Home Gaming Cities: Skylines developer combats piracy…with patches

Cities: Skylines developer combats piracy…with patches

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Cities

Cities: Skylines is the SimCity game that EA and Maxis’ Sim City should have actually been, had it not been hobbled with the need for persistent online connection and unnecessarily small cities. It’s been received rather well by critics and fans of city-building simulations alike.

It’s doing rather well, too – becoming publisher Paradox’s fastest selling game by moving 250 000 copies in its first 24 hours. That may seem like small potatoes when compared to the sales that Sim City managed with its mighty 2 million sales – but consider that Cities: Skylines was made with far less budget, and without the marketing clout afforded to the big publishers.

Unfortunately, it’s also subject to silly things like piracy, and apparently 16% of the copies being played were obtained illicitly. Paradox isn’t worried though. They have a plan to combat piracy that’s very much the same as the one they employed with Magicka: update the game so much that it actually becomes a headache to keep up with all the pirated patches.

Here’s what Paradox’s Shams Jorjani says about piracy

It’s all about offering the consumer a better experience than they’d get through piracy – which is something many publishers don’t realise.

He also says that one of the best ways to combat piracy is to offer modding through Steam Workshop. I really do think that offering ease of use and convenience is the biggest way to get people to stop pirating – much in the way that Netflix has made a great number of people stop illegally downloading series and films. The same goes for Steam itself, I suppose – particularly when there are sales involved. The right combination of price and convenience, and it becomes too much trouble to pirate.

Last Updated: March 16, 2015

138 Comments

  1. RinceThis

    March 16, 2015 at 14:14

    Wait for the pro-pirates to pop up now with their ‘morals’…

    Reply

    • Viking Of Science

      March 16, 2015 at 14:17

      • RinceThis

        March 16, 2015 at 14:26

        lol

        Reply

      • SargonTheBatpandaOfAkkad

        March 16, 2015 at 14:33

        ^Comment of the Century. 😀

        Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      March 16, 2015 at 14:20

      “I’ll buy the game when it’s part of a sale and I find it appeases my sense of value, something something rice masters”

      Reply

      • Blood Emperor Trevor

        March 16, 2015 at 14:21

        “I’m demoing it”

        Reply

        • RinceThis

          March 16, 2015 at 14:26

          Any excuse to moan!

          Reply

        • Phasmatis75

          March 16, 2015 at 14:50

          Actually a lot of people do pirate games to demo them and later buy the game.

          Reply

        • Brady miaau

          March 16, 2015 at 14:56

          Demonising it, is what I read on a glance. Harsh, man, just harsh

          Reply

        • jormanator

          March 18, 2015 at 21:08

          I actually am. At the moment I only have my laptop and I wasn’t sure how well it runs on it so I got the pirated version. But because I can afford this game and I really like it, I’m also gonna buy it. It’s not always just black and white.

          Reply

    • z1n

      March 16, 2015 at 15:05

      I don’t have any morals. I flat out pirated this so I could still have enough left this month to buy doob. I don’t think they will make too many updates yet so I’ll fiddle with the pirated version until I can buy it next month (Yes I actually do buy games that I’ve pirated). I want mods and updates pls thx bye

      Reply

      • RinceThis

        March 16, 2015 at 15:08

        Eh? They’ve made FOURTEEN updates in THIRTEEN Days! How many is ‘many updates’ 0-O

        Reply

        • z1n

          March 16, 2015 at 15:36

          Oh my bad. Well I’m my defence I’ve gotten used to those damn Doto updates. Had like two a day at one point. All with L I T E R A L L Y N O T H I N G.
          Either way I can’t wait to own this game.

          Reply

          • sluntchop

            March 16, 2015 at 18:42

            You couldn’t wait to own the game, so you stole it.

          • Ryanza

            March 16, 2015 at 18:54

            Piracy is not like real theft. Piracy is more like advertising. If that pirated copy gets him to go out and buy the game then all is good. Not all people will like the games they play through pirate copies. But when they like the pirated games they played, those people tends to go out and buy the games. Studies have found out that people who play and watch pirated games and movies, buys more games and movies than those who don’t pirate. Simple reasoning actually. You experience more content through piracy which means you find more stuff you like and would be interested in and you will go buy it. Piracy = not owning products. Buying = owning products. DRM = handing over your buying rights over a product to corporations.

            Listen to Neil Gaiman’s words carefully.
            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Qkyt1wXNlI

            This was years ago. Just look how people have been brainwashed about piracy. Piracy = theft. lol. So far from the truth. DRM is more dangerous for the consumer and for the copyright holders. But people are blinded by theft in support of DRM. Sad really.

          • wow

            March 16, 2015 at 19:27

            Mmm no…studies have found? What studies…studies done by your nice local pirates club?! Please…there is NO way that pirating a movie will let you go out and buy it! These are just people trying to justify a criminal act, period. Let me go out and ask my local retailer if I can steal something but I promise I will pay for it if I like it…lol

          • Ryanza

            March 16, 2015 at 20:33

            The piracy concept is the lending and borrowing concept on a much broader scale. If I lend you something that I have bought. People are generally ok with that. Piracy is just lending on a much larger scale. But still the same concept.

            If you download say a blu ray movie from the pirate scene. That blu ray movie started off, being purchased, not stolen. So downloading that movie is the act of borrowing that movie from the person who uploaded the movie. You are not stealing the movie from that person. You are not stealing that movie from retail. You are not stealing that movie from publishers.
            The “stealing” thing started with those piracy ads on movie discs. Years of that has brainwashed people. Now people can’t think for themselves. They just say what the piracy ads tell them to say. Theft. But it’s not stealing.

