3 ms·

I don't know anything about SH5, but until someone 100%s the game with a "cracked" copy I remain sceptical that the DRM has been cracked. I really don't think

I don't know anything about SH5, but until someone 100%s the game with a "cracked" copy I remain sceptical that the DRM has been cracked. I really don't think there's going to be a "when", TBH. I don't know for sure, but I'm worried that this is a last attempt at trying to make the big-budget PC games market profitable. Either it works and stays, or it doesn't work and publishers start to drop out of the market. EA are doing exactly the same thing with the next C&C by the way.

CWuestefeld 17y ago
Either it works and stays, or it doesn't work and publishers start to drop out of the market. I think this attitude is a big part of the problem. The mindset that they can only be profitable by preventing copying, whatever draconian measures that requires, puts them in a box that will prevent any innovation, either in gameplay or in business model. It may be that efforts at copy protection are well past the point of diminishing returns. Perhaps the investment in these technologies, and the resulting loss in customer goodwill, are costing more than the actual piracy. Maybe the vast cinematography, scoring, voice acting, etc., aren't what gamers really want, and the "big budget" games are really throwing away money. Maybe gamers just want new ideas like Tetris. But the idea that "this DRM must work or the industry is doomed" will prevent the publishers from discovering these approaches, or others like them.
- teamonkey 17y ago
  > Maybe the vast cinematography, scoring, voice acting, etc., aren't what gamers really want, and the "big budget" games are really throwing away money. I was referring specifically to big-budget blockbuster titles. The major publishers have divested portfolios. If the big budget PC titles aren't profitable they'll be dropped and the investment will be elsewhere, like facebook games or whatever. I'd argue that a lot of people do want these games though, because although PC sales are very low, millions of people play them.

CWuestefeld 17y ago

Either it works and stays, or it doesn't work and publishers start to drop out of the market. I think this attitude is a big part of the problem. The mindset that they can only be profitable by preventing copying, whatever draconian measures that requires, puts them in a box that will prevent any innovation, either in gameplay or in business model. It may be that efforts at copy protection are well past the point of diminishing returns. Perhaps the investment in these technologies, and the resulting loss in customer goodwill, are costing more than the actual piracy. Maybe the vast cinematography, scoring, voice acting, etc., aren't what gamers really want, and the "big budget" games are really throwing away money. Maybe gamers just want new ideas like Tetris. But the idea that "this DRM must work or the industry is doomed" will prevent the publishers from discovering these approaches, or others like them.

teamonkey 17y ago
> Maybe the vast cinematography, scoring, voice acting, etc., aren't what gamers really want, and the "big budget" games are really throwing away money. I was referring specifically to big-budget blockbuster titles. The major publishers have divested portfolios. If the big budget PC titles aren't profitable they'll be dropped and the investment will be elsewhere, like facebook games or whatever. I'd argue that a lot of people do want these games though, because although PC sales are very low, millions of people play them.