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