            Now when you say “no way” then it’s clear that you don’t understand consumer behaviour.
            I’m not going to fucking explain it. When you say stuff like studies from a local pirates club, yeah, no point in explaining shit to your kind.

          • wow

            March 16, 2015 at 21:32

            And yet you did it explain it to “my kind”…thanks…your argument truly convinced me that piracy is ok…I mean I am sure you will convince our kind that highjacking, rape and murder is also somehow justifiable…tell the guy on the corner selling fake dvds our kind says hi!!

          • Ryanza

            March 16, 2015 at 22:24

            I did not explain consumer behaviour to you. Piracy is not highjacking. Piracy is not rape. Piracy is not murder.

            Yes making money off piracy is not cool and that is usually where the line is drawn.

            Piracy doesn’t equate to people making money off it. So piracy is not summed up by people making money off it.

            Why you looking everywhere but the piracy debate. And why do you speak to me in that way. Yes I said your type, the stupid kind who uses rape and murder to link to piracy. Studies suggest that the pirate scene/circle is not that big as what these industries leads us to believe. The studies suggest that those who part take in pirated content, leads to more sales.

            But you say never (stupid type), pirate club studies (stupid type). Rape, murder (stupid type). Keep on pointing that finger all over the place. And when there’s data from studies done, that links to logic and sense about consumer behaviour, just say never and it all goes away. Stupid type.

            I don’t support piracy. But I do understand it.

          • wow

            March 17, 2015 at 07:04

            …arguing with you is like holding a wet bar of soap…I was trying to say crime starts somewh….o screw it…agree to disagree…don’t worry, witcher 3 pirate edition is coming…

          • Ryanza

            March 17, 2015 at 08:30

            Don’t drop the fake dvd.

            The Witcher 3 will see high piracy numbers which should lead to more sales. The game is not for all but sales will come because of the high piracy numbers.
            When the game is out of the news and long forgotten, piracy can still bring in sales. Not everyone will have heard about the game.

            What I am going to do with my copy of The Witcher 3. I am going to install that copy on every PC I can find and say buy that shit.

          • dannyboy

            March 18, 2015 at 04:43

            Ryanza, you make no sense and I seriously don’t think you are reasoning with a mature head on your shoulders. Why do these companies spend a lot of money designing and marketing games? With the hope you buy it! Basic economics body. They are given rights to protect their product. Your perverse logic frightens me

          • blarg

            March 26, 2015 at 22:46

            The fact is some game designers rush out a shitty game that once you have spent your hard earned cash on..you cant get it back..I can think of many games that were total shit put out to milk money from gamers…cough (simcity2013) if there is no demo for a game i will look for a copy to try..if i like it and want to continue playing it..I will go out and buy it…now if they start giving a money back guarantee that wont be necessary…I have learned time and time again not to buy games before trying them..im not fooled by paid reviewers and misleading screenshots (at least not anymore..lol)…one of the biggest ripoffs in the industry is sequels of great games being rushed out by a new company who has bought the rights to the game..there are more than a few instances of a games rights being bought then a crappy version slapped together for a quick payday.
            I do not want to see the good guys who make good games lose money..because they will stop making them if they dont have the capitol..so I buy the ones I like…if at some point I cant do that..I will stop spending my hard earned money on them at all..and they will lose a customer.

          • Guest

            March 18, 2015 at 03:51

            I think it should be called “Unauthorized Downloading”. I mean; if you put it on the Internet for everyone to see, someone will download it. That is the whole point of the Internet: Downloading and Uploading.

          • z1n

            March 17, 2015 at 14:17

            ‘Demoed it’

            It’s like going to a car dealership and test driving one of their cars… all the way home. They’ll have it back the next day but now I know how well it drives and want it even more.

          • trololo

            March 17, 2015 at 20:51

            i respect you man . at least i found a guy who understand our type ….I 2 have got the pirated version just because im out of money till the end of the month….But exacly as you said,…It made me want to buy it even more

          • lelel

            March 18, 2015 at 21:31

            More like you inspected the car at the salon, snapped your fingers and had a perfect duplicate of said car pop into existence – with which you then drove off, much to the dealers exasperation.

          • sluntchop

            May 6, 2015 at 15:13

            Except not all car dealerships will just let you test drive a car to work and back for a week. I wish every game had a 1 or 2 hour timed demo at the minimum. But just stealing it doesn’t really count as a demo.

          • Antony Cooper

            April 6, 2015 at 08:26

            It’s still there lulz it ain’t a physical object, it’s on Steam!

    • Sageville

      March 16, 2015 at 15:27

      I still think the best anti-pirating measures are the subtle ones.

      Sure let them pirate the game, but when you reach level X and you have totally invested in the game that’s when the programming kicks in fucks up the experience….

      Reply

      • z1n

        March 16, 2015 at 15:42

        I feel that’s a negative approach though as opposed to the positive approach these guys are taking. With your way the thought process is more along the lines of ‘this doesn’t work properly because I pirated it’ as opposed to ‘this works but is way better in the bought version with upgrades and mods’. I feel the second option is better because even those vocal idiots who pirated the game aren’t as likely to badmouth etc which influences potential buyers.

        Reply

        • Sageville

          March 16, 2015 at 15:49

          You raised a point I didn’t consider. I did enjoy the “outing” of the pirates when they bemoaned the feature which was intended to expose them as pirates. I thought it was the most effective means of discouragement.

          Ideally this positive approach would be the best (in hindsight), but it does put the inconvenience of constant updates on the legit purchaser’s lap.

          Reply

          • z1n

            March 16, 2015 at 16:37

            Don’t get me wrong I don’t think it’s bad by any means. I just think there’s a better option. Often the games that exhibit ‘bugs’ created for pirates often get patched by the pirates anyways.

