14 DAY TRIAL // DRM or Digital Rights Management systems are the things that protect games from piracy. They impose several restrictions on games, like how many computers you can install the same version on, or how many gamers can play the same copy of the game. Although most of the times they don't make their presence felt, there are a few programs that have gained a not so good reputation.
Such is the case with SecuROM, which was packed with the hit game Spore by Electronic Arts. Its quite restrictive terms generated a big backlash, some people even suing the company, which made other gaming developers quite aware of this sensitive issue, with many of them saying that they would impose less restrictive systems, like Ubisoft did on their upcoming title Far Cry 2.
Blizzard on the other hand, says that it probably won't employ any kind of protection on its upcoming RPG, or Role Playing Game, title Diablo III. Through the voice of its vice president Rob Pardo, the company expressed its intention to have an anti-piracy system more similar to Steam, the digital content distribution network created by Valve. In this context, Blizzard will be using its online multiplayer service Battle.Net.
"The thing that I think helps us, is that since our games have such a huge multiplayer component, Battle.net really is our most effective DRM. If you wanna play online on Battle.net with other players you’re going to have to have a legitimate copy. That’s really kinda been the thing that’s always saved us from a lot of the PC piracy that I think hurts a lot of other single-player-only games." said Pardo in an interview with Wired.
This is a great idea coming from Blizzard, which is surely going to attract a lot of people. The company already has a reputation for offering great multiplayer experiences, with the likes of the original Starcraft and Diablo games being played nowadays on Battle.Net, and let's not forget the hit MMORPG, or Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game, World of Warcraft, with over 11 million subscribers worldwide.