Thank you Matrix, for no DRM (Full Version)

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vaalen -> Thank you Matrix, for no DRM (3/26/2010 12:42:26 AM)

I recently had to wipe my system and reinstall windows.The tech guy advised me not to reinstall any game with SECUROM. I was astonished to find out just how many games had this DRM.

I now have a SECUROM free computer. The computer works like a dream. It is much faster, the graphics are much better, crashes and slowdowns are almost non existent. It is like having a new computer.

And I can put every Matrix game I own on that computer, without fear of it being trashed by any DRM.

I am so grateful to Matrix for not using DRM. We all should be. Matrix is a great company!

And if you want to call me a Matrix fanboy, well, I am proud to be one.



JudgeDredd -> RE: Thank you Matrix, for no DRM (3/26/2010 12:46:36 AM)

[&o]



06 Maestro -> RE: Thank you Matrix, for no DRM (3/26/2010 12:47:18 AM)

Hear, Hear!

Here is to them keeping it that way-prost![sm=00000436.gif]



Zakhal -> RE: Thank you Matrix, for no DRM (3/26/2010 12:54:30 AM)

Removing securing improved your graphics? What operating system do you have?

I dont know if Im lucky (or difference in hardware?) but Ive played many securom games from this list and never had problems: http://forum.daemon-tools.cc/gamedb.php?letter=all

The only thing I would not count on is windows xp. Its ten years old operating system so anything could go wrong. Im scared everytime I boot it up. I have used mainly vista64 and windows7 for the last two years and only problem Ive had is one faulty windows update that blue screened my vista.



vaalen -> RE: Thank you Matrix, for no DRM (3/26/2010 1:05:45 AM)

I do have windows XP professional.



Obsolete -> RE: Thank you Matrix, for no DRM (3/26/2010 2:32:09 PM)

Well, two companies I will never purchase from again, are EA & Ubi.  Come to think of it, the only two EA published games that I remember really liking were:

A.  SeaWolf
B. American MgGee's Twisted Alice



Greybriar -> RE: Thank you Matrix, for no DRM (3/26/2010 2:38:34 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: vaalen

Thank you Matrix, for no DRM

+1 [sm=00000436.gif]

No StarForce! No SecuROM! No Steam required!



Prince of Eckmühl -> RE: Thank you Matrix, for no DRM (3/26/2010 3:03:38 PM)

Let me invite everyone to put up or shut up, on this one, at least as regards Matrix Games. If you want them to go on publishing DRM-free games, YOU are going to have to BUY as many as you can possibly play. They can't stay in business otherwise. And no more grousing about the prices please! If the games are worth investing your time in, they're also worth forty or sixty or eighty-dollars.



warspite1 -> RE: Thank you Matrix, for no DRM (3/26/2010 6:05:09 PM)

Could someone enlighten me as to:

- What is a DRM
- Why are (most?) people rabidly anti companies that use DRM?

Thank-you



JudgeDredd -> RE: Thank you Matrix, for no DRM (3/26/2010 6:16:29 PM)

DRM = Digital Rights Management I think. It's to do with developers/publishers protecting their digital products. It ranges from something simple like Matrix Games requiring a key to input, to other more draconian measures like limited installs, activation and deactivation and, imo, the king of the hill - STARFORCE.

People are anti-DRM because it means legitimate customers having to jump through hoops to play a game they've purchased.

In nearly all cases, it causes more harm for the legitimate purchaser than it does for the "pirate" cracking the game. as an example, Silent Hunter V. It's DRM requires a constant internet connection. Legitimate purchasers of said game have experienced issues with the server the game has to contact. On the other hand, it's widely accepted that the game has been "cracked" (DRM removed) and "pirates" are playing the game trouble free.

In another example, Silent Hunter IV had some DRM (Fade??) which messed with the graphics and some calculations in the game. However, legitimate purchasers were experiencing these graphical issues and I think 9from memory) the DRM was not activating properly, hence suggesting everyone had a "pirate" version. There was some name calling at the time...to people who had legitimately bought the game. (from what I remember)

Those are two examples and whilst they may not be 100% accurate (my memory is not like it used to be), the examples showcase the issues being forced onto legitimate purchasers of games. Meanwhile, "pirates" pretty much get a DRM free, problem free gaming experience!!



uncc -> RE: Thank you Matrix, for no DRM (3/26/2010 6:17:57 PM)

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

in a nutshell:

Matrixgame's version of DRM is the use of a serial number you enter when you intall one of their games/updates.

