What is DRM?

[Mucinex-D]

I know this is going to sound stupid but I'm more of a Console gamer. What exactly is DRM? I know it's a way to keep people from pirating but that's the extent of my knowledge on the subject.

Also what do you think of DRM? Good? Bad? I'm sure this has been asked before but I figured I would tack this on with my other question.

edit: Let me rephrase my first question. How does DRM work?

 

[Mr. Grey]

Digital Rights - apparently - Management. I still prefer retail however since there are no rights to be found.

And I've always thought it to be bad when it gets in the way. I remember Key Checks, the option to fully install games, etc... glad now we do have those with only needing to check online once that it's truly legit. This I enjoy as it doesn't get in the way, EA has the right idea.

Now... the complete opposite is Ubisoft's DRM. Which decides to slap your hand every time you start up the game and then pull at your tongue whenever you let out a whimper. And they rely way too much on servers and constant online checking, this gets in the way of those who don't have internet and those who have crappy internet. Pretty much preventing paying customers from playing half the time. And if that's the case, then they should only have to pay half for the game. That's the way I see it.

 

[AkJay]

Digital *Restrictions* Management...

 

[SnootyEnglishman]

It known as Digital Rights Manangement and it's a stupid concept be glad you don't know much about it.

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

Digimon Rampaging Monsters

When you pirate a PC game, they send giant digital monsters to kill you.

 

[Raiha]

basically its a way for companies to track software that they sold to customers to make sure that it is only used by people who have paid for it. to the best of my knowledge, no company has found a way to protect their products without a huge inconvenience to the consumer. also many people argue that if they don't really own the product if the company can still tell them when and where they can use it.

 

[cuddly_tomato]

DRM is a means of deliberately breaking a game before the company sells it to you, then applying a fix to it latter on.

Imagine buying a car, but every single time you wanted to go somewhere in it you had to phone up the dealer who would give you a code number to type in on some dashboard keypad. And if the phones were down, if the manufacturers phone was busy, etc then you were stuck.

Theoretically it means the developer never loses control over the game.

Realistically it means that hackers get control over the game, anyone who would have pirated the game now has an extra incentive for doing so, people (probably just like yourself) who know nothing about piracy and DRM and such will find out about it (and some of them will undoubtedly pirate), and that game development, games, and all things related suffer as a result.

 

[Cpt_Oblivious]

It's "Gangsta" speak for The RM, a hip hop group from Seattle. They're pretty good actually, kind of like a Public Enemy for the modern age.

Or was it this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_rights_management

 

[Jesus Phish]

DRM is a fine concept, but terribly executed.

I've no problem with game/software companies trying to protect their products from pirates, the same way the local shopkeeper projects his goods from robbers.

However DRM in most of it's current forms only serves to be a problem for the people who went and paid for their games, it hardle affects the pirates at all, they just go out and get a crack around it. See the AC2 incident as evidence, when people who bought their copy could not play because the companies servers went down, but pirates had already gotten around the 24/7 connection.

 

[The Lawn]

It means "Douchebags Ruining Mahgame" and its very annoying...

I would be enjoying Assassins Creed 2 if it weren't for my internet that likes to not work for a couple of seconds every 5 minutes.

DRM is truly the bane of my existence.
You should be glad you don't have to deal with it.

 

[Captain Blackout]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_rights_management

If it can be answered on Wikipedia, it didn't need a thread. Why weren't you first?

OT: I hate to once again be an ogre about this, especially since this is a really minor case, but do your homework before posting. If you don't do it in threads like this, you're going to sound really bad in the more ugly threads where people love to spout random unresearched biases. BTW OP, welcome to the escapist, and ignore the troll's like me.