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Reader Comments (649)

Posted: Mar 21st 2010 8:15PM Taraldaron said

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Steam is the best, but failing that a CD key and DVD check is the best without being too intrusive.

Posted: Mar 21st 2010 8:15PM (Unverified) said

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uhhhhhh steam

Posted: Mar 21st 2010 8:20PM (Unverified) said

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Steam, as long as it doesn't come with more DRM on top.

Posted: Mar 21st 2010 8:16PM Haon said

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Steam, I want it to have my babbys.

Posted: Mar 21st 2010 8:16PM thevoid said

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easily steam

Posted: Mar 21st 2010 8:17PM (Unverified) said

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Space Quest and other Sierra games' methods of using the retail supplied map, technical manual, or star system coordinates used in conjuntion with a bit of cardboard with a red film window to find a vital code needed about 15 minutes into playing the game.

Posted: Mar 21st 2010 8:17PM amrkvati said

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steam.

Posted: Mar 21st 2010 8:23PM bigdonny said

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something similar to Steam

Posted: Mar 21st 2010 8:20PM Quack2TheFuture said

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I like how steam does it- nice and invisible. SecuROM stinks though

Posted: Mar 21st 2010 8:21PM sheffield said

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Steam then.

Posted: Mar 21st 2010 8:22PM (Unverified) said

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I would have to say the old school disc check. If my internet connection flakes out, it does not matter. As long as the disc I have is valid, my game works.

Posted: Mar 21st 2010 10:06PM Deyanimay said

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Steam's pretty good.

Posted: Mar 21st 2010 8:23PM jakeyf said

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CD in drive is the best DRM. It has worked since 1900!

Posted: Mar 21st 2010 8:23PM troidy said

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My favorite way is probably the stardock method, just a CD key check for online play on patches.

Posted: Mar 22nd 2010 12:45AM zorbs said

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I feel like checking once online and authorizing the copy is the best and least offensive.

Posted: Mar 21st 2010 11:06PM Cleaner7 said

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Steam is amazing so I'm going with that. As long as Valve is in business we should be fine!

Posted: Mar 21st 2010 8:24PM (Unverified) said

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Steam is the best DRM

Posted: Mar 21st 2010 8:25PM (Unverified) said

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As far as effective DRM currently in use goes, Steam takes the prize. Though while it has a very good system going at the moment, I do find it fairly inhibiting. The fact that games purchased at full price cannot be physically transferred, transported or lent out/borrowed without hassle has led to unnecessary duplicate purchases and annoyance. There has to be an even better way to reward consumers with the security steam provides without resorting to such restricted play.

Frankly, similar to the way in which watermarks function in audio/imagery, an invisible, digital watermark may be an interesting solution. Not sure how it would work for digitally downloaded content, but regarding physical content an untraceable "reverse watermark" file could be stored within the CD itself, allowing the player to play the game with full clarity. However, if the physical CD is not running within the hardware while the game is being played, certain content is reduced/lost (untextured, animationless, etc). In effect, few would want to play a pirated version of the game because it would be like watching an unfinished film.

Posted: Mar 21st 2010 8:26PM hdhrant said

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The back of the game manual has a serial code. When you install the game it asks for the code, which it then checks online to make sure it's valid. Then it doesn't bother you ever again.

Posted: Mar 21st 2010 8:26PM acefondu said

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Steam

Posted: Mar 21st 2010 8:26PM Ryan P said

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For titles where online multiplayer is a big deal, I'm a fan of the scheme used by Blizzard with StarCraft/WC3, where you have to have a unique CD key in order to play online.

For titles without multiplayer, the disc check scheme should be enough.

To be honest, the whole thing is a futile effort. If they add enough DRM to actually be effective in combating piracy, then the game becomes unplayable.

Posted: Mar 21st 2010 8:57PM mescalito83 said

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1. Insert disc.
2. Click .exe
3. Play game.

Posted: Mar 21st 2010 8:28PM shadowhowl1900 said

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Well, IMHO a one-time internet requirement to activate and register the product key would be enough to allow the game to successfully start.
But either way, no matter how you put it, hackers will always find a way around any DRM.

Posted: Mar 21st 2010 8:29PM gobius said

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Steam is the only solution for me - online checking with offline mode - But Valve games do need to state on the package that they can't be resold because once the key is registered to an account, it can't be passed onto a new person.

Posted: Mar 21st 2010 8:29PM prengekp said

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Having to read through the manual to find the specific word requested by the game.

Posted: Mar 21st 2010 8:30PM (Unverified) said

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I think Steam is the best DRM solution by far.It's also an added bonus that I no longer have to lug around a case full of disks and an external drive to play games too.

Posted: Mar 21st 2010 8:31PM Dizazter said

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Steam is always a good option.
Otherwise, just make it so the DRM requires a once per play session log in, and not on-the-fly DRM checks, that just makes no sense.

