3 ms·

Nooo. some of these games (simcity 2?) aren't even online. It looks like they shutdown the always online DRM server. you can't even play single player on it any

Nooo. some of these games (simcity 2?) aren't even online. It looks like they shutdown the always online DRM server. you can't even play single player on it anymore. EDIT: sims 2 (auto typed city given the article as context) whoops

mintplant 14y ago
I'm trying to figure out what you mean by this. There is no SimCity title on this list, nor has there ever been a "SimCity 2" to begin with. Unless you're talking about the just-released series reboot? Or maybe "The Sims 2" - which has no always-on DRM system to speak of? In any case, if a game has always-on DRM, the publisher could always release a patch disabling it before shutting down the servers.
- natem345 14y ago
  He probably meant SimCity 2000, which can still be played despite being nearly 20 years old... it would surely be on that list if it was more recent. Has EA ever done so or indicated they will release such a no-DRM patch? I have a feeling they'll just say "too bad." I'd bet many of those games had significant single-player modes that are now inaccessible. Valve at least has announced they have a patch ready if Steam should ever go offline.
- pyrocat 14y ago
  The patch would cost a lot more development dollars. In order to make always-on DRM effective there needs to be some significant logic kept on the company servers. If it was a simple on/off switch it would be very easy to break. Thus, creating a patch to move that logic from the company servers to the players computer is going to cost a lot of money at a time when the company is shutting down the servers because they're trying to save money. Not going to happen.
  - tsotha 14y ago
    >The patch would cost a lot more development dollars. In order to make always-on DRM effective there needs to be some significant logic kept on the company servers. Well, there's that and the fact that this is a really mature genre. This year's Sim City game isn't any more fun to play than the one from 20 years ago, so they're probably afraid more copies will start circulating and cut into current sales.

mintplant 14y ago

I'm trying to figure out what you mean by this. There is no SimCity title on this list, nor has there ever been a "SimCity 2" to begin with. Unless you're talking about the just-released series reboot? Or maybe "The Sims 2" - which has no always-on DRM system to speak of? In any case, if a game has always-on DRM, the publisher could always release a patch disabling it before shutting down the servers.

natem345 14y ago
He probably meant SimCity 2000, which can still be played despite being nearly 20 years old... it would surely be on that list if it was more recent. Has EA ever done so or indicated they will release such a no-DRM patch? I have a feeling they'll just say "too bad." I'd bet many of those games had significant single-player modes that are now inaccessible. Valve at least has announced they have a patch ready if Steam should ever go offline.
pyrocat 14y ago
The patch would cost a lot more development dollars. In order to make always-on DRM effective there needs to be some significant logic kept on the company servers. If it was a simple on/off switch it would be very easy to break. Thus, creating a patch to move that logic from the company servers to the players computer is going to cost a lot of money at a time when the company is shutting down the servers because they're trying to save money. Not going to happen.
- tsotha 14y ago
  >The patch would cost a lot more development dollars. In order to make always-on DRM effective there needs to be some significant logic kept on the company servers. Well, there's that and the fact that this is a really mature genre. This year's Sim City game isn't any more fun to play than the one from 20 years ago, so they're probably afraid more copies will start circulating and cut into current sales.