2 months, 2 weeks ago Witcher 2 developer estimates game was pirated at least 4.5 million times
What about when you are denied playing the legal copy you purchased by the copy protection that should have stopped you from obtaining the illegal copy that you had to get if you just wanted to play the game?


My question is, how are DRM companies still in business? Seriously, how can anyone justify paying for something that is guaranteed to fail?

I don't mind DRM as long as it doesn't get between me and my game. I only ever pirated a game once, but kept the legal copy I purchased. But I don't feel sorry when some dumbshit publisher decides to use use some uber draconian DRM that is only successful at stopping paying customers from playing the game while those that pirated the game are actually playing it. Does the game deserve to be stolen? Of course not, but more DRM hasn't helped. Problem is, very few of those providing the games really care about trying different ways of combating piracy. They keep using the "sledgehammer" approach and when that fails they get a bigger "sledgehammer" and so on. Then, when that "sledgehammer" starts hitting paying customers, they get all upset when it gets thrown back in their face and then they run home crying to the xbox.

Combating piracy is going to take finesse and many different approaches working together before any progress is made. Even then it wont go away. Valve's approach has been to make obtaining a game easier than the use of torrent sites and its helped, but more approaches must be utilized at the same time. Like adjustments in pricing and demos for the PC. I fault CD projekt for not releasing a PC demo. (I do think they have the right attitude towards piracy and hope they still have the courage to stick with the PC platform.)

Game don't deserve to be stolen, but I can't feel sorry for those who don't take the initiative to limit piracy with out frustrating paying customers.
3 months, 3 weeks ago Diablo III is "done when it's done" - no release date given at BlizzCon
I was excited, 2 years ago, but now Im not sure I'll even get it. I'll be very surprised if comes out next year. But the excitement I should be feeling for this game left a long time ago.
5 months, 2 weeks ago EA tries again to justify Origin, fails more spectacularly than ever to justify Origin
I just love when people defend EA on the basis of competition. There is no competition. None. Also, the competitor (EA) actually raised the price on PC digital downloads. I thought the point was to drive the price down, not up.

Seriously, if you using competition as a way to defend Origin you are an idiot.

Valve earned its "power" over the years. In doing so built a community. EA is trying to stand on the shoulders of giants to accomplish something quickly. Is it really any wonder there is such a backlash? EA took what Valve had done, and now is leveraging its own library to gain support. All the while charging 10$ more for digital software (which has almost no overhead). EA is only doing this because its the only company that has a chance to get a piece of what Valve earned over the years. They have enough Hits in there library to force their customer base into Origin.

EA wants its "power" instantly and doesn't want to earn it. They are using their library to do it too. You think they won't abuse that "power" the first chance they get?
5 months, 4 weeks ago EA will limit distribution of Star Wars: The Old Republic on launch day
Im really surprised so many people can't wait to play SWTOR. Considering the monthly sub hasn't been announced yet. Are they allowing you to keep your beta toons? EA is charging 60$ for the standard digital copy. So what is the monthly charge going to be? Better think about that when you are building your character during beta. Seems wise to wait a bit after release so you get an idea of how much this game is going to cost you. Not to mention how the game is managed with bugs and content.

Not saying it won't be worth it, just that EA is going to charge most it can for it. My opinion, wait till its released, the prices announced and its been running smoothly for a month before deciding to invest your money in it. It could still be and epic fail.
6 months, 3 weeks ago Dragon Age II gets yanked off Steam
Before Origin I went to EA's site to download a game. This was a little before they released their catalog on Steam. So I through the checkout process and I am about to hit the button when I notice an added charge of around 5$. An "online convenience fee" is what they called it. In that instant I knew what EA was all about.

EA isn't stupid, they know the contract they signed with Valve and have twice now broken it. Seems clear EA is watching to see how Origin does before making a complete break from Steam. I believe their intentions will be made clear with Star Wars TOR. Since its an MMO, DLC will likely be irrelevant and Steam will be just another place to sell. So if that doesn't make it, I am betting future releases from EA won't be going to Steam. just a guess.

