Module 3 Controversy in Games

DRM in Games

DRM stands for "Digital Rights Management" and is one of the most controversial topics that plagues digital media, including games.  DRM restricts access to your files, making the user feel like they paid money for a damaged copy of their game, because they don't feel like they "own" the files they paid for.  

DRM exists as an attempt to deter piracy, but it doesn't really work because people will always find a way around it.  Instead, it causes headaches for the players.  For instance, Microsoft used to use a DRM system known as "Games for Windows Live" as an attempt to unite PC gamers and Xbox 360 gamers online.  The problem is, the system put a heavy load on the PC when combined with the game as well as preventing game saves to be transferred between PCs.  This DRM was so bad that a PC retail copy of Batman Arkham City could not produce save data until the DRM was replaced with Steamworks.  

Blu-ray movies also use DRM by heavily encrypting the movies on the disc.  This produces issues for Blu-ray playback on PC, where older versions of software can only play older Blu-rays and the decryption algorithms are proprietary.  This renders a $75 Blu-ray writer virtually useless without the newest $100 version of Blu-ray playback software because the drive was bundled with an older version.  Sadly, it also means that it will take a while before open source software such as VLC will have full Blu-ray playback capabilities.

There are times when DRM is appropriate, however.  DRM is fine in games that have an online component to them to detect and ban cheaters.  An example of a good DRM is Steam.  Steam has to run in the background, but it does not place a heavy load on the computer.  It allows you to copy save files between computers.  It never limits your access to your stuff.  It verifies the files for you to make sure you don't have any file corruption and also allows you to play offline.  Valve uses their own VAC system to detect and ban cheaters online.  It also has achievements and a trade system.

The best part of Steam for game developers is the Steam Trading Cards feature.  This feature allows developers to create virtual trading card sets for their game, awarding the players with a badge on their profile, an emoticon, and a discount coupon.  Each game only awards half the set (rounded up) of cards to encourage trading and buying/selling the cards on the Steam Community Market.  This is great for developers, because if they make Steam Trading Cards for their game, less people will want to pirate it.

To sum it up:

• Don't restrict the user's access to their own stuff.
• Make a good game with likable characters.
• Make these characters into Steam Trading Cards.
• Price your game fairly.
• (Optional) Making an online multiplayer component to your game helps deter piracy.
• Less people will want to pirate your game.
• Profit.