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Posted: **Thu Dec 04, 2008 8:30 am**

I was reading the reviews in the latest issue of PCGamer and half the games listed had a "DRM Alert". That's PCGamer's warning when something like SecureRom is installed. All had 3-5 install limits.

WTF? Am I going to have to become a full time pirate just to avoid being treated like one?

I should also mention that in the same issue, one of the writers talk about this being a golden age of gaming due to the vast number of titles and how good they are and I chuckled.

How is this the golden age of gaming? Sure the games may be awesome, but the consumer is being treated like a petty thief that needs to be under constant surveillance.

Can we stop calling the transaction between the consumer and whomever is selling the PC game a "purchase" and instead start calling it a rental? On top of that, if we're not going to get full rights to something we are "purchasing", then I think it's time for the prices to drop substantially. Since we don't actually own the software, aren't they nothing more than rental chains, ala Blockbuster?

Edited By Leisher on 1228398209

Posted: **Thu Dec 04, 2008 8:41 am**

Posted: **Thu Dec 04, 2008 8:45 am**

Also in that issue was a big article about consumer backlash against the current DRM shit and how companies are already figuring out ways to move away from it.

Posted: **Thu Dec 04, 2008 9:35 am**

Yeah, the whole 3/5 installs thing wouldn't bother me if they'd just call it a rental and charge me $20 for something currently costing $60. I only get pissy when something I own is jacked up by their DRM policies.

If I own it (and especially if I paid $60) I will damn well play it how I want, where I want, and when I want, you bastards.

Edited By TPRJones on 1228401403

Posted: **Thu Dec 04, 2008 11:36 am**

Leisher wrote:WTF? Am I going to have to become a full time pirate just to avoid being treated like one?

Needs must as the devil drives.

Posted: **Thu Dec 04, 2008 12:04 pm**

If I recall correctly, Left 4 Dead got a DRM warning because it required STEAM for activation.

Posted: **Thu Dec 04, 2008 12:15 pm**

GORDON wrote:If I recall correctly, Left 4 Dead got a DRM warning because it required STEAM for activation.

Gonna get L4D after crysis, I think. Probably in January.

Posted: **Thu Dec 04, 2008 1:36 pm**

Crysis is pretty sweet. I might play through it again soon.

Left4Dead is getting great reviews, but I'm going to wait until folks here pick it up so we can multi it.

Posted: **Sun Dec 07, 2008 2:38 am**

Seems to be working well.
I think 7 of those games have some version of securom.

Edited By WSGrundy on 1228635509

Posted: **Fri Dec 19, 2008 9:43 pm**

EA decides to release some non-drm games on Steam.

December 18, 2008. Just in time for the holidays, Valve announced that, Spore™, Spore Creepy & Cute Parts Pack, Warhammer® Online: Age of Reckoning™, Mass Effect®, Need for Speed™ Undercover and EA SPORTS FIFA Manager 2009 are available now to gamers in North America via Steam, a leading platform for PC games and digital content with over 15 million accounts around the world.

In the coming weeks, Mirror's Edge™ , Command & Conquer™ Red Alert™ 3, and Dead Space™ will also be added to the catalog of EA's titles available via Steam.

"EA is one of the industry's largest publishers," said Gabe Newell, co-founder and president of Valve. "The EA titles coming to Steam this holiday include some this year's top PC titles."

Posted: **Fri Dec 19, 2008 10:15 pm**

Ooo Dead Space....

Posted: **Fri Dec 19, 2008 11:24 pm**

Interesting step.

But I'm still a collector, I still want the box, and I wont buy any of that while it has SecureRom.

And the used games market still suffers.... can't sell your Steam download to a store or buddy.

EA has given up nothing except an expensive license to SecureRom.

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DRM explosion