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General discussionWhy is there so much public confusion about DRM-Free?(126 posts)(126 posts)
(126 posts)
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This is my favourite topic
Posted April 25, 2015
So it has come to my attention that outside of GOG (and sometimes even within), there is a lot of confusion about what DRM-free actually means in mainstream gaming circles. I've come across many instances where people had erroneous assumptions about what a DRM-free user license and files actually allow you to do... from some who thought they could just give or trade copies of installers to people legally... to others who thought that if GOG shut down they would no longer be able to access their games (as in, they didn't understand the concept of having a DRM-free installer that they could keep locally/physically as backup).

Is this Valve's victory for brainwashing the masses into not even comprehending what DRM-free means? Or I guess I am more interested in the discussion on what can be done to better educate people on what DRM-free actually is and why they should care. I can sort of understand the younger generations having misconceptions about DRM-free gaming who have maybe only known PC gaming as it exists in the Steam ecosystem... so how do we reach and educate those who are born into the "Steam generation"?
Posted April 25, 2015
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the.kuribo: Is this Valve's victory for brainwashing the masses into not even comprehending what DRM-free means?
No, it's simpler than that. A lot of people are really quite frighteningly stupid.
Posted April 25, 2015
GOG does already have a button on the main page labeled "DRM-Free Content" which describes the benefits of DRM-free games. Maybe they could add a sentence about what "DRM-free" does not include...? But I don't know what the best way would be for them to word that.
Posted April 25, 2015
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the.kuribo: Is this Valve's victory for brainwashing the masses into not even comprehending what DRM-free means?
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Crispy78: No, it's simpler than that. A lot of people are really quite frighteningly stupid.
And loads of frighteningly stupid people happen to be in places of high power. Such as your local parliament/group of baboons.
Posted April 25, 2015
I'd say that part of the problem comes from the fact that the only truly DRM free software packages are open source. Anything you buy, generally involves some sort of DRM.

Also, there are various points in the process of installing and playing the game that the DRM can exist.

There can be DRM on the delivery of the software. This is what GOG does.

There can be DRM on the installation, like CD keys.

There can be DRM at runtime, like Steams CEG.

There can be a combination of DRM. A Steam game that uses CEG has DRM at both delivery and runtime.
Posted April 25, 2015
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the.kuribo: So it has come to my attention that outside of GOG (and sometimes even within), there is a lot of confusion about what DRM-free actually means in mainstream gaming circles. I've come across many instances where people had erroneous assumptions about what a DRM-free user license and files actually allow you to do... from some who thought they could just give or trade copies of installers to people legally... to others who thought that if GOG shut down they would no longer be able to access their games (as in, they didn't understand the concept of having a DRM-free installer that they could keep locally/physically as backup).

Is this Valve's victory for brainwashing the masses into not even comprehending what DRM-free means? Or I guess I am more interested in the discussion on what can be done to better educate people on what DRM-free actually is and why they should care. I can sort of understand the younger generations having misconceptions about DRM-free gaming who have maybe only known PC gaming as it exists in the Steam ecosystem... so how do we reach and educate those who are born into the "Steam generation"?
Or it is as simple as people in general do now what DRM free means and just don't care? When it comes to games and films, it is about entertainment and have enough of this at work. Just want to plug in the latest game, play and enjoy him/her self, and when finished play the next game. And thats all there is to it.

No need for any education, politics etc at all. Just let people carry on as they want with their entertainment.
Posted April 25, 2015
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amok: Or it is as simple as people in general do now what DRM free means and just don't care?
The whole point is that some people don't know what it means and occasionally make claims that show that they don't understand the concept. It would make no sense for someone to grasp what DRM-free means and then say something stupid like that it enables you to trade installers with people legally. Did you actually read the OP?
Posted April 25, 2015
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amok: Or it is as simple as people in general do now what DRM free means and just don't care?
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227: The whole point is that some people don't know what it means and occasionally make claims that show that they don't understand the concept. It would make no sense for someone to grasp what DRM-free means and then say something stupid like that it enables you to trade installers with people legally. Did you actually read the OP?
aye, I did. but I say that the stupid people are a minority. the majority is aware what it means.
Posted April 25, 2015
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227: The whole point is that some people don't know what it means and occasionally make claims that show that they don't understand the concept. It would make no sense for someone to grasp what DRM-free means and then say something stupid like that it enables you to trade installers with people legally. Did you actually read the OP?
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amok: aye, I did. but I say that the stupid people are a minority. the majority is aware what it means.
I'd agree. The majority are aware, and don't care.

