News - "User-friendly" DRM for ArcaniA – Gothic 4

[HEXUS]

JoWood announces plans for digital services for its upcoming role-playing game.

Read more.

[jim]

The fact that this is now deemed as "user-friendly" is laughable. It's like getting dragged into a fight outside a pub and then being pleased that you've only got one bit of glass sticking out of your face.

What is the world of PC gaming coming to?

[cleaverlch]

I never knew Jowood was in bed with Ubisoft...

edit

see post #5,#6

[nichomach]

What is the world of PC gaming coming to?

An end, probably. Let's face it, development companies loathe PCs, and would far rather just develop for consoles. The DRM will keep being piled on until we all get fed up enough and go away.

[Kirano]

BEGIN RANT:
Have any of you actually read the article?????
"ArcaniA – Gothic 4 can be installed on an unlimited number of PCs and only needs to be activated once via the Internet. To play, which can be done at up to three PCs at a time, neither the original disc nor a constant internet connection is needed. The possibility of an uncomplicated transfer of license between the used PC offers a maximum of flexibility to the customer."
For a start, how does any of that constitute JoWood being in bed with Ubisoft cleaverlch? Ubisoft require constant internet connection, JoWood does not. That alone makes their sleeping arrangements completely seperate!
And the "possibility of an uncomplicated transfer of license between the used PC" surely could allow for you to sell the game on (though this is a guess to some extent), reopening the second hand market which is something that DRM has previously been aimed at hugely restricting.

Yes it's still DRM and you don't have complete and total freedom to do whatever you want with the product. But this is a massive, massive step in the right direction, compared to the overzealous restrictions created by some companies such as Ubisoft. In terms of how I expect to use the software and I fully entent to buy it, especially given that it's currently available for pre-order on amazon form just £19.99, I don't see that the kind of DRM they have described will in anyway restrict my usage of the product. To me, that is the very definition of user-friendly!!!!
END RANT

[cleaverlch]

BEGIN RANT:
Have any of you actually read the article?????
"ArcaniA – Gothic 4 can be installed on an unlimited number of PCs and only needs to be activated once via the Internet. To play, which can be done at up to three PCs at a time, neither the original disc nor a constant internet connection is needed. The possibility of an uncomplicated transfer of license between the used PC offers a maximum of flexibility to the customer."
For a start, how does any of that constitute JoWood being in bed with Ubisoft cleaverlch? Ubisoft require constant internet connection, JoWood does not. That alone makes their sleeping arrangements completely seperate!
And the "possibility of an uncomplicated transfer of license between the used PC" surely could allow for you to sell the game on (though this is a guess to some extent), reopening the second hand market which is something that DRM has previously been aimed at hugely restricting.

Yes it's still DRM and you don't have complete and total freedom to do whatever you want with the product. But this is a massive, massive step in the right direction, compared to the overzealous restrictions created by some companies such as Ubisoft. In terms of how I expect to use the software and I fully entent to buy it, especially given that it's currently available for pre-order on amazon form just £19.99, I don't see that the kind of DRM they have described will in anyway restrict my usage of the product. To me, that is the very definition of user-friendly!!!!
END RANT

Sorry, missed the constant internet connection bit.

btw, dvd.co.uk has it on preorder for £17.99.

[Kirano]

dvd.co.uk has it on preorder for £17.99.

Sweet!! Thank you muchly sir!
And I hope you didn't take offense at the rant. I didn't mean to direct it at you nor you snootyjim (even though I, er, kinda, er, did....)

[oolon]

btw, dvd.co.uk has it on preorder for £17.99.

Just put a pre-order in for it.

[kalniel]

An end, probably. Let's face it, development companies loathe PCs, and would far rather just develop for consoles.

If you actually ask them, you'll find the opposite applies. The PC is the system they use themselves to build the game. It's got the best debug and creation tools, and by far the most important for devs: It's a completely open system.

However, it remains to be seen if Gothic 4 isn't the bug mess everyone expects it to be

[jim]

"ArcaniA – Gothic 4 can be installed on an unlimited number of PCs and only needs to be activated once via the Internet.

I agree with you that it's a step in the right direction, but it's a step in the right direction from a complete shambles.

In other words - fine that they're doing it, and yeah it's an improvement. But we certainly shouldn't be applauding them.

[cleaverlch]

I doubt we are going to see another bugfest that Gothic 3 was. It's unlikely that JoWood will force Spellbound to release a game that is unplayable on pc and consoles.

[oolon]

I assume though it only needs to be activated once (per computer), otherwise how would the software know it has been been activated, secondary code given on activate? Will it need to be deactivated. What happens if you wipe your OS without being able to de-install. Do you have to activate on the computer you wish to use? So many questions about what they could have done.

[roorooroo]

Been looking forward to this..looks excellent. Hope it's as good as previous Gothics (yes, i even really enjoyed Gothic 3 with community patches). Great stuff.

[DrATty]

The mention of SecuROM doesn't fill me with confidence. Anyway, I thought being able to play a game that you have just bought was rather expected; now it seems that it's a feature.

[Lucio]

I agree with you that it's a step in the right direction, but it's a step in the right direction from a complete shambles.

In other words - fine that they're doing it, and yeah it's an improvement. But we certainly shouldn't be applauding them.

Why not? It sounds like it's a good compromise solution, activate your product and away you go with no need to worry. I'd imagine the transfer mechanism will be similiarly straight forward when you finally need to do so (which tbh after 3 PC's worth of installs may be a fair way down the line).