Lets not forget, Digital downloads are cheaper due to the lack of packaging, storing and physical media. Yet EA is charging 10$ more across the board. All this shows me is EA wants to squeeze every last cent from gamers and believes we should be grateful they provide games at all.
7 months ago How to get into PC gaming
Having built my own PC and my wife's I can you it costs about 1000$ if you want to run everything on high settings. In "fantasy land" it might have cost some one 4000$ to play Crysis at launch. In the "real" world, my 900$ PC did it fine even at ultra settings with 2x aa. Since then, I spent around 150$ to upgrade my graphics card. That was because my last one lacked the new physx capabilities.

So over the last couple years (yea that's years > 1) I spent 150$ in upgrades for my PC that cost around 1000$. Add that to the fact that the games are cheaper and we have a modding community and the initial cost is more than worth it.

I don't have a problem with people liking consoles, its a matter of opinion. What bothers me is the colossal ignorance of some console gamers when they talk about PC gaming. I guess if you want to believe; it will cost you thousands of dollars for a decent rig, that all PC gamers care about is graphics, and that mods are no big deal, then fine, its your loss. Sad thing is, more people own consoles sure, but MS and Sony own console gaming. They do NOT own PC gaming. Ultimately PC gaming is owned by the PC community and the Modding community who ask for nothing for the mods they work so hard on to give us.

You want nothing more than a console more power to ya, have fun, I mean that. But before you spout the same crap over and over again, look a little deeper, and you might "see" what we have been so snobby about all these years.
7 months ago 2K defends XCOM's first-person shooter reboot
On the one hand bringing older games into the modern era sounds like a good idea for some titles. On the other hand, capture the core essence of older titles is near impossible. Unless you're Blizzard and release the same game with better visuals. But I digress.

The reason the core essence of older games is hard to capture, I believe, is due to the original fans. Like playing atari games now isn't the same as when you played them when you were younger. Fact is if the devs can't recreate the "feeling" you got with the original then its doomed. I'm not saying this applies totally with XCOM, but I do think modernizing the original would have been very risky. Way I see it, turn-based gaming is past its prime but strategy isn't, on the PC that is. Words like "strategy" and "simulation" are not what console gamers in general like hearing these days. At least that's the publishers believe. True or not, its hard to deny with XCOM becoming an FPS.

Truth be told, I'm not all that broken up about it. I no longer get excited at the prospect of any classic being remade. The reality is that very few would succeed anyway. Its kinda like Far Cry 2-when I gave up bitching that it wasn't, in fact, Far Cry 2 and instead and FPS with Far Cry 2 slapped on the box for name recognition-I started to enjoy it more. Whether that will be that case here, I don't know. Though this interview did help quell any excitement I may have started to have. More likely if this game is successful, it will be with a new generation and promptly forgotten and about by the older generation.

I would like to add that music is timeless, video games aren't. At least not these days when most want the newest and best and the games themselves shorter and more forgettable. Just my opinion.
7 months, 2 weeks ago Supreme Court strikes down controversial law, upholding gaming's First Amendment rights
With precedent set its going to be very hard to create a law against violent video games. I am not surprised by thee decision, but I was surprised how well some of the justices understood video games as it related to the arguments. Regardless of the outcome, I have a new found respect for the supreme court because of this case. The fight may not be over, but setting precedent can be a tough SOB to overcome, especially with the first amendment. Sorry Jack.
8 months ago E3 2011: Saints Row: The Third hands-on preview
Sometimes its ok to toss out serious and gritty storytelling in favor of a giant weaponized dildo.
9 months, 1 week ago EA: Star Wars: The Old Republic may slip to 2012
Not sure why, but this game just refuses to excite me in anyway. Yea, the story and narrative is what this game is all about, but is it going to be worth the ~20$ a month plus full price for the game?(which, knowing EA's pricing, will probably be 60$ on pc) I'm just not sure it will be. A SW MMO without spaceflight seems just wrong to me.

