http://lumilounge.com/we-were-idiots-about-the-drm-fiasco/
Yeah huge misstep by everyone involved in my opinion. Everytime I have to get up and switch a disc, I think about how things could have been. Hopefully they come up with some type of opt-in plan for the future.
We Were Idiots About The DRM Fiasco…
Any mention of console DRM makes gamers flare their nostrils and ready their pitchforks. But, as the new generation of consoles gets rolling, it’s clear to see that we were all made a mistake about the DRM fiasco.
Around 8 or 9 months ago, a little computing company called Microsoft announced their new console, the Xbox One. Now, as with any new gaming console, the Xbox One received a mixed reception, the console was a brick and the name slightly stupid, but there was a solid launch line up and through all the wailing and whining, the enthusiasm to shrink our living rooms into one little box was still an exciting, futuristic idea.
However, as Don ‘Gaming’s Most Malleable Face’ Mattrick delved into the deeper workings of Microsoft’s next machine, the world suddenly imploded with a cyclone of bile, hatred, abuse, tears, screaming, self-inflicted cutting and pure, undiluted murderous behaviour that even Satan would be proud of. What could Microsoft have possibly done that induced this Biblically-sized shytstorm from the usual loving Internet community? (Yes, this is sarcasm).
Well, as it turns out, the Xbox One was going to utilise DRM, a tiny chip which would stop the selling and lending of pre-owned games, as well as splitting open the quivering gates of hell in an orgy of anger and sudden next-gen bashing. Microsoft were going to charge for the borrowing of games and was going to pretty much seize control of the pre-owned gaming market, two moves that would prove to be disastrous for the Xbox One’s initial marketing campaign.
Oh poor Donny, what happened?
Gaming is about sharing experiences with friends and strangers, revelling in the collective adventures and journeys of our most beloved characters, and now Microsoft was ripping up the entire fabric of gaming, leaving a tattered and tired VCR-esque black box to be mutilated and beaten into a weeping, policy-reversing machine by a big ol’ bully called Sony and their so called ‘Gamers Machine’. Oh. Dear. Microsoft.
The thing is, 3 months after the next gen consoles have been released, I’m starting to realise that we were all idiots about the DRM fiasco. Or DRM-Gate, but it doesn’t have a nice ring to it. We all leapt into this hyperbolic, exaggerated hatred for DRM and now as I sit in front of my shiny and glorious PS4 (my console of choice…and money), I seriously regret the gaming community’s vocal distain for Microsoft’s bold and brave move.
Microsoft’s move to DRM could have been huge, but it was the way they dealt with it that has me annoyed at their decision to move away from it. Instead of advertising and driving the positives of Microsoft’s plans such as family sharing, an instant game library and cloud reliant switchingthey (I’m not going to solely blame Mattrick here, he was a spokesman and did wonders for the industry) stuck a elephant sized foot into their metaphorical mouth.
Steam uses DRM, but offers heaps of benefits too.
Instead of showing gamers how DRM was going to benefit us for many years to come, Microsoft took a simple beserker attitude where they forgot about the gamers as people and tried to force this big adaption, shoving it down our throats and pretty much holding a glowing green shotgun to our poor craniums. They dealt with the DRM fiasco like a steroid enraged T-Rex in an old peoples home.
And, with the wonderful benefit of hindsight, Microsoft’s poor dealing with gamers reaction has harmed not only them as a company, but gaming as a whole. Microsoft failed to highlight or mention Steam, the background driver for every PC gamer. Valve use a strict DRM policy, but due to the benefits, and slow adaption into the service, PC gamers do not mind anymore, in fact, I imagine most computer-wizards prefer the homely and beneficial vice of DRM.
Maybe it is because I am incredibly lazy, but when I have to move from my sofa, to the shelf, to the ground and then to the PS4, only to repeat the trip mere seconds later, I feel shamefully sad that our expectations of the ‘next-gen’ have not been meet. Something as simple as still having to physically change discs is stopping the industry moving forward. I know that sounds silly, and to be honest, it is silly, but hear me out.
What is this sorcery?
Gaming’s biggest entertainment rivals, music and movies, are already moving toward a fully digital world. The music industry has been completely transformed over the past decade, mainly thanks to the iPod and similar MP3 devices. They have lead to an industry where buying a psychical copy, a CD, is already considered as archaic as hunting mammoths with a broken stick.
Whilst not to the same extent, movies and TV is slowly transitioning to an all digital front through the increasing popularity of services such as Netflix (as well as masterful online exclusive shows like House Of Cards) and even YouTube. Although the need for Blu-Rays and DVDs is still present, especially if the 4K revolution hits us any time soon, the movie and TV industry is showing how slow and stubborn the gaming industry is.
Most gamers still want discs for their games, and although I feel these will be kept for a long time, DRM would help reduced the constant requirement for disc storage, and worst of all, heart pounding, cholesterol swishing disc changes. One of the Xbox One’s most appealing features was it’s instant game library. After putting the disc in once and downloading it, that game was on your system and never needed the disc again. It seemed like a small but seismic change. It would have partially made discs obsolete, but not fully reliant on an online service such as PSN and Xbox Live.
Stan Hulk. That is pure next-gen.
When I gaze into my PS4’s home screen, I can see all the logos from my installed games: Killzone: Shadow Fall, Black Flag, Lego Marvel, NBA 2K14 and more. The fact that I cant simply switch seamlessly between each game whilst still sat comfortably from my sofa is an irritant and one that I would happily sacrifice the ability to sell the game pre-owned.
Much like how I can access all my music straight away within a nano-second of each other, DRM would allow me to transition smoothly and sexily from ruining a city as Stan Hulk to nailing a three-pointer game winner with LeBron. We have lost that ability due to our ignorance, stubbornness and tendencies to scream and shout when our money is challenged in the slightest.
Another brilliant benefit that we so sadly lost was family sharing, a features which, with hindsight, would still be ability to create a ubiquitous community for next-gen consoles. By joining with around 5 friends or family, all my games would be shared and available to download and play, a move which would be simply awesome, especially if you picked a similarly passionate and game-loving partner to express all things virtual and joyful.
Look into your soul..is this really better?
It may not have allowed the same amount of freedom as your usual affair of borrowing a game, but it was offering a future-proof, exciting future which, if we had invested, could have been a step closer to the interconnected gaming world that we so desirably envisage.
I will admit, DRM had its huge drawbacks and Microsoft’s bludgeoning of the idea may have tainted its appeal. Yet, if we took a few precious seconds to step back to appreciate and respect what the Xbox One was trying to do, then I truly believe the next-generation would be driving into the future with much more force than the plague of physical copies and energetic laborious disc swapping.
But, thanks to the gaming community’s (myself included) deranged obsession with familiarity and safety, the future of DRM and truly ubiquitous gaming has disintegrated into midair, leaving behind an industry that will never truly move forward until we learn to take big risks, even if those risks look safer with hindsight.
Yeah huge misstep by everyone involved in my opinion. Everytime I have to get up and switch a disc, I think about how things could have been. Hopefully they come up with some type of opt-in plan for the future.
features they did have in place, 3cepts or PC nerds all held hands and said it couldn't be done
at this niggga using an article from a no-name site.
