Comments on: I may have to stop buying PC games… http://blog.shrub.com/archives/tekanji/2008-04-07_703 Because we care about stuff Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:49:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Maxim http://blog.shrub.com/archives/tekanji/2008-04-07_703/comment-page-1#comment-170880 Maxim Mon, 28 Apr 2008 16:51:55 +0000 http://blog.shrub.com/?p=703#comment-170880 Yeah, it used to be that downloading games was free, but a lot of hassle, the internet was slow, often movies of some sounds were cut out, you had to find a proper crack, some of them were glitchy etc, etc. So I would sometimes buy them just to avoid all that. These days though, it is a lot less trouble to download a game, as it comes with cracks as well as instructions and, if needed, additional programms for bypassing any protection it may have. So of the games that downloaded I have less of them not work then the properly purchased ones. That's why i no longer buy them at the store... Well that, and I'm cheap ^^ Yeah, it used to be that downloading games was free, but a lot of hassle, the internet was slow, often movies of some sounds were cut out, you had to find a proper crack, some of them were glitchy etc, etc. So I would sometimes buy them just to avoid all that. These days though, it is a lot less trouble to download a game, as it comes with cracks as well as instructions and, if needed, additional programms for bypassing any protection it may have. So of the games that downloaded I have less of them not work then the properly purchased ones. That’s why i no longer buy them at the store… Well that, and I’m cheap ^^

]]> By: Some Guy http://blog.shrub.com/archives/tekanji/2008-04-07_703/comment-page-1#comment-170855 Some Guy Thu, 24 Apr 2008 06:54:38 +0000 http://blog.shrub.com/?p=703#comment-170855 Maybe they should use a USB stick with a ROM chip in it (would come in the game package box). Everytime the game runs, it checks for the presence of the ROM chip, and if it is not there, the game refuses to run. Of course, it's a matter of time before the game is either tricked into believing the ROM chip is there, or the check is removed altogether, but I bet it would be more effective than what they're doing now. Maybe they should use a USB stick with a ROM chip in it (would come in the game package box). Everytime the game runs, it checks for the presence of the ROM chip, and if it is not there, the game refuses to run.

Of course, it’s a matter of time before the game is either tricked into believing the ROM chip is there, or the check is removed altogether, but I bet it would be more effective than what they’re doing now.

]]> By: Laura http://blog.shrub.com/archives/tekanji/2008-04-07_703/comment-page-1#comment-170852 Laura Wed, 23 Apr 2008 16:54:43 +0000 http://blog.shrub.com/?p=703#comment-170852 That's what so loverly about capitalism--its always on the consumer. Pretty much the most effective thing you can do is write the companies and nice sweet letter/email, like what you said at the end of your post, and send it out to all the companies you won't be purchasing from anymore, and encouraging others to do the same. But yeah, you're also not exactly the target demographic, so they may not care that much. That’s what so loverly about capitalism–its always on the consumer. Pretty much the most effective thing you can do is write the companies and nice sweet letter/email, like what you said at the end of your post, and send it out to all the companies you won’t be purchasing from anymore, and encouraging others to do the same. But yeah, you’re also not exactly the target demographic, so they may not care that much.

]]> By: Radish http://blog.shrub.com/archives/tekanji/2008-04-07_703/comment-page-1#comment-170841 Radish Tue, 22 Apr 2008 18:41:13 +0000 http://blog.shrub.com/?p=703#comment-170841 You can be pretty safe with indie games. Even if they wanted to use them (which they generally don't), indie developers can't easily afford malicious protection schemes. As far as actual game quality, I can only vouch for Spiderweb Software and Telltale Games, though Planewalker Games and Iron Tower Studios look promising. You can be pretty safe with indie games. Even if they wanted to use them (which they generally don’t), indie developers can’t easily afford malicious protection schemes. As far as actual game quality, I can only vouch for Spiderweb Software and Telltale Games, though Planewalker Games and Iron Tower Studios look promising.

