Your DRM choice

[Ed130 The Vanguard]

If I had to choose a DRM system I would go with Steam because:

1) It tries really hard to be more than a DRM program and provide actual benefits to the customer.

2) Massive market share (what? You said from a devs perspective).

 

[OpticalJunction]

I'd go with steam too, both because it'd reach a wide audience and also because their drm is the best of the worst out there.

 

[Requia]

This exactly (unless we';re talking about DLC, which is awful). It's effective enough to actually dampen piracy, but aside from no backups console DRM never interferes with playing the game or selling it when I'm done.

there seems to be more than enough piracy on consoles if Microsoft can ban millions each holiday season.

Compared to an 80-90% piracy rate on PC?

 

[Anachronism]

I personally would run it through Steam. Works offline, and is a good online service too. Simple for me.

Yeah, if you have to have DRM, Steamworks is definitely the way to go. That said, I do have to point out that Steam's offline mode is a complete joke, in that if you want to use it, you have to plan in advance. If I turn on my computer, find that the wifi is down, and try to open Steam in offline mode, it tells me it can't open because it "could not connect to the Steam network." Instead, you need to open Steam - which requires an internet connection - and tell it to restart in offline mode. What is the bloody point in an offline mode if you can't launch it when you're offline?

Steamworks is pretty much the best DRM out there, but it's the best of a bad bunch. I use Steam because you can't really be a PC gamer and not use it, but that doesn't mean I have to like it. Apart from the sales. Those are fantastic.

 

[Something Amyss]

Compared to an 80-90% piracy rate on PC?

You mean the completely ass-pulled numbers given by publishers that are not borne out by any actual facts?

Yes, compared to the imaginary numbers of piracy on PC, that's awesome.

Compared to real-world numbers? Probably not so much.

 

[DoPo]

This exactly (unless we';re talking about DLC, which is awful). It's effective enough to actually dampen piracy, but aside from no backups console DRM never interferes with playing the game or selling it when I'm done.

there seems to be more than enough piracy on consoles if Microsoft can ban millions each holiday season.

Compared to an 80-90% piracy rate on PC?

Source? Because the latest study I've seen on the matter, this one [http://www.mit.edu/~ke23793/papers/Drahchenetal_paperID16.pdf], doesn't mention any percentages, just numbers. And even states that how they compare to lost sales is still an open question.

 

[5ilver]

I would either make the game F2P or make it irresistible to buy in some way (like the co-op in Borderlands). Drm is "using the stick". The carrot is always more effective.

 

[Kathinka]

They'll never practically get the online component of the game to work anyway so that'd be DRM enough. so that and a CD key. The best DRM was the one that came with the helicopter game that took 30 minutes then the screen became all out of focus and blurry etc. The reason it was effective (Nobody's cracked it to this day) is because it's really difficult to test if your crack attempt worked when you have to wait so long for the effects to kick in.

Could we at least get the name of the game? "The helicopter game" doesn't really narrow it down.

The game's name is Take On Helicopters and the anti-piracy software is called FADE by Bohemia interactive.

fade has been and still is cracked in every iteration, since the days of OFP. it's simply tied to the CD key, so you only need an algorithm-fitting key and block the verification. only takes days after release usually, in case of some of the arma games it even happened before release. granted, that's not a classical DRM-removal crack like you'd have in an altered .exe, but as a method of making a pirated game playable, it works just fine.

concerning the toppic: no matter what you implement, it's going to happen. so i'd say, the least invasive method possible. cd key check and such. because no matter what you do, it WILL be cracked. might as well not punish your honest customers.

 

[DoPo]

Compared to real-world numbers? Probably not so much.

See my above comment. It's not as much as some claim it to be - they found 12.6 million downloads over three months (again, downloads only) across 173 games. I've certainly heard larger numbers mentioned more often. Some have even gone to millions (really) per month per game sorry, that was supposed to be millions per month but per more than 200 games.

 

[Tohron]

I think developers could take a leaf from the Game Developer Tycoon method and just flood the torrents with subtly broken versions of the their games. If pirates can't distinguish working downloads from downloads that will let you get invested for a few hours before becoming unwinnable, then piracy collapses.

 

[Sir Thomas Sean Connery]

Server Architecture (AKA Always Online)

Why?

{hilariously inaccurate image snip}

Because it just fucking works.

Do..... Do people seriously believe the 80% figure? S-seriously???

oh. oh gahd.

OT:
I'll agree with OP and just say Steam. Less problems for the customer.

 

[DarklordKyo]

I guess Steamworks if it needs to get drm.

 

[s0p0g]

easy: make a good game.
possibly, if my publisher were paranoid and demands some "real" protection, release it via Steam (yes, it's kinda-sorta always-online DRM, but it's not a complete ass. and has an offline mode. and sales. and shitloads of games.)

also, try to explain to the publisher that there is no unbeatable DRM, and that people will only pay for my product if they feel it's worth it, so please DON'T effing rush my dev-team to release an unfinished product! and explain to them that draconic DRM will ONLY affect the honest, PAYING customer - not the eeeevil pirate, completely and totally missing its point.

or publish the game myself, thus avoiding some dickhead-publisher entirely.

 

[Longstreet]

Server Architecture (AKA Always Online)

Why?

(some image)

Because it just fucking works.

Besides, as stated, the numbers are BS, there is one think to keep in mind with Always Online DRM.

