I think this will be good. Here is a "intrusive copy-protection" that the publishers think is un-crackable. And they put it on two "blockbuster" PC games. Ok, now we will really see just why console to PC ports and Innovative PC games don't see that well (as I expect to hear from the publishers after release). IF (and I know this is a big IF) this does work and is not hacked (lol) then developers can finally stop blaming Piracy for low PC game sales. I am so sick of game resources going into Anti-piracy when the product and distribution does not meet the needs of the consumer.

I am all for the growth of the PC game market but I do not think Piracy is the problem with PC game sales. I think it is a scape-goat and the solutions to it are punishing regular users and poor people who can't afford your game (probably the majority of pirates).

If some rich kid who could afford your game decides he wants to pirate your game, he is going to do it. His motivation is probably that he has several consoles and is just not that interested in your game. And your game had no built in reason NOT to pirate. If your game was the gift-that-keeps-giving and has value long after a one-time play-through, then its worth a purchase. Instead, he plays Crysis through once, deletes it, and goes back to playing COD4 online on his 360 with an extra $50 in his pocket. Of course his console games are pirated, too, so don't blame pirates for the success of consoles.

Encourage people not to pirate. Pack in more value. Give people a reason not buy into your product/company. No more crappy, < 20 hours, "by the formula" video games to sell to the masses and pay for your money hats. If you do not have an innovative product or something people WANT to support, then they will not.

Same problem with music. I stopped buying CD albums for $20 long before it was cool to download them because it is stupid to pay $20 for a CD that gets scratched/lost and that I can listen to on the radio / just don't need to LEASE the RIGHTS to the IP. Stupid, I just wanted to listen to a song, shouldn't need to be that hard/expensive.

Do I cry at night that super-mega-pop stars get a few less millions of $$ to blow in dramatic ways and make the cover of gossip mags? No, I do not. Do I cry for big game publishers who can't ride the wave of Video game popularity into fortune 500 companies? Not a chance. Do I want good, creative game developers to make a living making video games that they believe in and enjoy making? Yes. I will continue to buy every Blizzard/Relic/Valve game that comes out. But I'm not spending any money on soulless games made by EA for $$. Not a chance.

For games. Make it easy. Make it worth the money. Price it appropriately for value and distribution. Lower distribution and advertising costs by going to online distribution/torrents and market to the community, not the masses. PC games are niche, they don't have mass appeal like a Console. But we will support our industry, we will buy games that are good, and we will support hard working, creative developers.

AND we will be here when that console looks AGED and everyone still has a PC. And we will be here when that Console is just a PC that plays games....(duh i think....)