Ubisoft's latest version of DRM is you must have an internet connection (to verify ownership of a legal copy of the game) to play their latest games. Lose the connection, the game stops.



JudgeDredd -> RE: Thank you Matrix, for no DRM (3/26/2010 6:21:47 PM)

There is one other point to note. Companies are always banging on about 1 "pirated" copy of a game = a lost sale. That simply is not the case. There is a common belief that many people who pirate a game would not buy it anyway and simply download it because it's there.

I think it's probably fairly accurate to say that the DRM companies themselves tout the "1 pirated = 1 lost sale" formula...

Whether it's true or not, the point for most people is this...these companies are punishing legitimate purchasers of software in order to save (apparently) relatively few legitimate sales. Add to that that games are cracked within hours of release (often before release) and you can see how the ordinary Joe who put up their hard earned £35 for a game can be pissed because something has screwed with his system and that something is the DRM (normally/sometimes). Even if it hasn't screwed with the system...there's the long load times, dropping of internet connection, forgetting/unable to deactivate in order to reinstall and reactivate blah, blah, blah...the list of headaches for legitimate customers goes on and on.



warspite1 -> RE: Thank you Matrix, for no DRM (3/26/2010 6:25:50 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: JudgeDredd

DRM = Digital Rights Management I think. It's to do with developers/publishers protecting their digital products. It ranges from something simple like Matrix Games requiring a key to input, to other more draconian measures like limited installs, activation and deactivation and, imo, the king of the hill - STARFORCE.

People are anti-DRM because it means legitimate customers having to jump through hoops to play a game they've purchased.

In nearly all cases, it causes more harm for the legitimate purchaser than it does for the "pirate" cracking the game. as an example, Silent Hunter V. It's DRM requires a constant internet connection. Legitimate purchasers of said game have experienced issues with the server the game has to contact. On the other hand, it's widely accepted that the game has been "cracked" (DRM removed) and "pirates" are playing the game trouble free.

In another example, Silent Hunter IV had some DRM (Fade??) which messed with the graphics and some calculations in the game. However, legitimate purchasers were experiencing these graphical issues and I think 9from memory) the DRM was not activating properly, hence suggesting everyone had a "pirate" version. There was some name calling at the time...to people who had legitimately bought the game. (from what I remember)

Those are two examples and whilst they may not be 100% accurate (my memory is not like it used to be), the examples showcase the issues being forced onto legitimate purchasers of games. Meanwhile, "pirates" pretty much get a DRM free, problem free gaming experience!!

Warspite1

Thank-you JudgeDredd, so I guess Steam is an example of a DRM? Perhaps I should learn to read the small print...

Without wishing to tempt fate, I have had no issues with Steam (although I have only played a few games so far and all of these are in off-line mode).





GrumpyMel -> RE: Thank you Matrix, for no DRM (3/26/2010 6:28:41 PM)

DRM = Digital Rights Management

It refers to software embbeded in commercial programs that controls/limits access to those programs.
Theoreticaly it's supposed to help stop people from pirating software.

In practice it has little effect on pirates...as these days most pirating is done by proffesionals who quickly strip out any any DRM controls embedded in the programs and release pirated versions that will play DRM free.

It does, however, often cause numerous problems for legitimate users of the software (with DRM embedded) as it can: SLOW Down thier Computers by chewing up resources; cause crashes; interfere with the operation of other software programs; cause disk corruption; prevent people from using software they have legitimately purchased (due to false positives or resources like verification servers being unavailable); prevent people from reinstalling software they have purchased.

Essentialy it makes the commercial versions (with DRM) vastly inferior to the illegal ones (DRM) in terms of usability.

Now there are many different types of DRM and some are much more intrusive/problematic then others. I've seen some that were so bad/buggy that some users actualy had to download pirated versions of software they had legitimately purchased in order to get the software to play on their computers.