Or at least, have some awareness, and don't care enough to be further educated.

You'll see arguments here about the finest minutea of DRM (just try and claim that there are DRM free games on Steam and you'll see what I'm talking about), but the majority don't care enough to get that far.
Posted April 25, 2015
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the.kuribo: Is this Valve's victory for brainwashing the masses into not even comprehending what DRM-free means?
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Crispy78: No, it's simpler than that. A lot of people are really quite frighteningly stupid.
Maybe many people don't get what DRM-free means because they haven't heard the term DRM before.
If GOG's motto were "no copy-protection and no online checks" then we probably wouldn't have any confusion about DRM.
Posted April 25, 2015
I think I know what DRM-free means to quite an extent, and I love it.

But I am a consumer. I don't play a lot, I'm the kind of guy @amok described. Plug in an affordable yet fun game, play the game and enjoy myself.

That doesn't mean I don't care about the gaming ecosystem. I don't like the idea of being restricted. I like freedom, I like choice.

DRM-free games give me that choice, Valve and steamworks doesn't.

So, I'm sure a lot of us know what DRM means. But everyone is lazy to revolt against it because "it just works". Steam works, auto update works, and what not.

What they don't realize is that if the system fails, they'll be screwed completely. So yes, I do believe it's partly because of Valve that people have turned an ignorant eye towards Steams horrendous policies.
Posted April 25, 2015
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acidbased: I think I know what DRM-free means to quite an extent, and I love it.

But I am a consumer. I don't play a lot, I'm the kind of guy @amok described. Plug in an affordable yet fun game, play the game and enjoy myself.

That doesn't mean I don't care about the gaming ecosystem. I don't like the idea of being restricted. I like freedom, I like choice.

DRM-free games give me that choice, Valve and steamworks doesn't.

So, I'm sure a lot of us know what DRM means. But everyone is lazy to revolt against it because "it just works". Steam works, auto update works, and what not.
I am not sure it is lazy, as such, but just not caring enough to care as long as the latest game works fine. A revolution requires that the grass-root care about it enough to want a change.

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acidbased: What they don't realize is that if the system fails, they'll be screwed completely. So yes, I do believe it's partly because of Valve that people have turned an ignorant eye towards Steams horrendous policies.
I think they do realise this, but just thinks - "meh, I would have finished the game by then, and I can always get the next game from somewhere else. There will always be someone selling games."
Posted April 25, 2015
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the.kuribo: Is this Valve's victory for brainwashing the masses into not even comprehending what DRM-free means?
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Crispy78: No, it's simpler than that. A lot of people are really quite frighteningly stupid.
This sadly is quite true and it seems they are breeding like rabbits.
Posted April 25, 2015
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the.kuribo: So it has come to my attention that outside of GOG (and sometimes even within), there is a lot of confusion about what DRM-free actually means in mainstream gaming circles. I've come across many instances where people had erroneous assumptions about what a DRM-free user license and files actually allow you to do... from some who thought they could just give or trade copies of installers to people legally... to others who thought that if GOG shut down they would no longer be able to access their games (as in, they didn't understand the concept of having a DRM-free installer that they could keep locally/physically as backup).

Is this Valve's victory for brainwashing the masses into not even comprehending what DRM-free means? Or I guess I am more interested in the discussion on what can be done to better educate people on what DRM-free actually is and why they should care. I can sort of understand the younger generations having misconceptions about DRM-free gaming who have maybe only known PC gaming as it exists in the Steam ecosystem... so how do we reach and educate those who are born into the "Steam generation"?
Wall of text will not help explaining, so a simple

"DRM free means, after you pay, DRM will never get in the way of your games"
Posted April 25, 2015
Right on spot! But then again, there is a BIGGER problem. Which is, people who Don't want to even LEARN what DRM-FREE (or anything else simply means! Or the neutral approach; the "i don't even care about this sh*t" attitude.

Sad, really. When people don't know their rights and their advantages is one thing, but when they, THEMSELVES, WANT to remain ignorant/blind of them is where REAL STUPIDITY really lies in...
Post edited April 25, 2015 by KiNgBrAdLeY7
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This is my favourite topic
Community
General discussionWhy is there so much public confusion about DRM-Free?(126 posts)(126 posts)
(126 posts)