asks too much of the paying customer.

I don't like DRM's that install something I don't know of in the background or DRM's that require to be online all the time as I dont' want anything else to decide WHEN I can play my purchased product simple as that.

@Skybird: You still haven't considered getting DCS:Black Shark? for the little hassle of activating and deactivating throught SF which doesn't install anydrivers it's completly worth it. and soon they'll be releasing DCS: Warthog (A-10) that's now 2 knives stabbed in your back :D *runs*

HunterICX

[NeonSamurai]

I generally try to avoid anything that needs to be activated over the internet. The reason being legacy support. What happens 2 years down the road when they take the server down and don't release a fix for the game. Or what if the company goes under or gets taken over.

I still play old games (even old dos games), so the thought of my game being rendered useless down the road gives me pause in purchasing such games.

[Reece]

I generally try to avoid anything that needs to be activated over the internet. The reason being legacy support. What happens 2 years down the road when they take the server down and don't release a fix for the game. Or what if the company goes under or gets taken over.

I still play old games (even old dos games), so the thought of my game being rendered useless down the road gives me pause in purchasing such games.Agree 100%, just a pain when the box says nothing about online activation etc, should be made law imo!:-?

[FIREWALL]

Agree 100%, just a pain when the box says nothing about online activation etc, should be made law imo!:-?

game returns at EB only last a week!:oops::doh:

I would still take it back when I was next in town.

No DRM disclosure on box and $8 to play !!!

They'll refund if they want anymore of your business. :yep:

I hope every game that crooked company makes turns into "freeware" if you get my drift.:03:

[Reece]

I hope every game that crooked company makes turns into "freeware" if you get my drift.:03:That or bankruptcy!!:yep:
I'll try and return it, can't hurt!!:salute:

[FIREWALL]

Seeing a friend cheated makes me angrier than an unfinished game. :arrgh!:

[Skybird]

@Skybird: You still haven't considered getting DCS:Black Shark? for the little hassle of activating and deactivating throught SF which doesn't install anydrivers it's completly worth it. and soon they'll be releasing DCS: Warthog (A-10) that's now 2 knives stabbed in your back :D *runs*

HunterICX
Nööö, still not considering it. As I said, my general game and sim interest has massively died out. In the end, most titles are more or less always the same, maybe with small improvements, maybe not. Real innovation that could blitz some new magic out of the hat, is not seen that often anymore, it seems. The last fullprice game I bought was COTA, and it impressed me due to the AI that is superior to anything I have seen before in a strategy game. Beside that and chess, I only stay with SBP, occasionally F4, FS9 (now rare), winSPMBT (rare), and an occasional match with PES2009.