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Command and Conquer forums
EA laces CC4 with Always-On DRM
"First thing to be clear about, Command & Conquer 4 does require you to be connected to the internet to play... So there ya go, no disc in the drive necessary, just activate your account with your serial key and presto, you're ready to go. It's actually much easier than before."
As with Ubisoft and Assassin's Creed 2 (a single-player game that was ported to the PC), C&C 4 forces you to have an Internet connection at all times. If you lose connection for more than a few seconds, you are booted out of the game and left with your last autosave. Ubisoft remedied the autosave problem by making the game save constantly now (but not removing the internet-requiring DRM).
When Assassin's Creed 2 for PC was released, pirates and script kiddies went to work right away and DDoS'd the servers while cracking the internet connection requirement:
Ubisoft Attack
In other words, while some people who BOUGHT the game were unable to play because Ubisoft's servers couldn't handle the attack, people who got the game from 'alternative sources' were able to play without even paying for it. Thus, only the people who BOUGHT the game were punished by the DRM.
The fact that EA began implementing this into their games sets a troubling precedent for the future of all the game companies they publish for, including BioWare. What's even more troublesome is that they intend to include 'online services' in all their 2011 games and on:
Electronic Arts Qtr. End Earnings Call Transcript
John Schappert - "In fiscal 2011, every one of EA’s releases will have an online component, both downloadable content and online play"
Of course, Ubisoft designates their always-on Internet requirement as their 'Online Services Platform'.
EA has does not hesitate to add copy protection to their software. Yet, Spore became one of the most illegally downloaded games of all time because of its own DRM. What is the point of putting such restrictions when people don't want to pay for and deal with the hassle?
Imagine if Microsoft or Adobe started making Microsoft Office or Adobe Photoshop require an online connection to prevent piracy - would customers appreciate the copy protection, or would they just download it or use a different program instead? Yes, I may be comparing essential applications to games, but to a software company it's all the same - we are the customers that buy their products.
The hope is not all bad, though. Steam (which is a less intrusive DRM, to be fair) recently dropped two of Ubisoft's games altogether for including the online requirement. Even the digital distributors are revolting against these strict DRM standards.
Steam dumps Ubisoft DRM games
Thus, the question goes out to the BioWare developers: If EA told you to include an always-on Internet component in the Cerberus Network, would you be forced to include it? And if you did, would you be able to justify it?
Would we start getting screens that look similar to this?
Just remember, even if the Cerberus Network is successful with paid DLC and may necessitate an Internet connection eventually, many people will still buy it because it's BioWare. Others, however, may resort to less... restrictive methods.
Modifié par Ecael, 19 mars 2010 - 02:52 .
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