9. Growth of Digital Rights Management
This isnt really a problem solely with 2012, but this year we have seen an increase in Digital Rights Management. Digital Rights Management or DRM started with PC releases that would limit the number of installations on different computers. Now (because of XBLA and PSN) DRM has spread like cancer to mostly every console which isnt a wonderful thing. The issue with DRM is not the fact I want to illegally copy games, but it infringes how I want to experience them. Say I dont want to pay full price for a new title because games are far too bleeding expensive these days and want to wait for a secondhand copy. The issue arises when I cant access key features of the game because the disc has already had its activation code used; meaning I have to spend more money buying a new code to play. It doesnt end there. This year with games like Diablo III; thatll force players to connect online to play what is affectively an offline game. Why do I have to be connected to the bloody internet to play a damn game? Previous titles didnt and they seem to work absolute fine. The reason developers do this is to keep tabs on everyone whos playing, like digital yellow stars if you will. I am very aware that digital piracy is an ever-present threat for companies, but the problem is now they see every gamer as some sneaky, underhanded arse-hole who will at a moments notice copy all their hard work and free it over the internet. Cant companies just go back to seeing gamers as walking bags of money?