Gabe Newell: “Most DRM Strategies Are Just Dumb”
By Jonathan on Tuesday, December 2nd, 2008 at 3:25 PM PST In Game Companies, Games Industry, Valve
Most video game fans have not been happy with the recent DRM suddenly seeping its way into some of their favorite games (at least, if the outcry against games like Spore and Mass Effect are any indication). Since game developers tend to be fans as well, it’s not surprise really that even those in the industry are not pleased with the current direction that copyright protection is taking. Now Gabe Newell of Valve has expressed his disapproval with DRM in the form of an e-mail to gamer, Paul Reisinger. In the e-mail, Newell stated:
As far as DRM goes, most DRM strategies are just dumb. The goal should be to create greater value for customers through service value (make it easy for me to play my games whenever and wherever I want to), not by decreasing the value of a product (maybe I’ll be able to play my game and maybe I won’t).
We really really discourage other developers and publishes from using the broken DRM offerings, and in general there is a groundswell to abandon those approaches.
Maybe not the most eloquent argument ever, but he still gets his point across. Mostly though, it’s just nice to hear that some of the most respected names in gaming also think some of these DRM restrictions are just plain nuts.
hes got a point! Im glad he’s standing up to that saying DRM and securom strategies are freaking dumb! good point gabe!
Now to mention most gamers pirate games that have DRM or Securom. Spore was cracked and the game was uploaded before it even released. I can’t even count how many games have had their DRM or Securom stripped immediately before or immediately after release because of this realization.
Most DRM is stupid because it actually decreases the amount of people that buy your game to play it while making you pay more for putting it in. It’s hilarious – they pay more money to put something in a game that makes it harder for legitimate customers to play it. Thus, those customers steal it, costing the company even more money. I’m not sure why this still happens.
That nerdy geeky picture is too funny
yeah
He’s condemning Securom, yet allowing GTA IV to come with it on Steam.
You’re a hypocrite Gabe.