Posted: Mar 21st 2010 8:31PM ducttapeBigSexy said

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A disc check that does not require access to the Internet. Ensures that I will be able to play the game even if the company goes out of business, shuts down their servers, etc.

Posted: Mar 21st 2010 8:32PM DrgnAK said

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Steam

Posted: Mar 21st 2010 8:32PM soccerdrew17 said

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Have cd drives melt the disk after its installed, while making every hard drive approved by game companies that destroys the game data if its attempted to be copied. This way no one will ever be be able to share or even move the data to another place on their comp, let alone another one of their computers.

Piracy destroyed!

Posted: Mar 21st 2010 8:32PM Dafrety said

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Steam is very nice, but I would have to say I prefer simple CD keys and disc checks only. No TAGES, SecuROM, or StarForce crap that installs itself into your computer that you can never get rid of. Just a disc check.

Posted: Mar 21st 2010 8:32PM (Unverified) said

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I love Steam :)

Posted: Mar 21st 2010 8:34PM Smokemonsta said

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A hub system for games similar to iTunes or steam. With an account like iTunes. You can only authenticate games on a single system how iTunes only plays iTunes on 5. The only way to open a game would be through the Hub, so unless it was the authenticated one it wont allow you to open it. To use a new computer you would have to de authorize the other computer and allow the new system to work.

Posted: Mar 21st 2010 8:33PM Bacon Deity said

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Yeah, Steam is easily the best solution for about... ANY game requiring DRM or... just any game, period. Spore, Assassins Creed included...

But for those who buy it at the store, it's kinda tough to find a fix. I was thinking perhaps, wherever you would buy it from (online or store) they can activate the game like they do gift cards or something like that. And the game can check online to confirm the activation when you install it. And if you have no internet connection, the retailer can give you a supar dupar special code straight from the game company to activate it offline.

It's not very well thought out, and not a lot of detail... but I promise there is detail in my head... I'm just too tired to type it all down, i'm sorry... =(

Posted: Mar 21st 2010 8:35PM puny said

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Steam.

Posted: Mar 21st 2010 8:34PM alphadeus said

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Count me in on the Steam DRM vote. I kind of like having most of my games in one service, and I don't even notice the DRM.

Posted: Mar 21st 2010 9:04PM jazix said

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Steam.

Posted: Mar 21st 2010 8:37PM xakari said

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steam, now that its coming to mac

Posted: Mar 21st 2010 8:38PM ArcaneCeltic said

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I like the way steam handles DRM. You can still play offline if you cannot connect to the internet. The only big problem i see with steam is if your account gets stolen you lose all your games.

Posted: Mar 21st 2010 8:38PM (Unverified) said

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If I had to choose I would pick steam, it just seems to work the best so far.

Posted: Mar 21st 2010 8:39PM helluvagood said

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yea baby follow biowares policy or say what everyone is saying.. steam!

Posted: Mar 21st 2010 8:39PM Damaga said

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Dongles. Along with constant server checks to online database.

Posted: Mar 21st 2010 11:12PM (Unverified) said

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I agree with a lot of people, steam rocks!

Posted: Mar 21st 2010 8:40PM LiquidSnake said

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Steam

Posted: Mar 21st 2010 8:41PM El Capitaine said

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Like everyone else, if there must be DRM, then Steam. A lot of disc-based games require me to have the disk in my computer to play (and have DRM to prevent me from using a disc image), so I pretty much always go to Steam instead of a retailer. Steam is great, cause I don't need to lug discs around.

Posted: Mar 21st 2010 8:41PM (Unverified) said

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Steam, duh

Posted: Mar 21st 2010 8:43PM (Unverified) said

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If the goal is to make an uncrackable game, regardless if it hurts legitimate customers or not, then an always online DRM like Ubisofts is great. But hurting your customers HAS to eventually hurt them in the end.

Steam has a nice system. You have an account with them. You bought the game through them. Thus they know you are a legitimate user.

tl;dr
Steam's system is great, works well, and doesn't screw over the customer.

Posted: Mar 22nd 2010 7:08PM Sgorilla said

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Allow both online activation and disc activation, a la Bad Company 2.

Posted: Mar 21st 2010 8:42PM (Unverified) said

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The DRM system used for Steam is excellent because of its simplicity and flexibility, plus it can be used for physical and downloadable games.

Posted: Mar 21st 2010 8:42PM The Nasty Nick said

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My favorite DRM would have to be, in Ghostbusters the videogame, where, when attempting to use a crack, instead of preventing you from playing the game, it lets you get to a part about equal length of a typical demo, until you reach a group of little burnt marshmallow creatures.

These guys are invincible and deal ridiculous damage... instant death every time.

Crackers and hackers must be so frustrated lol.

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