Lar_g:
I'm a fellow designer / owner of a small indie company that wishes to remain "under the radar" until we actually have a few releases. So I have one particular question for you that has been bugging me.
Both Divinity II games were available on "torrent websites" (German releases first, English second) I want to guesstimate about 1 to 2 days after release. Their methods being reverse engineered Executables and DLL files. Borderlands also uses SecuROM as well, at least in 2 of their DLCs and both were available not even a week after they came out. If you want a separate DRM method, I could say Star Craft II but the beta for that was cracked with a completely fresh programmed interface to launch the solo maps. So let me get this straight though, you are simply using a confirmed-obtrusive program (
http://reclaimyourgame.com/content.php?625-Gothic-4-ArcaniA-using-SecuROM-7 for example) that is costing you sales just on the basis that it is providing you sales figures to your publishers. FURTHERMORE, you are doing on this on another digital platform (Steam in this instance) which as an advertisement and incentive to using their services (
http://www.steampowered.com/steamworks/publishingservices.php) is to PROVIDE your sales figures for you.
Please explain the logic in this?
The SecuROM solution doesn't work. Nor TAGES, nor Ubisoft's, nor StarForce.
I as a fellow designer do not see the logic in using it and see it more as a deterrent to customers wanting to purchase your product. The only thieves that are being deterred are those that approach this from a "durp durp" DVD-R approach. The rest of them go to a torrent.
The sales figures argument DOES work for the retail option, and the unobtrusive method there is welcome, just a disc check. No problem. But limiting installs on a proven non-obtrusive DRM-POS system is like wearing, figuratively, 2 condoms. It's unappealing and both parties suffer for it.
I know not much I say will sway anyone's opinion or change anything but it is something to think of.
It really just sounds like more money out of your pocket just to satisfy a under-the-table-deal that a publisher has with the DRM manufacturer because their day is ending with methods like Steam, Impulse, GoG and the like growing in popularity.
So, back to my original question, was this a choice by the developers? Or do the publishers have you guys by the nuts on this one? Let's be honest, I've been wanting to crack this for a while.