            I agree with another comment on this article in that Steam will largely eliminate the inconvenience of updating (or at least the management thereof). However the benefits far outweigh the toll on your internet.

      • RinceThis

        March 17, 2015 at 11:44

        Like Batman (I forget which one). Where after like 8 hours there is a jump you have to do and if it’s a pirated copy, you can’t make it, hahah!

        Reply

    • Lisa

      March 16, 2015 at 16:33

      Property is theft. Keeping me from pirating is immoral. Viva La Revolucion! Down with imperialist Bourgeoisie!

      Reply

  2. Captain JJ the damned

    March 16, 2015 at 14:17

    Haha. Excellent. Good
    I have Magicka and man that thing sure does update a lot.

    Reply

  3. Hammersteyn

    March 16, 2015 at 14:21

    Paradox needs to create a proper dungeon keeper sequel and then a theme park sequel. Clearly they have the talent.

    Reply

    • Ross Woofels Mason

      March 16, 2015 at 14:23

      Dungeon keeper, oh god I need I a proper game.

      Closest we have is war for the overworld and that’s taking it’s time lol.

      Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        March 16, 2015 at 14:25

        Indeed, but I believe there’s room for one more.

        Reply

        • SargonTheBatpandaOfAkkad

          March 16, 2015 at 14:34

          There is always room for one more. War for the Overworld is hitting my nostalgia buttons. But a Dungeon Keeper deep Paradox sim that only they can make? Yes. Please.

          Reply

          • Pariah

            March 16, 2015 at 15:32

            Dungeons 2 is on my wishlist. Check it out. Looks like a much better version of WftO

          • SargonTheBatpandaOfAkkad

            March 16, 2015 at 15:33

            Nty. Already had a look. Not impressed at all.

    • Chaos Lord Norm

      March 16, 2015 at 14:34

      YES!!!!! And Theme Hospital.

      Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        March 16, 2015 at 14:38

        YES!

        Reply

    • z1n

      March 16, 2015 at 15:02

      I’m going to add Theme Hospital to that short list you have there. I do like this production team though. They think like gamers not like accountants (Looking at you EA).

      Reply

  4. Ross Woofels Mason

    March 16, 2015 at 14:22

    I agree with this whole heartedly.

    You can’t beat piracy through bullshit and restrictions. The only way you can beat it is when you are offering a better service than the pirates do and don’t charge people an arm and a leg for updates.

    Good on them!

    Reply

    • SargonTheBatpandaOfAkkad

      March 16, 2015 at 14:36

      I own Crusader Kings 2 and Europa Universalis IV. All the DLC is pretty much straight forward affordable and the content is almost always worth it. And the unit packs that you can buy (which are pretty much cosmetic) are pretty cheap. Trying to get these things illegally must be an absolute pain.

      Reply

      • Brady miaau

        March 16, 2015 at 14:41

        Great, but how long does one game of Europa Universalis IVtake?

        Reply

        • Vulcha

          March 16, 2015 at 14:42

          Forever

          Reply

          • SargonTheBatpandaOfAkkad

            March 16, 2015 at 14:42

            I was about to say the exact same thing. Lol.

          • Brady miaau

            March 16, 2015 at 14:55

            Yes, it bloody well does. Is fun, but crisis getting somewhere takes all the fun out of it again. Well, speaking as myself, of course.

        • SargonTheBatpandaOfAkkad

          March 16, 2015 at 14:42

          Forever x2.

          Reply

      • Vulcha

        March 16, 2015 at 14:41

        And it feels so much better marrying your liege’s daughter, murdering his male heirs and succeeding him when you paid for that experience.

        Reply

        • SargonTheBatpandaOfAkkad

          March 16, 2015 at 14:43

          Couldn’t agree more. 😀

          Reply

  5. Ektso Gedinkja

    March 16, 2015 at 14:22

    such an awesome game.

    Reply

  6. Ryanza

    March 16, 2015 at 14:29

    So the released version of Cities Skylines is not released at it’s best just because of pirates. So the game needs to be updated everyday for 20 days just to get the game where it was suppose to be at release.

    I love these city building games. I mean love them, I can play games like this for years. I am still playing Simcity 4, Theme Hospital and banished, to name a few.
    Why am I not excited for Cities Skylines. Steam, DRM, constant updates. As it stands I won’t be buying this game anytime soon, even though this game was made for people like me. At best, because it’s a game made for Steam updates, I will wait for Steam sales $5.

    But say if I do get my hands on a pirated copy of the game and I give it a try and the game impresses me. I would be buying this game on Friday. But as it stands, I won’t bother with this game.
    “As usual our plan for pirates is to make a great game even better
    through free updates – making it more convenient to use Steam instead.” If I am the target audience then they sure are not targeting me with those words. I want a complete working game that doesn’t need 14 updates in 13 days. I want a game that I can own and play for years to come without the need of internet before I can play the damn game.

    Don’t Support DRM.

    Reply

    • SargonTheBatpandaOfAkkad

      March 16, 2015 at 14:37

      This isn’t the case. The updates add to the core experience and include new content. You clearly know nothing about Paradox or any of their games. Stick to the Witcher 3.

      Reply

      • Ryanza

        March 16, 2015 at 14:49

        The Witcher 3 is being released at retail with no DRM. That means they trying to get the game working perfect so that it doesn’t need major updates for game breaking bugs after release.

        Core experience and include new content. So the game is just released and 1 day later it has new content that needs to be downloaded. Ya. It should have been in the game at release.

