For every person who avoids purchasing a game with DRM, 10 more will buy the game because they are not aware of the DRM, do not consider the DRM to be significant enough to warrant avoiding the same, or simply don't give a shit anyway. Hence, a minority boycott does absolutely fuck-all to convince game publishers to change the status quo of crappy DRM strategies. It is the wider community's indifference which is giving publishers free reign to do what they like and continue it.
What you CAN do is stick to your principals. If you don't like the DRM, don't buy the game. Don't even pirate it. Stick to your principals if only so you can say you did so. It may not matter in the long run but at least your mind can be at rest that you aren't part of the problem.
I know the reason why pirates don't understand the analogy/comparison - if you pirate a game, you've only made a copy; you haven't deprived the owner of the original. You steal that Whopper, you're taking a physical object that doesn't have an identical copy made for free.
The ability to duplicate content for free is the reason why pirates don't consider their actions to be equivalent to other examples.
Going from English to Chinese to English is like taking an English interpretation of what the Chinese are trying to interpret from what someone was saying authentically in English instead of just interpreting into English what someone was authentically saying in Chinese.
Perhaps I'm just a little fatigued but I could have sworn that said "Hitler Flying Platform" when I first read it. Made me think of this this all of a sudden (yes I know it doesn't fly but it's cool nonetheless.)
No, but they can *wink*wink* *nudge*nudge* take an executive on a nice golf vacation if the organization does not use anything else.
Very much off-topic, but why is it that the most common (at least stereotypically) bribe to get corporate executives to do what you want is... golfing?!?
That's a fucking HORRIBLE sport man! Why not offer hookers and coke? That would at least be more realistic and palatable.
Yeah it's kinda of an extrapolation, but in MY experience (and this is a general rule, not a statement of fact), most obsessed Linux lovers/MS haters are a bit quirky. I have yet to meet any "normal" Linux users who don't have a grudge against Microsoft, and/or are naturally stable people who can talk to non-geeks with any level of charisma. The normal Linux users exist I'm sure, but they're in the minority. You are probably one of them.:)
Put it this way - I simply cannot associate with the general Linux community anymore. They're so full of MS hatred and blind to the flaws of their operating system that I'd much rather stay away from them. And since Linux is a community-based operating system, staying away from the community is counter-productive if you want to use the OS to its fullest, but since I think the community is full of kids who don't understand how the world works, I've given up trying to bother.
For me, a Slashdotter is someone who follows the Slashdot-ethos (i.e. bashes Microsoft and loves Linux). Such people are often very geeky/nerdy to the point of not understand basic human truths, such as image being important.
I wouldn't consider post count a metric for defining a Slashdotter, but rather their behavior and opinions. For example, I am not a Slashdotter because try as I might I simply cannot hate Windows. I hate Linux far more for disappointing me time and time again with its offer of so much and the actual result of so little. Plus, I've learnt enough social skills to be happy with the fact I won't fall for the mistakes a lot of uber-geeks do, such as thinking their technical skills are more important than their social skills.
If you're marked flamebait, it's because Slashdotters do not understand the concept of a "good first impression".
Image is everything these days, and it's human nature so people need to understand that if they wonder why Ubuntu is continually criticized so much for its default theme. Doesn't matter that it can be changed; default matter. The default theme becomes an iconic part of the OS (whenever people think XP they always think of the blue Luna theme for example). Having said that, we might find the blue Luna theme ugly but evidently most people didn't mind the default, so Microsoft didn't do that badly in the theme stakes.
You might have heard nothing but complaints about the color scheme because the theme is UNPOPULAR.
Sometimes it's just that simple - the majority of people find the shit-stained brownness of Ubuntu uninviting. So Canonical are trying something different, for better or worse.
This is really a moral issue. Anyone with decent principles wouldn't want to reward a company with such questionable business practices, not even if they made the finest software available. I'm sure the rest of you who don't have such principles will have a million excuses for why you continue to support Microsoft with your wallets, and that's fine. Every dishonest organization has its useful idiots without which it could not continue existing.
Oh fuck off will you. You've basically said that ~90% of the world's computer users lack "decent principals" simply because they use Windows.