]]> By: Godless Heathen http://blog.shrub.com/archives/tekanji/2008-04-07_703/comment-page-1#comment-170830 Godless Heathen Sat, 19 Apr 2008 16:24:15 +0000 http://blog.shrub.com/?p=703#comment-170830 I mentioned this at Mighty Ponygirl's but Stardock games is releasing their titles completely copy protection free. So far they're into "4X" type games, but I think they could be encouraged to branch out into other types of games if a broad spectrum of gamers were to encourage them. Ok, also I'm just in awe of how <i>gorgeous</i> "Sins of a Solar Empire" looks, even on a system with a completely poop video card like mine. I mentioned this at Mighty Ponygirl’s but Stardock games is releasing their titles completely copy protection free. So far they’re into “4X” type games, but I think they could be encouraged to branch out into other types of games if a broad spectrum of gamers were to encourage them. Ok, also I’m just in awe of how gorgeous “Sins of a Solar Empire” looks, even on a system with a completely poop video card like mine.

]]> By: BetaCandy http://blog.shrub.com/archives/tekanji/2008-04-07_703/comment-page-1#comment-170800 BetaCandy Wed, 09 Apr 2008 16:02:28 +0000 http://blog.shrub.com/?p=703#comment-170800 You're exactly right - the onus IS on the consumer. That's why entertainment marketing targets young, male audiences - they want people who would rather do a bunch of extra work than admit it's a crap product and they got the worse end of that transaction. (I'm not saying young men are all like that, but I think that is the perception marketers have.) You’re exactly right – the onus IS on the consumer. That’s why entertainment marketing targets young, male audiences – they want people who would rather do a bunch of extra work than admit it’s a crap product and they got the worse end of that transaction. (I’m not saying young men are all like that, but I think that is the perception marketers have.)

]]> By: Mighty Ponygirl http://blog.shrub.com/archives/tekanji/2008-04-07_703/comment-page-1#comment-170798 Mighty Ponygirl Wed, 09 Apr 2008 02:03:37 +0000 http://blog.shrub.com/?p=703#comment-170798 Dr. Stephen: Self-selecting survey data aside (I do listen to older CDs too!), I've noticed that of all the CDs that I own that won't play in my CD player (component, not PC), all of them have been released in the last few years. I was able to extract the MP3s without too much trouble, but I go to play them in a normal, stereo-shelf CD player and the thing will sit and grind. So I'm starting to come to the conclusion that copy protection really <em>is</em> about punishing legitimate users. Dr. Stephen:

Self-selecting survey data aside (I do listen to older CDs too!), I’ve noticed that of all the CDs that I own that won’t play in my CD player (component, not PC), all of them have been released in the last few years. I was able to extract the MP3s without too much trouble, but I go to play them in a normal, stereo-shelf CD player and the thing will sit and grind. So I’m starting to come to the conclusion that copy protection really is about punishing legitimate users.

]]> By: Dr Stephen Dann http://blog.shrub.com/archives/tekanji/2008-04-07_703/comment-page-1#comment-170793 Dr Stephen Dann Tue, 08 Apr 2008 10:57:27 +0000 http://blog.shrub.com/?p=703#comment-170793 After narrowly dodging a bullet on a music cd, I've been reluctant to trust any disc. I just can't figure out the mindset at the marketing departments that aren't protesting that the organisation is burning the person paying the cash for the product. Unless, of course, there's some tax write off / market failure thing going on with the accountants that I've just not heard about.... After narrowly dodging a bullet on a music cd, I’ve been reluctant to trust any disc. I just can’t figure out the mindset at the marketing departments that aren’t protesting that the organisation is burning the person paying the cash for the product. Unless, of course, there’s some tax write off / market failure thing going on with the accountants that I’ve just not heard about….

]]> By: Feminist Gamers » Blog Archive » Building on what tekanji said… http://blog.shrub.com/archives/tekanji/2008-04-07_703/comment-page-1#comment-170786 Feminist Gamers » Blog Archive » Building on what tekanji said… Mon, 07 Apr 2008 19:48:15 +0000 http://blog.shrub.com/?p=703#comment-170786 [...] Do we still want to purchase games for the PC? [...] [...] Do we still want to purchase games for the PC? [...]

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