        Reply

        • Brady miaau

          March 16, 2015 at 14:54

          Yeah, but you assume this game is broken or in need of patching. From all accounts that is not the case. Each review waxes golden about the quality of the game.

          Reply

          • SargonTheBatpandaOfAkkad

            March 16, 2015 at 14:57

            He just tows the same party line over and over again. It’s like the record is stuck on repeat.

          • Ryanza

            March 16, 2015 at 14:58

            I assume there is content that is not in the paid for product and that content will arrive each day after release of that product.

          • SargonTheBatpandaOfAkkad

            March 16, 2015 at 14:58

            Yet you know not where that content comes from, which team created it, how it was paid for, etc etc etc. So you’re effectively just talking out of an orifice that isn’t directly connected to your brain.

          • Ektso Gedinkja

            March 16, 2015 at 14:59

            How dare they give you extra content for free

          • SargonTheBatpandaOfAkkad

            March 16, 2015 at 15:00

            It’s outrageous! Damn these kind and realistic developers and their desires to ship an experience even BETTER than average. How. Dare. They.

          • Ryanza

            March 16, 2015 at 15:00

            If that content should have been in the product at release. Yes how dare they. 14 updates in 13 days. Yes how dare they. That is a shitty practice.

          • SargonTheBatpandaOfAkkad

            March 16, 2015 at 15:01

            Who are you to decide what should and should not be in the product at release? Are you a developer? Were you at the project meetings? Maybe they did so well and have had such a good reception they’re working around the clock to include things that they couldn’t afford to include in the game, or perhaps they’re commissioning new art, new themes, etc.

            What a shitty practice, to reward your customers.

          • Ryanza

            March 16, 2015 at 15:10

            Yes who the fuck am I. I am a big city building fan. People like me are their target audience. But if their business practice is about targeting the pirates. And devaluing their retail product. I guess they don’t want me playing their game, for the next 12+ years. If they can’t even get me to buy the game now. But the pirates won’t pirate their game in 3 days, success.

          • SargonTheBatpandaOfAkkad

            March 16, 2015 at 15:12

            I very much doubt that unreasonable fanatics are the target audience. Nothing suggests that their business practice is to target pirates (really? do you even read the words you type?). They have already released the game and have a reasonable and realistic way to deal with online piracy that accounts for a significant revenue loss. Really. Buy the Witcher 3 and stick to that. Please.

          • Ryanza

            March 16, 2015 at 15:17

            Ah yes play character assumption. I am a big city building fan. I am not buying the game. So i guess no problem. There can’t be people like me out there. There can only be internet people out there right. Internet people who can only see themselves through the internet with no problems. People with no internet and people who value products, they don’t …

          • Ektso Gedinkja

            March 16, 2015 at 15:02

            Its called uncapped internet.

          • SargonTheBatpandaOfAkkad

            March 16, 2015 at 15:04

            He has not used the internet before. Please don’t make the matrix explode.

          • Ryanza

            March 16, 2015 at 15:13

            If every single people on this planet, has cheap uncapped unshaped internet, then your argument would be valid.

            If games are not made for all sorts of gamers, all walks of life gamers,…

            Don’t support DRM. Don’t support practices that only carter to certain types of gamers and not all gamers.

          • SargonTheBatpandaOfAkkad

            March 16, 2015 at 15:19

            Support progress. Support DRM. Support cheap internet for all.

          • Ektso Gedinkja

            March 16, 2015 at 15:20

            Yeah the world is unfair. Its something we as adults should learn to cope with. You are willing to overlook a great game because they want to give you extra content after the game is released. If it weren’t for everyone pirating video games, we wont have a problem with DRM. But we live in a society full of assholes. How would you like it if someone stole all your work. They are not doing outrageous things with their DRM. They are not forcing you to 24hr connection, they are not forcing you to have 10 different accounts with their own company to play the game. The are simply adding more content for the people who paid for the game, to make it better for those paying clients and making it more of a hassle for the pirates to keep up.

          • SargonTheBatpandaOfAkkad

            March 16, 2015 at 15:21

            Like I said elsewhere. He just needs to tow the party line. Reason and logic don’t matter. Only the party line.

          • Ryanza

            March 16, 2015 at 15:40

            Ok please don’t bring up the lie that has been force feed to you for years.

            Research has found out that people who use pirated games and movies, tends to buy more products than those not using pirated games and movies.

            Piracy is not the reason for DRM. DRM is there to devalue your product and so that Steam can control the product you buy. It’s as simple as that.
            Games are still being pirated and DRM has never stopped piracy. Never. And you want me to believe that DRM is because of piracy. lol.

            I won’t be supporting this game because there is no value in buying this game new and on release day. This game with it’s Steam DRM is worth $0. So at best $5 on a Steam sales. And that’s just what it comes down too.

          • z1n

            March 17, 2015 at 14:37

            I think you have the definition wrong. Paradox are not imposing a Digital Restriction/Rights Management of any kind.

            The game works perfectly fine on release and there are no restrictions saying you have to have the updates.

            If you have a PC you can make a plan to get it connected every now and then. When I was a teen I took the PC I built to a friends house or lans to do things like WoW updates, download HL/CS/W3 maps.

            Don’t shoot off your nose to spite your face.

          • z1n

            March 17, 2015 at 14:31

            What if that content is the mods which the community creates? Do you bundle that in with release too? I much prefer the idea of a game that evolves and grows around it’s community.

          • Brady miaau

            March 16, 2015 at 15:00

            Well, your wording was ambiguous on the subject.

