DRM treats gamers like "criminals"

By Wesley Yin-Poole Published 26 November, 2010

Witcher 2 dev CD Projekt hates it.

The Witcher 2 developer CD Projekt reckons digital rights management treats gamers like "criminals".

What's more, it's "doesn't work", according to CEO and co-founder Marcin Iwiński.

"Let's look at Call of Duty," Iwiński told Eurogamer at a press conference in Warsaw, Poland. "We are frequently checking the torrent sites before making our decisions. The game is out a few days and you have 100,000 people downloading it simultaneously. So it doesn't work.

"We could have some argumentative debate, saying, 'Yes it works, so why don't you do it?' No, it doesn't work."

CD Projekt's stance on DRM comes as no surprise – its digital shop GOG.com only sells DRM-free games.

Indeed, PC-exclusive The Witcher II will be sold DRM-free on GOG.com when it goes on sale next year.

Iwiński added: "It's a crazy thing. Gamers – legal customers – buy the game and you are limited with your ownership, while the illegal alternative has no limits. This is totally not fair and totally stupid.

"Why should I buy this legal version if it's inferior in a certain way? I'm not saying it's a problem for everybody, but for a lot of people it is. In games like The Witcher, you don't need to be connected to the internet to play. There are a lot of games like that.

"But with a lot of protections you have to be online. You have to be connected constantly or you cannot play. I know the internet is everywhere, but if you go on holiday and you have a laptop and you don't have an internet connection, it means you cannot play your games. I think it's not fair.

Piracy is clearly a big issue for CD Projekt – it's looking to get law firms to send letters threatening fines to those who pirate the game.

But its no DRM stance is not shared by all publishers.

Ubisoft in particular has come in for criticism for its perceived heavy-handed anti-piracy measures with its PC games.

Iwiński remembered the days before internet piracy, to a time just after company was established in the early Nineties.

"When you drive to our office there is a big stadium, it will be the Euro 2012 stadium. 10 years back it was the biggest flea market in central Europe. Inside you had all these folding tables. We were releasing a game, and they were mass-producing the CDs and they were charging per CD. That was our competition.

"Whatever DRM we used it didn't matter, because they were smart guys and it was about big business and big money. The offering they get at the flea market is a disc – OK, it's crappy with a print out in a strange plastic bag – but maybe we should offer them more."

The breakthrough came when CD Projekt released RPG classic Baldur's Gate as Polish publisher. It included a D&D book, five CDs (pirates were charging per CD), a map with a seal, a music CD and more.

Baldur's Gate sold 18,000 copies, up from the 3000 average. "Nobody wanted to believe us, including Virgin Interplay," Iwiński said.

Picture of Wesley.

About Wesley Yin-Poole

Wesley is Eurogamer's news editor. He likes news, interviews, and more news. He also likes Street Fighter more than anyone can get him to shut up about it.

Read more articles from Wesley by visiting the Wesley Yin-Poole archive page.

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Comments (36) Latest comment 1 year ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • cianchristopher #1 2 years ago

    Nail. Head. Bang.

  • CaptainTrips #2 2 years ago

    I almost feel like buying this guy's game just to support his message...

  • wizlon #3 2 years ago

    "The breakthrough came when CD Projekt released RPG classic Baldur's Gate as Polish publisher. It included a D&D book, five CDs (pirates were charging per CD), a map with a seal, a music CD and more."

    Stands up and gives a round of applause. Why are we constantly charged extra cash for "collectors editions", free audio cd's, maps and books/comics should be the standard.

  • LadyAvalon #4 2 years ago

    I remember buying The Witcher special edition for twenty euros. It started my addiction to special editions, and now those are all I buy.

    Piracy is always going to be around. The best way to get people to buy original copies is to give them something they want and that pirates can't give them. Not by castrating the games until they are unplayable

  • CaptainTrips #5 2 years ago

    Yeah this is the thing - the key to combating piracy isn't making your games hard to pirate - it's in making the legitimate copy of your game so desirable with non-pirateable components such as collector's books, maps and the like that no one wants to.

    It's also about making the product so accessible and easy to obtain that piracy is a waste of time. Five years ago I used to pirate music from torrent sites. Now with iTunes being so easy and intuitive to use I buy all my music from there...

  • bf #6 2 years ago

    I have no real interest in 'The Witcher 2', not really my type of game, but a big name game released DRM-free on day one from people like this will get a wallet vote.

  • sink257 #7 2 years ago

    They absolutely know how to win over the consumer. I remember buying the witcher's enhanced edition, fantastic package with tonnes of extra freebies.

    Might I add, all this at the cost of the price of a standard game. Boss!
    Edited by sink257 at 26/11/10 @ 14:07

  • Salaminizer #8 2 years ago

    oh my, a company that gets it, that's so rare that I read it twice and bit my tongue to ensure I wasn't dreaming.

