Maxis Insists Always-On DRM is Worth the Hassle

[News Portal]

Many players were upset to discover that the upcoming SimCity relaunch would require an always-on internet connection. Maxis producer Jason Haber has responded to these concerns, saying that once players see the multiplayer features come June's E3 show, they'll agree that it's "worth having". "From the ground up it's been a multiplayer game," said Haber. "I'm not surprised we're getting some reaction like this (...) People have their conspiracy theories over why we're doing it. But really, it's honest that the dev team feels like it really does add a lot to the game, and it's totally worth doing for that."

Source: Eurogamer

Read full article by GON News

[Wyld]

/me shrugs.

Whilst I love the idea of a true multi-player SimCity, using that as the excuse/reason for always-on DRM is silly. End of the day, if your ISP has a hiccup, your modem dies, you're on a laptop with no near wifi, or heaven forbit you live in a country without a decent internet infrastructure, then you're screwed.

It's a shame.

If there is a single player aspect to a game, then the *need* for a net connection is not there. Aside from DRM, it seems.

edit: I think Minecraft is a good example of a better always-on system. A net connection allows you more, but it's not a *requirement* to play the game you own.

[DoHo_]

End of the day, if your ISP has a hiccup, your modem dies, you're on a laptop with no near wifi, you're screwed.

Well my internet was playing up this morning and it was really annoying, but honestly I imagine most of the people playing SimCity (and any other games) will have internet access. Developers can't assume that every single person might have internet issues - the fact is that we live in an age where access to the internet is pretty easy to have.

And I'd just like to add that playing games on a laptop is just setting yourself up for failure. :p

[exe3]

I personally only want to play singleplayer so I don't see the need for it when I won't be using the features that require this internet connection.

[TheD]

/me shrugs.

Whilst I love the idea of a true multi-player SimCity, using that as the excuse/reason for always-on DRM is silly. End of the day, if your ISP has a hiccup, your modem dies, you're on a laptop with no near wifi, or heaven forbit you live in a country without a decent internet infrastructure, then you're screwed.

It's a shame.

If there is a single player aspect to a game, then the *need* for a net connection is not there. Aside from DRM, it seems.

edit: I think Minecraft is a good example of a better always-on system. A net connection allows you more, but it's not a *requirement* to play the game you own.

Yes, it become even more clear that this is just stupid DRM and not something needed for gameplay when you take into account that they have said that it only needs you to be online each time you start the game and not all the time the game is running.

[PalZer0]

Nothing - I repeat, NOTHING - is worth having to always be online to play a single player game.

Imagine if Assassin's Creed 2 did this?

Oh wait. It did. And look how well that turned out for Ubisoft.

[Vencha88]

For all the anti drm **** thats always around the only DRM i ever deal with is Steam and Cd-keys and they're both fine with me .

[PalZer0]

For all the anti drm **** thats always around the only DRM i ever deal with is Steam and Cd-keys and they're both fine with me .

A lot of people will agree with you regarding Steam. They'll agree with CD keys too provided they're not used with an activation limit.

[Bluefire]

Always on DRM for no reason in a singleplayer game... well ok ..
GCW
Problem solved.
Always on spyware in a multiplayer game is another issue entirely.

[revengous]

if your ISP has a hiccup

shouldnt we hate the isp/country then instead of hating the game?

its like blaming a car for a poor turning circle when you crash on a sharp turn, you should blame the road not the car.

[Bluefire]

Wouldnt you blame the driver for going to fast ?

[revengous]

Wouldnt you blame the driver for going to fast ?

that would be you, so I guess you could blame yourself...for living in a bad country with a bad isp?

[yeapal]

But really, it's honest that the dev team feels like it really does add a lot to the game, and it's totally worth doing for that.

Well if the dev team says so then who am I to argue.

[Disco LT]

The irony is that within a few hours or days of release, people will have access to DRM free versions of the game from alternate sources. It's thoroughly pointless.

[Tas]

Funny thing is, the idiots are forcing piracy, because I dont know a single person will tolerate that DRM rubbish, so they torrent the game because the DRM is removed. Funny how the pirates remove all the bad from an otherwise good game.
I know for me that idiotic always on means I wont buy the game.