Another case of the customer knows best. Recently you may have heard about how a intrusive form of copy protection was going to be included with Mass Effect and Spore that constantly connected to the internet (at the rate of every 10 days) just to check your serial was valid (with no check = no play).
There was a huge uproar as a consequence, with many potential buyers saying that they would just simply not buy their title (or even pirate it on purpose) just to get rid of this major intrusion.
If only publishers will learn that you must REWARD your customer for purchasing your game, not punish them. Make it easier to be a customer than to be a pirate.
Thankfully the voices were heard and the decision was reversed, with the new system being limited to one online check upon install and consequent checks when you download updates (which is reasonable enough). Still the limited installs is extremely annoying as you should have the right to install the game as often as you want since you payed for it.
I have mixed feelings on this.
I definitely don't like intrusive copy protection.
But I also have seen vocal groups bully companies into things that others might like (like mini expansion packs).
When did they ever ask for mini expansion packs? And which "others" might like it?
Listen to what psychoak said.
A lot of people like mini-expansion packs (I do). I want to make them too. But there are lots of "vocal" users who are opposed to the idea for various reasons who try to bully developers into not making them.
I personally intend to make mini expansions for all our future games. But I can put up with the complaining since I own Stardock and thus can make the final call. But most game developers do not have that luxury and nearly every game I play I wish I could buy more content for rather than the current role of "one or two big expansion packs and that's it".
Here's what I know about the DRM issue:1. My computers die often. I've had this one a year and a half or so, and it's a major source of prayer.2. I'm not gonna steal a game, but I do crack DRM's on games often enough because I can't be bothered to search through my catacombs full of disks. However, the tougher the DRM, the tougher I weigh the game.3. I'm gonna buy an inferior (or inferiorly hyped) game before buying one that requires a second computer just to run the DRM software.
Here's what I've heard about DRM:
1. What you "buy" is more of a six-month rent in the case of videos.2. It gets increasingly hard to accquire music and video without DRM (When was the last time you checked YouTube? Any movie pirating site? iTunes? It's not hard to find DRM-cracked or DRM-free stuff).
Here's how I know DRM is always weak or overly-heavy-handed.
1. Video capture, audio capture, and other "legitimate use" means are able to crack any DRM.2. Any DRM can be bypassed, with hardware, cracks, and software (often legitimate).
Don't make me bypass your protection, because then I will.
I guess it is linked with the fact that consumers, if they are vocal enough, can change what developpers/publishers are ready to do. When they want to put an horrible DRM scheme, it is a good thing. But it may not be a good thing if they prevent some developments that others customers may want. I think frogboy has the following articles in mind http://draginol.joeuser.com/article/309309/The_existence_of_for-pay_stuff_doesnt_hurt_you and https://forums.galciv2.com/307072
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