I'm with ZPavelZ and Psyringe, I think there's still enough fun to be had beyond the trodden paths of the big publishers and distributors and enough creative resistance to the negative trends not lose hope yet.

But then again I've never been a gamer like you. I've always been more of an oldschool, indie and freeware games addict and never had the urge to play all the shiny new AAA titles, plus I don't care a lot about where I get my games from (IMO Karstadt was never the best place for anything not mainstream, although you could get lucky sometimes). So far I've never sold any of my games either (the ones I'd like to get rid of I suspect noone would pay money for anyway). So I'm perfectly fine with digital distribution as long as it gives me the same (or even more) control about the games that I had with the discs (read DRM-free). It's got nothing to do with being desperate and complying to the terms of the industry, more with being happy to support the people who understand me and cater to my preferences.

I really wish people would stop with this. It doesn't help your arguments in any way to throw insults at people who disagree with you.

TODAY'S SPECIAL: Moldy Oldies!

On-topic:

Some of Capcom's PS3 games have rather disturbing DRM-type stuff in them, now that I think about it... Marvel Vs. Capcom 3 always does a check when starting up, and the install data for Resident Evil 5: Gold can only be installed on one console. I hope this doesn't become a trend.

If I stopped using products made by companies that want profit over anything else I would smell really bad, be really hungry and have no entertainment what-so-ever.

I guess most games (and entertainment for that matter) heading downthe digital download path is just another change in medium (as was diskettes to cd's, etc) albiet, a little more drastic as for once you don't own anything physical to represent your purchase.

I grew up playing games. A bit more on a personal note, and as odd is it may sound, games have been my life! As a kid I had trouble relating to people so I found comfort sitting infront of the TV for hours on end playing everything since the Atari 2600. As a result, I developed a strange love and bond to games and the industry as a whole. To see it get "abused" with DLC's and horrible DRM to me feels like someone ripping out my heart. A bit full on for some, perhaps, but that's just how it is when you are passionate about something, aren't happy with the way things are going with it and are, besides the ability to choose where your money goes, helpless to do anything about it.

There are so many games coming out, you wouldn't be able to play them all even if you tried. Choose which developers you support, stick to the games that you enjoy, and screw the rest. It's usually more fun anyway to stick to a good game, or two, that you really enjoy and getting involved in a forum.

Large game developers are just 'testing the waters' to see what they can and can't get away with. Ultimately it's the gamers who pay for their stuff (or not) that control which direction the industry will go. If we don't hand over our cash, they go broke (*cough!* down with EA! *cough*).

Quote from a Bond movie I watched last night: "well it's called the future so get used to it."

Don't take this as an insult, but you need therapy.

What insult? If DRM is applied to prevent piracy, then you, who legally bought a game with DRM, are being treated as one (even though you may not be one). Otherwise they wouldn't sell the game with DRM. If you don't care about DRM, then you don't mind being treated as a pirate.

I don't consider myself treated like a pirate, and if they did start treating me like a pirate I'd certainly not like it. I really don't consider Steam to be treating me like a pirate at all. The client is required for many of the features they provide. Simply wouldn't work without it. The DRM is just a side effect of this requirement. Sure, they could have made it optional, but I'd use it anyway so it doesn't affect me. I'm not treated like a pirate because of that.

I'm thinking the GOG wiki should include a page called "Common arguments and counter-arguments used in discussion of piracy and DRM" so the people who want to discuss the issue for the hundred billionth time over could just go over there and mix and match to make their instant forum debate. A bit like insult swordfighting.

Most DRM (on games) is used to prevent resale, not piracy. Steam is probably the best example.

How appropriate. You fight like a cow.

I'm never flying on a plane again because those damn scanners treat me like a terrorist!

In my opinion, it's used to prevent both.

But that's what I already do.

:D

That would have been a great idea for the NWN module contest about "The DRM-Monster and the Treasure of GOG" ...