GOG is taking a firm stance on DRM..

[lexluthermiester]

Surprise, surprise;
https://fckdrm.com/
The site name says it all, but it's worth a look and I love GOG for this.
First read about it on TH;
https://www.tomshardware.com/news/gog-reveals-fck-drm-initiative,37670.html

 

[FordGT90Concept]

iwantto@fckdrm.com That made my day.

 

[lexluthermiester]

iwantto@fckdrm.com That made my day.

LOL! So funny. And yet, in crude way, meaningful.

 

[Frick]

Too crude imo, it doesn't sound serious, even if it's a good thing. And not all DRM = kill switch. Nitpicking.

 

[qubit]

Sounds great, will check it out later.

 

[RejZoR]

Too crude imo, it doesn't sound serious, even if it's a good thing. And not all DRM = kill switch. Nitpicking.

It is. If it's not on demand, it'll get broken by itself when new OS gets released with dramatic changes for which the DRM driver will crap itself up. Just like it has for 20 years and counting...

 

[Frick]

It is. If it's not on demand, it'll get broken by itself when new OS gets released with dramatic changes for which the DRM driver will crap itself up. Just like it has for 20 years and counting...

CD keys were DRM, as were those where you had to enter a word from the manual.

 

[FordGT90Concept]

CD keys were serial numbers that generate a hash to decrypts the install files. There's nothing explicitly wrong with serialization but there is when it's input is required to unlock content you lawfully purchased. You don't own a product, you own a serial. Product is quite useless without it.

I didn't know EFF was behind the anti-DRM initiative. I think that's why GOG created the website: to promote DRM free content in all forms.

 

[RejZoR]

CD keys were DRM, as were those where you had to enter a word from the manual.

That was hooked to SafeDisc or SecuROM protection. Which both used drivers that crapped out when we moved from Win9x to WinXP and from WinXP to Vista. So, no thanks.

 

[bug]

I thought they took that stance when they started selling great games without DRM. StarDock did the same before them, but they folded after Demigod and Elemental.

 

[lexluthermiester]

And not all DRM = kill switch. Nitpicking.

When was the last time you tried playing a game that's no longer "supported" by the publisher? Or worse, the activation servers are not operating? What happens to your game then? What about a game the publisher decides to blacklist? I'm having that problem with an online store right now. I bought a few apps that have been removed, completely. So I can not reinstall them and I have not got a refund. In effect, programs that I have paid for I can't use anymore. That is, in my eyes, theft. That is how I view DRM currently, a thinly veiled form of theft.

 

[bug]

When was the last time you tried playing a game that's no longer "supported" by the publisher? Or worse, the activation servers are not operating? What happens to your game then? What about a game the publisher decides to blacklist? I'm having that problem with an online store right now. I bought a few apps that have been removed, completely. So I can not reinstall them and I have not got a refund. In effect, programs that I have paid for I can't use anymore. That is, in my eyes, theft. That is how I view DRM currently, a thinly veiled form of theft.

It's not theft, but it does provide the means to enforce that software is licensed and not sold to you. Like Paul Atreides found out in Dune: he who can destroy the spice, controls it
The real asinine move is DRM on online-only titles. The game is bound to an account anyway, DRM is just adding insult to injury.

 

[lexluthermiester]

It's not theft, but it does provide the means to enforce that software is licensed and not sold to you.

Software licensing and copyrights take a back seat to individual citizen statutory rights. Denying access to something someone has lawfully purchased or paid access to is theft under technical definition. That is also the law.. So yes, it is theft.

 

[FordGT90Concept]

I thought they took that stance when they started selling great games without DRM. StarDock did the same before them, but they folded after Demigod and Elemental.

StarDock had Impulse but it was not a DRM-free platform like GOG. DRM-free is what makes GOG stand out from bigger fish in the sea like Steam.

 

[bug]

StarDock had Impulse but it was not a DRM-free platform like GOG. DRM-free is what makes GOG stand out from bigger fish in the sea like Steam.

Not sure what you mean. Like GOG Galaxy, Impulse was not a requirement. You could get your game in the store, install it and play it without ever touching Impulse.