Listen to yourself, please, before you lose your sense of reality completely and no-one can associate with you anymore...
So then just don't use Steam. There's a difference between being tracked involuntarily a la Google Analytics and tracking your game stats and achievements on a gaming platform that contains such community features, which you signed up for.
Unfortunately there are a growing number of games that now REQUIRE Steam, despite being available as a retail purchase. Given the size of Steam and the attraction PC gamers and developers have to it, it wouldn't surprise me if 90%+ of all major titles require mandatory Steam installation and registration in the future.
So sure, he can avoid using Steam. He'll just be left with a dwindling supply of non-Steam games, at least on the PC. It shouldn't have to be that way.
"First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win."
A very romantic notion sure, but although it worked for Gandhi, 99 times out of 100 you will NOT win. It's not a rule that works in general, and it's extremely dangerous to become cocky that things will work out for you in the end.
From everything I read on Slashdot, Ubuntu IS the windows 7 upgrade.
From everything I read on Slashdot, I've concluded the people here are so far detached from reality that they have no idea just how bad Ubuntu is compared to Windows 7. Really.
I work in state government and what bugs me is we don't put at least say Open Office on every single machine. It literally costs nothing to do and could at least begin the transition to open source solutions.
I do IT support for several schools. I recently built a new image (Windows 7 rollout), and was thinking of throwing OpenOffice along with Office 2007. In the end however, I didn't bother, because I knew no-one would use it. I suspect the same reasoning would apply to your case.
Well, YOU might use it, but since the vast majority of people know and like Office, there's absolutely no incentive to use OO especially when Office 2007 is available on the same machine. There's nothing sad about it anyway, OO is pretty shit compared to Office 2007 IMHO. Microsoft do write quality software these days, even if Slashdotters can't see it.
You have a point. BUT... the guy didn't just trip over and somehow end up leaking the game by accident. He made a conscious decision to do what he did, knowing full well it could land him in hot water. It was an easily avoidable situation which he chose to place himself into, and paid the price. A very high price, and probably an immoral price, but he made his choice.
Literally NO ONE that I know uses Internet Explorer.
I do a lot of IT support for school. EVERYONE uses Internet Explorer. Students don't know any better, teachers don't know any better, admin don't know any better. I don't know if it's mandated as such, but it's what people go for straight away when they need to use the Internet. Doesn't matter that I put a Mozilla Firefox icon on the desktop of all machines either (which is nice for me and anyone else who knows what it is).
Having said that, pulling down updates via WSUS for IE makes it a lot easier to update than static versions of Firefox which are fixed until the next build of the system image. I know there's a 3rd-party created MSI for Firefox, but they're no-where near as automatic as what Microsoft punches out. Maybe if the school was running Linux I'd employ repositories to fix that (like that's ever gonna happen with the inertia Windows has).
They probably thought "Hey, why don't we just cobble together a small web presence in case anyone wants to donate any money or otherwise contribute to our project. Let's not spend much time on it though as our aim is space travel, not web development.
The following I learnt the harsh way:
Image sells.
Present a nice image for your company, people will think better of you than a company which just slaps some crap together. Doesn't matter if the company with a crap website produces better product, image is important in getting the attention necessary for whatever goals you seek. It's the same reason why the geeks who get all the success are the ones who have learnt that social skills are more important than technical know-how.
Read the posters website (homepage link). He's trying to advocate Free Software and build awareness of it. Sure it's not as financially significant as the donation, but at least he's not sitting on his ass. He's trying to change the world for the better in his own way, and I say good for him. Better than some MS bashers who bash but don't do anything else.
Another thing to worry about is that in 10+ years we will have a whole generation of games (not just MMOs) that will no longer be able to be played on emulators, etc. because the networks they connect with will be gone.
Your concern is something that a lot of gamers have yet to appreciate the ramifications of. Sure, the logic of not being able to play games in the future due to the activation server being down is sound, but damnit, it's Bioshock 2! BIOSHOCK 2!!! I simply cannot pass up playing ! Or put another way, logic is defeated when emotion gets in the way.
Having said that, this is where cracks will prove very useful. They'll be our savor for when the authentication servers are finally disconnected, and you can always rely on cracks being available due to the desire for breaking the uncrackable.
