Drm

[Tannen]

I don't want to discuss whether piracy is or isn't a problem, and whether publishers have the right to include copy protection in their programs.

What I'd like to know is has there been any info on what type of DRM will be used with D3?
How likely is it that D3 comes with similar DRM to Bioshock, Mass Effect, Spore, and so on?

My opinion is that the DRM that comes with the mentioned games is much too restrictive. In fact, I do not (and will not) buy games with such DRM. With Mass Effect, you are effectively renting the game. Since D3 will obviously have a huge online component, I think that Blizz doesn't need that type of DRM, even if they think they do, since a large majority of players will be logging online to play. A simple CD check to logon to battle.net would suffice.

Looking back at previous Blizz games, I don't see a very restrictive type of DRM, which gives me hope that they will follow that trend. However, times are changing, and more publishers are using excessive DRM. IMO, it isn't to combat piracy, it is to gain control they'd otherwise be scolded for, and to try and move as close as possible to a subscription model since that is more profitable.

Has there been any info or clues dropped, either during the WWI, or prior to it, that would shed some light on their plans for DRM in D3?

[Flayer]

I'd rather not have a CD-check either. Just a valid CD-key is needed, right? I mean... come on? I hate having to look for CD's all the time. I don't care if they 'make' me register online (I mean, to play online, it's not all that unreasonable...), I just want to play the game without having to go through all sort of loops. Maybe I'm just being naive, but I believe that, even with just a 'CD-check' for your account or something like that, it'd be perfectly possible to play the game without having to have to put that damned CD in your computer.

If they really think they're going to lose a lot of money by 'allowing' single player people to play without a legit version (like persistant players can't do that regardless of whether or not there is a CD-check).

Oh well, I'm just hoping they'll still be using OpenGL, or at least (like I believe they do with certain other games) have an in-house Wine (http://www.winehq.org) testing environment so I can run the bloody game. Otherwise, I'll stick with the games that work. :P

[sectoid]

I'm also very preoccupied by this. I asked for this question pre-WWI but unfortunately it was not asked. It would probably not be answered anyway, but at least they would see that we were concerned by this.

I also did not buy Mass Effect and won't buy Spore for the reasons you mentioned. I would not buy even D3 if it meant rental like they do, but I think this won't happen. Blizzard is not EA. Btw, I don't buy any EA games anymore for a long time, Mass Effect "would" be the exception to that because of Bioware, but it seems Bioware couldn't care less for us legit gamers now as they show on their forums.

Thanks for bringing this up, I hope we hear something on this soon.

[Swiffer]

What I'd like to know is has there been any info on what type of DRM will be used with D3?
How likely is it that D3 comes with similar DRM to Bioshock, Mass Effect, Spore, and so on?

1) There hasn't been, IIRC Blizzard has used SafeDisc in the past.
2) Very unlikely, judging by their track record. Blizzard is a huge example that more of the industry should look at. If you make a great game, people will buy it. Blizzard make great games, with very little DRM (cd checks and minimal copy protection) and without fail they sell a boatload.

With Mass Effect, you are effectively renting the game. Since D3 will obviously have a huge online component, I think that Blizz doesn't need that type of DRM, even if they think they do, since a large majority of players will be logging online to play.

Actually if you read through EULAs, you will find that technically (has not been tested in court) you have been renting your games for 5-10 years. EULAs usually grant you a license to use the software, but does not grant ownership of the game, even though you paid for it.

A simple CD check to logon to battle.net would suffice.

CD check no, that has been got around easily in the past. CD key check, yes, and they have been doing this since Diablo 1.

IMO, it isn't to combat piracy, it is to gain control they'd otherwise be scolded for, and to try and move as close as possible to a subscription model since that is more profitable.

The tighter and tighter DRM is so that they can lock users out of illegal copies much quicker, which is viewed as a good thing by the companies that use it. I can't grasp the theory that they are trying to move closer to a subscription model. Making the DRM so tight and restrictive that it might as well be a subscription model simply won't fly because people either will or won't pay by the month. Nobody is going to think "Well, hell, i might as well pay every month considering how crap this DRM is".

Nobody.

Has there been any info or clues dropped, either during the WWI, or prior to it, that would shed some light on their plans for DRM in D3?

Apart from speculation by the community and a couple of interviews with the devs at the WWI by a couple fan sites, there has been virtually no details about any part of the game released since the WWI panels.

Watch the front page here. When new details that are even remotely related to D3 are released, they will end up there.

[Tannen]

Actually if you read through EULAs, you will find that technically (has not been tested in court) you have been renting your games for 5-10 years. EULAs usually grant you a license to use the software, but does not grant ownership of the game, even though you paid for it.


I think "not been tested in court" is key, as there have been a few rulings which basically said that the EULA does not supercede already established laws. Therfore, a lot of parts in the EULA are not binding at all, in many countries (USA, Canada, a lot of Western European nations). Basically, if I make up a contract where I explicitly give you the right to kill me, and you do, you still broke the law, and even though there was a contract in place, it will not absolve you from resopnsibility of breaking the law (assuming of course that killing is against the law :)).

Also, EULAs in a lot of cases are not disclosed prior to purchase, thus, another reason they are non-binding in many countries. So, since you don't know what you are buying (terms of EULA), AND parts of the EULA may be try to circumvent laws already in place, EULAs in general are rubbish.
They can't take your legal rights away, and should be skipped asap so you can get on with the game :)

Oh and yes, I meant CD key check for b.net. I don't mind normal CD checks, but I'd prefer to go without them. Thank you for the information you provided. I am glad that there are people confident Blizzard won't be too restrictive with their DRM to ease my paranoia.