XBox One, PS4, DRM, and You

[Mianca]

No they can implement DRM that requires that you authenticate with their servers before they let you start the game.

Okay ... but if publishers decide to do THAT (and Sony really lets them do it), it's basically the same situation that we see for some PC games today: Publishers at least can't take it for GRANTED that people buying their games have regular internet connection (which they could for XBOX One games) - and would have to put a disclaimer on the box.

Eventually, on the basis of what has been officially stated so far, what all that boils down to seems to be this (and I beg anyone to correct me if I misunderstood some of the communications): At which point of time (and at what kind of scope) are you required to "accept" the DRM policy?

• In the case of XBOX One, you basically need to accept the DRM policy on a global level, in the moment you buy the console (as the console is designed to go online and verify every 24 hours). Publishers can make full use of the DRM potential without further notice - as the global DRM cornerstones are set by Microsoft (see their corresponding press release). It's an opt-out system: Publishers can allow you to re-sell their games (but they don't have to).
• In the case of PS4, the DRM policy isn't inherently glued to the system. So it's up to you to decide if you accept a specific publisher's specific conditions on a case-by-case level, in the moment you buy a game (just like on PC). It's an opt-in system: Publishers can decide to prevent you from re-selling their games (but they have to explicitly state so if they do it).

Little difference in practice, huge difference in principle.




Edit: Just saw dumbo11 made exactly my point a little earlier - just a lot more concise

 

[wco81]

What happens if you're Xbone isn't online for more than 24 hours? Like you keep it off because you're not using the TV features and you see no point in having a device on when you're watching your DVR (and you don't want to run an IR blaster, just so you can use Kinect to change channels)?

Does that mean the games you paid for are blocked from being playable again?

Or will it reauthenticate as soon as you go back online?

 

[-tkf-]

I understand some people want to have their machine offline to play sometimes like if internet goes out or if they travel and the kids need a diversion... but there are couple things to keep in mind...

WRT Xbox and the 24 hr check..

How many people do not have internet access that will buy these machines and games, how often does that happen for more than 24 hours? really?

you can play the Xbox for a day offline, put the disc in and play with no network connected (the games that are not online)

24 hours later, if you still do not have internet access, if you have a smartphone and data access you can most likely wifi to your phone and smartglass a drm check for one minute and then disconnect and play for another 24 hours.


The only reason you would not be able to play offline is if you did not properly pay for the game yourself and do not own the license

so again we are back to this whole issue being about playing games that we did not actually purchase.

You are talking about the Xbox One here, because there is plenty of reasons why people should give the middle finger to 24 hours check. If you want to buy a XBOX One you know this and don't care.

 

[Scott_Arm]

I'm sure everybody there was well informed enough to know that third parties have been implementing any DRM scheme they wanted and will continue to do so at their own risk.

Uplay anyone?

You've got to be fucking kidding. Those guys were cheering and chanting for 3rd party DRM? That's just about the weirdest thing I've ever heard someone get excited about.

 

[Laa-Yosh]

It's basically the answer that MS should have given EA/Activision.

Or maybe MS knew that the convenience features they can implement will outweigh any issues about the DRM in the long run.

 

[Laa-Yosh]

Anyone posting on the internet about the 24 hour check is funny IMHO.

 

[Jwm]

The funny thing here is that MS listened to our desire to not need a disc in the tray, their system revolves around that.

 

[MfA]

so again we are back to this whole issue being about playing games that we did not actually purchase.

I refuse to buy online DRM single player games ... and I don't refuse because I want to pirate them.

Even if I jump hoops and tether my PC (against the ToS of my phone, not that I really care much) at some point the DRM servers will go down, or there will be some routing SNAFU, or whatever ... I don't want to deal with that shit.

If online DRM becomes the only game in town, well I guess I will have a lot more free time for other stuff ... it's as simple as that.

 

[Strange]

I haven't forgot anything. But can you sell your Sony DD? You are simply trading in one set of conveniences for another set of conveniences and thats true on both consoles.

And we as consumers get to choose. We don't for one platform.

Furthermore, the 24 hour authentication is more of a hacking check than a DRM on the games themselves. Its authenicating the hardware not the software. Software authenication is done on the console itself, if not, you can easily run pirated titles until an authenication is required.