            Also, they do not promise it one day after release, they promise to release the new content in the form of micro-patches. nothing was said about when this process would start

          • Ryanza

            March 16, 2015 at 15:02

            That’s why it’s an assumption and a assumption that makes me not want to buy the game at release.
            I am a big city building fan. I can play these games for years. But if their focus is on the pirates and not on me. Then fuck em. Let the pirates buy their shit.

          • SargonTheBatpandaOfAkkad

            March 16, 2015 at 15:04

            A very stupid point. Their focus is of course going to be on piracy when over 10% of the people playing the game STOLE it. I suppose we should fire all the cops in the world, since their focus isn’t on you but on the people who would like to rob you.

        • SargonTheBatpandaOfAkkad

          March 16, 2015 at 14:57

          You assume that new content was developed a day after release. Which is pure stupidity when you know nothing of Paradox (or their titles). If the developers work on new content after the release of the game (be that weeks or months), you think they should not be paid for their work? GTFO with that nonsense. No one works for free. Ya. Seriously. Stick to what you know. Stick to the Witcher 3.

          Reply

          • Ryanza

            March 16, 2015 at 14:59

            Don’t tell me what I assume and then make stupid points

          • SargonTheBatpandaOfAkkad

            March 16, 2015 at 15:03

            Don’t call points stupid and then do nothing to point out how they’re illogical or fail to live up to your lofty heights of reason.

        • z1n

          March 17, 2015 at 14:46

          Well this isn’t true. I also think you’re confusing DRM with something else.

          The Witcher 3 probably will come with some sort of DRM, possibly even such a thing as a CD-KEY (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_rights_management#CD_Keys)

          Sorry but you need to research more about this. Perhaps when you get some decent internet? Not actually sure I’ve met someone who can afford a PC which can play games with graphics like the Witcher 3 and yet can’t afford R300/400pm for an uncapped internet inclusive telkom rental.

          DLC might be more along the lines of what you’re talking about.

          Reply

          • Ryanza

            March 17, 2015 at 15:44

            Tell me about DRM. How sweet lol.

            The Witcher 3 at retail will have zero DRM. Meaning there won’t be any code. There won’t be any online activation. No disc before playing.
            NO DRM. I must do research lol. How sweet.

            Then onto your other point. I know people who can afford uncapped internet and telkom line rentals. They can afford it and they want it. But no adsl ports available in your area. Telkom won’t be installing adsl lines because of cable theft. Telkom has not planned adsl for your neighborhood.
            Those are but common responses from Telkom to people who can afford and want adsl lines to their house.

            I know people can only use the internet through their phones if they in a certain part of the house. In other words hug the far corner of the house and stick a pole out of your ass. Maybe then you will get some reception.
            Plus games that need constant updates and these updates are getting bigger by the day. Mobile internet is not really a cheap option because it’s fucking expensive.

            The Witcher 3 coming with a DRM code in the box. lol. how sweet.
            Have we gotten to the stage where people can’t understand what no drm means. The Witcher 3 is handling retail properly with no DRM and there will be a digital version with no DRM.
            And yet people assume there will be a code in the box. lol. bless their souls.

          • z1n

            March 18, 2015 at 12:04

            “Tell me about DRM.” – sure, links below. As you can see Cities: Skylines don’t restrict your ability to play the game after purchase.
            http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_rights_management
            https://www.defectivebydesign.org/what_is_drm_digital_restrictions_management
            https://www.eff.org/issues/drm

            “The Witcher 3 at retail will have zero DRM” – We will see although this is still irrelevant to this argument.

            As a response to your next argument. Well that’s just because they (your friends who can afford internet but don’t have it) aren’t trying hard enough. Telkom gave me the same speel. NO PORTS. I had my line a week later. If you can afford a AAA game then it’s reasonable to expect you can afford a way to get online and if it becomes a coverage problem then make a plan. Go to a mates house or an internet cafe. The problem here isn’t the game. You’re the 1% here boet.

            Paradox aren’t forcing you to do any updates if you don’t want. It doesn’t say you can’t play the game because you don’t have the latest update. The original release version works fine and yes there are a few bugs. (inb4 you tell me Witcher 3 is being released without bugs, no game ever has done this. Bugs are a unavoidable part of all software dev). In your first comment you keep mentioning you won’t play this game because of DRM. However they aren’t restricting you in any way, so no DRM. The updates/patches they are releasing are part of a Rapid Application Development lifecycle that many studios are adopting. This is considered DLC, not DRM, which I might add is at no extra charge. “Constant updates” are better for the end user in every way. If they add play restrictions to their updates then I would agree that it’s a problem (E.G. Dota force you to play with the latest client update) but they don’t. Paradox care for their community to the extent that they will continue to develop (update) the game at no extra cost to you.

            I can understand that Steam (and that this game isn’t being released retail) is a problem for you but that’s a debate for another time. Simple fact is that Paradox is a studio worth supporting because they have the community at heart and they are NOT implementing any form of DRM and on top of this they release free DLC. Heck even if they released paid DLC (expansion packs, campaigns etc) it’s not a problem. You still have a choice whether or not to buy.

            DRM takes away your choices. Paradox is not taking away any of your choices. If you forgo this game just because it has no retail copy then I feel sorry that you’re missing out on a great game. Go look at twitch casts of the game, DL the pirated version through a friend (Remember to use quick save as there’s a bug with the normal save).

            I feel your issue here is with the fact they chose Steam as their release platform (along with many Indie devs… see Prison Architect). I wish you would not blame Paradox for this. Pirating is what has made Steam an attractive option for devs. And I wish you would not accuse Paradox of implementing DRM and restricting the end-user when they’re clearly not.

    • Ektso Gedinkja

      March 16, 2015 at 14:37

      I think you kind of missed the point there.

