Rock, Paper, Shotgun lashes out at EA and simcity.

[Djohaal 121]

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2013/03/11/simcity-is-inherently-broken-lets-not-let-this-go/

 

So at long last rock, paper, shotgun reviewer John Walker wrote an article covering the whole disaster with the simcity release and why we should not accept EA's coaxing into the always online scheme for one of the most single-player focused games ever. Let's hope this serves to shake up the critical sense of some people.

 

Some out of place quotes but which are the overall tone of the article. (if not 30% of it, it is a small read, really.)

 

What EA and Maxis have done with SimCity is attempt a year-long PR assault to suggest that the online-only nature of SimCity is designed to offer enhancements for gamers. This is simply not true. It’s utter rubbish.

To see anyone defending EA and Maxis for the state of SimCity, even were it in perfect working order on launch, depresses me to my core. This self-flagellation-as-skincare notion, where gamers loudly and proudly defend the destruction of their own rights as consumers, is an Orwellian perversity. That it might be considered in any way controversial to call them out on their crap, to point out that no, always-on DRM is not an advantage to anyone, is bewildering. It’s a sign of just how far the gaming world has fallen into the rabbit hole of the publisher’s burrowing.

SimCity could be a very splendid single-player game, and one that could then be taken online for other funs. It’s perfect laptop-on-the-train gaming (especially with such stupidly tiny cities), that’s rendered impossible to play on a laptop on the train. It’s ideal flight fodder, that no one can play on flights. It’s a game that of course should be able to fill an evening when the internet’s gone down, that shall fill no such evenings.

Always-on DRM is a disease that we cannot allow ourselves to be so willingly infected by. It’s a curse on gaming. It’s diminishing our experiences, reducing the possibilities for our play, and creating a space where faulty games are accepted as complete. Always-on DRM is a broken game. They need to be fixed.

 

And yes, I'm looking at you who suffers of Stockholm Syndrome and thinks always-online DRM is a good thing. 

[Linoa06 1,374]

Link is broken.

[xfalcon12x 8]

If your not happy with what is going on, now is the time for gamers to stick together and BOYCOTT EA games or any other companies who are going to strip us of our rights of owning and playing a product that we paid for. I'm not excepting online-

[Djohaal 121]

Link is broken.

 

 

Now it isn't. 

[fiver 306]

EA reports that SimCity is slowly getting into a state where it’s playable. Many of the launch issues are getting sorted, and soon it may well be in such a place that it becomes functional. So we should forgive and forget, right? Wrong.

....

Years back we would get up in arms about entering codes to launch single-player games. Now it’s as natural a part of the installation process as choosing the install directory. Damn it, it was only the last two years where we stood up and shouted down Ubisoft for their ghastly, cruel and completely useless always-on DRM, and they wisely capitulated and removed it. They must be staring in confusion and horror as people excuse EA for SimCity, and Activision for Diablo III. Tolerating this idiocy is how it will become the norm.

I agree.

The game should've been boycotted as soon as the always-online restriction was forced upon the player.

Pity there are enough people who will to "give it a chance". Thanks to those, EA has a chance to win.

[snick25 384]

To see anyone defending EA and Maxis for the state of SimCity, even were it in perfect working order on launch, depresses me to my core. This self-flagellation-as-skincare notion, where gamers loudly and proudly defend the destruction of their own rights as consumers, is an Orwellian perversity. That it might be considered in any way controversial to call them out on their crap, to point out that no, always-on DRM is not an advantage to anyone, is bewildering. It’s a sign of just how far the gaming world has fallen into the rabbit hole of the publisher’s burrowing.

 

This. So much this. There was a lot of this going around here a while back, but down that people see for themselves how bad this game failed, it's thankfully pretty much stopped. Still a lot of blind sheep over at the official EA forums though. 

 

But yeah, seeing people actually drying to defend the DRM aspects of this game made me sick. Attitudes like that is what has destroyed so many a good franchise - the SimCity series being the latest victim. 

[Board_Marshal 104]

The author of that article is an excellent writer regardless of whether you agree or not with his position. (bump).

[velve 16]

I hope and pray this launch will mark a turning point to this wicked DRM plague sweeping the world. I have only once bought a PC game with DRM which was shogun2-total war were I was forced to download a 20 gigabyte update to be in sync with other players! Where in your life have you heard of something this outraging! That my favourite single player series has been spoiled because of corporate greed.

 

That was the last and the only DRM mistake I will ever make again and have not done ever since. That is the only DRM game on my shelf collecting dust, (surely for years to come until broadband is introduced and internet fee's lowered to the price of a packet of smokes). 

