Mangagamer to Renegotiate policy on DRM

[kyrt]

I am not quite sure how I missed this and this may have already been mentioned but a recent twitter by Mangagamer (if you consider recent being over a month) basically has Mangagamer looking into renegotiating it's policy on DRM.

The direct quote is "On a smaller note, we've been quietly working on renegotiating DRM terms with our partners over the past few months regarding DL editions." June 5th 2015

This is nothing but good news for us the fans and them as a company. It seems Mangagamer has begun to realize exactly how outdated this policy of DRM truly is. The people who are going to pirate are going to pirate regardless of DRM and the only people it hurts is the people who actually pay for their products. I have long waited on purchasing titles simply because I have no interest in buying anything unless it is a physical copy...and I may make exceptions on downloads in very rare occasions if it does not have DRM. The only thing they can do that is better than no DRM in their products is also release limited physical editions at the same time as their digital downloads as there is literally no reason for them to wait as they can do the limited editions based on the pre-orders and say non-limited editions will be dependent on sales for the game. They are already working with J-List so really this is the next best step. I prefer a copy of both if possible but DRM-free is definitely going to make me think about picking up a digital copy if it's a game I have an interest in.

Now admittedly we have no idea what renegotiating actually is going to mean but hey it's probably moving in the right direction.

[sanahtlig]

Mangagamer's DRM is irritating because it requires an Internet connection when first starting the game, requires manually visiting the site to copy a code, and the codes are one-use only and a new code is needed if the game needs to be reinstalled.  These restrictions are bothersome to the point that I often end up torrenting a pirated version just to circumvent the restrictions, especially to play games on my laptop when I'm traveling.  It's unfortunate, but the restrictive DRM makes pirated versions more valuable than legitimate purchases, especially since Mangagamer's titles are often split into multiple downloads that can fail to download--in which case a torrent is more reliable and requires less supervision on a slow connection.  By spurring legitimate customers like me to use torrents, they're actually fueling piracy (because my seed keeps the torrent going for opportunistic pirates who might've otherwise bought the game).

 

It doesn't help that a lot of their earlier releases were flawed and have to be patched up with font and voice patches, making all-in-one pirated versions even more attractive.

[sarkasmus]

I can only say my general opinion about DRM, because i can't buy anything from Mangagamer.

I try to aviod DRM as much as possible due to bad experience with some of them (crashing games were the least annoying problem there were also slowed down PC, crashing PC, blue screen, trouble with GData and so on and that can appear if you have certain programms on your PC so you don't even know before buying it), usually I buy a physical version and if those have DRM I download the Crack if it's aviable separately if not I download the complete game. If it's a download only version I don't like it anyway it doesn't matter if it has DRM or not, but I usually buy them if they don't have one and if they do I don't I just pirate it.

[Nosebleed]

If they decide to get rid of DRM, then good on them, as someone who simply can't afford physical copies of games, having DRM free digital distribution really puts a smile on my face. It's just encouraging to know I can simply play what I paid for without having to go through any extra process.

[Eclipsed]

Actually pretty interesting to hear the whole 'if it has DRM I'm pirating it instead' from you guys

*Fails to think of a 'DRM? More like (insert pro-piracy statement using DRM acronym)' statement*

[Kaguya]

No "none" option on how I prefer to buy VNs. 

 

I guess DRM can be a bother. Never really affected me. 

Piracy, yo. 

[OriginalRen]

No "none" option on how I prefer to buy VNs. 

 

I guess DRM can be a bother. Never really affected me. 

Piracy, yo. 

[nohman]

Hm, for some reason I can't cast my vote in the poll. Despite answering both questions, I get an error telling me I must answer each question.

[Kaguya]

I think he didn't include that option because it has no value to the discussion whatsoever.

Yeah, just joking around. I guess that it's pretty good that they're willing to review their policy of having DRMs, just seems like an impediment towards people who are actually willing to buy VNs.

 

If you're so worried about value to the discussion you should review that post- I'm afraid it has no value to the discussion whatsoever 

[Deep Blue]

I can't vote for some reason , but I don't like drm specially when is really intrusive one, which visual novels usually dont have because of the cost to implement it, for example to implement the drm system that EA has in their latest games(aka Denuvo) that alone cost just as much as the entire production of a vn itself. 

