SimCity Burning: A Warning to Microsoft, Sony, and all publishers...

The Enigma · 03-11-13, 02:44 PM

An article that sounds familiar.

SimCity Burning: A Warning to Microsoft, Sony, and All Publishers on The Dangers of Always-Online DRM

It has been out for three days, and SimCity is broken. Seriously, unplayably
broken. As a long-time fan who's been looking forward to this week for many
years, this is a huge, frustrating disappointment. The worst part? The main
issue isn't with the game itself, but an entirely unnecessary and completely
avoidable always-online Digital Rights Management (DRM) system that's
keeping millions of fans from playing the game they paid for, when they were
told they'd be able to play it. If there is one good thing that comes of this
disaster, let it be yet another lesson to publishers like EA and
Activision/Blizzard, and platform owners Microsoft and Sony, who may be
considering always-on DRM in next-gen consoles or PC games: don't even
think about it. It's a pipe dream, and to attempt it is to invite an enthusiasm-
draining catastrophe with every single game launch.

Here's what the past 10 years of online DRM has taught anybody who's paid
the slightest bit of attention: it never works right, at least at first. And while
it might be largely successful in stopping piracy (as Diablo III effectively
has), it exacts a terrible price: the trust and enthusiasm of the most loyal
and enthusiastic gamers. These are the people who are dying to get their
hands on new games, the ones who eagerly spend on pricey collectors'
editions and DLC – all of it sight-unseen. If treated well, their word of mouth
buzz can generate more game sales than a site like IGN ever could. They are
also the ones who will always be affected most by the inevitable screwups
that always-online DRM will bring.

Read the full article here

Source: http://www.ign.com

GT182 · 03-11-13, 02:49 PM

Well, they never listen to the one's buying their products. It seems that they don't care if anything is broken or not... just push it out the door and get the money...... then let someone else fix it.

I can now understand why so many are going with console games, and walking away from the good ol pc games.

IMHO, it all boils down to greed.

August · 03-11-13, 02:53 PM

I would have loved to pick up the new Sim City game but i'm not supporting this crap. They come out with an offline version and I might change my mind but until then it's a non starter.

The Enigma · 03-11-13, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GT182

Well, they never listen to the one's buying their products. It seems that they don't care if anything is broken or not... just push it out the door and get the money...... then let someone else fix it.

I can now understand why so many are going with console games, and walking away from the good ol pc games.

IMHO, it all boils down to greed.

As far as I know, Console games are also moving towards online DRM.
No escape there.

Betonov · 03-11-13, 03:03 PM

I'd pay the retail price of the new Simcity for a Win7 compactibility patch for Simcity 4

Takeda Shingen · 03-11-13, 03:16 PM

I'm still hoping that EA will drop the DRM scheme in the wake of this hullabaloo, because I really want this game. Of course, this is EA that we are talking about; they're pretty much the douchiest company in gaming.

Oberon · 03-11-13, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Takeda Shingen

I'm still hoping that EA will drop the DRM scheme in the wake of this hullabaloo, because I really want this game. Of course, this is EA that we are talking about; they're pretty much the douchiest company in gaming.

Same, I love the Settlers/Anno-esque situation in this game where industries supply other industries and so forth, but the DRM and the stupidly small city/town building size puts me off.

Takeda Shingen · 03-11-13, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oberon

Same, I love the Settlers/Anno-esque situation in this game where industries supply other industries and so forth, but the DRM and the stupidly small city/town building size puts me off.

The plot size doesn't bother me, as I always thought the larger sizes in the previous titles were gratuitously large. I think that the point of the gameplay here is to have your regional cities supply each other, so that you don't have to have that scenario where your city is a self-contained island of humanity. So, here you can have a Las Vegas-style city that is supplied by a Los Angeles-sytle city. While they are not large, they are interconnected to a far greater degree which is, in my opinion, more realistic.

Oberon · 03-11-13, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Takeda Shingen

The plot size doesn't bother me, as I always thought the larger sizes in the previous titles were gratuitously large. I think that the point of the gameplay here is to have your regional cities supply each other, so that you don't have to have that scenario where your city is a self-contained island of humanity. So, here you can have a Las Vegas-style city that is supplied by a Los Angeles-sytle city. While they are not large, they are interconnected to a far greater degree which is, in my opinion, more realistic.

True, and I guess I can't really comment until the time I get the game if the size does restrict my gameplay, but I do like the idea between the interconnecting cities. If only they'd sort the DRM...but, alas, this is EA...so we shouldn't hold our breath.

In the meantime, I do still have Simcity 4

Skybird · 03-11-13, 03:37 PM

It is not about protection against piracy so much. Many of these new DRMs are about drying out the second hand market for games and make it impossible for people to sell their games, or buy them second hand and play them. They also want to dry out modding, and make people accept buying fees for DLC instead.

That modding is what has gifted many games a long lifetime, seems to have not reached all ears in the directors' offices.

Oberon · 03-11-13, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skybird

That modding is what has gifted many games a long lifetime, seems to have not reached all ears in the directors' offices.

I think it rarely gets through the bags of money that they've padded their ears with.

You're pretty spot on with the second hand games market though, once upon a time computer games shops would be good places to get second hand PC games as well as second hand console games, but now all the PC games have gone from the shelves, both first and second hand. What was once a section that was several shelves wide and deep has been reduced in most shops to a shelf or two, if you're lucky, with the rest being given over to console games.

The Enigma · 03-11-13, 04:19 PM

Adding DRM into a game is one thing, removing it afterwards is another.
Remember the sloppy way how it was done in SHV.

Awful, a real game stopper to me.

03-11-13, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by August

I would have loved to pick up the new Sim City game but i'm not supporting this crap. They come out with an offline version and I might change my mind but until then it's a non starter.