  • Timbercottage #9 2 years ago

    I love this guy

  • bad09 #10 2 years ago

    "The Witcher 2 developer CD Projekt reckons digital rights management treats gamers like "criminals". "

    Could not agree more. To combat piracy you need gamers on your side not hating you. I've said before, although I didn't actually do it, nothing has encouraged me to pirate a game more than Ubi and their DRM.

    When Steams offiline mode failed me and locked me out of my paid for, installed and activated games for 2 days the first thing to come to my mind was "damn I need crack for these in case this happens again"

    When I look at Tages I automactially ignore the game using it.

    The list goes on, DRM hurts consumers not pirates, not only that it actually promotes piracy as it highlights how much fucking easier gaming is if you DON'T pay????

    Edited by bad09 at 26/11/10 @ 14:33

  • Whitster #11 2 years ago

    @wizlon

    Bang on there.

    Couldn't believe how thin the manual for AC:B was when I looked at it last week.

  • MadDave123 #12 2 years ago

    I want to +1 the article but I can't. So a post here will have to suffice. Well said.

  • FortysixterUK #13 2 years ago

    Good Point well made, I'll buy the game to support this mans theory/views/thoughts on the subject, BUT however tempting the CE of Witcher 2 on the GOG site is, I still want a more physical version if possible. Retail it is then !

  • arcam #14 2 years ago

    It seems like all this is still just people's opinions - no wonder no one can agree.

    I know piracy and hard data are uncomfortable bedfellows, but surely there must be some data for publishers to draw on to help make their decision. Have Ubisoft's sales increased since their big DRM push? What happened to sales of games that remove DRM after a couple of weeks? What about piracy levels for games that never had DRM in the first place?

    Someone must be analysing this data, surely? The games industry is pretty professional (nowadays) in so many areas, I find it hard to believe that on this issue they are still just winging it and making decisions based on gut instinct.

  • JayG #15 2 years ago

    The witcher 2 collector's edition looks pretty good though. Debated pre-odering it on GOG, then decided on the physical copy.

  • bad09 #16 2 years ago

    "Have Ubisoft's sales increased since their big DRM push?"

    They are keeping quiet on this so at a guess I'd say a big fat no, if it was succesful they would be crowing about it to everyone in a bid to win over those of us spitting on the Ubi logo.

  • nuanimal #17 2 years ago

    So... sensible...!?

    This isn't right. He's far too mentally stable and rational to be working in the video games industry.

    SEIZE HIM!!!

    /places call to Bobby Kotick

  • Spekingur #18 2 years ago

    So the whole 'you get sent a letter/fine from our lawyers if we believe that you downloaded the game' thing got forgotten all of a sudden?

  • YenRug #19 2 years ago

    @Spekingur

    No, that's got nothing to do with what he was talking about. Just because they don't believe in DRM doesn't mean they're going to let people pirate their game, it just means they know that DRM punishes their customers.

  • DrugCrazed #20 2 years ago

    @bad09 No, but it wasn't cracked for a long time. It took them a few weeks, by which time everyone had moved on. So in their eyes it was a win.

    Also, I'm getting Witcher 2 just on this statement. Thank you for understanding CD Projeckt.
    Edited by DrugCrazed at 26/11/10 @ 16:29

  • bad09 #21 2 years ago

    @DrugCrazed

    Yeah I remember actually watching torrent site just to follow their progress. Ubi had pissed on me as a consumer so badly I was actually rooting for the hackers. :)

  • CaptainKid #22 2 years ago

    Makes me almost want to buy the Witcher 2 instead of getting it for free.
    I pirate (love that name) games, started on the Amiga, to PS1, PS2 and now PC.
    The only difference between copying disks on the Amiga, buying copied discs on the Playstation and downloading it from Piratebay is the amount of media attention it gets these days.

    There is nothing wrong with downloading your games!
    Just as there was nothing wrong with recording music from the radio on your cassette player back in the 80's.

  • Spekingur #23 2 years ago

    @YenRug: What I meant was that there were quite a few people not very happy about that and were (almost) angry at CD Projekt to do such a thing. Just thought it was a bit strange that CD Projekt just have to put out an anti-DRM statement and all is forgiven ;-p

    Doesn't really affect me since I've already pre-ordered.

  • subedii #24 2 years ago

    @CaptainKid: You mean apart from the fact that the devs don't get any money, and so are then far less able to provide good games to the market? And the fact that as a byproduct, other people who buy the game end up funding the production of titles that YOU play for free?

    Yeah, totally nothing wrong with that.

    Games need funding. Less funding means fewer or worse games. No funding means no games, or maybe just a move to facebook games from now on.

    That is the long, and the short of it.
    Edited by subedii at 26/11/10 @ 17:29

  • borkedconsole #25 2 years ago

    Gabe are you listening?? This is gaming distribution done right.

  • Timbercottage #26 2 years ago

    [link url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87pevh2Q0hg
    ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87pevh2Q0hg
    [/link]

    3:30

  • Lord_Gremlin #27 2 years ago

    Pretty much this. You can't combat piracy by making you legitimate copies of game an inferior product. Why would you BUY Assassin's Creed 2 for PC if you can pirate it and stolen version is actually superior?

