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

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 __________________