Same here.

soopaman2 · 03-11-13, 04:56 PM

Not claiming firsthand knowledge, nor encouraging anyone...But typically on torrent sites, the DRM is busted long before the paid consumers get a patch to fix DRM issues.

Like your CD key not working, or your download not coming after buying. Having to sign into 2-3 different servers. etc..

I am not encouraging, just saying that anti piracy actions often make it less stressful to steal it.

Now the issues with the sims?

Pure EA greed.

Let steam sell it. oohh we think we are Blizzard....We wish we were starcraft, and could actually hold people hostage like they do.

Origin sucks, really bad client, really really really bad, maybe that is why EA fails.

That and the anti PC crusade they been on...

nikimcbee · 03-11-13, 04:57 PM

Quote:

They also want to dry out modding,

You are spot on with this. No name dropping here, but my experience has been modders are a thorn in a devs side

.

I don't know about it from a DRM point of view though.

03-11-13, 02:44 PM	#1
The Enigma Seer of visions Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Under the surface Posts: 2,315 Downloads: 31 Uploads: 0	SimCity Burning: A Warning to Microsoft, Sony, and all publishers... An article that sounds familiar. SimCity Burning: A Warning to Microsoft, Sony, and All Publishers on The Dangers of Always-Online DRM It has been out for three days, and SimCity is broken. Seriously, unplayably broken. As a long-time fan who's been looking forward to this week for many years, this is a huge, frustrating disappointment. The worst part? The main issue isn't with the game itself, but an entirely unnecessary and completely avoidable always-online Digital Rights Management (DRM) system that's keeping millions of fans from playing the game they paid for, when they were told they'd be able to play it. If there is one good thing that comes of this disaster, let it be yet another lesson to publishers like EA and Activision/Blizzard, and platform owners Microsoft and Sony, who may be considering always-on DRM in next-gen consoles or PC games: don't even think about it. It's a pipe dream, and to attempt it is to invite an enthusiasm- draining catastrophe with every single game launch. Here's what the past 10 years of online DRM has taught anybody who's paid the slightest bit of attention: it never works right, at least at first. And while it might be largely successful in stopping piracy (as Diablo III effectively has), it exacts a terrible price: the trust and enthusiasm of the most loyal and enthusiastic gamers. These are the people who are dying to get their hands on new games, the ones who eagerly spend on pricey collectors' editions and DLC – all of it sight-unseen. If treated well, their word of mouth buzz can generate more game sales than a site like IGN ever could. They are also the ones who will always be affected most by the inevitable screwups that always-online DRM will bring. Read the full article here Source: http://www.ign.com __________________

03-11-13, 02:49 PM	#2
GT182 Ocean Warrior Join Date: May 2005 Location: New Castle of Delaware Posts: 3,231 Downloads: 658 Uploads: 0	Well, they never listen to the one's buying their products. It seems that they don't care if anything is broken or not... just push it out the door and get the money...... then let someone else fix it. I can now understand why so many are going with console games, and walking away from the good ol pc games. IMHO, it all boils down to greed. __________________ Gary No Borders, No Language, No Culture =s No Country I'm a Deplorable, and proud of it.

03-11-13, 02:53 PM	#3
August Wayfaring Stranger Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 23,202 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I would have loved to pick up the new Sim City game but i'm not supporting this crap. They come out with an offline version and I might change my mind but until then it's a non starter. __________________ Flanked by life and the funeral pyre. Putting on a show for you to see.

03-11-13, 03:37 PM	#10
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 42,638 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	It is not about protection against piracy so much. Many of these new DRMs are about drying out the second hand market for games and make it impossible for people to sell their games, or buy them second hand and play them. They also want to dry out modding, and make people accept buying fees for DLC instead. That modding is what has gifted many games a long lifetime, seems to have not reached all ears in the directors' offices. __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.

03-11-13, 04:19 PM	#12
The Enigma Seer of visions Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Under the surface Posts: 2,315 Downloads: 31 Uploads: 0	Adding DRM into a game is one thing, removing it afterwards is another. Remember the sloppy way how it was done in SHV. Awful, a real game stopper to me. __________________

03-11-13, 03:03 PM	#5
Betonov Navy Seal Join Date: May 2009 Location: Slovenia Posts: 8,647 Downloads: 26 Uploads: 0	I'd pay the retail price of the new Simcity for a Win7 compactibility patch for Simcity 4

03-11-13, 03:16 PM	#6
Takeda Shingen Navy Seal Join Date: Mar 2000 Posts: 8,643 Downloads: 19 Uploads: 0	I'm still hoping that EA will drop the DRM scheme in the wake of this hullabaloo, because I really want this game. Of course, this is EA that we are talking about; they're pretty much the douchiest company in gaming.

03-11-13, 04:56 PM	#14
soopaman2 Der Alte Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: New Jersey, USA Posts: 3,316 Downloads: 61 Uploads: 0	Not claiming firsthand knowledge, nor encouraging anyone...But typically on torrent sites, the DRM is busted long before the paid consumers get a patch to fix DRM issues. Like your CD key not working, or your download not coming after buying. Having to sign into 2-3 different servers. etc.. I am not encouraging, just saying that anti piracy actions often make it less stressful to steal it. Now the issues with the sims? Pure EA greed. Let steam sell it. oohh we think we are Blizzard....We wish we were starcraft, and could actually hold people hostage like they do. Origin sucks, really bad client, really really really bad, maybe that is why EA fails. That and the anti PC crusade they been on... __________________ If Hitler invaded Hell I would make at least a favourable reference to the devil in the House of Commons. -Winston Churchill- The most fascinating man in the world.