I'm pretty sure the goal is to block used games.
If your console gets hacked there's no stopping them from bypassing authentication, and their security department surely knows that.

 

[Strange]

You've got to be fucking kidding. Those guys were cheering and chanting for 3rd party DRM? That's just about the weirdest thing I've ever heard someone get excited about.

Read the context. I didn't say they're cheering for 3rd party DRM, nor did I imply anything like that.
I did say, however, that 3rd party will have to do it at their own risk, just like how they've been doing for stuff like Assassin's creed multiplayer.

 

[Scott_Arm]

Read the context. I didn't say they're cheering for 3rd party DRM, nor did I imply anything like that.
I did say, however, that 3rd party will have to do it at their own risk.

Ok, so why were they chanting, "Sony! Sony! Sony!" when they said games could be sold, traded or shared? Explain it to me. Do you think it's because they thought that would be true for all games? That part of the conference was incredibly misleading and dishonest. It's plain as day.

 

[Gubbi]

Anyone posting on the internet about the 24 hour check is funny IMHO.

I agree, anybody who is a Live Gold subscriber couldn't care less, the new scheme is going to be more convenient.

I didn't realise till last week I never transferred my XBox machine license from my old (dead) Elite to my 250GB edition 360. That's the first time in over two years I've been without internet and couldn't play my Live Arcade games because the machine license wasn't transferred.

It's only an issue for forum warriors.

Cheers

 

[function]

Anyone posting on the internet about the 24 hour check is funny IMHO.

What about people posting from a uni computer room, or at a friend's house, or from work, or on a phone?

I have lots of working consoles, some dating back to the mid 80's. A 24 hour check isn't so funny if the authentication servers have been down for 100,000 hours and won't be back up again, ever.

The funny thing here is that MS listened to our desire to not need a disc in the tray, their system revolves around that.

The block on lending games has absolutely nothing to do with the technology and checks required for diskless play. Neither does the ban on private sales.

 

[-tkf-]

The funny thing here is that MS listened to our desire to not need a disc in the tray, their system revolves around that.

It's a bad excuse when they could have build a nice system without any need for 24 hour check or activation servers.. it's brand new.. it's called disc check.

 

[-tkf-]

Ok, so why were they chanting, "Sony! Sony! Sony!" when they said games could be sold, traded or shared? Explain it to me. Do you think it's because they thought that would be true for all games? That part of the conference was incredibly misleading and dishonest. It's plain as day.

I expected it to be true for all games (except online only games), now it's only true for the games i will buy. But i expect it to be true for very few disc based games that isn't online only.

 

[scooby_dooby]

24 hours later, if you still do not have internet access, if you have a smartphone and data access you can most likely wifi to your phone and smartglass a drm check for one minute and then disconnect and play for another 24 hours.

No.

Locking my out of my own content is inexcusable. It only needs to happen once to become a problem. I can't believe anyone would really defend this. It's purely anti-consumer, does nothing but reduce your rights as a consumer and the value of the objects you're purchasing.

Indefensible.

 

[MfA]

It's only an issue for forum warriors.

Eh, I'll repeat my appeal to authority ... Tycho disagrees.

 

[function]

I agree, anybody who is a Live Gold subscriber couldn't care less, the new scheme is going to be more convenient.

I didn't realise till last week I never transferred my XBox machine license from my old (dead) Elite to my 250GB edition 360. That's the first time in over two years I've been without internet and couldn't play my Live Arcade games because the machine license wasn't transferred.

It's only an issue for forum warriors.

Now this is just getting stupid. Try and think outside of your own comfortable existence.

I work with people who have kids that play video games, but who can't afford the internet. These might not be high spending customers that MS care about, and they might not be people you care about either, but to pretend they don't exist and that it's "only an issue for forum warriors" is wilful ignorance.

lol them eat cake etc

 

[Laa-Yosh]

Realistically speaking, if you have a place with a TV and a console, you'll have some sort of internet access; if nothing else you can create a wifi hotspot on your phone.

But we both know that you're just nitpicking... Diablo 3 has to be always online and it didn't stop millions of people from playing with it. Even with all the server side issues. Xbox won't have any realistic problems about the 24 hour check either.

 

[Gubbi]

It's a bad excuse when they could have build a nice system without any need for 24 hour check or activation servers.. it's brand new.. it's called disc check.

And that really worked like a charm

Cheers