      Reply

      • Ryanza

        March 16, 2015 at 14:46

        SimCity5 had updates it combated piracy. Now I am a big city building sim fan, Am I still playing SimCity5, No. Did I play Simcity5 for long after release, No.

        If they made a retail version with no DRM and made that version as complete as they could have. Then I would have bought that version day 1 and might still be playing it 12 years from now.

        Reply

        • Ektso Gedinkja

          March 16, 2015 at 14:49

          It is complete. They are talking about adding extra content, and a lot of it, to make it more difficult for the pirates to keep up with all the releases. Not to fix the game through endless patches.

          Reply

          • Ryanza

            March 16, 2015 at 14:56

            I don’t give a shit about pirates. I care about what I am buying. If that extra content came months later fine. But if that extra content comes one day later because of pirates. That means what i have bought has been devalued with content taken out of it.

            It’s like buying a car and one wheel arrives every day for 4 days. And then a rim everyday for the next 4 days. Oh car content.

          • SargonTheBatpandaOfAkkad

            March 16, 2015 at 15:06

            What a stupid analogy. When you buy a car you can literally buy Day 1 DLC in the form of an upgraded audio system, different rims, etc etc.

          • Ryanza

            March 16, 2015 at 15:25

            I used the car because the car always come up in piracy debates.

            When you upgrade a car’s audio or rims and trims, whatever. You get the product as a whole. You don’t buy the car and then they send you a rim each day for 4 days after you bought the car.
            Think of what you said as a game of the year edition.

            A car = a product.
            retail video game = a product.
            DRM = that products value taken away.
            DLC = false sense of value.

          • SargonTheBatpandaOfAkkad

            March 16, 2015 at 15:27

            With Steam auto updates my product is always whole. Don’t buy a product when it clearly states you need access to Steam in order to run it. Don’t buy HTH if you don’t own a pool.

            I just guess there is no curing stupid.

          • Ryanza

            March 16, 2015 at 15:34

            Fine you have Steam and you like it. Well done. I am happy for you. Steam is fine.

            Steam is not fine when retail games are released with Steam, implying that all retail buyers have internet for Steam.

            We all know that, most retail buyers don’t have internet, and there should be a non DRM solution for those buyers. Steam DRM is not the answer for all buyers. Steam works fine for you as a buyer. Why do you defend that so much. You wont even help defend all those non internet gamers who would like to buy and play games. No drm, they sorted. Steam for you, you sorted.

          • SargonTheBatpandaOfAkkad

            March 16, 2015 at 15:36

            They adequately warn you that you need Steam. Don’t buy HTH if you don’t own a pool. Simple. As. That. Not our fault you won’t read, or don’t like what you read.

          • Ryanza

            March 16, 2015 at 15:47

            Wow. Steam has taken over your mind. All hail Steam. What a shame. You are lost to the big corporation. It’s not about games anymore. It’s not about people who want to buy games and can’t. It’s all about Steam now.

            Thank God The Witcher 3 is being released at retail with NO DRM. So that who every buys the game at retail can play the game. The game will have value.
            There will be a Steam version for those Steam Gamers.
            There will be so many versions. The Witcher 3 is the perfect example for how a video game should be released. But you are so suck on Steam and fuck the rest. No Steam = fuck off you shouldn’t play games. Sad what gamers have become. The Steam generation.

          • weird

            March 16, 2015 at 17:58

            So developers providing free content after release are bad due to them delivering such content via the internet…interesting…so you will not be getting the witcher then as how will they deploy their 16 free dlcs?

          • Ryanza

            March 16, 2015 at 18:20

            CD Projekt RED is not releasing 16 free DLC everyday after release to combat piracy. CD Projekt RED is releasing 16 free DLC as a fuck you sign as to how the gaming industry handles DLC.

            I will be getting the Witcher 3 because the retail version has no DRM and the retail version for the PC has product value.

            Cities Skyline has zero product value at retail for the PC. Zero.

            Simcity 5 is just sitting on my shelf. I don’t play it. I will never play it again. The product just sits on my shelf. What can I do with a product that I don’t use anymore and that I will never use again, though it in the bin. OMG is that how much value that SimCity5 product has.

            I bought SimCity5 which had full always online DRM. If they can’t get me to buy Cities Skylines then something is wrong.

            Don’t Support DRM.

          • Ryanza

            March 16, 2015 at 18:30

            Throw it into my mind. lol.

            The point is that if they made Cities Skylines available to non internet gamers and to internet gamers. Then there wouldn’t be a problem. But the game is only carted to internet gamers.

            Question. When a gamer who doesn’t have internet, gets his or her hands on a pirated copy of Cities Skylines, say through a friend or a place that sells pirated games, can that game be played without the need of internet? Yes.
            If that gamer then likes the game and wants to buy the game, No he can’t buy the game because there is no option for him to buy the game without internet.

            Question. If there was an option for that non internet gamer to buy Cities Skylines, would he still have gotten the pirated version. Maybe. Because that gamer, being an offline non internet gamer, might not have heard or known about Cities Skylines.
            If that gamer played the pirated version, would he or she, go buy the game if they liked it. Most likely yes. But there is no option to buy Cities Skylines without internet.

          • weird

            March 16, 2015 at 19:08

            Ok I get it…you have a strong stance on everything that is drm and internet related…and I agree that certain drm implementations are just wrong…steam is the most user friendly drm implementations out there but you need internet. That’s life…yea you can argue that delivering a product with the internet as a prerequisite shuts out a lot of potential customers, but answer me this…who will be able to afford a game such as witcher on a expensive mid to max ranged pc that does not have money for internet of some sorts to update such a rig… Very few I believe…or pirates

        • Captain JJ the damned

          March 16, 2015 at 15:21

          SimCity 5 was garbage and I actually bought it on release. Luckily I got Dead Space 3 with it. So at least I got half a game for that price.

