Regarding Impulse not being a "lock-in" mechanism, please feel free to brush up on what customer "lock-in" means (for starters, customer "lock-in" doesn't mean that Impulse checks the CD key before the game starts).
Perhaps you should brush up on what it means, instead, since you seem to be struggling with it. Stardock is the only company allowed to publish patches for Sins. No other publisher or developer has legal access to the Sins' source code or permission to make and publish patches. As such, how can there be a customer lock-in by Stardock when they are the only ones allowed to publish patches to begin with?
Definision of customer lock-in:
In economics, vendor lock-in, also known as proprietary lock-in, or customer lock-in, makes a customer dependent on a vendor for products and services, unable to use another vendor without substantial switching costs. Lock-in costs which create barriers to market entry may result in antitrust action against a monopoly.
So, how exactly does this apply to Impulse? Easy, it doesn't. Since no other "vendor" can legally create and publish patches (ie provide support) for Sins, there can be no customer lock-in. To compare Impulse to customer lock-in is like saying that a store chain that has both physical stores and online shopping practices customer lock-in if certain things are available online only, or if a certain company offers support online only and not by phone. It makes absolutely no sense.
You say I don't know what DRM/copy-protection/Impulse is?
Prove it. You say I'm wrong in my arguments and assumptions?
Prove it.
I've taken the time to type my messages with sufficient examples and citations. You can opt to not be lazy and put some thought into your responses too. In normal forums, flamers are met with a swift ban, but you seem to be exempted by the merit that you and Frogboy share the same position.
You're making this too easy. Since this revolves around Sins, let's use it as the perfect example:
- No copy protection on the disc. You can install from copies, it doesn't check for the CD in the drive.
- No cd key check on install. You don't need a valid cd key to install the game.
- No cd key check on game launch. You don't need a valid cd key to play the game.
- No activation. You don't need to ever be connected to play the game. Not the first time you launch, nor ever.
- No registration/Impulse. You do not need to have Impulse installed, or running, to play the game.
- You do need a valid cd key to patch. But hey, guess what, DRM doesn't encompass patching, thus needing a valid key to patch a game cannot be a form of DRM, because the game itself is unaffected.
Furthermore, Impulse itself is not DRM. It is a distribution platform. It has DRM features built in that publishers and developers can use, but it doesn't force them (unlike Steam - in which case, every Steam game has the same form of DRM, in that it requires steam to be running). As you can see, Sins uses none of the features of DRM, or of copy protection.
As I've said, you don't even understand what you're trying to argue about!
Alas, I'm also out of troll food. Arguing facts with you is impossible, because you can't accept any.
