At GDC 2009, publishers and developers are anxious to discuss with you all the new games and gadgets they have in the works, but also the methods in which they wish to limit your access to their games and gadgets. Digital rights management (DRM) is a hot topic these days, especially for us bedraggled and well-worn PC gamers. Console gamers mostly don’t have to deal with any of the aggravating issues afflicted upon computer gamers–you just get the game (new or used) and throw it in your console. For computer gamers, it gets more complicated, because we’re all filthy pirates. Or hadn’t you heard?
Microsoft, Valve and Stardock, three heavyweights in computer gaming and digital content distribution are all at GDC this year, keen to appease consumer concerns that their systems are not DRM. Call it something else, but it’s not DRM, because DRM is a dirty word. Kind of like how AIG wants to change their name now, because hey, that solves the problem with consumer confidence.
