Virtual Date with Keeley

[Norse Graphics]

And people complain that game studios use more and more online-activation to counter piracy? The only option is to have two versions; an online limited version, and one full version for sale on Android-platforms. Apple has a non-nudity policy when it comes to iTunes, which is a shame. It's on the iPad/Kindle, iPhone/Android the profits are. If Apple lifted the ban on nudity on iTunes, you could upload a version and make some money. You won't believe how much you can make.

[eskina]

Does anyone have news on the new game of Phreaky and Tlaero? When will it be ready?

[Synthus]

And people complain that game studios use more and more online-activation to counter piracy?

Miss the point much? Online activation is utterly useless because it inconveniences the paying customers while pirates continue to enjoy their (cracked) games without jumping through the same ridiculous hoops.

[ExLibris]

And people complain that game studios use more and more online-activation to counter piracy?

Miss the point much? Online activation is utterly useless because it inconveniences the paying customers while pirates continue to enjoy their (cracked) games without jumping through the same ridiculous hoops.

I think the point is that we shouldn't be surprised that game studios use intrusive copy protection, because piracy is such a massive problem for them. Unfortunately it just gives people something to blame the game studios for, and which they can use to justify their own piracy (if applicable).

The problem is that there is basically no effective way of stopping pirates, other than not releasing games on the PC. That's why I wouldn't be at all surprised if in 5 years time PC gaming was basically dead (except for MMOs). Speaking of which, I don't think it would be a bad idea to use a visual novel engine, rather than something as easily ported to other formats as HTML.

[Norse Graphics]

The only way to counter online piracy would be to use marketplaces like iTunes and a closed eonvironment with no downloading, every bought item loaded into the cloud. Implement it as a non-downloading application, and that'll probably stop piracy. Much easier to go after things that you can swap from one computer to another, or copy discs. Not that I say its a good solution, but with the way things are going and if you're interested in keeping copyright protection...

[tlaero]

There's piracy and there's piracy. It's one thing to take a for-sale game, steal it, and play it without paying. Phreaky and I avoid that kind of piracy by giving our games away for free.

Then there's what happened here. Taking someone else's efforts and claiming that they're yours by releasing them under your name in a different market is wrong. The person who did that should be ashamed.

Both are outright theft, but where the first is like picking someone's pocket and stealing the cash out of his wallet, the second is like taking his credit cards and buying stuff with them. I can't imagine how people justify this to themselves.

Phreaky and I are most of the way through the next Keeley game. We're going to finish it, but I'm seriously doubting whether or not I'm going to do another after that. I spend so much time on these games, and don't expect much in return. To have people claim my efforts as their own just makes me sick.

Tlaero

[Norse Graphics]

How about you sending a link through PM's to us here at this site, using some kind of password on an upload-site. Then the rotten bastards who steal games can go to hell and not enjoy playing the games you create, while the rest of us can. Sort of on a need-to-know basis.

[Synthus]

tlaero, I'm not really getting the analogy, though I certainly sympathize and hope that you and phreaky will keep working on these games. They are, without question, the best games in their genre.

~
ExLibris, console gamers (had to refrain from typing 'contards' by reflex) have been crowing about the demise of the PC game for years. Last I checked, the PC was still paving the way in innovation and technical development, while consoles have become the proverbial millstone around the neck of gaming. Piracy is a problem, but it's certainly not going to stop developers and publishers anytime soon.

~

I feel quite strongly about intrusive DRM and have boycotted multiple games because of that, and I honestly cannot see why studios and publishers continue to think that it is a good idea. My initial comments might have come across as excessively confrontational, and I do apologize if they were perceived as such. The argument on copy protection really bears little relevance to what's happening here though.

[ExLibris]

I tend to agree that stealing something that is already free is the much more cowardly crime. The thing that sickens me most about pirates is how they don't give the creators of the things they rip off a second thought. Their thinking processes are along the lines of "I want this, therefore I'm justified in stealing it since there's virtually no chance of being punished for it".

If the PC is "paving the way in innovation and technical development" why do so many games get a PC release after consoles, if at all? As well as being more difficult to pirate console games, consoles are also a much easier environment to develop games on, so it's not difficult to envision a future where PC is the red-headed stepchild of gaming. I don't think invasive DRM is a good idea either, but it's the pirates that are to blame for it. The game publishers have just fallen prey to "politician's logic" (1. We must do something; 2. This is something; 3. Therefore, we must do this).

Sadly, I don't think that a password protected upload site would help much. All it would take is one person posting the password on another site, or uploading the game to another site. The only suggestion I can make is to produce the games in a compiled format, which would at least be more difficult to port.

