Why Not Digitial Distribution?

[Gandalf Parker]

Well the company that sells the Forum software we are using is doing well (after all, Shrapnel bought that. Twice). And the Shopping Cart software is doing well (Shrapnel bought that also). So yes I would guess that a Digital Download Distribution package would sell quite well eventually. It would have its dangers (like a shopping cart package) so I wouldnt expect Shrapnel to jump on one as soon as its released. But it would make a big difference in the decision to offer it or not.

The method being used by Shrapnel now for its other games seems to still be in transition testing.

[Gandalf Parker]

I wouldnt hold out much hope for that.
You can get one of the first Illwinter programs as DD, "Conquest of Ellysium II" and its even free. But a new product will likely be large, a major source of revenue for bot Illwinter and Shrapnel, and be offered thru Shrapnels channels. So I would not expect them to take chances on it.

What I WOULD like to see is previous versions offered as DD. If Dom1 or Dom2 were offered DD then I think it would be a reasonable argument in THAT case that the possible sales would outweigh the possible losses.

[Lingchih]

Hmm. I'm coming in late on this, and think I posted before about it. But the Stardock system should just be licensed, and then Shrapnel could use it. The two sites seem to be on good terms with each other (running each other's ads), and the Stardock DD method is very good.

[Edi]

There is a difference between DRM that requires the kind of online verification AstralWanderer's links and something like a serial key the way Dominions does it. The first one is far more obnoxious. The second shouldn't be much of a hassle for anyone who is a legitimate user.

[Gandalf Parker]

If you take the view that DRM is to prevent piracy then it will always be considered a failure. But that is also true of any protection scheme whether its for programs or real life protections, or even laws for that matter.

[Gregstrom]

Surely the purpose of DRM is to make money for the people that create it?

[Gandalf Parker]

Yes but 90% of it isnt against pirates. People complain that DRM only stops legal owners. And that is true. Because most of the control is purposely against "casual copying". The good-buddy sharing of games. As long as it stops that then its done most of the hopes of it.

Like any control or law or protection, anyone can say "it doesnt stop anything". But if you think of its goal as making it as hard as possible for as many as possible for as long as possible then it makes more sense. And its to make it clear where the line is drawn and when a person will be breaking the law. Same as a fence, or a lock on the door. Doesnt really STOP anything but I wouldnt stop using them.
The big battle of writers of DRM is against writers of backup softwares.

[Soyweiser]

Gandalf, sadly even casual copiers now have access to crack sites, and bittorrent. So for the mostly computer savy youth, it is easy to find a crack and to copy.

[Gandalf Parker]

Originally Posted by Soyweiser

Gandalf, sadly even casual copiers now have access to crack sites, and bittorrent. So for the mostly computer savy youth, it is easy to find a crack and to copy.

But you would be surprised how many dont.
Ive seen it happen in user groups, corporations, military organizations, charities, just about any large group of people. A casual thing would happen but a clear "you are crossing the line" stops it. Even in computer copying. Ive often seen it come up as "let me have a copy" or "put it on all our machines". When it doesnt work for DRM someone will say "but you can download it off crack sites if you want" and many people will back off. Suddenly thats a line they wont go over.

Maybe not "computer savvy youth" but adults anyway.

Gandalf Parker
--
"Ive noticed that our hats get whiter as we get older."
"You mean our hair?"
"No, I meant our hats."
(its a hacker thing)

[Ylvali]

Anyone with even slight experience of the pirate scene knows there is no reliable copy protection to date, and dominions certainly isn´t bullet proof in any way. IMO it is very wise of illwinter/shrapnel to not make it available for download.

IF there was a central server requiring an account for multiplayer (like WOW) there might be less negative impact from going the download route, but it would hardly be worth the effort and element of regulation that would have to be imposed on the MP community.

If, I don´t know but if, dominions isn´t available from the major pirate sites the reason is probably not it´s copy protection but that it is too niche to keep seeded for long.

All in all the current strategy of physical distribution + frequent patches + copy protection is probably the most efficient. Personally I guess the frequent patching required for MP is the key ingredient but what do I know?