I'm uploading the IE6 No More code to my website now. There's a point where users of outdated software need to be told there's four major cost-free options, including a much updated version of IE if they want to stick with IE. I'm almost thinking we should move from a warning to a service-denying error if this goes much further.
I'm sure corporate users who have IE6 forced upon them will appreciate it if they try to view your site.
I'm sure your response would be "well they can bring it up with their IT department and use it as a way to persuade the upgrade". Doesn't work like that in the real world, particularly if old IE6-only compatible web apps are still in use.
He didn't specify Windows XP, he just said Windows, implying no versions of Windows could understand the format. The other poster simply wanted to correct his ignorance.
Slashdot Mirror
For every person who avoids purchasing a game with DRM, 10 more will buy the game because they are not aware of the DRM, do not consider the DRM to be significant enough to warrant avoiding the same, or simply don't give a shit anyway. Hence, a minority boycott does absolutely fuck-all to convince game publishers to change the status quo of crappy DRM strategies. It is the wider community's indifference which is giving publishers free reign to do what they like and continue it.
What you CAN do is stick to your principals. If you don't like the DRM, don't buy the game. Don't even pirate it. Stick to your principals if only so you can say you did so. It may not matter in the long run but at least your mind can be at rest that you aren't part of the problem.
I know the reason why pirates don't understand the analogy/comparison - if you pirate a game, you've only made a copy; you haven't deprived the owner of the original. You steal that Whopper, you're taking a physical object that doesn't have an identical copy made for free.
The ability to duplicate content for free is the reason why pirates don't consider their actions to be equivalent to other examples.
Exhibit A: http://winterson.com/2005/06/episode-iii-backstroke-of-west.html
Perhaps I'm just a little fatigued but I could have sworn that said "Hitler Flying Platform" when I first read it. Made me think of this this all of a sudden (yes I know it doesn't fly but it's cool nonetheless.)
Funny, I've heard the same statement from Linux/Ubuntu users as well. :)
Very much off-topic, but why is it that the most common (at least stereotypically) bribe to get corporate executives to do what you want is... golfing?!?
That's a fucking HORRIBLE sport man! Why not offer hookers and coke? That would at least be more realistic and palatable.
Yeah it's kinda of an extrapolation, but in MY experience (and this is a general rule, not a statement of fact), most obsessed Linux lovers/MS haters are a bit quirky. I have yet to meet any "normal" Linux users who don't have a grudge against Microsoft, and/or are naturally stable people who can talk to non-geeks with any level of charisma. The normal Linux users exist I'm sure, but they're in the minority. You are probably one of them. :)
Put it this way - I simply cannot associate with the general Linux community anymore. They're so full of MS hatred and blind to the flaws of their operating system that I'd much rather stay away from them. And since Linux is a community-based operating system, staying away from the community is counter-productive if you want to use the OS to its fullest, but since I think the community is full of kids who don't understand how the world works, I've given up trying to bother.
For me, a Slashdotter is someone who follows the Slashdot-ethos (i.e. bashes Microsoft and loves Linux). Such people are often very geeky/nerdy to the point of not understand basic human truths, such as image being important.
I wouldn't consider post count a metric for defining a Slashdotter, but rather their behavior and opinions. For example, I am not a Slashdotter because try as I might I simply cannot hate Windows. I hate Linux far more for disappointing me time and time again with its offer of so much and the actual result of so little. Plus, I've learnt enough social skills to be happy with the fact I won't fall for the mistakes a lot of uber-geeks do, such as thinking their technical skills are more important than their social skills.
Plus, I have a girlfriend. :)
If you're marked flamebait, it's because Slashdotters do not understand the concept of a "good first impression".
Image is everything these days, and it's human nature so people need to understand that if they wonder why Ubuntu is continually criticized so much for its default theme. Doesn't matter that it can be changed; default matter. The default theme becomes an iconic part of the OS (whenever people think XP they always think of the blue Luna theme for example). Having said that, we might find the blue Luna theme ugly but evidently most people didn't mind the default, so Microsoft didn't do that badly in the theme stakes.
You might have heard nothing but complaints about the color scheme because the theme is UNPOPULAR.
