The summary of ‘Digital Decay Of 2000's PC Game DRM’

The video explores the challenges of digital copy protection, online DRM, and server shutdowns in gaming impacting the playability and preservation of older PC games. It highlights examples like Microsoft Adventure, Red Faction Gorilla, and BioShock 2 to illustrate issues with outdated copy protection and online authentication servers. The shift towards games as a service model, reliance on online features, and the loss of multiplayer functions in remastered versions are also discussed. The narrator expresses frustration with the trend of prioritizing microtransactions and online play over offline gameplay in titles like Gran Turismo 7, advocating for support towards initiatives like "Stop Killing Games." The importance of game preservation, access to older titles, and the impact of evolving DRM requirements on gaming experiences are key themes throughout the video.

00:00:00

In this segment of the video, the creator showcases various computers from different eras along with video games that have digital copy protection mechanisms. They discuss Microsoft Adventure from 1981, Sim Theme Park from 1999, and Red Faction Gorilla from 2009, highlighting the impact of digital copy protection and how it affects the playability of these games over time. The segment emphasizes the challenges with outdated copy protection methods and the potential consequences of short-sighted anti-consumer practices in the gaming industry, urging viewers to support efforts like Ross Scott’s campaign against digital decay of physical games.

00:03:00

In this segment of the video, the speaker discusses the importance of preserving and experiencing older PC games in their original format to get the authentic experience tied to the hardware of their time. They highlight the challenges posed by online DRM and the inability to play certain games without the original hardware or online servers. The speaker categorizes games into four groups: works as is, can work with effort, not functional yet, and completely dead. Examples include Microsoft Adventure working as is, Red Alert 3 needing some effort due to online activation, and the original Overwatch being completely dead due to servers being offline. The speaker expresses frustration over the shift towards games as a service model impacting the ability to revisit and enjoy classic games.

00:06:00

In this part of the video, the speaker discusses how online-only multiplayer games have been shut down unnecessarily. They mention games like Quake 3 Arena and Unreal Tournament 3, which still work fine without central servers. The speaker emphasizes the importance of recurring income through subscriptions to maintain servers, citing the success of World of Warcraft. Additionally, they criticize publishers for prioritizing security over player access to games, leading to reliance on third-party tools for legitimate customers. The example of BioShock 2 is used to highlight issues with online activation and potential shutdown of online features.

00:09:00

In this segment of the video, it is discussed how the online authentication servers for certain games, such as BioShock 2, were taken offline without notice by the publisher, 2K. This resulted in the game being unplayable due to DRM checks. However, it was mentioned that the game could be registered on Steam in 2013, allowing it to be played with the Steamworks DRM. The lack of multiplayer features in remastered versions is highlighted as a drawback, showcasing how ownership control can be lost due to such practices. The example of Fable 3 for PC is also brought up, illustrating a situation where the game became unplayable due to the shutdown of Games for Windows Live without proper fixes or patches, leading to issues with online authorization checks.

00:12:00

In this segment of the video, the narrator discusses the issues surrounding online authorization services for older PC games. They highlight examples like Far Cry 3 Blood Dragon, Starcraft 2, and Spore, which are no longer supported due to changes in DRM requirements. The narrator emphasizes the shift towards digital-only games tied to servers, which can easily die off, leading to concerns about game preservation and the reliance on online services. The segment also touches on the challenges of maintaining access to older games due to evolving DRM and server shutdowns.

00:15:00

In this segment of the video, the speaker talks about their disappointment with the direction Gran Turismo 7 has taken, becoming a grindy loot box live service game that prioritizes microtransactions over offline gameplay. They express their decision to not buy any more Gran Turismo games and prefer old games that can be played without issues in the future. The speaker urges viewers to check out content on the current state of modern games and emphasizes the importance of supporting initiatives like “Stop Killing Games” to make a difference. They conclude by highlighting the wealth of older games available for exploration, including unique titles that do not require an internet connection, and invite viewers to subscribe for more content.