Ubisoft to switch game manuals to digital only

[Octopod]

I have nothing against companies protecting themselves from piracy in principle, I just don't think the methods they use to do that should negatively affect the product of paying customers. I don't think DRM is inherently bad, it's just that so many of the DRM technologies have sucked (Starforce, SecuROM, Disk Checks, etc.). Steam offers enough pros over its DRM cons for me to really care (except for games where the publisher adds additional DRM beyond the need for Steam). Still, nothing beats http://www.gog.com where there isn't a single game with DRM.

I buy games from GOG that I probably will not get for over a year just because I love their service and I want to support them. Hell, if I get to them ever. I bought the Might and Magic 6 pack and I imagine that is going to last me hundreds and hundreds of hours of play time since I am starting at one and working my way through them. That is the plan anyhow...

[GSZX1337]

The original "DRM" PC games had code wheels, match word in manual or a red book with red plastic filter. A pain, but even though game company folded and support went away, that older game can still be played. Unlike the current DRM "Rental" games. One can keep an older PC for the older games or for newer computers, use DOSBox or simply having multi removable drives/partitions for various operating systems.

I don't see how using DOSBox to run DOS games in a modern OS or using WinQuake to run Quake in WinXP is different from having to crack a Steam game to have it run in some future without Steam. You're still having to run third party apps to run your games.

My not download, but store bought Half Life 2 is also a temporary, if Valve goes out of business.

Call me an optimist (or an idiot), but I think this is a non-problem (for retail games, anyway).

1. Steam/Valve isn't going anywhere soon.

2. If Valve does go under, I would assume that Valve would give us some sort of app, crack, patch, etc. to let their consumers play their games without Steam.

3. If Valve doesn't provide such a download, I'm sure that another major download service (Direct2Drive, EA Downloader) would allow the Steam users to download their games from their service in an attempt to get more customers.

4. If neither event happens, 1337|-|4X0RZ (leethaxorz) will patch Steam (if they haven't already) to not phone home and run like normal (maybe with some reduced functionality).

Consumer shouldn't have to obtain a crack to enjoy a purchased game years later.

Consumers shouldn't have to keep their CD-Key for ten years, either but sometimes the consumers the shit end of the stick.

Console download "Rentals" are the worst, because of the closed architecture with update "cancel your crack" patches.

I don't really know what's going to happen with those since this is the first console generation with DLC. I would assume that (at least for XBLA and PSN) those games would transfer to the next console, but I don't know what will happen for the Wii/DS.

[Limewater]

I don't see how using DOSBox to run DOS games in a modern OS or using WinQuake to run Quake in WinXP is different from having to crack a Steam game to have it run in some future without Steam. You're still having to run third party apps to run your games.

DOSBox is legal. That's a big difference.

[GSZX1337]

I don't see how using DOSBox to run DOS games in a modern OS or using WinQuake to run Quake in WinXP is different from having to crack a Steam game to have it run in some future without Steam. You're still having to run third party apps to run your games.

DOSBox is legal. That's a big difference.

I don't know if running these cracks in the future would be illegal, but I don't think anyone would give you any trouble over it. Kinda like how you sometimes have to use no-cd cracks to run older games in WINE.