          Reply

        • Sageville

          March 16, 2015 at 15:23

          Simcity 5 was pretty much the ultimate DRM strategy, by buying the game didn’t you support DRM?

          Reply

          • Ryanza

            March 16, 2015 at 15:28

            As I said I am a big city building fan and I still play SimCity 4. I was going to buy SimCity5 no matter what. In a way it was the last true time that the gaming industry had to change my mind about DRM.

            So after Diablo 3 and Simcity5, DRM just doesn’t work for the paying customer. It’s as simple as that.

          • SargonTheBatpandaOfAkkad

            March 16, 2015 at 15:30

            Works for me.

          • Ryanza

            March 16, 2015 at 15:49

            Yes because it’s all about you. And all about Steam. And how you and Steam can fuck each other till the end of time.

            I prefer video games be available to all gamers who wants to buy the game.

          • SargonTheBatpandaOfAkkad

            March 16, 2015 at 16:08

            Man. You hold some serious beef with technological evolution.

          • Ryanza

            March 16, 2015 at 16:33

            Technological evolution. Lol. Did you see what Steam did to the PC gaming industry, when it was launched.

            I can’t remember the number but we looking at a 75 – 85% drop when Steam was launched. We at around the 50% stage.

            So technological evolution by cutting off 75% of the audience. That’s just wrong. You carter to both sides and when 90% of the people are buying from Steam or Origin or where ever digitally, then you can cut off the 10% and wait for them to adopt.

            So it’s not the technological evolution. It’s about cutting off and limiting the market for capital gain. We around 50% now. That means that 50% of gamers are cut off from buying retail games with the DRM warning on. That 50% needs catering too.

            It;s not about you nor I. It’s about those 50% who wants to buy games.

          • SargonTheBatpandaOfAkkad

            March 16, 2015 at 16:35

            Source for this information? Evidence or it didn’t happen.

          • Ryanza

            March 16, 2015 at 16:38

            Please go follow the numbers, for years, like i have. Don’t wait for a source link lol.

          • Ryanza

            March 16, 2015 at 17:10

            Just to add. Consoles are where the most gamers are. Consoles is where the most money is made.

            The Xbox One that needs the internet before it can play the games. So all those buying an Xbox One will need the internet.

            The PS4 you don’t need the internet to play the games. So a lot of non internet gamers will be buying the PS4.

            So over the years just keep an eye on the total sales of these two consoles. Initial internet vs initial no internet and initial internet.

            Xbox One sales, 11.6 million.
            PS4 sales, 20.2 million.
            A difference of 8.6 million. Now I’m not saying that all of those 8.6 million are offline no internet gamers. But a lot of those 8.6 million will be offline non internet gamers.

            At the end of this gen check the numbers out. And check out last gen numbers. console numbers and DRM numbers (Xbox Live, PSN, ect)

          • Chick

            March 17, 2015 at 04:52

            Seriously?! You complain that a game is being released download only and now you bring up consoles like that’s a solution?! I don’t own any consoles, I don’t even own a tv. So what? Now I have to go out and buy 3 consoles, a tv, a whole bunch of accessories like controllers and whatever else? Because that’s where the money is? Yes, that is where the money is but guess what? Colossal order didn’t make this game only to cash in. They wanted to make a good game (and yes, still get paid).

            And you’re offended that a studio consisting of 13 people can’t afford a wide release on disks and multi-platform? Get over yourself! You’re out of touch with reality. I’m grateful for cities skylines. And stop using simcity as a reason why you don’t want this game. EA releases unfinished products. This product was released as a good game already, they just didn’t have the money to polish it. They are commited to improving it, that was never the case with simcity. EA is only about making more money, squeezing every last dollar out of you. CO/Paradox is about good games that are supported and refined. People are happy playing the game as it was released, the updates are just icing on the cake (and to fix bugs). It doesn’t mean the cake wasn’t good already. It’s a 1.5 gb download, I doubt many people with access to internet (which you obviously have) can complain about that.

          • Ryanza

            March 17, 2015 at 08:21

            The retail version of Cities Skylines will be released on Friday, if i’m not mistaken.
            Console reference was about looking at the numbers between the two new consoles. Nothing else.
            The many people without internet who can’t buy the game at retail because of DRM. So those people should just fuck off. Those peoples money are worthless. You telling me that publishers and developers don’t want money from the 50% of non internet gamers.

            In the name of DRM, what other rights will you give up. Why do you not care about those who can’t buy and play games from retail. The number is around 50% of gamers you fucking hate. Why, in the name of DRM do you forsake those people.

          • SargonTheBatpandaOfAkkad

            March 17, 2015 at 10:32

            So you have absolutely no source data? Lol. What a joke.

          • Ryanza

            March 17, 2015 at 10:43

            This is not the first time I have brought this up and I have posted links to the studies before.
            I don’t just make shit up.

          • SargonTheBatpandaOfAkkad

            March 17, 2015 at 10:44

            Of course you do. Because when a new person asks for the source data upon entering the debate, you cite “previous times I posted links” instead of actually posting evidence.

            If it smells like bullshit, walks like bullshit, and talks like bullshit… it’s probably bullshit.

          • Ryanza

            March 17, 2015 at 10:51

            See why it’s pointless. They can do 100 studies and it will still not register.

          • SargonTheBatpandaOfAkkad

            March 17, 2015 at 10:58

            All I see is another comment with absolutely no evidence to support any of your statements.

          • Ryanza

            March 17, 2015 at 11:01

            Because my word means shit to you. But that is not my problem.

