EA Editor Criticizes Command & Conquer 4 DRM 266
Command & Conquer 4's DRM hasn't garnered Electronic Arts as much bad press and fan outrage as Ubisoft's scheme, despite being very similar. Nevertheless, it's been causing problems and frustrations for some users, including EA.com's own editor-in-chief, Jeff Green. An anonymous reader points this out:
"Green wrote on his Twitter account late last week: 'Booted twice — and progress lost — on my single-player C&C4 game because my DSL connection blinked. DRM fail. We need new solutions.' He continued later, 'Well. I've tried to be open-minded. But my 'net connection is finicky — and the constant disruption of my C&C4 SP game makes this unplayable. The story is fun, the gameplay is interesting and different at least — but if you suffer from shaky/unreliable DSL — you've been warned.'"
Re:Give that man a new job (Score:5, Funny)
His reply on twitter when someone pointed out his original comment made the D*gg front page. He's @greenspeak
Re:No problems here (Score:5, Funny)
I resemble that remark.
Re:One of the reasons... (Score:2, Funny)
Yes, because I hadn't thought of that, you're so much smarter than me.
Re:As nice as this is on paper... (Score:3, Funny)
1) Game company releases popular game with draconian DRM.
2) DRM irritates gamers. Game doesn't sell well.
3) Game company sends briefed spokesperson to the world to say "Hey, I feel your pain!" and gamers gobble it up.
4) Game flops in sales. EA pretend to be upset with blogger.
5) EA releases patch to remove DRM. Game sales explode.
6) Gamers enjoy game DRM free.
7. - REDACTED -
The last item was supposed to be "Games companies realise that DRM is hurting sales, ease off with restrictive copy protection" but my sense of reality kicked back in. Sorry.
Re:No problems here (Score:5, Funny)
Oh yeah, he'll just get that rainstorm that knocked out his internet to give him a warning next time.
Re:I've got the solution (Score:2, Funny)
Wow. They have *everything* to fix DRM problems. I had no idea the gaming industry had gotten together to provide a central repository for game patches. This is really cool! All DRM systems should be like this in the future.
Re:Open source DRM (Score:5, Funny)
I don't even play games, making me even better than you are. All this fuss over DRM is so silly as it doesn't affect me only you fools. You know what else? Why should we help poor and sick people whilst there are so many healthy rich people? LISTEN TO ME PEOPLE I HAVE THINGS TO SAY ON THE INTERNET! WHY DONT YOU UNDERSTAND HOW RELEVENT I AM TO THE CONVERSATION?
Re:Digital Restrictions Management works! (Score:2, Funny)
Re:One of the reasons... (Score:5, Funny)
Hang on now, be fair - your wife also says I'm a better lover.
Re:Give that man a new job (Score:3, Funny)
Unfortunately many gamers seem to be not very persistent with their boycots [gameaxis.com] ;)
Re:Give that man a new job (Score:4, Funny)
Don't worry, they're going straight to /dev/null.
Of course, since that is a Windows game and you are likely downloading it on a Windows computer, and Windows will let you create a folder with that name, that phrase doesn't mean what people think it means. ;)
Re:I'm not a happy bunny either (Score:5, Funny)
Although this also brings us back to the "golden age" of gaming on my 286.
Where you had to FIGHT to get the game to even work. Playing with batch files, EMS and XMS memory, loading with 15 floppy disks, etc... Seriously I think it was the messing around with computers to get them to even play games which is what got me interested in computers in the first place, which led to my education path, and presently my work environment....
Wait a tick. I take all the nostalgia back. Burn it all.
Re:Give that man a new job (Score:4, Funny)
Re:But where do you get Windows 98? (Score:3, Funny)