I’m glad it’s Friday today. It’s supposed to be raining this weekend which puts me into a extra spectacular mood. It will be EVEN better when I have my own house to go home to. Right now we’re beginning the underwriting process (and by we, I mean, the bank). Hopefully everything goes OK and we can get in soon.
Right now I have lots of ideas and nowhere to put them. Now is the time for preparation. Soon enough I suppose…
So last night I was so fed up with Bioschock 2′s DRM that I wrote 2KGames the following ranting email:
Dear 2KGames,
Bioshock 1 is my one of (if not THE) best games I’ve ever played. My wife and I have purchased any Bioschock related swag we can find, and genuinely think it’s an amazing work. So naturally, I preordered Bioshock 2 for my wife and I to play. I ordered it for the PC so we could install it on 2 computers and play at the same time (you know, like how you’ve been able to do it since the beginning of PC gaming). My first issue: Windows live forces you to sign on before you can SAVE YOUR GAME?! Not only that, but it appears as though you MUST be connected to Xbox Live while you’re playing (which means you MUST have an internet connection) and can only sign into an Xbox live profile on one computer at a time (I give that more leeway due to the nature of multiplayer).
Now look, I don’t expect to be able to give the game to all my friends who can install it to give it back and I wouldn’t expect you to be able to play online on multiple computers under one gamertag, I get that. But to force GFWL AND an active internet connection in order to play single player content is absolutely ludicrous.
The game (aside from the install/gameplay bugs that we experienced, and should have been caught before release) seems great so far, and meets all my expectations, however the experience of managing this ridiculous DRM has soured my experience to a point extreme frustration. Anyone involved in writing/designing/programming the Bioshock series I give two thumbs up and a pat on the back, no knock to them. But whoever makes the decisions about DRM just doesn’t get it! When it’s more convenient to pirate your content rather than pay for it, YOU’VE GOT A PROBLEM!
I would gladly cut these artists a check for a job well done and leave Microsoft and the 2K execs out of it. I love Civ, Bioshock, etc but clearly you guys are out of touch. I’ve already purchased Bioshock 2 so there’s not a whole lot I can do about it, however I CAN assure you that I will not purchase another 2KGames title that has such ridiculous DRM.
I will be expecting a meaningful response to this email. I hope this helps your future endeavors, feel free to contact me anytime.
Thank you,
Spenser Coke
Alachia has started a 1 minute video group on Flickr. Fun idea, here’s my first contribution:
I listen to Ralph Bailey (local radio talk show host) every day when I get off work.
I’ve been spending a lot of time in the Capital Wasteland recently. Ends up (as usual) I’m late to the party for Fallout 3 but I’m glad I’ve put some time into it. I see a theme with recent games continuing to come back to the alternate reality/post apocalyptic themes. I site mainly Bioshock and Fallout (although to be fair, Fallout 1 was created like a million years ago). I think Borderlands has that going as well (Don’t know, haven’t played).
Both Bioshock and Fallout are extremely enjoyable and inspiring. Games can really effect you on a deep level much like a great movie or piece of music (I would even argue that they effect you MORE than other forms of entertainment). Both Fallout and Bioshock are on alternate time lines and have a real ‘big picture’ thing going for them which I enjoy. Bioshock, for example, has handed me heavy interest into a period of time (50-60s) that I otherwise would probably care less about. The music, culture, art is all influenced throughout both games, and has given me some insight, which breeds interest.
I think in the end it comes down to us wishing there was something more than the world we’ve been given. These games allow you to emerse yourself in a different world with a fantastic story. The truth is, these are not worlds that would even be desirable in reality (violence, poverty, filth, hardship) but for whatever reason it’s refreshing to experience something so different in a meaningful way (more meaningful than watching a screen for 2 hours or reading a book at least). The strange thing is, I have no complaints about the REAL life I live, so I’m not sure what really grasps me about these other worlds. It must be the sheer fact that it’s different.. I’ll have to think more about it.
ALSO Bioshock 2 is on it’s way! I can’t wait but part of me feels it won’t be able to stand up to the original. We can cross our fingers…