Originally Posted By SharonB (10 SEP 2012 1:38pm)

Big Fish is my other web-site that I will download games from.  When I started downloading from them I did  not immediately recognize the DRM.  I just thought you downloaded and did a one-time activation when you were ready to play.  If you're familiar with Big Fish you know that isn't so.  You are tied to the web-site for as long as you have an interest in the game.  You must go online every time you play.

Hi SharonB, I completely agree with all your sentiments on DRM & games possibly lose more from legitimate buyers than is saved from piracy? - they crack them eventually. I personally buy far fewer games because of it!

I use Big Fish for Casual games because most of them are not 'keepers' for me. But you do have the facility to delete & install the games as many times as you like.  I just want to point out that once you've downloaded & installed a game from BF YOU DON'T NEED TO GO ONLINE TO PLAY IT!

I'm beginning to suspect modern DRM is less concerned with product protection than it is a corporate turf war - how to direct the public entertainment dollar their way. DRM strategies are becoming ways to corral users into specific "pens" where they can peruse the goods and hopefully buy the wares on offer. The anti-crack aspect seems periferal in many ways, to the extent that some operations even entice buyers into their "pen" with the promise of 'no DRM' [like GoG], hoping that you will find it nice enough to stay - the multiplier effect may trump the counterfeit.

For a gamer this is not necessarily a bad thing since the focus appears re-directed from product protection to sales multiplier effects. Attemps to control how gamers operate software as they please in the privacy of their own homes may becoming a sidebar, and noCD patches, configuration workarounds etc., may continue to proliferate to the benefit of gamers as the real oversight activity is directed to market expansion.

None the less I still cling to the game-in-a-box-that's-truly-yours concept, and the thought of completely digitized delivery and play is a bit discouraging to contemplate.

Thanks, Loobiloo.  I came to find that out.  The Game Manager for Big Fish is annoying to me.  While convenient it slaps an advertisement at you every time you load it.  And I find it irritating the number of places they put shortcuts to the game.  First the shortcut icon on the desktop.  Then the shortcut in the game manager (obviously necessary). Then the individual shortcut on the All Programs Menu. And finally the shortcut in the Games menu on the All Programs Menu.  This last one is actually the best one for me as it lists all my Big Fish games individually and doesn't require Game Manager to start the game.  I now just remove the shortcuts on the desktop and All Programs menu after installing the game.  It keeps my icons from multiplying and my Programs from expanding too much.

Despite my issues with Big Fish I do think they are a very good website and provide many really good games which are free to try before buying.  I had been a snob about casual games before trying demos for a couple of their games.  I personally thought that anything that wasn't a true adventure game or RPG wasn't worth playing.  I think dirt went up my nose when I tripped on my pride and fell flat.

@TinCup2 - I agree with the statement of coralling users but find I don't mind this.  GOG and Big Fish each provide benefits that I enjoy.

I wish DRM would just go away, though I can't believe that will ever happen. It is always the way for marketers to try to brand their "product" and gain customer loyalty.

Originally Posted By tincup2 (20 SEP 2012 12:01pm)

 

None the less I still cling to the game-in-a-box-that's-truly-yours concept, and the thought of completely digitized delivery and play is a bit discouraging to contemplate.

Yes, agreed.  But game demos are a wonderful thing.