Witcher Dev Explains Good DRM

[Logan Westbrook]

Witcher Dev Explains Good DRM

CD Projekt Red doesn't just make gritty fantasy games, it also has a very clear idea of what makes for good DRM.

DRM is a touchy subject right now, and people often have strong feelings about it. So strong, in fact, that Witcher [http://www.amazon.com/Witcher-Enhanced-Pc/dp/B001AH8YSW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1276276147&sr=8-1] developer CD Projekt Red has decided to publish its DRM and patching policy in order to ease fans' fears about the copy protection for the upcoming Witcher 2.

There are three key points to CD Projekt Red's policy: Gamers should be encouraged to buy legal copies of games rather than punished for pirating them, that copy-protection should never impede the use of legitimate copies of games, and that all patches should be free of charge. CD Projekt says it doesn't believe in forcing people to be connected to the internet all the time when they play, limiting the number of times that a game can be installed, or online registration for its own sake.

"Being a player myself, I'm always surprised to see how many companies focus solely on preventing piracy instead of thinking about how they might encourage players to acquire original game copies," said Marcin Iwiński, CEO of CD Projekt and head of gog.com, in a statement on the CD Projekt Red [http://tw2.thewitcher.com/forum/index.php?topic=29225.0] website. "The assumption is that protection is the only way to prevent piracy, but a glance at any file-sharing site demonstrates that this is pure fiction. This assumption is also a good way to forget one of the keys to this business: taking good care of your customers"

This isn't just some pretty speech from CD Projekt Red either. This is the same company that offered the Enhanced version of the Witcher - which was a pretty significant overhaul of the game - for free to those who had bought the original game. DRM is an unfortunate and unavoidable reality of PC gaming, and CD Projekt clearly wants to make it as painless as possible.


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[The_root_of_all_evil]

Wow

*applause*

He really gets it. That's me pre-ordering the game.

 

[Rauten]

While it's good to hear a dev take such a stance about DRM, I'm afraid I'll go with "I'll believe it when I see it", specially considering that they're going to have to reach an agreement with a big publishing company (or most likely they already have), and said publishing company may force the DRM upon them.

 

[Abedeus]

WOO! POLISH POWAH, POLISH POWAH!

That's how they treat us, that's why I have a shiny, black Witcher box I got for Christmas on my shelf.

 

[Bretty]

DRM is a necessary evil, unfortunately.

But as long as devs keep seeing the ass the DRM is for us PC gamers the better and more legit friendly it will get.

 

[Sebenko]

CD Projekt Red: a developer that managed to put "must have spoken to another person once in their life" on their PR recruitment form.

I mean, how does any developer manage to not get even this? Ubisoft, I'm looking your way.

 

[SonOfIkaros]

The Enhanced edition was such a great idea, and it really improved the first game. Basically, what CD Projekt did was release a major- and I mean really major, it improved on almost everything- overhaul of the game for free, but you could only download it if you had a registered copy of the game. It was an absolutely brilliant idea.
That way, the pirates suffered because they didn't get to try this amazing overhaul, and the people who actually paid for the game were rewarded with a substantial upgrade of everything they loved. That's how DRM should be done, I'd love to see more devs doing something like this.

Also, Christ am I excited for the Witcher 2. First one was such a great game, and the developers are brilliant!

 

[joshthor]

i really like cd project red as a dev. i still need to play through the witcher. i have had it for over a year. cant wait for the witcher 2. lol

 

[infinity_turtles]

Didn't particularly enjoy the Witcher, but I'm pre-ordering the sequel if only to support the companies policies.

 

[RhombusHatesYou]

That way, the pirates suffered because they didn't get to try this amazing overhaul

Or, you know, just downloaded the full retail version of the enhanced edition if they cared about it that much.

 

[ZippyDSMlee]

The best DRM system I can think of works like this you install the game put in the key and thats pretty much it. It uses a passive key check setup like ID uses for thier games no activation needed just when you are online you don't need to have 20 duplicates of that key running at the same time.

Oh their end you use a flood control system 20 online reconnection and 5 dups in a day or a weeks time is nothing, 200 online reconnections and 10-50 dups in a month nothing.

As the normal person my use the game in 2 or 3 different places and you will get at least 1 reconnection(when the game goes online) and 0-2 duplicates on up to 5 different IPs.

But lets face it if its being pirated you are gong to have more than 5 ips,connections and duplications being used at once.

An easy way to control dups you have to register you account with your key and then you get up to 5 dups to play with in the same IP range(similar to spawning discs for SC/WC).

Is easy t make a DRM system that works as good as any another and yet not be an annoyance to the buyer/user.

 

[Pimppeter2]

but a glance at any file-sharing site demonstrates that this is pure fiction

And how would you know, sir. *Turns on bright light*

But seriously, Good for them. Can't wait for the Witcher 2.

 

[Trivun]

CD Projekt Red are one of the few developers, alongside firms like Valve and Popcap, who seem to actually care about their customers, while still realising these people are specifically customers. Which I think is a good, and sadly rare, thing. So many developers are focused on making money and getting rid of piracy that they don't care about their fanbase, which is wrong. I hope more developers choose to follow CD Projekt Red's lead and develop unintrusive DRM that's much more user friendly. Sadly, I can't see it happening while bigger developers like Ubisoft are allowed to continue their current policies...

 

[Gildan Bladeborn]

I already adored CD Projekt Red for making a kickass game like The Witcher and then supporting it in a way you know any other company would have been charging for (I cannot say enough good things about their approach with the Enhanced Edition), so news like this doesn't really surprise me.

That screenshot though! Is that a pre-rendered cutscene or an in-game shot? Because either way it's in serious "Hell yes!" territory on my personal "scale o' excitement". But then The Witcher did have the best opening cinematic of any game ever, heh.

 

[Jared]

He speaks sense, and, I do agree with him. Its not a bad idea, not at all

 

[Altorin]

Did he actually say what his plans for making the game better for legitimate users is? Because that seems like a nice speech that pretty much reeks of "No duh" to most consumers I would imagine. I'd like to see some money where his mouth is.

 

[AngryMongoose]

I heard alot of bad stuff when the original came out, and now I'm hearing alot of good stuff...
So... The witcher 2, who thinks it'll be good, who doesn't, and why?

 

[cieply]

That screenshot though! Is that a pre-rendered cutscene or an in-game shot? Because either way it's in serious "Hell yes!" territory on my personal "scale o' excitement". But then The Witcher did have the best opening cinematic of any game ever, heh.

It's from the game, take a look
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/9.183259-New-Witcher-II-gameplay#5471920

 

[Rack]

Between Witcher: Enhanced and GoG I have to say that Cd Projekt are guys that really get it. Sure pirates can pirate the enhanced edition, but paying customers got it easier. Only a little but it's still an important distinction.