It. Doesn't. Fucking. Work. Do i really have to mention what happened with Diablo 3 and Sim City?

Ot; I got an idea for this.

So lets say a normal game (single+multy player) is 60 bucks.

If you install the game, you have to enter a CD key to be able to play the SINGLEplayer part of the game, this is included in the box and works multiple times (so if people buy it 2nd hand they can also use it)Mainly in place to keep the bosses happy. Hell, if they use a keygen it will work.

Now if you want to play Multiplayer, here's what you do.
First you go to the website of the game and create an account.
Then, in order to be able to play the game, you have to buy a separate code, lets say it will cost you 20 bucks, to tie in with your account to be able to play multiplayer.
Now if you start up the multiplayer part, you are first asked to (this is a one time thing) enter the code you bought to be able to play multiplayer and then log in with your account information.

I can already hear you screaming, NOW YOU PAY 80 BUCKS. No. I said a NORMAL game costs 60 bucks. This game will cost 40 in shop, so even if you buy the multiplayer, you still won't pay more than 60 bucks.

The codes you buy are created on the spot when you buy them via a special algorithm and then added to the database, so keygen's shouldn't work.

(of course the prices are made up on the spot here, but you get the idea)

I thought of this with games like CoD in mind, the ones that really focus on multiplayer.

 

[runic knight]

For a physical copy? Simple CD key that when used gives some sort of cosmetic option. Basically, rather then just a way to screen you at the door, it screens you at the door but at least gives you a gift bag for your troubles.

For pc/downloaded, I'd go with either something similar, or just go through steam itself.


Oh man, that picture though. 80% of witcher.... and the bullshit about diablo? That is funny stuff right there.

 

[Dr.Awkward]

The best DRM is humans. If you remind people that you are a group of humans with emotions and needs, psychological triggers tend to be pushed where pirates will buy your game out of empathy and pity as they now know whose livelihoods they are taking away.

Resist the pirates, and you'll find no grief from them. Give the pirates knowledge about who you are and what you have done, and they might actually be gracious of your efforts and change their ways out of respect.

 

[Daft Time]

I think developers could take a leaf from the Game Developer Tycoon method and just flood the torrents with subtly broken versions of the their games. If pirates can't distinguish working downloads from downloads that will let you get invested for a few hours before becoming unwinnable, then piracy collapses.

No. What happens is the torrent is reported as a fake, removed, and working versions remain. Piracy is a community in and of itself, and fakes, viruses and other nasty things are moderated. Unfortunately, there aren't any practical methods for a mid-sized company to curb piracy. Games which require server emulators to crack are hardest, like Diablo 3, but are financially untenable unless you managed to sell, say, twelve million copies.

On a side note, that Game Developer Tycoon torrent got removed almost immediately. The claims made the company are all made up bullshit, unfortunately. It was a great PR stunt though, and it was nice to see them get all the increased sales from the news worthy piece.

 

[Longstreet]

Server Architecture (AKA Always Online)

Why?

(some image)

Because it just fucking works.

Besides, as stated, the numbers are BS, there is one think to keep in mind with Always Online DRM.

Unless you have solid evidence that the numbers are made up, don't bother bringing it up.

Silly me, i thought after about five people quoting you stating the same thing, i wouldn't have to fully repeat it.

Besides, i could also say, unless you have solid evidence that those number are true, don't bother bringing it up.

You also completely missed the MAIN point i was making, which is that always online DRM doesn't work.

Finally, your proof cannot be that one picture or the developer just saying so. if your proof is that picture, give me five minutes with paint. I'll have all the proof i need.

 

[Matthi205]

-snip-

DRM by itself is annoying, and therefore I want developers/publishers to balance it by giving me something in return. That in a nutshell is why I and a lot of people like Steam. Yes, its still DRM but we get sales, we get achievements, chat, ability to take screen-shots etc in return, and especially the ability to buy games extremely cheap. Its a compromise, and to me, a very good compromise, it might not be for some, but I happen to like it.

That's only part of the pro-steam argument. The other part is: IT FUCKING WORKS. Steam has always worked for me, as opposed to Securom, Starforce, UPlay, Origin... Only drawback is that to go into offline mode I need to be online, and I can't exactly predict when the next few idiots steal the internet and telephone cables.

EDIT: Always online is bullshit. In the most literal sense imaginable. It works for MMOs (logically), but it's generally just a pain in the ass to maintain properly, and to get it working. It's also a lot harder to crack than current DRM, which means that you won't be able to play that Always Online DRM game in a few years. You want to show Diablo 3 to your grandchildren? Sure, just go on a 5-year odissey to get Blizzard to start the servers again.

 

[Vegosiux]

Server Architecture (AKA Always Online)

Why?

(some image)

Because it just fucking works.

Besides, as stated, the numbers are BS, there is one think to keep in mind with Always Online DRM.

Unless you have solid evidence that the numbers are made up, don't bother bringing it up.

Ehhhhmmmm, burden of proof don't work that way yaknow. You posted the numbers, it's on you to demonstrate they aren't bogus. Otherwise I dare you to prove I do not have a tiny invisible pink unicorn named Spiffy on my head.

As for my DRM of choice?

Well, it is simple. Whenever you want to pirate anything, this (or equivalent) appears on your screen:

Spoiler: DRM

And if you go on with your pirating, well...shame on you, don't you have a few orphanages to foreclose?