Remember when everyone knew someone with a modded PlayStation or PS2? When pirating console games was the norm? Well, I do anyway. Looking back on those days where bootleg games were so common and easy to find, it's interesting to think about how just a generation later, Sony and Microsoft have the problem virtually nailed down.
And how did they do it? By adding in all sorts of insurmountable copy protection, and thrwarting the geniuses that manage to crack every bit of copy protection?
Well, maybe a little, but not really.
No, they offered something more desirable than stealing. By making connectivity a crucial and desirable part of the platform, and only allowing unmodified hardware onto the network. Many of the games have a major multiplayer components that, for some, easily eclipse the single player component. Others have compelling downloadable content that can change the game even after release.
This is the way to discourage piracy and similar practices!
Sadly, this doesn't always work, and with more open platforms like the PC, it's doubtful it could ever be solved.
And how did they do it? By adding in all sorts of insurmountable copy protection, and thrwarting the geniuses that manage to crack every bit of copy protection?
Well, maybe a little, but not really.
No, they offered something more desirable than stealing. By making connectivity a crucial and desirable part of the platform, and only allowing unmodified hardware onto the network. Many of the games have a major multiplayer components that, for some, easily eclipse the single player component. Others have compelling downloadable content that can change the game even after release.
This is the way to discourage piracy and similar practices!
Sadly, this doesn't always work, and with more open platforms like the PC, it's doubtful it could ever be solved.
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