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I ran across this little bit of info. It stated that before Software Piracy was so profusely widespread it only cost on avg $2 mill to make a game but now it cost on avg $8 mill. Reason it cost so much is for copy protection to try to stop Software Piracy. That is a 400% increase in cost to us the consumer.

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I don't recall a 400% increase in game prices over the last 10-15 years? In fact game prices have remained remarkably stagnent, they haven't even kept in check with inflation. It's the same with the movie business, they can spend $100 million on a movie or $5 million, but they still charge you $12 at the box office.

The increase in production costs has more to do with a demand for more sophisticated games than just merely security. I'm sure security makes up a portion of the production increase, but certainly not all of it, probably not even 20%.

and.. by going to small dvd-style case with tiny manuals that a gnat couldn't read, the manufacturer's have saved shedloads compared to the lovely old cardboard boxes and full size manuals and extras of yesteryear. I used to look forward to opening a game box to see what goodies there were inside (and I've still got my WC3 Calendar!) but now the only purpose for the manual seems to be something to print the keycode onto.

Actually, Taw, you have Wal-Mart to thank for the cases. Smaller cases = bigger shelf capacity. Simply refuse to stock any games that come in cardboard boxes. Instant retailer bullying - just add water!


For the wonderful paraphenalia, just use mail-order instead. I have the Kane edition for C&C3, the Radiation Pack for STALKER and the Special Edition (with Big Daddy figurine) for Bioshock. Incentive-based copy protection works best of all. Take that Halo 3 Master Chief's Helmet edition. How many copies of that do you think will get pirated? None. And at $100 (it is $100, yes?) a pop, it's not too shabby at all.

Edited by - The Evil Thing on 9/5/2007 2:16:15 PM

I've got a small thing to complain about with BioShock.

Yes, it looks cool.
Yes, it plays well.
Yes, it has all these cool features.

I will now point out the game in which this was a 'spiritual successor'.

System Shock 2.

BioShock is probably one of the most overhyped games of the current season, mainly becaus all it is, really, is System Shock 2 redressed with pretty water and neato effects that requires a rig of mammoth proportions just to get it to run. (or a 360)

The main basic gameplay, storyline, and features are carbon copied from System Shock, and that really saddens me that EA will not give up the license to the SS franchise, allowing Irrational (2K Boston/Aus) to make a real sequel.

It's a shame, cos I was looking forward to BioShock, but instead I'm disappointed, and out of pocket a fair bit 'o cash.

Now to wait to see if Mass Effect or Too Human are worth the cash.

-:-
Drink Ninja.

I'm not paying $100 or whatever that is in proper money (£ Sterling or Tawakalni dinars) for a game just 'cos it's got a toy helmet in it! The Child was wittering about it when he got me to pre-book it but I told him to not be such a victim of marketing, and that he could have the game itself and that's all.

Ninja, a computer with a GeForce 6000 series is hardly a rig of epic proportions.

Taw, I have no doubt that you couldn't care less about the Halo 3 thing (me neither, to be honest). It's not so much the content that justifies its existence, more the concept. I don't mind shelling out an extra tenner for the a few extra bits and bobs that don't add to the game but are just fun to have around. The target market of that Helmet is not people like you or me but the sort of people who buy comics and then never open - or read - them just to keep them in mint condition. Simply, they have satisfaction of knowing they have something that not many people have.

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Reason it cost so much is for copy protection to try to stop Software Piracy.

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I'd dispute that, simply because I see no source... and furthermore, I seriously doubt the source as well. Work it out - anti-piracy = third party software. They don't make a new one for EVERY game, they use an existing solution which they pay for from a third party vendor...

IF, repeat, IF they paid out 6 million per game (the cost of 1 game with anti-piracy = cost of 4 games without) they'd make their own solution instead, it'd be far far cheaper to pay a team of software developers to create a new solution than to keep on licensing existing solutions for every game they make... then license it for others to use as well.

The figures simply make zero sense in other words, no publisher would fork out 3 times the game development costs to protect the game each and every single time... (oh yes, it's publishers who select the copy protection, not the developers - so "development cost" is also a misleading term!).

Last, but not least, could the cost rise not be increased pay? Could it not be the fact that these days games are 4Gb+ in size compared to a single cd (under 500mb) about 6 years ago? Texture artists have to make high quality textures, because we can see it - fog, lighting, models etc are all high polymer counts as it can be rendered now.

If you actually believed most of the rise is due to an anti-piracy solution being included by the publishers, then I think you're being seriously mis-lead somewhere down the line - or more correctly, that article is seriously misleading! Undoubtedly there is a cost involved, but to say it's 3 times the cost of up to 80 people working for 2 years on a software game title is a bit extreme imo!

After all, cd key = algorithm. Method of checking for valid disk in drive? Not sure, probs a lot more complex... but mr Steam system shouldn't be all that complex.




Edited by - Chips on 9/8/2007 4:54:19 AM

I just bought the new Gal Civ II and I think all software companies should adopt this style/method of protection. It is easy to use and it is a one-time deal. Moreover, you do not have to have the disc in the drive to play the game. That way the disc, is not all torn up with use. I am a game collector so to speak, and having a disc all scratched up makes the game lose its value.

Here is a game I own (Star Trek: Starfleet Command 3 III) that is like new because I do not use the disc. Also, go check Amazon.com and see how much Star Trek: Starfleet Command III is worth.



“SISU”
(Pronounced: siss-sue)
(Meaning)
Guts, Tenacity, Steadfastness, Courage, and an Indomitable will to Succeed, and Survive.

It's pretty difficult to install game without using the relevant CD or DVD, but if you know a better way to do it... Anyway, you can maintain your discs for a hell of a long time if you utilise one or more of the following methods (among others):

1) Keep the discs clean,
2) Ensure that your CD/DVD drive is dust- and particle-free,
3) Use the CD/DVD to create an ISO or image and mount it on a virtual drive, or
4) Use a no-CD/DVD patch (not that I'm condoning the use of such things of course ).

By the way, does anyone know if "Bioshock" DRM-free yet? I'm not buying it until it is.

Read again Esquilax I did not say anything about installing I said playing without a disc. There is a huge difference

“SISU”
(Pronounced: siss-sue)
(Meaning)
Guts, Tenacity, Steadfastness, Courage, and an Indomitable will to Succeed, and Survive.

despite all the carrots they eat, rabbits have rotten eyesight.

Without any real contact between laser and disc, I dispute the use = scratches. More like scratches come from user putting and removing disk, putting it on table or size, getting finger marks on it etc. Only one disc of mine stopped being useable... and that's cause I sat on it and broke it (near the hole for spindle) - the rest are all in pristine condition

Steam obviously doesn't require disks for games once installed

its all good, so long as you don't scratch the *back* of the dvd/cd - that is where the data is directly exposed and a scratch that breaks the paint will definitely corrupt that first layer (or only layer on CDs)
there are gameshops that have coin operated pro-quality CD/DVD scratch removers, and walmart sells the chintzy little hand-cranked models for 20 bucks (which is like, 2 pence in funny money, so no excuses for not having one!)

I *did* read your post, but I was attempting to make a facetious point, and that facetious point which was that being a game collector and not actually playing the games seems rather fallacious. Bah, forget it. *Walks off grumbling to self*

Edited by - esquilax on 10/24/2007 4:57:34 PM