LGP Introduces Linux Game Copy Protection

[phoronix]

Phoronix: LGP Introduces Linux Game Copy Protection

For seven years Linux Game Publishing has been selling their Linux-ported games with no form of copy protection on their CD/DVDs, but beginning with their forthcoming port of Sacred: Gold that will be changed. Linux Game Publishing has developed their own Internet-based game copy protection system for Linux, and in this article we have more details on this scheme as well as their motives behind this work.

http://www.phoronix.com/vr.php?view=12526

[AHSauge]

Can't say I blame them. This might well be something that needs to be done in order to keep surviving. Having 3-4 times more pirates then paying customers is not good at all, and if this helps LGP then so be it. I'm not going to care as long as this isn't any inconvenience for me as a customer.

[Kano]

Online protection is the only way to go, but for single player games I doubt that they will be really successful. Multiplayer games can be better protected this way. Don't know if that game is SP or MP or both. I would not call that media protection as you can easyly copy those of course. The Internet requirement is a bit bad and I guess if the game is really successfull there will be workarounds.

[Aradreth]

I'd really rather not have copy protection on my games...

As for people pirating it how stupid are some people? I mean do they not want linux gaming to die or what? Some people amaze me.

[Svartalf]

I'd really rather not have copy protection on my games...

Blame the freeloaders... Not my call, it's Michael Simms' one- and the problem that many working for or consulting for LGP have seen has precipitated the response.

As for people pirating it how stupid are some people? I mean do they not want linux gaming to die or what? Some people amaze me.

It's the same sort of thinking that spawns the stuff we're discussing in this recent thread and in the thread you'd linked to in that other thread.

They think they're entitled to something because they can't afford it or because they bought the Windows version of something.

I was afraid that we'd see Mr. Simms do this eventually. We've had conversations online about the subject and the concerns he expresses in the article really do seem to be the thinking about it. There really IS a problem- and while I've tried to not draw attention to it, it's one more reason why we have a hell of a time making titles happen for Linux. I can only hope that it works out decently enough that we can start getting slightly better deals in the door.

[TechMage89]

I think ultimately, copy-protection has to use some measure of good-faith, i.e. that if someone likes a product, they'll pay for it because they want to reward the creator and enable them to continue to make good products. I think really that the primary purpose of copy protection is to alert people to the fact that piracy is wrong and illegal. Ultimately we have to appeal to people's moral standards, or we'll end up with the digital equivalent of a police state to deal with crime.

Any society that hopes to survive has to have some moral/ethical standards that an overwhelming majority agree to uphold, and the digital world is no different. Support the creators! Purchase products legally! If people won't agree that that's a good idea, then no amount of copy protection will stop piracy.

[Chewi]

That's funny, I was thinking about this in the shower earlier today, after hearing that piracy is what killed Loki. I'm not sure how true that is because I've also heard other stories about how Loki died. Nevertheless, I find it both surprising and saddening just how much piracy goes on amongst Linux users. It would normally be hard to speculate but what Michael Simms said really paints the picture quite clearly. I'm not sure how effective this will be, especially since many Linux users are perfectly capable of applying a crack. No doubt someone out there would be willing and able to make one. Still, I support the move for what it's worth.

[deanjo]

Reasons why people pirate linux games:

1) lack of availability through legal means, a large amount of the gaming crowd simply do not have the means to order product online. Many of them are kids with no creditcard.

2)price. I know the justifications for the price but reality is people can't see value in spending $40-$60 for a game that's sitting in a bargin bin for $2-5

3) being burned with the loki fiasco

I'm sure sales would be a lot better if the availability of the product improved and prices were within what people consider an appropriate price.

[Svartalf]

1) lack of availability through legal means, a large amount of the gaming crowd simply do not have the means to order product online. Many of them are kids with no creditcard.

Not a good excuse, really. I know that's the reasoning- but the reality is, the people pirating this way are perpetuating the problem. This is one of the OTHER reasons we have a hell of a time getting deals, deanjo.

2)price. I know the justifications for the price but reality is people can't see value in spending $40-$60 for a game that's sitting in a bargin bin for $2-5

We've went over this in other threads. And while I agree the price as a problem and their reasoning for lifting infringed copies, they're still making the problem worse. The "piracy" angle, I've tried to diminish it because it's a touchy subject in this space; and we seem to have a real problem. It's got to stop if we want to see better sooner. I don't care how- educate the people that they're contributing to the very problem they're "fixing" by pirating the stuff.

3) being burned with the loki fiasco

Excuse me... How did getting burned with a single company excuse this sort of conduct? And, I honestly and SERIOUSLY doubt that anyone that was using Linux in the days of Loki's existence would be pirating anything- they know PRECISELY what's at stake in most cases, and wouldn't be ripping people off. The people doing the pirating seem to be newcomers to the Linux community and don't get that this isn't just a "free" (as in no cost...) alternative to Windows.

I'm sure sales would be a lot better if the availability of the product improved and prices were within what people consider an appropriate price.

I'm sure that the availability of the product would improve and the prices would come down if we could justify selling 10k units or more like the Windows crowd gets. You're not going to SEE that with the piracy going on. This isn't a charity- and someone taking something they didn't pay for doesn't help get better things for you.

[deanjo]

Not a good excuse, really. I know that's the reasoning- but the reality is, the people pirating this way are perpetuating the problem. This is one of the OTHER reasons we have a hell of a time getting deals, deanjo.



We've went over this in other threads. And while I agree the price as a problem and their reasoning for lifting infringed copies, they're still making the problem worse. The "piracy" angle, I've tried to diminish it because it's a touchy subject in this space; and we seem to have a real problem. It's got to stop if we want to see better sooner. I don't care how- educate the people that they're contributing to the very problem they're "fixing" by pirating the stuff.



Excuse me... How did getting burned with a single company excuse this sort of conduct? And, I honestly and SERIOUSLY doubt that anyone that was using Linux in the days of Loki's existence would be pirating anything- they know PRECISELY what's at stake in most cases, and wouldn't be ripping people off. The people doing the pirating seem to be newcomers to the Linux community and don't get that this isn't just a "free" (as in no cost...) alternative to Windows.



I'm sure that the availability of the product would improve and the prices would come down if we could justify selling 10k units or more like the Windows crowd gets. You're not going to SEE that with the piracy going on. This isn't a charity- and someone taking something they didn't pay for doesn't help get better things for you.

Svartalf, copy-protection has NEVER been successful in even thwarting piracy in the slightest. Adding copy-protection is an ass-backwards move. Pirates will be pirates and no matter what copy protection scheme you put on it, piracy will happen. All copy-protection does is annoy the hell out of honest people. The gaming industry has been trying for years to come up with a fool proof protection and guess what? It's usually cracked within before it even hits the store shelves.

Even when a game is purchased, gamers tend to apply cracks to the games that they legally have purchased, and this is perfectly 100% legal in most countries. People don't like having to insert their original, find easily lost keys, have their systems sending who knows what to a company that is saying already "We think your a thief, prove us wrong.".

If you think the piracy groups are going to forget about trying to crack a game just because it is on linux your dead wrong. Hell there was a crack for the Penny Arcade game online before it was officially released. Release groups crack propriatary linux printer drivers for crying out loud.

Copyprotection only accomplishes this,

Piss off honest people and gives the crackers entertainment for an hour.