Starcraft II DRM?

[darkxshade]

ok agreed, MP vs SP is opinion based.

I however don't think there will be enough "noise" to cause a big enough backlash for the 30 day login requirement since most people[me included] knew when buying the game that I had to be online to play for both SP & MP... so the fact that I can play offline but need to log in once every 30 days is just a bonus to me. Lets sit on this, see where things go as more people find out but I'm fairly confident all the barking will subside eventually.

About the lies... What did you expect... companies lie. Blizzard is no exception to the rule, if you believe they are a perfect angel then you're just very gullible. In the end, they are out to make money but try to affect the least amount of people. While you're here criticizing, don't be surpised they have people crunching numbers in the back offices to weigh the best options to print the most money while keeping their reputation intact. But in the end, no matter what they do, they realize someone will always complain. They're not going to try to please everyone, they can't win that battle. That is why I understand where they're coming from in a way and hold nothing against them since I truly believe they did rather well for DRM since like I opined, that SC is more about MP now than SP.

 

[Bun-Bun]

The thing your ommiting is they openly stated they are against DRM. No you can't please everyone but they did openly state they are against it so they should have put more effort in to minimize the DRM presence.

And just because this may be doesn't mean we have to sit by idlely and watch publishers/developers ruin PC Gaming.

 

[darkxshade]

So basically you admit you fell for the honest guy act they're pretending to be? Don't think for a second they are completely against DRM if they can find a way to mitigate the effects it has on users. And it's debatable whether they did a decent enough job since clearly they haven't with you because you didn't meet their requirements but also why they have with me because I did and it did not hinder me in any way. At this point, I'm more appalled you took their words at face value.

 

[golem]

Just ask yourself how rediculous that sounds to use a crack to play a game you paid for. Granted I have had games that for technical reasons the cracked version works while the regular game doesn't. But thats a unintenional technical difficulty.

Well you only need a crack if you don't log in once in 30 days and if you don't want to contact blizzard to re activate your game, but I will admit it's inconvenient and sucks.

It does specifically state that an internet connection is required to play the game. Ask yourself how ridiculous it is to expect to be able to play a game when you don't meet the game requirements?

 

[taltamir]

Except, by forcing the user to connect to the internet at least once a month insures the experience remains top notch due to the availability of patches.

that is just grasping at straws...
This does not in any way "ensure top notce experience"... it really screws over members of our armed forces who are deployed without reliable internet connections, and if that was REALLY what they wanted, the game could have easily dropped the whole authentication thing and simply had a window saying "please connect to the internet to check for patches, the game will not run unless you check for patches", but it doesn't say check for patches, it says login. (such a forceful approach will not improve the gaming experience btw).

BTW, you CAN'T enter your serial key in the game itself, you enter it on blizzard website to tie it to a battle.net account, in the game you can only use your battle.net login

 

[Bun-Bun]

and if you don't want to contact blizzard to re activate your game, but I will admit it's inconvenient and sucks.

It does specifically state that an internet connection is required to play the game. Ask yourself how ridiculous it is to expect to be able to play a game when you don't meet the game requirements?

You say that as if there is a way to reactivate the game other then battle.net. There isnt.

And I already answered the last part. Besides the requirements on the box are known to be a bunch of hogwash anyway.

 

[smackababy]

that is just grasping at straws...
This does not in any way "ensure top notce experience"... it really screws over members of our armed forces who are deployed without reliable internet connections, and if that was REALLY what they wanted, the game could have easily dropped the whole authentication thing and simply had a window saying "please connect to the internet to check for patches, the game will not run unless you check for patches", but it doesn't say check for patches, it says login. (such a forceful approach will not improve the gaming experience btw).

BTW, you CAN'T enter your serial key in the game itself, you enter it on blizzard website to tie it to a battle.net account, in the game you can only use your battle.net login

So, the majority of users deployed have no access to internet connections? First I've heard of this. I guess I shouldn't be in constant contact with my coworkers who are deployed then right? Maybe the 3+ Facebook posts a day they make is just unrealistic. Some of my friends in Iraq / Afghanistan level toons on WoW. I suppose not having internet at least once every 30 days makes that impossible right?

Besides the requirements on the box are known to be a bunch of hogwash anyway.

Huh? Since when did something say "Requires internet connection" mean "may require an internet connection, but we just like to make stuff up?"

 

[Bun-Bun]

Huh? Since when did something say "Requires internet connection" mean "may require an internet connection, but we just like to make stuff up?"

No one. But how many times are box systems requirements innacurate? The only reason I checked into it further is because I know how shady companies have been about this in the past and I clarified with Blizzard before purchase. Besides the point still is, it has a major single player component, it should not require an internet connection to play the single player component.

And I know plenty of people who are deployed with little to no internet access. And I know personally more then a handful of people who have no internet access who live in rural areas.

 

[golem]

No one. But how many times are box systems requirements innacurate? The only reason I checked into it further is because I know how shady companies have been about this in the past and I clarified with Blizzard before purchase. Besides the point still is, it has a major single player component, it should not require an internet connection to play the single player component.

And I know plenty of people who are deployed with little to no internet access. And I know personally more then a handful of people who have no internet access who live in rural areas.

But they usually understate the requirements to play the game. This requirement is actually overstated, at least for the offline play. It's internet connection once every 30 days instead of internet connection all the time.

I don't think internet connection should be required to play single player either. But what's on the box trumps what you think should be required.

 

[darkxshade]

Sounds like Blizzards damned if they do, damned if they don't. If they didn't put it on the box, he'd be complaining they didn't say anything, and since they did put it on the box he's now complaining that what's on the box isn't always true. Some people just can't be reasoned with.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I wanted to buy this to play with my son on our network...not sure if we can do this though, it sounds like we'll need to buy two copies of this game? At $60 a pop I guess we'll wait for the price to drop.