Sometimes it's just that simple - the majority of people find the shit-stained brownness of Ubuntu uninviting. So Canonical are trying something different, for better or worse.
Unfortunately there are a growing number of games that now REQUIRE Steam, despite being available as a retail purchase. Given the size of Steam and the attraction PC gamers and developers have to it, it wouldn't surprise me if 90%+ of all major titles require mandatory Steam installation and registration in the future.
So sure, he can avoid using Steam. He'll just be left with a dwindling supply of non-Steam games, at least on the PC. It shouldn't have to be that way.
A very romantic notion sure, but although it worked for Gandhi, 99 times out of 100 you will NOT win. It's not a rule that works in general, and it's extremely dangerous to become cocky that things will work out for you in the end.
Slashdot folks are up in arms about this.
Neowin folks have no problem with MS dealing with pirates.
ArsTechnica folks are mixed.
---
I think this is why I hate almost every tech site but Ars. Very few people can have a balanced opinion.
From everything I read on Slashdot, I've concluded the people here are so far detached from reality that they have no idea just how bad Ubuntu is compared to Windows 7. Really.
I do IT support for several schools. I recently built a new image (Windows 7 rollout), and was thinking of throwing OpenOffice along with Office 2007. In the end however, I didn't bother, because I knew no-one would use it. I suspect the same reasoning would apply to your case.
Well, YOU might use it, but since the vast majority of people know and like Office, there's absolutely no incentive to use OO especially when Office 2007 is available on the same machine. There's nothing sad about it anyway, OO is pretty shit compared to Office 2007 IMHO. Microsoft do write quality software these days, even if Slashdotters can't see it.
You have a point. BUT... the guy didn't just trip over and somehow end up leaking the game by accident. He made a conscious decision to do what he did, knowing full well it could land him in hot water. It was an easily avoidable situation which he chose to place himself into, and paid the price. A very high price, and probably an immoral price, but he made his choice.
OK, correction then:
Admins KNOW better, but politics prevents them from DOING better. :)
I do a lot of IT support for school. EVERYONE uses Internet Explorer. Students don't know any better, teachers don't know any better, admin don't know any better. I don't know if it's mandated as such, but it's what people go for straight away when they need to use the Internet. Doesn't matter that I put a Mozilla Firefox icon on the desktop of all machines either (which is nice for me and anyone else who knows what it is).
Having said that, pulling down updates via WSUS for IE makes it a lot easier to update than static versions of Firefox which are fixed until the next build of the system image. I know there's a 3rd-party created MSI for Firefox, but they're no-where near as automatic as what Microsoft punches out. Maybe if the school was running Linux I'd employ repositories to fix that (like that's ever gonna happen with the inertia Windows has).
Are you sure about that?
The following I learnt the harsh way:
Image sells.
Present a nice image for your company, people will think better of you than a company which just slaps some crap together. Doesn't matter if the company with a crap website produces better product, image is important in getting the attention necessary for whatever goals you seek. It's the same reason why the geeks who get all the success are the ones who have learnt that social skills are more important than technical know-how.
Read the posters website (homepage link). He's trying to advocate Free Software and build awareness of it. Sure it's not as financially significant as the donation, but at least he's not sitting on his ass. He's trying to change the world for the better in his own way, and I say good for him. Better than some MS bashers who bash but don't do anything else.
Your concern is something that a lot of gamers have yet to appreciate the ramifications of. Sure, the logic of not being able to play games in the future due to the activation server being down is sound, but damnit, it's Bioshock 2! BIOSHOCK 2!!! I simply cannot pass up playing ! Or put another way, logic is defeated when emotion gets in the way.
Having said that, this is where cracks will prove very useful. They'll be our savor for when the authentication servers are finally disconnected, and you can always rely on cracks being available due to the desire for breaking the uncrackable.
I'm sure corporate users who have IE6 forced upon them will appreciate it if they try to view your site.
I'm sure your response would be "well they can bring it up with their IT department and use it as a way to persuade the upgrade". Doesn't work like that in the real world, particularly if old IE6-only compatible web apps are still in use.
He didn't specify Windows XP, he just said Windows, implying no versions of Windows could understand the format. The other poster simply wanted to correct his ignorance.