Help me create the perfect DRM

[Mr. Gency]

I came up with an idea for a DRM. It has problems and I want you all to perfect it. Also, I'm not looking for some hypothetical DRM. I want to show Ubisoft (and ofter publishers) this and see if they will replace their current DRM with it.

Spoiler: The original idea

What if every game had a unique code and you have to make some kind of account to download the rest of the game. So every pirated copy has the same code, as a result every one of those copies are treated as the same game. That means everyone shares the same saves (which in some cases is game breaking). Also if more than a certain number of copies (lets go with four) are played at the same time, everyone is locked out of the game for ten minutes (I'm pretty sure that'll cause a lot of inconvenience by the time the pirated copy gets downloaded around fifteen times (and I'm confident that piracy wouldn't be a problem if only fifteen people downloaded it).

Spoiler: An idea so crazy it just might work (screw the other two spoiler tag, read this one)

Make a god awful DRM then have someone "pirate" it but it would require a legit copy of the game for the "crack" to work. If the DRM is "broken" on day one the real pirates will also try to crack it but now the developers are free to make the DRM as restrictive and complicated as they want.

So gamers get a DRM free experience while pirates are distracted breaking the scapegoat of a DRM.

Spoiler: (2 updates) The current idea

(2 updates)

What if every game had a unique code and you have to make some kind of account to download the rest of the game. You must go to your e-mail and sign in before you can download, and you must be signed in to the same e-mail every time afterwords (you can change which e-mail is need, though).

Once registered, the game it self get's something added to the game's code to show that it has been registered, the same thing happens on the servers so if an unregistered version of the same code is found again, we call the cops or something. So if a pirated copy has the registered version of the code, nothing happens as long as only a certain number of copies are used at a time. This is so players can play from multiple computers and let friends borrow it.

If more than a certain number of copies (lets go with four) are played at the same time, everyone is locked out of the game for ten minutes (I'm pretty sure that'll cause a lot of inconvenience by the time the pirated copy gets downloaded around fifteen times (and I'm confident that piracy wouldn't be a problem if only fifteen people downloaded it).

I want this to be temporary. Like with Alpha Protocol.

[HEADING=1]Instead of gunning down my idea, justify my reason for making this thread by telling me how to improve it.[/HEADING]It sadden me that I must highlight the above statement.

I want to get rid of DRMs as much as the rest of you. But a DRM is like a wound, it can't just disappear, it needs time to heal. I'm just trying to apply disinfectant.

To anyone who says "The only good DRM is no DRM" is MISSING THE POINT.

 

[llafnwod]

Doesn't work. As long as the game data is stored offline, DRM can be broken. If it's not, people get extremely and understandably pissed.

 

[jasoncyrus]

Well adobe photoshop has that and....their keygens get around even the code>phone>code system so....broken already

the best drm form is the one arkum asylum had. Gimped game features.

 

[Blue Musician]

DRM will never be a good protection service. Simple as that. Your idea, while somewhat creative, would require a constant internet connection, and we know what happened with AC2 for that idea. Also, if the legit owner could get blocked simply because a confusion in the servers or simply because he bough a used game that was pirated.

 

[llafnwod]

the best drm form is the one arkum asylum had. Gimped game features.

This is exactly right. The best DRM is one which can delay piracy for a long time (thus getting sales from those who are willing to buy the game if they can't get it for free) without punishing paying customers. Covertly sabotaging the game in case of verification failure is the best way to achieve this.

 

[Billion Backs]

Best DRM is no DRM.

Of course, if your objective involves pissing off the paying customers and having pirates everywhere laugh at it, a super hardcore DRM is great!

 

[Mr. Gency]

DRM will never be a good protection service. Simple as that. Your idea, while somewhat creative, would require a constant internet connection, and we know what happened with AC2 for that idea. Also, if the legit owner could get blocked simply because a confusion in the servers or simply because he bough a used game that was pirated.

What if the game had online multiplayer. That would mean pirates only get single player (if any).

 

[Worgen]

for that to work it would have to be connected online all the time, as it stands in your post its ubisofts drm scheme

 

[Irridium]

No DRM will ever be perfect. Every DRM will be cracked.

That being said, battling pirates is more of a social battle than a technological one.

If developers were more at the forefront of games than publishers, people would see themselves taking from people just like them. People with family to feed, people who need this money to live. Since Publishers are at the forefront, all people see themselves taking from are insanely rich CEO's of giant companies.