I played galaxies for a lot of years and even though I got very tired of the ground portion, space was always there for me. which has kept me coming back from time to time. They could cancel this game out right and I probably would care. sad.
10 months, 3 weeks ago Akihabara killer gets death penalty
The death penalty is worthless. It takes too much time and is far too expensive (compared to life in prison because of appeals) and there is no benefit to the larger community. Most cases aren't as clear cut as this, so one can only speculate about how many innocent people have been put to death even with all the costly appeals. Then after all that more money and time is spent coming up with "humane" (if taking a life can be considered humane) ways to kill the person and making sure no single person has to push the kill button. So what is the death penalty really worth? Since the quick and cheap way opens the door even wider for the innocent to be wrongfully put to death, the safe way ends up costing more money and time than a life term and the safe way still doesn't guarantee that an innocent person won't be put to death; then why have it at all?

And if you seriously think the death penalty is a deterrent, then why are people still sentenced to death? If it isn't a deterrent then why pay they extra money for it? Even if you can morally justify legally taking a person's life, is it worth all the extra effort and risk?
11 months, 3 weeks ago Dead Island trailer creator speaks to dead girl controversy
While I personally see nothing wrong with the trailer, as a father though, I could see how some might be offended. However, that is the point, to be offended. I honestly don't think its sick and twisted and in the end it does what it was intended to do; which is offend and disturb you. I thought they did an amazing job.
1 year ago EA: The Old Republic only needs 500,000 subscribers to turn a profit
Initially I was excited about this game, but its now starting to look like a sub-based Kotor 3 rather than a full fledged MMO. What has me most worried class/profession system, which so far looks far too simple.

It could be successful long term, once they have proven they can produce enough content worth paying monthly for. But its really going to come down to the first year.
1 year, 2 months ago EA: Single-player games are 'finished'
Personally I think games should either be SP or MP. I believe when you focus on one type of gameplay you have a better chance to make a better product. As for EA, well SP isn't dead, at least for people like me. I just hope this doesn't fuck up ME3.
1 year, 3 months ago UK retailers threaten to ban Steam, claim that service is killing the PC market
Talk about out of touch. If you ask me someone is a little late to the party. Year of watching retail space for PC games dwindle into nothing and now these fucks show concern? Did they somehow expect an outpouring of support for PC gamers? HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!!!!!!!!!
1 year, 3 months ago Star Wars: The Old Republic PvP Warzone on Alderaan
Yes all MMO's like WoW have that combat style and an Elder Scrolls MMO would have the same thing. These types of games can't have a real time combat system so a certain amount of "stiffness" is inevitable.

It looks good, so I won't knock till I actually try it out.
1 year, 3 months ago Star Wars: The Old Republic ‘won’t be profitable’ says Bigpoint CEO
The reactions to what this guy is saying are kinda funny. He isn't talking down TOR but instead saying that its going to have a hard time if it uses a subscription based system.

People think that Star Wars is magical and as soon as it goes live 5 million people will leave WoW for TOR and the truth is that this will not happen.

By making TOR free to play, you give WoW players the opportunity to get into the game with out having to cancel their WoW sub first. The point is to not try to compete with WoW on its own terms, that's just stupid.
1 year, 3 months ago Media reports: New study links games to aggression
I could release a study making the case that the color BLUE is in fact, the color YELLOW. Which incidentally causes purple to go into a jealous homicidal rage and kill the color YELLOW. Also that this is fundamentally caused by the color RED's closet homosexuality and we must immediately ban LEGO's for the sake of the children.
1 year, 4 months ago Video Game Voters Network: Send in your old controllers to protect freedom of speech
Fact is, if you start making it against the law and imposing fines you make selling M rated games very risky. The reality is that you can't be 100% sure that an M rated game is sold to someone under 17. So rather than risking substantial fines companies like Best Buy might not sell the games, Publishers will then have to scrutinize what they are releasing and devs will not risk making GTA5.

That is a worst case scenario, but it will have an impact. It will also mean Jack Thompson will think he is important again and we'll never get him to shut up.
1 year, 4 months ago Game industry bully Timothy Langdell loses asinine "Edge" lawsuit against EA
Really, does this guy have any clue how pathetic he is? I mean really, narcissism can only take someone so far.

Its pretty sad when a company's only claim to "fame" (I use that term loosely) is the lawsuits over a word.