Electronic Arts is famed for cramming SecuROM into everything, seemingly just for fun. That's why it's quite surprising that BioWare's upcoming RPG Dragon Age: Origins won't be sporting masses of oppressive DRM. Players will only be required to undertake a disc check before they can start having sex with sorceresses.
"It's a philosophy that we're building a game, with Dragon Age, that is such a great value to price ratio, and we have such an ambitious and valuable, to fans, downloadable content plan that we trust our fans," explains EA's Ray Muzyka. "We're releasing a game we think they are going to see is really useful, valuable and high quality to price ration that they are going to pay us for that, because it's evident that the game is good game.
"It's a long game, a lot of content. The post-release content is going to motivate people to register with us and become customers long term. It's all optional, but we're confident enough with the quality of the offering that we know our fans will be loyal and support us. It's about trust -- we trust our fans. We're counting on them to keep us in business. We ask them to consider that, to not pirate, and to support us and in turn we'll be very, very supportive of them."
The statement very much reads like EA begging consumers not to steal Dragon Age. We'll see just how trustworthy the gamers are when it comes out. I personally think it's disgusting when DRM-free games are ripped off to the levels they are on PC, and then gamers have the nerve to whine about DRM and claim that piracy happens because SecuROM exists. I certainly hope Dragon Age rakes in the sales though. I think it deserves to.
Jim Sterling serves as reviews editor for Destructoid.com, head of the Podtoid podcast, and produces a number of news stories, original features, one-of-a-kind videos. With his passionate argumentative style, controversial opinions, harsh delivery, and dedication to brutal honesty Sterling is a name that you can't help but recognize.
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Contest:
5:40 PM on 08.27.2009
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Yeah, I honestly can't imagine playing this on a console.
From what I played at E3, it works perfectly fine on the 360.
Have you played KOTOR on a console? It doesn't require precise aiming or anything. Plus, new-school Bioware games have never, ever actually required skill, so it's not like you need mouse-driven precision.
Yes, that's just because the CONSOLE versions have been designed to play like Kotor, the PC is much more similar to Baldur's Gate and actually has more skills to use. Proper tactical full party control is meant for M+KB.
And what are those levels? My guess would be the same or even less than those of games stuffed with DRM.
Anyway, nice move with DRM on this game. I'm guessing they are not utilizing SecuRom on this one (securom does not have to deal just with internet activation, it could be used for CD verification..). I hope SecuRom won't be in the picture..
I also have the PC version of KOTOR, and don't feel like it's really different at all.
My point still stands: Baldur's Gate was tough, sure, but since KOTOR, Bioware dumbed down their games (all iterations) to the point where a precise movements aren't needed whatsoever.
These levels, perhaps.
Yes, but for moving the camera, inventory management and micromanaging character's action I still gotta believe that PC will be much speedier. Then on top of that there are all the PC bonus' like thedevelopers toolset where you can make or download fan made campaigns and that any DLC has a better chance of being free on the PC.
This is a no-brainer for PC as well... I am sure it will be ok on console, but this is a PC game through and through. We don't get enough of those these days... as in barely any at all.
You better believe I agree. As a general rule, I error on the side of PC, but I don't believe that any neo-Bioware games require any sort of micro-managing (especially everything but Mass Effect, where you can freeze combat) that gets out of hand.
As for content and dev tools? Fuck yes: PC! I just don't know if I'm going to like the game enough to play it more than 200+ hours (2 playthroughs: good and bad).
Well supposedly.. supposedly... Dragon Age is supposed to be more like Bioware's older games on PC. I don't know how true that is and it may end up being more true in spirit than mechanics, but that is the line.
If it is at all true gameplay wise, I really have no idea how someone could play it with a control pad and no HDD or mod kit. That would just baffle me.
But maybe they are just speaking in terms of tone and general gameplay... or maybe the console versions are a lot different.
And "on the levels" is such a nice phrase that makes people angry without actually saying anything, isn't it.
Jim is right actually, the statement does sound like them asking PC gamers to pretty please not pirate the game. And he is right that it is disgusting so many pirates ACT like DRM is what makes them pirate a game, but then a game with no DRM they pirate as well. I know of several such people on other forums.
PC gaming is in a tough spot right now for a few reasons, one of them being piracy. These companies need to try things to get the problem reduced... it will probably never be solved, but it can be reduced... otherwise they will just stop releasing their games for open systems period. No one wants that, even console gamers... no one wants the PC gaming industry to go away, way too many awesome games start there for numerous reasons.
EA is trying account registration and bonus content right now, which is a lot better than SecuROM, that's for sure. Ubisoft is trying... nothing... which is scary, as it makes me feel like they have thrown in the towel. Valve and several others are trying Steam of course.
DRM will be a fact of life on PC soon, if it isn't already... the trick is to make DRM as consumer friendly as possible.
Well, from what I played of it (a good 25 minutes or so), it was a lot like KOTOR.
I never liked the merger and so far everything produced as a result of it has been a step away from old BW products towards EA products. I hope this situation has been corrected now. EA should be going towards where BW products were at before the merger.
a retail product under the EA brand. The merger was quite
recent. So, you never liked the merger dispite not having
a clue when it took place? Nice.
BTW, Stardock has no DRM and they are doing quite well.