Forums => Rants > Piracy & "required" Internet connectivity
I think what EA is doing is basically utilizing DRMs next door neighbor, without the nasty name attached to it. I do find it pretty dumb that this constant internet thing is going to happen. I'm also very disappointed in Blizzard for pulling the LAN thing. Yes it might promote some piracy, but there's a chance that when someone sees a bunch of dudes in a room rocking out and having a good time that they in turn run out and buy the actual game.
I really hate the fact that because of this EA move people wanting to play this game will be handcuffed to a network. Or if they want to play, while out and about, they're going to end up having to pay an arm and a freaking leg for probably piss poor connection speeds.
Charlie
Good point about people wanting to play while they're out and about. As laptops become more powerful, they'll be able to play newer games like C&C4...but unless they're at a wifi station or have those Internet cards while out, won't be able to play. Bah.
zealeus
In a way we, society, have done this to ourselves.
Publishers feel forced into a corner and in an industry that is still growing and 1% more revenue really means $$$$$$$$ more money in the companies coffers, any move that restricts piracy is a good move. To them.
Think about it like this. You rip the new CD from BAND NAME HERE and really like it. You may actually still go to the concert and buy the $20.00 shirts. Putting at least some $$$ back into their pockets.
You rip a PC game, there is no concert to sell tickets for and most of the time you don’t want to be wearing a Game T-Shirt either.
With no real viable way to make more money or recoup lost money, they have to choose the avenue of most restrictions and hurdles to piracy.
Not that that has stopped anyone from creating fake servers and fake "I am connected online" without being connected online programs......................it's just that extra bit hard now for the technologically challenged pirates.
The German
I can agree with that, its a strange balancing act that companies have to have to make money but to also have a fanbase. I'm still of the opinion that if gamers want to have good quality games they need to stop pirating the crap out of them, and just buy the damn game. Most companies aren't looking for you to spend above $1000 for the right to use their software (cough cough PaintShop cough). I think what really needs to happen is that maybe demos need to be re-looked at. I think that if a demo is solid enough and isn't too skimpy on the features that you'd see maybe an increase in legitimate sales. Then again there are a lot of people out there that pirate the game, and if they really like it then they buy it.
Perhaps there needs to be some sort of GameFly-esque service to fix the PC problem.
Charlie
In lieu of EA's recent decision to require constant Internet connectivity for Command & Conquer 4 and Blizzard's decision to leave out LAN capabilities for StarCraft2, I wish that game publishers would stop treating gamers like idiots and just come out with the truth: It is to prevent piracy. Yea yea, there are game updates. That's what that magic "Update" button is for!!! Or, you could always just search for an update whenever I launch the game, and if can't find one or not Internet, let me play!