Originally Posted By: tfabris
I think the initial uproar was because of their stated intention to restrict discs in a way similar to how downloaded games are restricted: Tying a disc to an owner's account, and charging a fee to change it.

Which is exactly how game discs work for Steam too. If you bought an Orange Box (the real physical box) inside came a disc and key that simply unlocked a license to the game via Steam. Same was true for Darksiders on the PC, and many other non Valve Steam games that have a retail presence. Microsoft went a step further and was working to ensure those licenses from a disc had potential trade in value still.

Originally Posted By: tfabris
I don't know about you, but every time I do it, I cringe slightly, knowing that I'll be unable to use that downloaded content if the infrastructure behind it goes away or changes for the worse.

I don't cringe, I just ensure that whatever system I may be locking myself into has a key. Thus far I have every Apple iTunes purchase unlocked and stored in non DRM form. Steam, I'm trusting Valve's word that they will unlock the DRM should they see the end of their time as a company. They've stated this policy multiple times, and will reiterate it to anyone who contacts their support.

Originally Posted By: tfabris
The more I think about it, the more I think that Microsoft originally came up with the Disc-DRM idea because they thought that, since we already accept this kind of DRM in one area, we'd accept it in another. They failed to see the difference: Just because we like taking it in one orifice doesn't mean we'll take it in another. That's really what this all boils down to.

The reason they came up with the disc DRM was the same reason the PC industry did it. To combat the black hole that is used games. Publishers are really frightened by how much money GameStop takes, with none of it circulating back to development costs. Combine that with rising costs to publish games, and the inability to absorb a big loss, and you start seeing these desperate measures. I don't fully agree with them myself, but nor am I surprised. I still see a potential major game industry implosion coming, and in some ways I welcome it. It is however going to be painful for many people in the industry, as I've already seen with my former THQ colleagues.