The end of PC Gaming?

Since its release, 2kgames Bioshock has been dogged with a bit of controversy. The problem stems from the unannounced installation (stealth install) of a piece of DRM crap called SecuRom, which forces an online activation before you can play the game. Sounds fine, right? But wait, what if, in 5 years, you decide to play the game again and need to re-install your perfectly legitimate copy only to find that the online activation server is no longer operational? Well...you now have a $60 useless disc. As well, this software only allows 5 activations! If you reformat your harddrive, buy a new one, etc, and you use up the 5 activations...tough. You can't play the game.

Here's another kicker. If you are running Microsoft's Process Explorer (used to be called SysInternals Process Explorer) SecuRom won't allow you to START the game! Their response to a questions about this was:
'Process Explorer' has dumping capabilities as well as registry monitor / file monitor capabilities. This could be used to trace the behavior of SecuROM.

Therefore, we do not allow the game to start when this software is active.

We have no immediate plans to allow this software in the future.

Best regards,

SecuROM Support Team
SecuROM on the web: http://www.securom.com
or via e-mail: support@securom.com

Are you freaking kidding me?

I have never been a fan of any copy-protection scheme for software, even the "you must have disc 1 in the drive before you can play your game" kind. In fact, I recently purchased a copy of F.E.A.R. and once I installed it, I immediately downloaded a No-CD Crack, so I don't need to use the disc to play. Screw them. I paid for the game, and I don't want to have to keep putting the disc in the drive every time I start it up. I have done that for every game I have ever purchased (Morrowind, Oblivion, Prey, Doom, etc.) that required that kind of "copy-protection".

So...what will be the aftermath of 2kGames decision? I won't buy the game until they come out with a DRM-stripped version. Otherwise, bite me. Apparently, the same DRM is installed when you download the freaking DEMO! What a bunch of idiots.

If this continues, it will do 3 things...

1. I will stop playing PC games.
2. Since I won't be playing PC games, I won't need a Microsoft OS (XP or Vista) and will then have no reason NOT to switch to Linux.
3. Since I won't be playing PC games AND I won't be running a bloated Microsoft OS, I won't need to upgrade my PC as frequently.

So who is the winner here, other than me and the makers of Nintendo Wii and XBox 360 (which is, ironically, MS)?

Comments

Anonymous said…
I like your open letter to the gaming community and the potential consequences you lay out should they continue to persist with this need for world domination.

Clearly you will not take this lying down. Good for you. Solidarity, brother (shakes fist in the air)!
Steve said…
Well, I have the same opinion about the music industry and the stupidity of the RIAA. :)
Anonymous said…
p.s. I like your angry penguin :)
Anonymous said…
I hope so. I never liked the whole PC gaming scene anyway

The huge ugly LED-filled cases, the constant need for upgrades every few weeks, the copy protection you mentioned, the windows onlyness of most games and the almost disposable graphics cards that cost more than the whole PC and you have to buy a new one for every game you play almost

in some cases people will buy a new graphics card in anticipation for a new game that is about to be released, the game ends up being delayed and when its finally released they find out that their graphics card isn't actually good enough. so off to the shop to spend another $800 on a graphics card only to toss them on the e-waste pile when ever the next game comes out

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