Is DRM ruining the Gamer’s Experience?
If you don’t already know what DRM is, you should probably google it. Digital Rights Management is the way in which software companies attempt to protect their copyrights by preventing access or copying, requiring online authentication for software, limiting installations, and restricting purchased downloads, etc.
There is a lot of controversy on the subject of DRM, and entire organizations have been created to fight against it. Companies have tried denying its use, and been caught in the lie. Some publishers agree that it’s too restrictive and don’t use it. Gamers the world over are tired of having to deal with it.
One of the best quotes I’ve seen on the subject was shown to me by a colleague on twitter: “DRM is a fence the consumer has to climb, while pirates drill a hole and go through. The more DRM the higher the fence is and the harder it is for the consumer, while the pirates still just go right through.”
In my blog I go into a little more detail about the effects of DRM, the perspective of gamers and of manufacturers, and the reality that is somewhere in between. You can find the full post here: Is DRM ruining the Gamer’s Experience?
You can also find another perspective on the subject posted by one of the people I interviewed for the piece, a game reviewer and fellow member of the BGC here: DRM or not DRM, that is the question
Enjoy the reads, and feel free to post your own thoughts!
Also, if you’re interested in the level of DRM on your games, check out this site: Reclaim Your Game