Take a guess at which most people would steal from.

 

[dududf]

DRM will never be a good protection service. Simple as that. Your idea, while somewhat creative, would require a constant internet connection, and we know what happened with AC2 for that idea. Also, if the legit owner could get blocked simply because a confusion in the servers or simply because he bough a used game that was pirated.

What if the game had online multiplayer. That would mean pirates only get single player (if any).

Pirated MW2 on PC has superior multiplayer. It has servers and mods and lean.

So Yeah.

 

[Mr. Gency]

Best DRM is no DRM.

Of course, if your objective involves pissing off the paying customers and having pirates everywhere laugh at it, a super hardcore DRM is great!

I was trying to think of a DRM that work in the background. I know it's current state sucks. That's why I'm asking for help.

 

[Blue Musician]

DRM will never be a good protection service. Simple as that. Your idea, while somewhat creative, would require a constant internet connection, and we know what happened with AC2 for that idea. Also, if the legit owner could get blocked simply because a confusion in the servers or simply because he bough a used game that was pirated.

What if the game had online multiplayer. That would mean pirates only get single player (if any).

Pirates already have that In mind. Actually the games now they cannot play online, most of the games they only play singleplayer.

 

[Mr. Gency]

DRM will never be a good protection service. Simple as that. Your idea, while somewhat creative, would require a constant internet connection, and we know what happened with AC2 for that idea. Also, if the legit owner could get blocked simply because a confusion in the servers or simply because he bough a used game that was pirated.

What if the game had online multiplayer. That would mean pirates only get single player (if any).

Pirates already have that In mind. Actually the games now they cannot play online, most of the games they only play singleplayer.

Well then, how would you improve on my idea?

 

[Mr. Gency]

The perfect DRM is the one that realizes that it doesn't have a place in gaming/digital media and reacts by deleting itself from the users machine.

/thread.

I hope you know that the responses on this thread so far have eliminated my patience for this kind of bullshit!

People, please read the rest of the OP (as no one seams to get I made the thread in the first place) before you post.

 

[Blue Musician]

DRM will never be a good protection service. Simple as that. Your idea, while somewhat creative, would require a constant internet connection, and we know what happened with AC2 for that idea. Also, if the legit owner could get blocked simply because a confusion in the servers or simply because he bough a used game that was pirated.

What if the game had online multiplayer. That would mean pirates only get single player (if any).

Pirates already have that In mind. Actually the games now they cannot play online, most of the games they only play singleplayer.

Well then, how would you improve on my idea?

Well, that's the problem. I cannot really be solved. Sooner or later pirated can crack any DRM and basically every copy protection.

There is one example though of copy protection that could be used, but unfortunately it also has to be online and it has only gone well with one game:

Guild Wars.

 

[Mr. Gency]

Well, that's the problem. I cannot really be solved. Sooner or later pirated can crack any DRM and basically every copy protection.

There is one example though of copy protection that could be used, but unfortunately it also has to be online and it has only gone well with one game:

Guild Wars.

Well in that case this could be temporary. Man, now I need to find a way to convince Ubisoft to make it temporary. Like Alpha Prototypical.

 

[Billion Backs]

Best DRM is no DRM.

Of course, if your objective involves pissing off the paying customers and having pirates everywhere laugh at it, a super hardcore DRM is great!

I was trying to think of a DRM that work in the background. I know it's current state sucks. That's why I'm asking for help.

Then it's basically Steam. Has it's drawbacks, but people love it for all the content it allows with somewhat minimal drawbacks.

 

[Mr. Gency]

Best DRM is no DRM.

Of course, if your objective involves pissing off the paying customers and having pirates everywhere laugh at it, a super hardcore DRM is great!

I was trying to think of a DRM that work in the background. I know it's current state sucks. That's why I'm asking for help.

Then it's basically Steam. Has it's drawbacks, but people love it for all the content it allows with somewhat minimal drawbacks.

So now I'm trying to get other publishers to go with Steam (or make something similar) I'm okay with that (don't know if it'll end well, though).

 

[Mr. Gency]

include pictures of naked women and i am sure it will sell. and we won't even need drm then. i assure u it will sell. it's the fact of life sex sells

Please take this tread seriously.

But in case you are serious

Spoiler