Doesn't India have its own rather booming movie industry? I could be mistaken, but don't they also have rather stringent rules for what's allowed to be shown in films (regarding nudity, swearing, etc.)? So US films (some) would be harder to see in the first place, possibly resulting in a thirst for bootlegs...but US movies might not be even permitted to be shown and hence camcorded if they're found to be violating those rules...
Whatever. India has internet too. Camcording is hardly the easiest way to obtain unauthorized copies.
I'm surprised this hasn't happened yet. Gubmint could slash copyright to 10 years, but rightsholders could, and must, actively maintain their (registered) copyrights every year at a cost collected by the gubmint (perhaps tied to income brought by the copyrighted material). Or something. Something to reimburse taxpayers for all the time spent in court and congress over these things.
Seems part of the problem w/copyright abuse is that it's just too easy to have the copyright. There's no pushback, no payback, just more stick to wield over those who, via law, *permit* copyright to exist - the citizenry.
If I'd been eating Pringles when I read that line about Pringles, I'd've shot Pringles particles out of my nose from laughtersnorting.
(for real - why Pringles? was it lunchtime?)
It's terrifying that these people have the ear of policy makers...why is there no one to countermand them? No equally influential group or person imparting common sense?
I get that there are albums that tell stories, the Wall being a primary example, and I get that the artist/s see them as not a collection of songs but one entire work, and I get that it is their prerogative to sell it as such.
What I don't get is not selling singles where you can (esp. when they've been available for a while now), eliminating that option could cut you out of some income since people will go elsewhere for them and not pay you a dime.
So I guess it isn't all about the money.
I love The Wall, but there are songs I'll skip (Vera Lynn), or even replay (Run Like Hell). Hope they don't mind. ;)
Considering there's no mention of this constant internet connection needed in the product description, I'd say those 1 star reviews stating such are extremely helpful to potential buyers.
US Amazon doesn't let you rate until the product's actually available, at least that's what I've always experienced, so tomorrow may see something quite different.
(I think UK Amazon *does* permit rating prior to availability? That's what I recall with Spore, but perhaps I'm mistaken.)
I've been told I have half a brain but know nothing about IT and I saw it coming. I have an internet connection that craps out whenever it likes, and visit websites that sometimes have server problems.
So...anyone with a quarter of a brain who deals with IT...or has internet...sorry, I don't have the brainhalf that does math.
Aside from those that just don't know, think further, or care about DRM and how it can effect them, there's also a sympathy thing that goes on: I must buy this because I want the devs to be compensated for their work - it's not their fault that the publisher *insert pointless anti-customer type action undertaken to prey on fears that not doing such will preclude more game making or outright kill PC gaming here*.
Or they think they have reached the happy medium through buying and cracking. 'Cause it always gets cracked, right?
I've never looked at class actions as going for the big bucks, but more of a knock that shit off! type of thing when companies overstep or abuse the customer base.
I guess I always just assumed lawyers got paid, but the 'class' part meant that returns for so many suit members would always be small.
There are other reasons that would work, like properly matching region codes or patch applications or hardware issues or even user made content. EA has shown they're very capable of messing stuff up for legit games all on their own (TS2 Seasons - the 5th EP! - shipping with code that broke babies comes to mind; I recall a region code problem with a TS3 WA as well, I think it was the Australian release?). By design or by accident is sometimes hard to tell.
I'm not doubting your troubles at all nor am I trying to minimize your problems w/installation, it's just that if there were DRM issues I know they'd be blared from the rooftops over there in simland and I've not seen that. :/
Was that due to DRM, though? Or just crap coding on EA's part? I've seen many stories like yours, but not related to anything DRMish. Installing, patching, or playing the game seem to be the basis of problems with TS3, aheh.
[regarding the piracy process] "NOTE: Surprisingly this is MUCH easier than actually buying it on iTunes!!"
Seems that if your game is going to be pirated no matter what DRM you use, and you don't want to give up and walk out on a still pretty lucrative market, then making it better, easier or more attractive for the paying customer is about all you can do.
Well, it uses a disk check and that launcher thingy, but otherwise nothing destructive like Securom used on TS2 releases (why I don't buy from EA anymore - holding that grudge until they remove it but not holding my breath either).
Sims games sold over 100 million copies with nothing but a disk check prior to Securom. If they pulled a Spore-type DRM on TS3...yeesh, simmer RAEG! Seriously, that is a huge money-flinging fanbase you do not want to piss off.
Re: Re: Camcords are laughable
Cahoots from California?
Doesn't India have its own rather booming movie industry? I could be mistaken, but don't they also have rather stringent rules for what's allowed to be shown in films (regarding nudity, swearing, etc.)? So US films (some) would be harder to see in the first place, possibly resulting in a thirst for bootlegs...but US movies might not be even permitted to be shown and hence camcorded if they're found to be violating those rules...
Whatever. India has internet too. Camcording is hardly the easiest way to obtain unauthorized copies.