I prefer both digital and Physical.

[Nosebleed]

Yeah poll was broken, I think it's fixed now..

[sanahtlig]

Actually pretty interesting to hear the whole 'if it has DRM I'm pirating it instead' from you guys

*Fails to think of a 'DRM? More like (insert pro-piracy statement using DRM acronym)' statement*

Not "instead".  "In addition".

 

It's not that I'm completely anti-DRM.  I just don't like Mangagamer's implementation.  Actually, come to think of it, it's not so much that I hate Mangagamer's current DRM but that I hate its old DRM, which, if I remember correctly, required an Internet connection on every game startup.  Back then I got into the habit of cracking every single game, and that habit never really died.  Mangagamer's current DRM is still annoying, but it's not game-breaking like its old DRM was.  They could at least replace the manual copypasting with automatic connection to their servers and built-in installation management (deactivation).

[sarkasmus]

I can't vote for some reason , but I don't like drm specially when is really intrusive one, which visual novels usually dont have because of the cost to implement it, for example to implement the drm system that EA has in their latest games(aka Denuvo) that alone cost just as much as the entire production of a vn itself. 

I prefer both digital and Physical.

 

And even that one has been cracked.

EA has some of the worst DRMs, but some others have too.

 

 

Yeah poll was broken, I think it's fixed now..

 

Yes, it works now.

[OriginalRen]

Yeah, just joking around. I guess that it's pretty good that they're willing to review their policy of having DRMs, just seems like an impediment towards people who are actually willing to buy VNs.

 

If you're so worried about value to the discussion you should review that post- I'm afraid it has no value to the discussion whatsoever 

 

Well you know, I just love being bland and posting useless things. I guess you could say I steal all of the "color" from my posts.

[Deep Blue]

And even that one has been cracked.

EA has some of the worst DRMs, but some others have too.

 

 

 

Yes, it works now.

yeah, they don't care, the ones that implement drm systems are not gamers or even the developers most of the time are the producers, corporations who care only about money and nothing more even if it means screwing up their own business.

[sanahtlig]

Regarding physical vs. digital distribution, I'm a fan of J-List's model: physical copy with a digital code.  I prefer this method for titles I'm excited about, as it's easier to pitch titles to friends with a physical copy to show off, yet it's convenient having a digital backup and also instant access to the game on release.  In addition, I was able to sucker a fellow convention goer into buying Raidy 3 at Anime Expo, then poached his digital download code for myself. <3

[Scorp]

i prefer physical over digital, as they look nice on the shelves

And yes, I would not buy a DRM version of the game - I almost never have a normal internet access and it is always a pain for me to setup all that things, that's another case why I buy japanese boxes - they almost never have these DRMs (maybe recent ones have, but all titles I bought did not had a DRM).

[ExtraMana]

If they expect anyone to buy something they could torrent more conveniently they oughta remove DRM.

This is already a niche' market why cut it in half?

[kyrt]

Mangagamer is one instance where I only buy their games in physical format because their physical games do not have DRM...I do not pirate licensed visual novels so this is the only way I can play mangagamer games. I'll be honest I've been wanting to try Cartagra and Princess Evangile but until they get physical copies or lose DRM I'm going to be unable to play them.

[sanahtlig]

I can't really buy physical copies of VNs, since my family would get suspicious if I got a package out of the blue without telling them, and they'd want to look at what I got for sure, so I'm stuck with digital downloads at the moment. 

Or you could always just tell them you play eroge and avoid all the skulking.

[Clephas]

They should just assign the game to an account once it is activated, like Steam.

[sarkasmus]

Fortunatly my parents don't care what I do or watch, it would be wierd if they did I'm not a child.

[sanahtlig]

Or...not.  Believe me, there's a reason I haven't told them in the first place.

Love of lolis often causes great misunderstandings.  You have my sympathies.

[Down]

Seeing your parents trying to sell back your eroge to a used video game store would be pretty funny though.

 

(On topic: Mangagamer makes Mac OS/Linux releases of their game when they have to port it to another engine and those are DRM-free too. I don't doubt they'll manage to get rid of the stupid DRM on windows soon)