On DRM...

As a recent convert to PC gaming, I haven't had a lot experience with DRM. I've purchased most of my games through Steam, and those that I didn't have yet to give me DRM-related issues. Like Spore... I'm mad that I spent money on that game for reasons entirely unrelated to its online verification and limited installs. To be honest, I thought that most of those who hate DRM were probably pirates. My mistake. Seems that the digital certificate for Gears of War PC expired yesterday. So everybody who actually purchased the game is unable to play until Microsoft or Epic gets the issue "resolved".

Compare this to Valve's recent comments on the topic. Obviously (as the ars technica article points out) is easy for Gabe to call DRM "dumb" when Steam basically acts as a piracy deterrent. But it fits in to Valve's larger philosophy - engender respect and loyalty from gamers by providing quality software and supporting it for the long run by listening (truly) to feedback from customers. It also helps that their games are really fun.


Listening to:

The Valley Arena - Sesso Vita

A Life Well Wasted

is the new podcast from Robert Ashely (Dr. Bobito "Max" Chill. He did a cool episode of GFW Radio a while back with Shawn Elliot in which they posed as game marketers doing market research for some real shitty sounding games. Those familiar with the episode will have some idea of what to expect here. Rather than just the run-of-the-mill "four nerds sitting in a room (or on Skype) and talking about games" format, Bobito delivers an Ira Glass-esque audio magazine. Great production quality and a fantastic topic to start the new series with: The inaugural episode discuss the death of EGM with magazine alumni like Greg Ford, Crispin Boyer, and Andrew Pfister. Check it out!

A Life Well Wasted

I miss working at a record store sometimes

but each one I worked at shut down or went bankrupt. I wouldn't want to curse the few that are left. Plus the pay sucked. But talking about music, films and games all day was awesome.