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"User-friendly" DRM for ArcaniA – Gothic 4

by Steven Williamson on 20 September 2010, 11:45

Tags: JoWooD Productions Software

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JoWooD Entertainment has announced details of the planned digital services for ArcaniA – Gothic 4, claiming that it will feature a "user-friendly" DRM system.

“Digital Rights Management as a module of the digital services has always been a tightrope walk between user friendliness and security of the product. ArcaniA – Gothic 4 is different here” explains Clemens Schneidhofer, JoWooD Entertainment. “With Arcania – Gothic 4 we deliver a high-quality product gamers will enjoy playing for hours. This joy and fun should not be disturbed by intrusive copy protection measures. So SecuROM is the perfect solution for us because it offers the necessary security and at the same time it fulfills our high expectations concerning costumer-friendliness.”

ArcaniA – Gothic 4 can be installed on an unlimited number of PCs and only needs to be activated once via the Internet. To play, which can be done at up to three PCs at a time, neither the original disc nor a constant internet connection is needed. The possibility of an uncomplicated transfer of license between the used PC offers a maximum of flexibility to the customer.

“The implemented digital services will be perfected by a user-friendly Auto Update Feature that informs the gamer pro-actively – without an annoying search – about the availability of a new Update and installs with the permission of the gamer right away” says Sascha Geschwendtner, Product Manager Games Services Sony DADC. “In addition other innovative solutions to increase the usability and the comfort of the game were implemented one of them being the verification of the release date. This feature allows the user to install the game in advance and to start it directly on the release date and therefore helps to avoid unnecessary waiting time to access the game-world.”

Arcania: Gothic 4 is due for release on October 12, 2010.


HEXUS Forums :: 14 Comments

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Posted by jim - Mon 20 Sep 2010 11:52
The fact that this is now deemed as “user-friendly” is laughable. It's like getting dragged into a fight outside a pub and then being pleased that you've only got one bit of glass sticking out of your face.

What is the world of PC gaming coming to?
Posted by cleaverlch - Mon 20 Sep 2010 12:42
I never knew Jowood was in bed with Ubisoft…:puke:

edit

see post #5,#6
Posted by nichomach - Mon 20 Sep 2010 13:00
snootyjim
What is the world of PC gaming coming to?

An end, probably. Let's face it, development companies loathe PCs, and would far rather just develop for consoles. The DRM will keep being piled on until we all get fed up enough and go away.
Posted by Kirano - Mon 20 Sep 2010 13:12
:censored:
BEGIN RANT:
Have any of you actually read the article?????
"ArcaniA – Gothic 4 can be installed on an unlimited number of PCs and only needs to be activated once via the Internet. To play, which can be done at up to three PCs at a time, neither the original disc nor a constant internet connection is needed. The possibility of an uncomplicated transfer of license between the used PC offers a maximum of flexibility to the customer.“
For a start, how does any of that constitute JoWood being in bed with Ubisoft cleaverlch? Ubisoft require constant internet connection, JoWood does not. That alone makes their sleeping arrangements completely seperate!
And the ”possibility of an uncomplicated transfer of license between the used PC" surely could allow for you to sell the game on (though this is a guess to some extent), reopening the second hand market which is something that DRM has previously been aimed at hugely restricting.

Yes it's still DRM and you don't have complete and total freedom to do whatever you want with the product. But this is a massive, massive step in the right direction, compared to the overzealous restrictions created by some companies such as Ubisoft. In terms of how I expect to use the software and I fully entent to buy it, especially given that it's currently available for pre-order on amazon form just £19.99, I don't see that the kind of DRM they have described will in anyway restrict my usage of the product. To me, that is the very definition of user-friendly!!!!
END RANT
Posted by cleaverlch - Mon 20 Sep 2010 13:47
Kirano
:censored:
BEGIN RANT:
Have any of you actually read the article?????
"ArcaniA – Gothic 4 can be installed on an unlimited number of PCs and only needs to be activated once via the Internet. To play, which can be done at up to three PCs at a time, neither the original disc nor a constant internet connection is needed. The possibility of an uncomplicated transfer of license between the used PC offers a maximum of flexibility to the customer.“
For a start, how does any of that constitute JoWood being in bed with Ubisoft cleaverlch? Ubisoft require constant internet connection, JoWood does not. That alone makes their sleeping arrangements completely seperate!
And the ”possibility of an uncomplicated transfer of license between the used PC" surely could allow for you to sell the game on (though this is a guess to some extent), reopening the second hand market which is something that DRM has previously been aimed at hugely restricting.

Yes it's still DRM and you don't have complete and total freedom to do whatever you want with the product. But this is a massive, massive step in the right direction, compared to the overzealous restrictions created by some companies such as Ubisoft. In terms of how I expect to use the software and I fully entent to buy it, especially given that it's currently available for pre-order on amazon form just £19.99, I don't see that the kind of DRM they have described will in anyway restrict my usage of the product. To me, that is the very definition of user-friendly!!!!
END RANT

Sorry, missed the constant internet connection bit.

btw, dvd.co.uk has it on preorder for £17.99.

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