Scourge of War Boards

norb wrote:
ahh, I found one of the better researched articles:
http://www.tweakguides.com/Piracy_1.html

This article seems well-researched, yet it doesn't really explain why it makes the leap to the conclusions that it did. Spore was the most pirated game, yet the DRM had nothing to do with that even though the ones without intrusive DRM were pirated less? Sure, it gives examples of games with just as bad DRM that weren't pirated as much, but they didn't receive any bad press over it, so it clearly wasn't as well known about.

The only consistent, predictable correlation seems to be the popularity of the game itself, which stands to reason. And, frankly, these numbers don't impress me. I was lead to believe they were larger.

The article is good at gathering numbers but poor at making conclusions. It seems determined to misrepresent any counterarguments. They go on about looking for evidence and reason (those words in bold, no less!) while neglecting the latter and even (in the height of irony) post the definition of a 'straw man'! The further into the article the worse it gets.

Nobody is saying you shouldn't have the right to protect your game. If there was a DRM method that worked, I would support it completely. Since there isn't, short of multiplayer, the DRM that is out there only punishes your customers and does not hinder pirates. Activation or a plain CD Check is one thing; the DRM arms race is delusional.

I guess that when you spend thousands of hours creating something, then you can make the decision. But it someone's right to sell what they want. They can sell the most intrusive DRM possible, as long as the consumer knows it. I can have a gun behind the counter at 7-11 if I want. I can have a gun in my home. We have a right to protect what is ours from those that would steal it. As long as the box is properly labeled, you can put whatever you want to sell in there. Then people can buy it or not buy it.

The article was very clear to me. There is a large community that wants games with no protection. So they should create their own games and release them without protection. But until I do a google search and stop seeing the hundreds of torrents and hacked downloads of games, I see no reason why any developer would release software without any protection. I certainly won't. Even though the games are hacked, the point is to keep the honest people honest. Also, as the article pointed out, it's a huge hit into your customer support as your team tries to recreate problems that just do not exist in the non-hacked version of the game. We've had a bunch of those on our own boards. People steal the game, then they want support.

Even if it wasn't a ton of money, I would still believe in protecting what is yours just out of principle. I just don't like stealing.

Have been following this thread and agree 100%+ with Norb! If the game meets your needs and standards, then buy the doggone thing...if not, choose one of the competitors!

Keep up the good work!

J

i'll sum it up, if everyone built their own car, house, pool, plane, grow their food, make their clothes and so on... no one would have jobs or make money we're talking stone age same principals apply in games...Mwhahaha sort of ...jk....

Bytshield seems pretty good.

http://www.byteshield.net/

http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/2615 ... shield.php

I appreciate the link, but I'm already settled on the methods that I will use. They will not be intrusive and hopefully will last at least a little while

I copied this from my post at another forum, which considering the discussion here, might solve the piracy problem altogether:

Elmo Investigative Reports: Empires to use the most invasive copy protection yet!


With the recent surge of piracy in the gaming industry, CA/SEGA has decided to make the step up to an unheard of level of copy protection. If you think Starforce, SecureRom, and server authentication methods were invasive, just wait until you purchase the new Empires: Total War game.

Working in conjunction with the FBI, CIA, INTERPOL, SCOTLAND YARD, and several other internationally known security agencies, SEGA/CA is contracting their copy protection work to secret service agency-sponsored independent contractors (aka. former LA Gang-Bangers which CA & SEGA affectionately refer to as GB's and former mafia enforcers: ME's). When you purchase yo' new game, you will be personally escorted to you's home by two store-selected GB's or ME's (depending on location) and observed installing yo' one legal copy onto the PC of you's choice, whereby said agents will then hold and store your purchase in a undetermined secure facility (Fort Knox perhaps? Without all that gold, there must be quite a bit of room there.).

So don't be fooled by the nice touchy/feely logo to be found on each Empires: Game box. . . CA/SEGA is serious this time!





PS: I think I am the only person who was ever allowed to even mention the word "Piracy" on the totalwar forums, much less have an entire post about such a topic. hehe I'm just glad CA had a good sense of humor about such things.

I would post a few of my other spoofs from there, but considering it is from a competitor's forum, inferior as that game is currently, I would consider it disrespectful to do so without Norb and gang's express permission. I am sure I will find something I can make fun of soon enough . . . let me see if I can find my old photo edit of a 2nd Manassas screenshot I posted at the old TC forum. It may have stated this pic was proof Norb was creating a simplified version of the game for the console market, but I can't really remember back that far . . Alzheimer's . . I think . . If my memory serves me . . .

LMAO thats funny stuff UglyElmo
i like that pic...

Elmo,
You have blanket permission to post any of your parodies on this site. We take the work seriously, but not much of anything else. I for one am interested to see what you can come up with.

-Jim

You asked for it: Here is the link to the OFF-Topic area where I have a listing of some of my old stuff I made for the Totalwar.com forum community.

Elmo's feeble attempts at humor