DRM
DRM (Digital Right Management)doesn't mean just basic copy-protection of digital content (like ebooks, MP3s or DivX videos), but it basically means full protection for digital content, ranging from delivery to end user's ways to use the content.
I came across with this term a few years back while searching for some games over the internet. Some of the example of DRM is to limit the number of time of installation (eg. after 3x installation u can throw ur ORIGINAL disc to the trashcan ⌐_⌐b), only allow installation on a single PC (this sounds more reasonable), activation through internet (as usual), etc.
Assassin's Creed II was launched lately and Ubisoft has announced their DRM for this game. Players need to create an account at the Ubisoft server (a lot of games have already implemented this). Here come something new, in order to play the game, players need to be constantly connected to the internet. Meaning that if ur internet connection is down, ur game will be paused until the connection is recovered. If not u will lost all your progress and need to restart at ur last save point as the save files are stored in the server as well.
You pay for the game and yet u are only allow to play it whenever u have the internet connection ready. This sounds kind of sucks coz u will not be able to play the game which is "owned" by u when anyone of these happen :
ISP down, this always happened in M'sia ..
Ur housemate or whoever sharing the internet with you start up an application which eat up most of the bandwidth while u r playing the game ..
You installed it on ur laptop (so that u can play the game anywhere especially when u r going for outstation), but u couldn't find any internet connection in the hotel u r staying in
Ubisoft server down ... lolz ... just like playing online games, the only diffrent is I did not pay for the game disc which cost ~ RM200
I'm not saying that DRM should not be implemented, but looking from another perspective, this can kill the sales of the product as well. I wouldn't like it in the 1st place if I pay for the product yet I still don't really own it. In this case I rather go for pirated version (which i always do regardless of DRM :p)
I came across with this term a few years back while searching for some games over the internet. Some of the example of DRM is to limit the number of time of installation (eg. after 3x installation u can throw ur ORIGINAL disc to the trashcan ⌐_⌐b), only allow installation on a single PC (this sounds more reasonable), activation through internet (as usual), etc.
Assassin's Creed II was launched lately and Ubisoft has announced their DRM for this game. Players need to create an account at the Ubisoft server (a lot of games have already implemented this). Here come something new, in order to play the game, players need to be constantly connected to the internet. Meaning that if ur internet connection is down, ur game will be paused until the connection is recovered. If not u will lost all your progress and need to restart at ur last save point as the save files are stored in the server as well.
You pay for the game and yet u are only allow to play it whenever u have the internet connection ready. This sounds kind of sucks coz u will not be able to play the game which is "owned" by u when anyone of these happen :
I'm not saying that DRM should not be implemented, but looking from another perspective, this can kill the sales of the product as well. I wouldn't like it in the 1st place if I pay for the product yet I still don't really own it. In this case I rather go for pirated version (which i always do regardless of DRM :p)
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