          • SargonTheBatpandaOfAkkad

            March 17, 2015 at 11:12

            Hubris on your part if you think that you’re above providing evidence for your claims.

          • Ryanza

            March 17, 2015 at 11:23

            I do opinionated comments. Proving, evidence, not my thing. Take my word, don’t take my word. Believe me, don’t believe me. I don’t give a shit. It’s part of being opinionated. Raising a side that doesn’t, won’t get raised and spoken about.
            Google search can help you find what you seek.

          • SargonTheBatpandaOfAkkad

            March 17, 2015 at 11:36

            Well there you go. There it is. Your comments are nothing more than opinion pieces. Lol. Google supports Steam.

          • Ryanza

            March 17, 2015 at 11:38

            Google is a corporation. Steam is a corporation. Both has goals of making money. Both are taking away the rights of people and consumers.

            So not surprising that Google would support Steam.

          • Ryanza

            March 17, 2015 at 11:36

            I posted this video on top somewhere. I’ll post it again.
            He did a study for himself. Listen to his words. It makes sense.

            Digital copy of his book made available for free, for a month. Sales went up 300% on just digitally bought copies of that book. That does not even account for retail sales and other places where those books were bought which stems from that free copy.

            This was said like 4 years ago. Do you think it changed before that point. Do you think it changed after that point.
            Because the studies do suggest that consumers who part take in pirated content, buys more content than a consumer who doesn’t part take in pirated content.

    • Phasmatis75

      March 16, 2015 at 14:53

      What I think they meant was they rapidly fix problems, tweak the game, and add in little things they designed after the fact. Like Magicka got a new spell called Crash to Desktop which crashed enemies to desktop or you if there was no one around. It was inspired by the Crash to desktop errors the game had on launch (which the devs were sorry for, but made a self referential joke in game about)

      Reply

    • z1n

      March 17, 2015 at 14:27

      If I had to pay for the updates that would upset me, but I don’t. I have what is considered a decent line (@4mb) and have no problem with Steam updates. A 100mb update means I have to wait 5mins. Big deal I’ll go make a cup of tea. Remember when PC’s used to take 5mins just to start? Well, Pepperidge farm remembers.

      I got the pirated version cause I wanted to get the gist of the game. I’m getting a copy through Steam because MODS, updates and bugfixes. Also, regarding DRM I’m pretty sure I can play that game when Steam is in offline mode. Can anyone else confirm? They’re not restricting my usage (afaik) after I’ve bought the game either. What is this DRM problem you speak of?

      Reply

    • z1n

      March 17, 2015 at 14:52

      TL:DR;

      Ryanza confuses DRM with DLC.
      The witcher will be bought asap but R300pm for stable internet is too much. (Maybe we should start a donation for this poor guy)
      Ry forgets that before downloading updates/extra content over the net, we used to have to go to lans and internet cafe’s.
      Ryanza is actually from a parallel universe where Origin are the good guy and Steam are our slavemasters.

      Reply

  7. Phasmatis75

    March 16, 2015 at 14:49

    Magicka 2 isn’t out until May. I think you have a typo there. Yes my first reaction was, holy crap did Magicka 2 already come out!

    Reply

  8. Lardus-Resident Perve

    March 16, 2015 at 15:07

    I can deal with small patches as I can be offline. The problem comes in with some developers changing something small in large files and then I have to re-download that entire file if they do not implement the Steam update functionality correctly. Case in point, XCom updated 1 line in a 2 GB file to fix a 1080P reference. Had to download the entire file.
    If they do it properly, no issue from me.

    Reply

  9. Wyzak

    March 16, 2015 at 15:11

    Excellent strategy – don’t piss off your actual customers through DRM.

    Reply

  10. Johann

    March 16, 2015 at 15:18

    Look I don’t mind a patch once every 2 weeks or so, but if it gets to a point where I’m staring more at the update screen than in the actual game it’s going to get old very quick and people will start loosing interest. If it’s small updates of 10-50MB at a time it should be fine though.

    Reply

    • Brady miaau

      March 16, 2015 at 15:25

      I think the issue of updates should be moot. If you have the game on Steam, it should quietly keep itself up to date, perhaps informing you on first run of the updated game.

      I see no reason why I need to bothered with trying to keep a steam game up to date. Is frustrating if I want to play and it wants to update, but that is rare

      Reply

  11. loftie

    March 16, 2015 at 15:25

  12. Ronin Gamer

    March 18, 2015 at 20:35

    I’m just getting back into PC gaming, Cities actually brought me back, and everything I’m hearing from this developer is making me love them…

    Reply

  13. muksu

    April 1, 2015 at 01:21

  14. Antony Cooper

    April 6, 2015 at 08:34

    After experiencing previous city building games, it’s pretty obvious why one might pirate this. But after playing it I am sure the majority shall buy it. It delivers and doesn’t promise anything it doesn’t, but much more! Perhaps timed demo’s are the answer.. I blame EA and software houses that rush things for piracy, they encourage it from shafting consumers. Let’s hope this dev team stays out of EA’s hands, they have a very bright future!

    Reply

  15. strawberry cheese

    April 17, 2015 at 11:41

    hillarious how this piracy hate still has the same shitty arguments as 15 yrs ago. ill give you turds something to chew on. switzerland allows downloading every software as long as you do not uplaod it. so if i download a game “pirated” im law-wise totally innocent.
    now comes the plot twist. the internet aint a place where you are in a country. and as long theres not global laws witch include all the internet. all your pirate haters arguments are just subjective QQ’s

    and yes i have watched alot movies a second time in theatres after i watches it pirated.

    Reply

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