Software licensing and copyrights take a back seat to individual citizen statutory rights. Denying access to something someone has lawfully purchased or paid access to is theft under technical definition. That is also the law.. So yes, it is theft.

Here's the crux of the matter. You don't pay for a copy of the game, you actually license the right to use somebody else's property instead. It's in the EULA.
Not saying I like it, but it is what it is.

 

[lexluthermiester]

Here's the crux of the matter. You don't pay for a copy of the game, you actually license the right to use somebody else's property instead. It's in the EULA.
Not saying I like it, but it is what it is.

That is where things get complicated. However in the end, any and all EULA's must yield to statutory citizen rights, IE rights that can not be waived contractually. Regardless of who issues it, any EULA, or potion thereof, which limits the usage and rights of the citizen, becomes invalid the moment it is agreed to. It is a smoke and mirrors game, one publishers desperately want you to believe. Stand up for your rights or lose them.

 

[bug]

That is where things get complicated. However in the end, any and all EULA's must yield to statutory citizen rights, IE rights that can not be waived contractually. Regardless of who issues it, any EULA, or potion thereof, which limits the usage and rights of the citizen, becomes invalid the moment it is agreed to. It is a smoke and mirrors game, one publishers desperately want you to believe. Stand up for your rights or lose them.

I think you're wrong here. As a citizen you have both the rights to buy and the right to license something. When someone decides to license the result of their work to you, you can't simply argue that is encroaching on your right to buy that result instead.

 

[Frick]

I think you're wrong here. As a citizen you have both the rights to buy and the right to license something. When someone decides to license the result of their work to you, you can't simply argue that is encroaching on your right to buy that result instead.

Yeah this.

Vote with your wallet.

 

[FordGT90Concept]

Not sure what you mean. Like GOG Galaxy, Impulse was not a requirement. You could get your game in the store, install it and play it without ever touching Impulse.

I used it a long time ago and that's not how I remembered it. Wikipedia makes no mention of it being DRM free.

 

[bug]

I used it a long time ago and that's not how I remembered it. Wikipedia makes no mention of it being DRM free.

You want me to send you my boxed GalCivII so you can see for yourself?

And then there's this: http://www.gamersbillofrights.com/

 

[Ahhzz]

I thought they took that stance when they started selling great games without DRM. StarDock did the same before them, but they folded after Demigod and Elemental.

one of the reasons I don't purchase anything else from them.

 

[enxo218]

Surprise, surprise;
https://fckdrm.com/
The site name says it all, but it's worth a look and I love GOG for this.
First read about it on TH;
https://www.tomshardware.com/news/gog-reveals-fck-drm-initiative,37670.html

awareness should spread throughout gamers and game devs/distributors/publishers. not everyone is playing games all the time such that repeated verification is a non trivial affair and reliable constant internet access is seemingly a privilege today , individuals falling short in these criteria shouldn't be punished for it

 

[bug]

awareness should spread throughout gamers and game devs/distributors/publishers. not everyone is playing games all the time such that repeated verification is a non trivial affair and reliable constant internet access is seemingly a privilege today , individuals falling short in these criteria shouldn't be punished for it

Another trend that should die is single player games requiring always on connection. Not only is that extremely annoying (basically treating your customers as criminals), but it goes hand in hand with the game client not including all the logic so that it has to contact the server to do computations on its behalf. Say hello to lag in single player games!
Though the trend seems to be to kill the single player game instead.

 

[FordGT90Concept]

You want me to send you my boxed GalCivII so you can see for yourself?

And then there's this: http://www.gamersbillofrights.com/

Wardell (likely author of that website) obviously supports the notion of DRM free games but did Impulse enforce it as a matter of rule like GOG?

 

[enxo218]

Another trend that should die is single player games requiring always on connection. Not only is that extremely annoying (basically treating your customers as criminals), but it goes hand in hand with the game client not including all the logic so that it has to contact the server to do computations on its behalf. Say hello to lag in single player games!
Though the trend seems to be to kill the single player game instead.

death to sp games will mark the end of my favourite hobby. I don't like multiplayer with strangers its always box of chocolates deal in matchmaking which is why local lan parties with friends work for me, some 4 guys and operation flashpoint or dos on a weekend its cool...but gaming will remain mostly solo for me