[Greebo]

I suppose you could fairly easily "watermark" all images unobtrusively with the real provenance and free status of the game -- that would require heavy editing by a wouldbe thief. Otherwise it should be possible to furnish evidence of the true provenance and free status to any selling site without affecting the anonymity of the author, by pointing to where it was first published.

Another thing it might be worth considering is issuing a "Copyleft" license (look it up in Wikipedia or on Google) such as is often done with free software. I'm not really conversant with the ins and outs of this, and whether there is a reliable dated repository for the initial publication of "Copyleft" material that can be used to provide evidence to challenge the abuse of such licensed material.

[fleet]

Although I don't think anyone would steal one of my visual novels and claim they made it, I put a read-me file in the compressed file of the visual novels I release. I also include a 'credit' slide showing authorship in the visual novel itself. While the visual novel can be re-compressed without the read-me file, unless they have a de-compiler, they can't remove the credits slide.

I have seen instances where my nude mods and those made by others were uploaded on other sites without giving credit to the modder.

[eskina]

Tlaero because you say you do not want more games? You are the best in your field and ask if, perhaps too often, the release date is only because we are eager to play at your next masterpiece! That said, if you believe that we will need is a fund questonon problemas because what you do is really special.
Tlaero perchè dici di non volere fare più giochi? Siete i migliori nel vostro campo e se chiediamo, forse troppo spesso, la data di rilascio è solo perchè siamo impazienti di giocare al vostro prossimo capolavoro! Ciò detto, se credete necessario che noi vi finanziamo questonon è un problemas perchè quello che fate è davvero speciale.

[outrider]

Tlaero,

I can feel your pain... It would be a shame to lose such an excellent team as you and Phreaky, but it'd probably be more shame to let some unscrupulous schmuck make money off your hard work.

But maybe you would consider TADS, ADRIFT, etc. - a little learning curve, but so much potential!

Thanks again for your excellent games and I hope you guys will be able to find a way to do what you love doing (I think) and be happy about it.

[Synthus]

If the PC is "paving the way in innovation and technical development" why do so many games get a PC release after consoles, if at all? As well as being more difficult to pirate console games, consoles are also a much easier environment to develop games on, so it's not difficult to envision a future where PC is the red-headed stepchild of gaming. I don't think invasive DRM is a good idea either, but it's the pirates that are to blame for it. The game publishers have just fallen prey to "politician's logic" (1. We must do something; 2. This is something; 3. Therefore, we must do this).

With respect, I can only assume that you haven't kept up much with more recent games. It doesn't take a very technical comparison to reveal the massive gap in graphical capabilities between current mid-range PCs and consoles. Consoles are highly specific and very outdated computers for the out of pocket/people without the cognitive ability to build and maintain a decent PC on the cheap/social gamers who prefer a casual sofa co-op experience. The limitations of the console (a major one is an ADHD target audience) make it a pain in the ass to develop for if the game doesn't have explosions of gore every two seconds or some cutesy deformed avatar who does pointless things on screen.

That's not completely true. The PS3 is a notorious pain in the ass to develop for. The 360 only gets that title because it's a pretty ancient PC: you don't have to mess about with newer tech nearly as much. That's not even getting into mods, an area where the PC completely steamrollers any console around.

You'll note that very few of these games are worth playing. They're usually some variation of 'ESTABLISHED FRANCHISE (N)' or 'GENERIC LAWNMOWER SIM' or 'VARIANT OF DANCE DANCE REVOLUTION'. When was the last time you saw console devs stretch themselves and make something unique? The last one I can think of offhand was Psychonauts, and that didn't do terribly well.

I beg to disagree. People have been heralding the end of PC gaming for years now. It hasn't happened, and if anything it's going stronger than ever. Pirates are an unavoidable risk, they come with the territory when you decide to develop for the PC. Making the loyal customers jump through hoops to mildly inconvenience any pirates is ridiculously stupid, and as you said it's politician's logic.

[Newdood]

Tlaero,

I can feel your pain... It would be a shame to lose such an excellent team as you and Phreaky, ...

Thanks again for your excellent games and I hope you guys will be able to find a way to do what you love doing (I think) and be happy about it.

Another chorus I'd like to add my voice to. It'd be a terrible shame to have such a cowardly (dastardly, fiendish ... my vocabulary doesn't seem sufficient to describe) act destroy what you're doing. Remember, "Illegitimati non carborundum" (don't let the bastards wear you down)!