Larian Studios Forums Divinity 2 - Ego Draconis (English) Divinity 2 - Ego Draconis Will Ego Draconis require online activation?

Well, fire can do that as well ... So where's the problem ?
It just needs *enough* of fire.

@swordscythe: I understand you now.

This isn't the case - Stardock do implement DRM (online activation) in their games (and Sins does require activation) but it is added via patches (see this thread for related discussion on Sins). Now whether you consider this "customer-centric" (Joe User can choose to stick with the initial buggy version without DRM) or "bait and switch" (allowing Stardock to enjoy "DRM-free" publicity while slipping it in later) is a matter of personal opinion. I however boycott Stardock zealously having been "bitten" with GalCiv2 (and since I was a former Object Desktop consumer, I can comfortably say that they have lost $100+ of business as a result).

Any arguments about "DRM reducing piracy" need to consider how easy the checks are to circumvent - online activation is not intrinsically any harder to disable than a media check so online DRM will be a negative factor if costs (increased support, reduced sales due to consumer protest, third party fees) aren't covered by increased profits.

However one key issue affecting profits isn't piracy - it's the savage discounting at retail many games receive after just one or two months (in the case of Iron Lore's TitanQuest, I purchased the Deluxe Version for just £7/US$11 7 months after release). Given that many games require one (and sometimes two or more) patches to fix problems, this provides a double incentive for purchasers to hold off for a couple of months.

In fact, dealing with piracy is very simple. Release a crummy game, and few will bother to copy it. It is increased sales that developers should be aiming for, and treating paying customers with respect and doing everything feasible to make their gaming experience a pleasant, care-free one is the way forward - not making them jump through hoops, adding software/hardware incompatibilities (*cough* SecuROM *cough*) or limiting the lifespan of their purchase.

Stargazer, I've GOT Sins. I play it regularly. It does NOT need online activation. I've never even been online while playing it. It's really easy to find (legal) downloads of the patches, too, so you don't have to register anywhere to get those, either.

If you want added content, sure, you register. But added content is not standard patches and it's totally up to you if you register or not.

All of which is fine by me!

For the rest, though, I agree with you entirely

Have you blocked Sins (or specifically SDActivate.exe) from network access using a decent third party firewall? If not, then the activation could happen without you noticing, unless you disconnect completely from the Internet. One sure-fire method of checking is to disconnect, delete the sig.bin file in the Sins folder and then run it.

I know you can get patches elsewhere (though future ones will be Impulse only) but my experience with GalCiv2 is that they still include the activation requirement.

For the rest though, I agree with your agreement.

My firewall blocks every single program I do not give explicit permission for

Star,

Your right about stores discounting games rather quickly. That game you got for 7 euro, the company might have gotten a dollar off of it in the end.

You got the box, cd, manuel and shipping fee's. Then warehouse stocking fees, the store whom sold the game wants some money. Like Electronics Botique (now stop n save). The corporate office will make money per game, then the store needs money to pay employees. In the end, the programmers get screwed. I'd buy Divinity2 directly from Larian if they had a download option from their site. I'm sure any site offering "direct to drive" service have jacked fee's to keep themselves rich.

That company that lost $100 you say... maybe they lost $10, their lunch probably cost more than what they didn't get off you. All this overhead is why games are so expensive. Though box art is nice, honestly it is a waste of space. Unless the game has multiple disks, it shouldn't come in a box larger than a standard dvd case.

The Divinity box wasn't too bad, I'm hoping this game comes in an even smaller box though. I'm thinking of downloading it from fileplanet direct 2 drive if possible. I got enough crap, don't need another box. Can burn it to a dvd or two for a backup and put it in a small jewel case. Hardly even looked at the instruction manuel except for the little prequel story in the beginning.

DRM is mostly unnecessary overhead. It doesn't curb piracy, those that want it illegally, will get it with a little work or patience for a crack to be in pirated sites. There are too many people in the world that will work at getting themselves out of work and work hard to get out of paying for something. Even to the point where they'd be better off just to do their job or pay for the game. Man kind is crazier than imps!