Re:
Der, nevermind, missed that sentence. :{
What does personal correspondence have to do with fair use? :/
Re: Re: Re: Let's call his bluff
I'm surprised this hasn't happened yet. Gubmint could slash copyright to 10 years, but rightsholders could, and must, actively maintain their (registered) copyrights every year at a cost collected by the gubmint (perhaps tied to income brought by the copyrighted material). Or something. Something to reimburse taxpayers for all the time spent in court and congress over these things.
Seems part of the problem w/copyright abuse is that it's just too easy to have the copyright. There's no pushback, no payback, just more stick to wield over those who, via law, *permit* copyright to exist - the citizenry.
If I'd been eating Pringles when I read that line about Pringles, I'd've shot Pringles particles out of my nose from laughtersnorting.
(for real - why Pringles? was it lunchtime?)
It's terrifying that these people have the ear of policy makers...why is there no one to countermand them? No equally influential group or person imparting common sense?
Where are those people?
I get that there are albums that tell stories, the Wall being a primary example, and I get that the artist/s see them as not a collection of songs but one entire work, and I get that it is their prerogative to sell it as such.
What I don't get is not selling singles where you can (esp. when they've been available for a while now), eliminating that option could cut you out of some income since people will go elsewhere for them and not pay you a dime.
So I guess it isn't all about the money.
I love The Wall, but there are songs I'll skip (Vera Lynn), or even replay (Run Like Hell). Hope they don't mind. ;)
Re: Retaliatory reviews like this are BS
Considering there's no mention of this constant internet connection needed in the product description, I'd say those 1 star reviews stating such are extremely helpful to potential buyers.
Re:
By the by, I glanced through the Amazon product description and found no mention of a constant internet connection required...!
Yep, release day and the warning reviews roll in:
http://www.amazon.com/Assassins-Creed-2-Pc/dp/B001TOQ8R0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1268168658&sr=8-1
Re:
"This item will be released on March 9, 2010."
US Amazon doesn't let you rate until the product's actually available, at least that's what I've always experienced, so tomorrow may see something quite different.
(I think UK Amazon *does* permit rating prior to availability? That's what I recall with Spore, but perhaps I'm mistaken.)
Re: Good points
They handed that one to ya on a pie plate.
Re: Re: Re: Timebomb waiting to fail
I've been told I have half a brain but know nothing about IT and I saw it coming. I have an internet connection that craps out whenever it likes, and visit websites that sometimes have server problems.
So...anyone with a quarter of a brain who deals with IT...or has internet...sorry, I don't have the brainhalf that does math.
Re: Re: Re:
More likely people who've never actually bought what they're expecting their customers to buy.
Re: Re: @ Jim
Aside from those that just don't know, think further, or care about DRM and how it can effect them, there's also a sympathy thing that goes on: I must buy this because I want the devs to be compensated for their work - it's not their fault that the publisher *insert pointless anti-customer type action undertaken to prey on fears that not doing such will preclude more game making or outright kill PC gaming here*.
Or they think they have reached the happy medium through buying and cracking. 'Cause it always gets cracked, right?
Re: Re: class action lawsuits
I've never looked at class actions as going for the big bucks, but more of a knock that shit off! type of thing when companies overstep or abuse the customer base.
I guess I always just assumed lawyers got paid, but the 'class' part meant that returns for so many suit members would always be small.
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
There are other reasons that would work, like properly matching region codes or patch applications or hardware issues or even user made content. EA has shown they're very capable of messing stuff up for legit games all on their own (TS2 Seasons - the 5th EP! - shipping with code that broke babies comes to mind; I recall a region code problem with a TS3 WA as well, I think it was the Australian release?). By design or by accident is sometimes hard to tell.
I'm not doubting your troubles at all nor am I trying to minimize your problems w/installation, it's just that if there were DRM issues I know they'd be blared from the rooftops over there in simland and I've not seen that. :/
Re: Re: Re: Re:
Was that due to DRM, though? Or just crap coding on EA's part? I've seen many stories like yours, but not related to anything DRMish. Installing, patching, or playing the game seem to be the basis of problems with TS3, aheh.
Re:
Read the link (thanks) and one remark stood out:
[regarding the piracy process] "NOTE: Surprisingly this is MUCH easier than actually buying it on iTunes!!"
Seems that if your game is going to be pirated no matter what DRM you use, and you don't want to give up and walk out on a still pretty lucrative market, then making it better, easier or more attractive for the paying customer is about all you can do.
Re: Re: Re:
Well, it uses a disk check and that launcher thingy, but otherwise nothing destructive like Securom used on TS2 releases (why I don't buy from EA anymore - holding that grudge until they remove it but not holding my breath either).
Sims games sold over 100 million copies with nothing but a disk check prior to Securom. If they pulled a Spore-type DRM on TS3...yeesh, simmer RAEG! Seriously, that is a huge money-flinging fanbase you do not want to piss off.
Re: Re: Re: If....
Luckily, poop is a renewable resource. You just need to do it elsewhere than Utah.
Although it's hardly a scarce resource, so you'd need to copyright your DNA to really have any control.
And lots of swabs.