DRM free question
DRM free question
I was just wondering on the opinion of others on a discussion I had with a fellow gamer recently, if a developer releases a game drm free, but to play it online you had to have an account to verify you (the gamer) actually purchased the game, would that be classed as the game still having some form of drm embedded, even though the game itself is released as drm free?
If the above is true in that yes it is classed as having drm embedded, as a developer is there another way to still have the game released as drm free but with a way to verify gamers actually legally purchased the game
The reason I'm asking is, consumers should be given freedom of choice and I fully support drm free (i use gog) but developers also need to ideally be paid a wage for their work, I know gog have proved drm free works too, it's just i'm not sure how their online gog galaxy works.
Thanks
The information provided is incorrect.
They receive payment from customers.
It actually is. It's still DRM if you have to log in online to authenticate. Whether it's through the asstastic Denuvo, or Steam checking your CD key, it's a form of DRM.
So there isn't really a way to track who does or does not own it legally, and even with DRM there's still no guarantee. Steam games (with SteamDRM) and Denuvo get cracked in a matter of days.
And they get paid by legal purchases. People who pirate weren't going to buy it anyways so technically it doesn't really affect their sales. Although there is a percentage of people that actually do use cracked copies as demos and then purchase the game if they feel it's worth it. That problem could be solved by having games actually have demos instead of enticing people to pay $60 for something that isn't even out and ends up being a shit show, No Mans Sky, Fallout 76, Anthem, Mass Effect Andromeda, etc.
Gog Galaxy is completely optional. If you download a game through it, for some reason the icon opens the launcher instead of the game. You can retarget the icon to open the game itself if you want. Otherwise... GOG Galaxy
might
be required for online components. I only say this because Dying Light is the only game I have with multiplayer that's "current" and I think it requires Galaxy. Not sure what if any checks are present at that time. I assume it just tracks your online progress n such.
DRM confirms you've paid for the content. Accessing it requires logging in, which is DRM. GOG also employs a lot of DRM, since you must create an account before downloading the game installer. This is just one aspect of their DRM strategy, and players generally understand it as a way to keep your downloads.
I believe yes, because I see DRM mainly as a tool to confirm you have the game legally, no matter how it’s handled.
Removing the verification step would be another approach.
GOG Galaxy offers another method to access your games via the GOG account. Instead of downloading from the site, you can use the GOG Galaxy client.
It's confusing how they explain that verification process. It seems some believe a login is necessary, but in reality, you only need to confirm you bought the game. GOG Galaxy isn't mandatory, and the account doesn't check your purchase—it just lets you use your collection.
He mentioned the game involves checking your account and buying it, which means it has DRM.
The account in the game isn't considered DRM. DRM refers to restrictions limited to one platform. If you can install it on 1000 different devices, it doesn't fall under DRM. It might be limited only to those who purchased it. This approach is just a method to electronically mimic proof of purchase.
If you view DRM this way, every item bought in a physical store would be DRM because the receipt serves as the proof. Only two parties hold that proof—you and the company that sold you the product.