 

[Bun-Bun]

But what's on the box trumps what you think should be required.

There's where we differ in opinon. Change would never come about if everyone just accepted things like this.

Sounds like Blizzards damned if they do, damned if they don't. If they didn't put it on the box, he'd be complaining they didn't say anything, and since they did put it on the box he's now complaining that what's on the box isn't always true. Some people just can't be reasoned with.

Again you're completely failing to see the point.

 

[Qbah]

I can still somewhat relate, even though it doesn't bother me. Why? Pre-orders. This game had huge pre-orders. And when looking around for some DRM comments from Blizzard this is what I found:

http://www.incgamers.com/Interviews/204/starcraft-ii-developers-talk-single-player

This is the relevant part:

A level of "DRM" will also be used by limit installation. Dustin explained "you need to connect once to install the game." While singleplayer will be available offline, installation must have an internet connection in order to proceed. You are also required to have or signup for a Battle.net account in order to install the game. All achievements and friends lists etc will be available as soon as you logon, but the actual single player game is available anyway.

"You can [play single player offline], but we don't encourage it." Browder said. "We totally allow it if you want to do it," but the point is "you don't get access a lot of the stuff."

They didn't tell anything about the need to re-authenticate your game (or your off-line battle.net account I think is more correct). So all people who pre-ordered, didn't know. And the game had a sick number of pre-ordered copies alone.

After launch date - that's your problem for not reading the box carefully. "Internet connection required" is pretty clear. Can't get any more direct. Yes, you could be not fully informed if you based your decision on such an interview even post-launch. But you can always check first and buy the game a few days later.

 

[taltamir]

So, the majority of users deployed have no access to internet connections?

I didn't say a majority... but it is a sizable enough group. I know some that have reliable internet connections, and some that don't. It depends on their deployment.

We seem to be repeating ourselves now... 10 pages already. Looks like its time to just say "lets agree to disagree".

 

[smackababy]

I didn't say a majority... but it is a sizable enough group. I know some that have reliable internet connections, and some that don't. It depends on their deployment.

Of course it does, but I would imagine the target market for Blizzard isn't soldiers deployed to BFE. And they really shouldn't be killing Zerg, they should be killing whoever they are told to. They could always go to the gym because that is about the only real thing to do while deployed anyway.

 

[Terzo]

Of course it does, but I would imagine the target market for Blizzard isn't soldiers deployed to BFE. And they really shouldn't be killing Zerg, they should be killing whoever they are told to. They could always go to the gym because that is about the only real thing to do while deployed anyway.

Say what? I've can't speak from experience, but I'm pretty sure a solider's life is more than kill people and work out.

 

[Barfo]

So how do you play the Campaign in offline mode? I heard battle.net was down in the morning and even though I was working I'd like to know if there's some box I need to check or something cause I haven't seen that option anywhere.

 

[Barfo]

Say what? I've can't speak from experience, but I'm pretty sure a solider's life is more than kill people and work out.

Sampling the local prostitutes, smoke and drink. That's it.

 

[smackababy]

Sampling the local prostitutes, smoke and drink. That's it.

There is also the worry of missing your rotator out and getting to live in a tent with 15 other guys for 2 weeks!

 

[NYHoustonman]

I wanted to buy this to play with my son on our network...not sure if we can do this though, it sounds like we'll need to buy two copies of this game?

Indeed. I'm in the same boat: have one copy, waiting on a sale (should have just jumped on the Dell deal) for my brother.

 

[secretanchitman]

forgot to add that its not so barebones while playing offline - you can watch replays and watch the tutorials!!!!!

update that literally came out a few minutes ago (1.02) now lets you play against the ai (yay!) and do the challenges (yay!) offline! now i have no complaints about playing sc2 offline...minus lan play :sneaky:

 

[TridenT]

I wanted to buy this to play with my son on our network...not sure if we can do this though, it sounds like we'll need to buy two copies of this game? At $60 a pop I guess we'll wait for the price to drop.

Uh, yeah... it's illegal to own one copy of the game and have it running on two systems at the same time. Purtttyyy sure of that.

 

[Knytestorme]

I can't believe people are complaining about this.

How is this any different to any Steam-based single player game?

Ignore the multiplayer component for now, seriously how is it different? You buy a game on Steam, you have to log into Steam every 2 weeks to verify your account and then continue playing in offline mode while with SC2 you have to do it every 30 days, yet SC2 is the one people bitch about?

 

[Barfo]

I can't believe people are complaining about this.

How is this any different to any Steam-based single player game?

Ignore the multiplayer component for now, seriously how is it different? You buy a game on Steam, you have to log into Steam every 2 weeks to verify your account and then continue playing in offline mode while with SC2 you have to do it every 30 days, yet SC2 is the one people bitch about?

People like to bitch about anything.

 

[Pia]

I can't believe people are complaining about this.

How is this any different to any Steam-based single player game?

It's not. I treat it the exact same way, which is to say, I treat the games as rentals when considering whether the price is acceptable. I have never bought a game from Steam for more than $10. In Starcraft 2's case, I knew pretty much exactly how good it is (due to playing other Blizzard games and the SC2 beta) and considered the asking price worth it even for a rental.

You buy a game on Steam, you have to log into Steam every 2 weeks to verify your account and then continue playing in offline mode while with SC2 you have to do it every 30 days, yet SC2 is the one people bitch about?

Steam's bad value is old news and obviously not going to change. This customer-hostility is new for Blizzard. They might yet reconsider at least parts of it, and other companies might take note of the flak Blizzard is getting and turn to less DRM as a competitive advantage. Either way, win for the customer.