Why PC Gaming Deserves to Die

Let me start by saying that PC game publishers should love a guy like me. I upgrade my computer yearly out of sheer boredom, and dump hundreds of dollars into technology that I don't really need, and then look to buy games I may not have bought otherwise, if only to justify my frequent hardware purchases. I'm not rich by any means, but at this point in my life, $50 every couple of months is not that big a deal so I don't even bother pirating games.

In fact, if a particular game is on both a console and PC, I usually opt for the PC version, even considering the hit I take in resale value, because I find mouse/keyboard control to be more precise and more comfortable. Plus, my monitor is only 5" smaller than my TV, and seems even bigger when it's a foot away from my face.

But with that said, PC game publishers are going absolutely batshit insane with regard to digital rights management. We're talking online activation, install limits, the whole nine yards. Here is a list of games I would have bought for the PC if not for draconian drm that sometimes cannot even be uninstalled:

Bioshock 2
Spore
Batman: Arkham Asylum
Dawn of War II
Company of Heroes
Mass Effect 2

Instead, they got none of my money. And since they all got cracked anyway, people who were intending to pirate them still pirated them.

But Ubisoft deserves special mention for being at the vanguard of this dubious movement towards digital assrape. They recently announced that Assassin's Creed 2 will require CONSTANT ACCESS TO THE INTERNET, and if the connection drops at any time, the game will shut itself off. Putting aside my initial objection to being treated like a criminal 24/7, from a logistical standpoint, this is a problem, because my Internet connection frequently goes down like a cheap hooker for a few minutes to a couple of hours. And seriously, that's precisely what games are for! To entertain you when you can't access porn because the Internet is down.

Furthermore, as consumers vote with their wallets and sales drop, publishers continue to blame piracy and implement even more onerous DRM schemes. It's a cycle that will eventually sound the death knell for the entire industry. I, for one, won't shed a tear. After all, it will finally give me a chance to play through Final Fantasy XII.