    Also, piracy doesn't equal lost sales. there are thieves that will keep stealing stuff until they're jailed. Deal with it, it's a social fact.

    That said, I never pirate games and actually mostly play on PS3.

  • gjgjg #28 2 years ago

    I will purchase your game sir and support your cause! I approve this message!

    @CaptainKid: obviously you're joking but incase you're not: It's ok to download games? If everyone took your advise then you'd end up having to make your own games. Same way if everyone stole milk the farmers would stop producing it.I hate capitalism as much as the next moral person, but theft is worse (at a personal level) imo

  • Fuz77 #29 2 years ago

    Their stance on piracy and DRM is one of the reasons I've already preordered a collector's.

    Respect.

  • robg #30 2 years ago

    What I hate is the flipping door lock industry. They're completely in bed with external door manufacturers and house builders, and they treat ordinary, honest passers-by like criminals. And what happens when you lose the small, easily-dropped "key"? You have to BREAK A PIECE YOUR HOUSE to get in, or pay a locksmith. This is absolutely insane!!11eleven

    I'm not saying there's nothing wrong with DRM, but get some logic, guys. Treating someone like a criminal usually means physically locking them away in prison for a certain amount of time. Does DRM do that?

  • jackdoe #31 2 years ago

    DRM doesn't work and it treats the people who bought the game as criminals.

    Nevertheless, a lot of gamers ARE criminals as there are millions of pirated copies of games up the wazoo. They try to justify it as hate against DRM, but if they really hated DRM they would buy the physical copy to support the developer and then crack the game to remove the DRM. But no. They still pirate the game anyway giving no money to the developers and try to justify thievery. There is another legal option to voicing an opinion against DRM. Don't buy the game. That will send a message that is legal and not morally questionable.

    Another great example is when those indie developers released a pack for charity where you can name your own price, as low as a $1. It was pirated to oblivion.
    Edited by jackdoe at 27/11/10 @ 19:33

  • subedii #32 2 years ago

    @robg:

    Your analogy is... welll... flawed. To say the least.

    A person locking their home is doing it for their own reasons. They can also choose to lock their front door or not, and crucially, are the ones that control access to their house.

    DRM takes control of your legitimately purchased product out of your hands and places it into the arbitrary decisions of the person who sold it to you.

    A more accurate analogy (although to be blunt, I despise analogies like this, I'm just trying to get you to understand) may be the locksmith installing the electronic locks on your door, but the one who retains ultimate control over those isn't YOU, it's the locksmith you bought them from. They then dictate you can only leave the house before 7:00 AM and enter it after 5:00 PM (only legitimate users ever have need of their door when leaving for work or coming back afterwards). This contract is also subject to the whims of the locksmith, who may arbitrarily decide that you should no longer be allowed to enter at all, at any time they want ("You think you OWN those locks on your front door because you bought them? You licensed them from ME";). Or maybe the locksmith simply goes out of business, and the moment they close shop, your locks cease functioning, the house being permanently locked to you.

    Meanwhile, all a thief has to do is pick the lock.

    DRM adds in restrictions to a product for the legitimate purchaser, but NOT the pirate, the pirate just bypasses them. Because as has been proven time and again, and again, and again, DRM is completely ineffective at preventing piracy in itself.

    So who's being punished then? The buyer or the pirate? The reason he says that DRM treats users like a criminal is precisely because it is literally based around a presumption of guilt of the person who just paid you for your product. The only person being punished by the restrictions in place is the person who legitimately bought your game, not the pirate.
    Edited by subedii at 27/11/10 @ 19:47

  • edschuck #33 2 years ago

    I loved the previous Witcher, and am anxiously awaiting for the release of the Witcher 2 (most likely, I would wait a few months after the release so that the price would drop, as I normally do). If these statements are really true (sorry for being naturally skeptic, hope you understand), then I actually feel compelled to support the company and place my pre-order. Simple as that. I guess real respect for costumers still works, huh? At least for me it does...

  • aarlev #34 2 years ago

    I love you CD projekt! I'm definitely going to pre-order this now. Good to see that some devs still support the PC platform, and respect their customers.

  • Pumpkinmancer #35 2 years ago

    DRM treating gamers like criminals is the same argument that Gutting games for display stands treats gamers like criminals. That is that they both do that


    CD Projekt making this statement is nice to hear. And yet CD Projekt has stated that they will activly seek to press criminal charges on those torrenting Witcher 2.

    CD Projekt cant be on both sides of the fence here, and it's pretty silly that they are trying to be. If they were so anti DRM then they would not have had DRM on Witcher 2 at all, not to mention they would not be threatening to sick their dogs of law on people torrenting the game.

    Threateneing gamers in one press release and placating their concerns in another smacks of hypocracy. I am becoming less inclined to do business with this company.

  • bad09 #36 1 year ago

    "Threateneing gamers in one press release and placating their concerns in another smacks of hypocracy. I am becoming less inclined to do business with this company. "

    What??? They are placating gamers and threatening pirates. If don't torrent the game the threat does not apply to you.