This was supposed to be up days ago, but has been delayed for various technical reasons. Here are a couple of the characters from the upcoming comic I’m doing with Shawn Gaston.
Also, for everyone that complained about the lack of an edit button, the lack of formatting tags, and the inability to post images in the comments here, the new comic has one of those newfangled forum thingies. Alas, someone has already done the “first” thing.
The question has been posed to me, if you’re so upset about SecuROM in BioShock, why were you silent about it in all these other games you played? Okay, you got me: The only reason I did that was so that I could revel in flaming hypocrisy.
Actually, the simple answer is that I didn’t know it was there. Which is kind of the point, since the most unforgivable part of SecuROM is that it is installed without the user’s knowledge or permission. I’ve been the sort of reckless chump that goes around installing software from large publishers without scanning the EULA for sophistry and decompiling the software to hunt for hidden threats. If this makes me a fool, then so be it. If you can’t trust the person giving you the software, then you’re screwed. If playing videogames requires me to defend myself from the machinations of the publishers at every turn, then I’d rather abandon the hobby for something safer. Like scorpion juggling.
(On a positive note: If you run as admin like I do, SecuROM doesn’t create the process that runs 24/7. Really, it looks like most of the problems with SecuROM arise when people do sensible things like creating proper user accounts. If you’re already irresponsible about security, SecuROM doesn’t make things worse.)
The other reason BioShock raised such ire is that it didn’t just contain the invasive, deceptive, and ineffectual SecuROM. It contained that, plus a ridiculous online activation scheme which was asinine, broken, and also ineffectual.
The old-school copy restriction scheme was thus:
You must have the original CD in the drive.
The latest one is:
You must install SecuROM, activate the game online, jump through the Steam-based hoops, and the original DVD must be in the drive.
That is a lot of the user’s rights that were eroded, not to mention the annoying hassle. And yet, the steps at circumventing the system are exactly the same:
Search BitTorrent. Click download. Play game.
So, the next time a publisher adds a new layer of hassle for legit users, I’ll probably throw another tantrum. This cycle can continue until they have totally wrecked the damn hobby for everyone. They’re off to a great start so far.
Let us now enjoy humor based on the reinforcing of negative stereotypes. WARNING: Country Music. Viewer discretion is advised.
Thanks to asterismW for the link.
Continue reading ⟩⟩ “DM of the Rings CXLII:
Rank Bribery”
Two or three people have left blunt comments letting me know that they are sick of my writing about BioShock, or that I should shut up about it and buy an XBox 360. I realize that I have not been taking everyone’s needs into account when writing about this subject. Now I feel bad. Let me make it up to you.
The button you’re looking for is this one:
 |
I apologize for not explaining this sooner. I hope this helps.
Off you go now.
BioShock publisher 2kGames has embraced the role of clueless, careless leviathan and the people running the show over there are making sure they play that role to the absolute hilt.
Several days ago 2kGames employee 2kElizabeth claimed that SecuROM wasn’t in the demo and then had proof to the contrary thrown right back in her face. She went quiet on the subject for a few days, and finally responded…
Continue reading ⟩⟩ “Bioshock: Forum Follies”
Two years ago I launched this site by posting the play-by-play of our D&D campaign. I don’t think I could ever have imagined how the site turned out. My most common posting topic are videogames (199 posts) and the webcomic (145 posts).
September seems to be the time of change around here. The site started in September. I started my webomic in September. The webomic will end in September. I don’t know what I’ll do with the site next. If I want to continue my trend of writing about things unrelated to the original purpose of the site, then maybe I’ll start cat blogging next. Maybe I’ll start talking about sports or something. Ah! Even better: A daily journal style blog:
Sorry for the lack of posting. I think I’m just in a funk. Today I was kind of sore when I got up. Getting old sucks. Or maybe I’m just feeling unmotivated. I don’t know.
I spent the day sitting at the computer. I did my job, and then after that I worked on the webcomic. I also played some video games.
The awesome thing about that is that I can just post that same entry over and over, every day.
Remember the superhero MMO from 2009? Neither does anyone else. It was dumb. So dumb I was compelled to write this.
No, self-aware robots aren't going to turn on us, Skynet-style. Not unless we designed them to.
People were so worried about the boring gameplay of The Old Republic they overlooked just how boring and amateur the art is.
Here is how I'd conquer the game-publishing business. (Hint: NOT by copying EA, 2K, Activision, Take-Two, or Ubisoft.)
My first REAL published book, about a guy who comes back from the dead due to a misunderstanding.
This is a massive step down in story, gameplay, and art design when compared to the 2014 soft reboot. Yet critics rated this one much higher. What's going on here?
Who is this imbecile and why is he wandering around Europe unsupervised?
What makes the gameplay of Borderlands so addictive for some, and what does that have to do with slot machines?
A long-form analysis on one of the greatest horror games ever made.
I teach myself music composition by imitating the style of various videogame soundtracks. How did it turn out? Listen for yourself.
T w e n t y S i d e d