[Djohaal 121]

And there's the exclusionary factor to it. Always online DRM might be feasible in rich countries where infrastructure provides fast (and reliable) internet at a reliable price. The rest of the world or rural areas? Not so much.

[Mr_Maison 2,426]

At the risk of this post being deleted......I think some of these defenders are salesman for EA or Maxis. The agressive defence is really beyond reason and makes no sense.

[Dargor 17]

One reason to defend the game as it is probably lies within the growing acceptance. As complaining will not change anything, some people try another strategy. They've payed for it. In order to feel a bit better, they are telling themselves it isn't all that bad. See, I think this holds some truth. It's like when your fiancée bought two much clothing at once. At first, you hate it. Then, when she's telling you there's no way she's bringing it back, you can either shout or live with it. Next step is to say the colour of the dress doesn't look so bad on her.

Probably some consumers are trying to come to terms with the online restriction by trying to accept the limitations. People that spend money on the game only have two options, after all. They can either throw away the game and say bye to their dollars, or deal with the DRM and play the game. And playing the game is a lot more fun if you forget about your biggest grievances.

[Gurning_Chimp 398]

Regarding DRM, I think the Manic Street Preachers said it best...

 

[Mr_Maison 2,426]

That's the problem with this generation. Its like no one like to protest anymore so the big businesses are just doing what they want. Not just in the gaming world but in many avenues the business world is out of control with poor customer service these days.

[AIX 270]

One reason to defend the game as it is probably lies within the growing acceptance. As complaining will not change anything, some people try another strategy. They've payed for it. In order to feel a bit better, they are telling themselves it isn't all that bad. See, I think this holds some truth. It's like when your fiancée bought two much clothing at once. At first, you hate it. Then, when she's telling you there's no way she's bringing it back, you can either shout or live with it. Next step is to say the colour of the dress doesn't look so bad on her.

Probably some consumers are trying to come to terms with the online restriction by trying to accept the limitations. People that spend money on the game only have two options, after all. They can either throw away the game and say bye to their dollars, or deal with the DRM and play the game. And playing the game is a lot more fun if you forget about your biggest grievances.

 I mentioned this on another thread, but that is exactly what the "Sunk Cost Fallacy" is all about. They invested up to $80 in a game and now they must emotionally "justify" that purchase.

[Jahnri 21]

The real question will stand for some time whether consumers will except the blatant process of turning software into end of life products. Eventually with the current system they will end. To me though it was something I could accept considering the product gave me what I wanted in terms of features. 

 

So it really boils down to are there enough people willing not to buy the product and change the cycle and are publishers willing to change or are they suicidal. I suppose its possible they may be so blindly following a path they wont change. 

[Gurning_Chimp 398]

If I paid £53.70 ($80) on something I'd expect it to work and to actually own the thing! It actually sickens me that people aren't being more vocal about this and instead are trying to justify it. 

 

NEWSFLASH: Sim City 2013 is not worth £50! It's not even worth £5! If you decide to get it you are essentially renting it and you have proven that EA saw you coming. The game is fundamentally broken, as well as massively limited compared to previous entries. I wouldn't even recommend getting the inevitable cracks as that's what EA wants. Then they have justification for their fascist practises.

[NBAFAN1 28]

So basically this game is broken with the online junk and the simulation is broken.  Way to go EA.

[Djohaal 121]

The point is, always online DRM is expensive, and does not bring the expected return by curbing pirates. The big media (not only gaming, music, video and book publishing too) have this absurd notion that every pirated copy of a game is a lost sale, what obviously doesn't apply. If a simcity 2013 crack came out, I'd probably give it a try, but if that doesn't happen, I'm not automatically going to buy their piece of half-baked software.

[simcopops 37]

Brilliant article. I believe we should have a draft letter which all those in favour should send personally to EA and Maxis

[shorty2 94]

That's the problem with this generation. Its like no one like to protest anymore so the big businesses are just doing what they want. Not just in the gaming world but in many avenues the business world is out of control with poor customer service these days.

 

+infinity

 

people should have boycotted this game as soon as they mentioned the online DRM. if we allow corporations to do stupid things, then they will do stupid things.. like, lease us the game instead of allowing us to actually own it. the younger generation doesn't really understand the situation so well, which is why it is important for the older folk to kick up a big fuss about it all. i think a lot of people willingly overlook the issue with online-DRM because they simply do not care and would just rather have a game to play to feed their gaming addiction.

[jasonaerts 19]

I Wonder how long it will take for consumers to get any sort of rights for digital media, and whether or not it will swing in favor of the people or the companies that abuse them.

I spent a thousand dollars last year on products that demanded i comply to not owning them, after having paid, but before gaining access to actually use 

 

meh