I would also like to add my appreciation for Matrix for sparing it's customers having to deal with the headaches caused by intrusive DRM programs. Your company will ALWAYS have my support as long as you do this.

About the only thing I've seen a Matrix Game ever require you to do was to put in a seriel number in order to play...and this was always simple, reasonable and headache free.

So thanks again Matrix Games!







Zakhal -> RE: Thank you Matrix, for no DRM (3/26/2010 7:16:19 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: uncc

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

in a nutshell:

Matrixgame's version of DRM is the use of a serial number you enter when you intall one of their games/updates.



The reason why matrix DRM works is because their updates are usually left uncracked so pirates are forced to play unpatched games which is big disadvantige because matrix patches are often big with features.

The matrix DRM would not work with AAA games though that cost millions to make.

quote:

ORIGINAL: GrumpyMel
In practice it has little effect on pirates...as these days most pirating is done by proffesionals who quickly strip out any any DRM controls embedded in the programs and release pirated versions that will play DRM free.


PC game DRM is only meant to work for week or two at best. Most sales of every big PC game is done during that period. So if they are able to slow down the release of warez version for atleast few days they are allready winning.

The current record for uncracked game is held by Starforce:

quote:

When StarForce 3.0 was released, it initially provided extremely strong protection - the StarForce 3.0-protected game Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory was uncracked for 424 days.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/StarForce#Security


Software DRM has its limits. The real meat is with hardware DRM. PS3 is currently holding that record. Noone pirates ps3 games.



Obsolete -> RE: Thank you Matrix, for no DRM (3/26/2010 7:43:18 PM)

quote:

I think it's probably fairly accurate to say that the DRM companies themselves tout the "1 pirated = 1 lost sale" formula...


Piracy seems to correlate with sales in a (positive light).  I also don't agree for one second that each pirated copy = 1 lost sale.  Piracy itself spreads advertisement, and many of these torrenters do in fact purchase the box after the fact (assuming they enjoyed it).


As for Ubisoft blaming their servers going offline due to hackers (again), I am not so sure I'd trust that story either.  It is possible it's legit, but again, I wouldn't trust Ubi as far as I could throw them.  I remember one of their execs mentioned that people were "going to love" their version of DRM (this before the actual release).

But weather they were lying or not about the hackers shutting down their servers, the fact remains... you can not trust their authentication servers to not screw you over again.  Or for now long next time. 

I do remember Einstein mentioning about the stupidity of human thinking has no limits.... that seems quite true especially in the digital age.





Ashtur -> RE: Thank you Matrix, for no DRM (3/26/2010 9:50:00 PM)

Honestly... whether the Ubi problems were Hackers or more benign system side issues, that's immaterial. The simple fact is that those problems directly kept legitimate customers from playing the games while the servers were down.

It doesn't make difference if it was external malice, or internal incompetence.... either way, the legitimate customer is the loser.

I'm not an anti-DRM fanatic, but I grow weary of the assaults on the legitimate consumers. It's why I've never taken a shot at Distant Guns, and why I won't get SHV. I have more games than I have time anyway, and why should I reward companies for attacking me?



Widell -> RE: Thank you Matrix, for no DRM (3/26/2010 9:54:42 PM)

warspite1 - I would not compare Steam with what Starforce and UBI is doing as Steam is also changing the distribution and to some extent the business model, i.e they provide something while not requiring constant internet connection, limiting # of installs etc. There are some violently anti-Steam members of these forums, so I expect nothing but a long list of comments describing how evil and bad Steam is, so keep in mind I am only commenting from my own experience with them which has been positive after about 10 games and 3 computer changes.

Still, Matrix is IMHO a better solution as once I have the file(s) downloaded I can store them away for future use without having Matrix or a 3rd party involved which I kind of like. Matrix is also a much more personal company while Steam is very distant from its users. Heck, I feel like I would recognize Eric and the others if I bumped into them somewhere in the world! Still, Steam works for me as well, and I don't feel bad about using them, rather the opposite!



