[mdlug] BioShock - A DRM experience you don't want to miss

[Ingles, Raymond]

> From: Jeff Hanson

> I predict that more will move to consoles.  Many developers are
> targeting them because of better DRM and a more predictable hardware
> platform.

 Your "prediction" resembles a look into the rearview mirror. :-> PC gaming
has been on the decline for a while, and consoles are becoming more and more
where the action is.

 In some ways it's sad (I just can't play FPS games with a console controller;
give me WSAD and a mouse any day) but it does loosen Windows' hold on the
desktop. PC games will not go away but they will have to find better means of
handling piracy than the current DRM schemes. I'm actually not too upset with
Steam, Valve Software's online distribution system. It doesn't take over your
computer, it just registers and authenticates with a server. You have an
account, that's all, just like other services.

 There can be problems when you don't have a network available, of course, but
those are not insurmountable. If they came out with a good Linux implementation,
I'd be happy. I'm *very much* a proponent of open source, but I don't necessarily
believe it's the right model for *everything*. Commercial, closed-source games
do make sense in many cases, though I'd hope that most game companies would
follow the Id model and release the source for their older games eventually.

 Sincerely,

 Ray Ingles                                  (313) 227-2317
 
 "I'm almost seventy percent sure it does nothing harmful."
         - http://www.ubersoft.net/d/20040115.html
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