The Gamer's Quarter

dhex · Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2006 5:17 pm Post subject: escapist stardock/DRM article

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/issue/72/4

quite good.
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dessgeega · Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2006 5:35 pm Post subject:

agreed.

and by the creator of paranoia, incidentally!

obligatory comments about irrelevant photography.
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dhex · Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2006 5:36 pm Post subject:

well, such is the nature of stock photography.

it works, in that it breaks up the page and is almost sometimes kinda related in some ways. and is far more economically viable than commissioning specific art elements
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dark steve · . Joined: 17 Jun 2005 Posts: 1110

man that ad
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wourme · . Joined: 01 Jul 2005 Posts: 362 Location: Maridia

Wait, computer games now have ads in the actual games? The only place I've ever seen that is TMNT 2 for NES.

The most recent commercial computer game I have is Starcraft, so I've missed all of this. I accidentally bought a CD with copy protection once, though. (It was a European import.) When I found that I couldn't rip it, I put it away and downloaded an illegal copy. I've never played the actual CD.

Another concern that this article reminded me of is the rampant misuse of the phrase "beg the question."

dhex · Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2006 7:47 pm Post subject:

nearly no one uses beg the question correctly.

the ad in question is the gamer ad. which wasn't phrased badly, but the design was ugly. but i find focusing on millions in public funds being used for a questionable end to be a fairly convincing line of argumentation.
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wourme · . Joined: 01 Jul 2005 Posts: 362 Location: Maridia

Oh, I meant this:

"Inside the box of Battlefield 2142, Electronic Arts inserts a sheet that blithely informs you it will collect information on your surfing habits, so IGA Worldwide can deliver in-game ads."

I was wondering what form an in-game ad might take. It's extremely rare that I see ads of any type other than billboards and those half-ads on public radio.

I guess there might be product placement in games set in the normal world. But I can't picture even that in any game that I'd want to play.

TOLLMASTER · nippon ichi PR man Joined: 15 Feb 2005 Posts: 187

I didn't really care about DRM until I heard about how bad Starforce was, and how it was going to be on Space Rangers 2 for the PC.

I don't buy many PC games. Hell, I think the last one I bought was Homeworld 2. But Space Rangers 2 looked the kind of game that I'd always wanted--but not enough for my computer to melt down into slag, or whatever. I can't imagine a mostly 2D space exploration game with kooky things like text adventure quests was going to be a million seller anyway, so I figured the few who didn't pick it up because it was starforced outweighed any pirates they prevented from getting it--especially since Europe had a non-Starforced version in English for months before the American release.

I'm going to pirate the game someday, not to play it, but in some childish "sticking it to the man" kind of gesture.

Nana Komatsu · weak sauce Joined: 17 Jul 2006 Posts: 1293

Cycle · Mac daddy Joined: 08 Sep 2006 Posts: 2767

Oh man, I'd pay for a game that featured that. I mean, as a parody of other ingame commercials.

Nana have you got my package yet

Nana Komatsu · weak sauce Joined: 17 Jul 2006 Posts: 1293

I have not! When did you send it?

Cycle · Mac daddy Joined: 08 Sep 2006 Posts: 2767

like half-past forever ago!

the lady said eleven weeks so you actually still got a little bit of a wait, probably. i can't remember when i sent it... five-six weeks ago? just a little bit late

Nana Komatsu · weak sauce Joined: 17 Jul 2006 Posts: 1293

I will let you know when I get it.

Cycle · Mac daddy Joined: 08 Sep 2006 Posts: 2767

btw, you have to post a review of that crappy chick game for Dess. She tried to steal it from you by seducing me with promises of stardom and rainbows.

Also, that game we can't spell about going inside peoples heads isn't included because I needed some money.

Also, take a photo of it since none of the other jerks did even though it was clearly in the terms and conditions.

ok i'm done.