JudgeDredd -> RE: Thank you Matrix, for no DRM (3/26/2010 10:23:15 PM)

I'm not entirely sure Steam is a method of DRM. I can play my Steam games offline...so there is no need to be connected afaik.



Greybriar -> RE: Thank you Matrix, for no DRM (3/26/2010 10:45:39 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: JudgeDredd

I'm not entirely sure Steam is a method of DRM. I can play my Steam games offline...so there is no need to be connected afaik.

Wrong. Steam requires an Internet connection (broadband recommended).



killroyishere -> RE: Thank you Matrix, for no DRM (3/26/2010 10:56:40 PM)

The only real issue with Steam would be about what just happened to Battlefront. If Steam gets hacked there will be millions of peeoed customers as many play Steam games they buy online like Left4Dead and other FPS and RTS games. They might be able to play the single player games offline with the offline steam feature but I'd say Steam is used a lot for multiplayer as well. This is where the advantage of owning the cd and the manual physically is better than direct download sites. If someone hacks some site it won't stop me from playing my game that I bought from them.

Another issue is say you buy a load of games and want to download them and Steam or any other direct download site gets hacked guess what? You aren't getting your game anytime soon. So many things can happen while your games are stored online and have to be activated online when it's so much easier just to own them physically and not have to worry about such.

My philosophy is I might buy from a direct download site but I better be able to burn the .exe to a disc and only have to activate it once when I buy it or I ain't buyin it at full retail cost I'll just wait till it's $5 or less like Shock Force from Battlefront.



JudgeDredd -> RE: Thank you Matrix, for no DRM (3/27/2010 12:05:29 AM)

I can play my games without Steam on. You do of course need Steam installed in order to buy the game...ergo you do need an internet connection. But lik I said - I can play my single player games offline.

*edit*
I wouldn't ncessarily recommend Steam, but I have a fair few games on it and have only ever had an issue with one of those...that was more to do with the crap game than Steam - my beef with Steam at the time was their "we sell it - get your support elsewhere" attitude.



Sarge -> RE: Thank you Matrix, for no DRM (3/27/2010 12:09:52 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Greybriar


quote:

ORIGINAL: JudgeDredd

I'm not entirely sure Steam is a method of DRM. I can play my Steam games offline...so there is no need to be connected afaik.

Wrong. Steam requires an Internet connection (broadband recommended).



Simply not true............[8|]


How many times are we going to go over this ?










JudgeDredd -> RE: Thank you Matrix, for no DRM (3/27/2010 12:12:26 AM)

lol Sarge - what's not true? Mine or Greybriars post?



Sarge -> RE: Thank you Matrix, for no DRM (3/27/2010 12:15:55 AM)

sry

Gray's.........[;)]



JudgeDredd -> RE: Thank you Matrix, for no DRM (3/27/2010 12:18:30 AM)

Yep - I did mean to say, although it states internet connection is required, that's purely because they sell games online. Any online sales company requires you to have an internet connection.

You of course need an internet connection to buy the games, but for single player games, it's not needed...not after purchase (at least the ones I've tried).



SuluSea -> RE: Thank you Matrix, for no DRM (3/27/2010 1:54:27 AM)

The reason I'm posting with this computer instead of my last one is because of DRM. Any company that uses a DRM scheme tells me they don't trust me and don't want my business.

Matrix Games is at the top of the heap if competitors treated their customer base as Matrix does they'd sell more products.



V22 Osprey -> RE: Thank you Matrix, for no DRM (3/27/2010 2:12:46 AM)

I'm also happy want to thank Matrix for no DRM. t makes it alot easier for me to enjoy my games.

I swear, Starforce was design by the devil himself.



Zakhal -> RE: Thank you Matrix, for no DRM (3/27/2010 5:11:29 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Greybriar
Wrong. Steam requires an Internet connection (broadband recommended).

You kind of need internet connection to download digital games once you have bought them. So far steam hasnt started a postal service to mail the game data on a dvd. But once you have downloaded the game you can plug off internet and play the game offline.



Sarge -> RE: Thank you Matrix, for no DRM (3/27/2010 1:14:52 PM)

According to Gray,
digital download ,updates/patch, pbem I guess one could say Matrix requires internet connection ......[X(]



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