The end of PC gaming won't just be the fault of these increasingly invasive DRMs and SecurRoms, but this notion of stacking the bundle.
What do I mean by "stacking the bundle?" Well, since I just picked up Grand Theft Auto IV this afternoon, let's make an example of my latest endeavorer.
I've been playing GTA4 for months on the 360 so I've been really hyped to get it onto my computer finally.
Now remember back in the day, like waaaaaaaaay back to 2006 when you wanted to experience a new game, what did you do? It was essentially a 3 step process; purchase, install and play. Things are becoming slightly more complicated, but I think after trying to play GTAIV on PC that I've hit my breaking point.
By stacking the bundle, producers, publishers and the creators of PC games are finding it necessary to dump all this sh*t on you don't need and don't give a f*ck about in order to simply play the game. Let's analyze what happens when you try to experience GTA4 for the PC.
So thanks Rockstar, thanks Windows. Thanks for creating what instantly became the worst experience I have ever had, to date, with just trying to play a video game. Thanks for recognizing that video games are major-super-serious business. No one should ever play them with cheats, they might have too much fun. Only the most dedicated people, willing to put up with your multi-layered packaged deal should be allowed to play them.
Thanks. Now I have a new decision to make; return this f*cking pathetic excuse for a PC game to the store for some credit, or the much more gratifying breaking of the install disk in 2 pieces and using one of those shards to cut my wrists wide open.......
-edit-
ROCKSTAR GAMES SOCIAL CLUB defaults to starting up with Windows and must itself launch before the games launcher can even launch. Then when you're at the main menu, the SOCIAL CLUB launches it's own window within that which connects to the internet to display the latest "user vids." Woop de f*cking doo. Now I have lag IN THE GAME'S MENUS! Somebody f*cking shoot me.
scratch that, just come with me to Rockstar HQ and we'll shoot them up instead. so far GTA4PC is the sleeper skull-f*ck of 2008.
and you know what pisses me off the most about this? you don't, so I'll tell you. it's that they couldn't even be bothered to use an ounce of sense in allowing people the option of bypassing the unnecessary addons. maybe no cheats and unchangeable graphics wouldn't be so bad if I could at least opt to skip installing 2 more programs, both of which I have to now register with, just to have features I'll never use.
if someone wants to use those features, THEN make install some extra garbage in order to access them. if someone just wants to play the god damn game, let them freaking play. one, simple install, then play. this crap really is unbelievable. I mean I thought it was bad when VALVE started the whole trend (MUST install Steam to play singleplayer, MUST have internet connection to play singleplayer, makes no sense) but now it has gotten really ugly.
these pack deals will kill PC gaming long before some SecurRom issue does. I called it when I first saw it the day I installed Half-Life 2 and was required to install and run and update Steam every time I just wanted to play offline; I said this is it, this will be the downfall of PC gaming. Never, ever should you have to install/run anything else when you merely want to play a singeplayer game offline.
What do I mean by "stacking the bundle?" Well, since I just picked up Grand Theft Auto IV this afternoon, let's make an example of my latest endeavorer.
I've been playing GTA4 for months on the 360 so I've been really hyped to get it onto my computer finally.
Now remember back in the day, like waaaaaaaaay back to 2006 when you wanted to experience a new game, what did you do? It was essentially a 3 step process; purchase, install and play. Things are becoming slightly more complicated, but I think after trying to play GTAIV on PC that I've hit my breaking point.
By stacking the bundle, producers, publishers and the creators of PC games are finding it necessary to dump all this sh*t on you don't need and don't give a f*ck about in order to simply play the game. Let's analyze what happens when you try to experience GTA4 for the PC.
- Bought the game. Brought it home, began installation.
- Ok, installation can start-- oh wait first I need to install ROCKSTAR SOCIAL CLUB because it's required to play even though all it does is let you record some game footage and use the multiplayer (things I don't want to do).
- But ok, installed that. Now, the installation can start. Ok, excellent. The game is installed.
- Time to play-- oh wait now I have to install GAMES FOR WINDOWS LIVE because apparently that's also required to play even thought all it does it let you more easily find friends during multiplayer (which I don't want to do). Ok, installed that. Time to play.
- Oh wait, now I need to create an account on GAMES FOR WINDOWS LIVE even though I'll never use the account. Ok, created my account. Time to play.
- Oh wait, now I need to create an account on ROCKSTAR GAMES SOCIAL CLUB because even though they said that it's only for multiplayer support, I won't even be able to save my singleplayer game without it. Ok, created my account. Time to play.
- w00t! I made it into the game! And it's only been an hour and 40 minutes since I got home. Any other game I'd already be deep in the middle of the action by now. Enough complaining, let's configure and get at it.
- Oh wait. The game comes with a built-in "PC CONFIG ANALYSIS TOOL" that automatically detects the power of your machine and will only let you change graphics options up to a certain point.
- My computer isn't a monster but it's well above average. I am allowed to max out all settings but I can't even raise "Texture Detail" above medium, I can't set my resolultion to larger than 1280x1024, I can't set draw distance above 50%, and I can't even use the most basic 2xAA. The game won't let you do ANY tweaking with graphics to find the best "performance/looks" ratio because it's trying to "protect" you from accidentally straining your PC. So it locks up some of the graphics configuration options.
- Whatever, time to play finally. Game loads, intro movies play, and I finally get dropped into Liberty. Nearly 3 hours since the game has been home. Except now it looks like utter garabage because the game won't even let me push 2xAA with crappy textures. Somehow I'm able to max out everything including shaders and but can't use my native resolution or quality textures.
- Whatever, maybe I'll look for some cheats and just try to have some mindless fun. Oh wait, all this stuff I'm reading so far is telling me that Rockstar has put numerous hard coding into the game specifically to prevent the future use of any cheats that aren't built-in. And those are, of course, useless and will mess up your achievements and game progress (trying to get to 100%).
So thanks Rockstar, thanks Windows. Thanks for creating what instantly became the worst experience I have ever had, to date, with just trying to play a video game. Thanks for recognizing that video games are major-super-serious business. No one should ever play them with cheats, they might have too much fun. Only the most dedicated people, willing to put up with your multi-layered packaged deal should be allowed to play them.
Thanks. Now I have a new decision to make; return this f*cking pathetic excuse for a PC game to the store for some credit, or the much more gratifying breaking of the install disk in 2 pieces and using one of those shards to cut my wrists wide open.......
-edit-
ROCKSTAR GAMES SOCIAL CLUB defaults to starting up with Windows and must itself launch before the games launcher can even launch. Then when you're at the main menu, the SOCIAL CLUB launches it's own window within that which connects to the internet to display the latest "user vids." Woop de f*cking doo. Now I have lag IN THE GAME'S MENUS! Somebody f*cking shoot me.
scratch that, just come with me to Rockstar HQ and we'll shoot them up instead. so far GTA4PC is the sleeper skull-f*ck of 2008.
and you know what pisses me off the most about this? you don't, so I'll tell you. it's that they couldn't even be bothered to use an ounce of sense in allowing people the option of bypassing the unnecessary addons. maybe no cheats and unchangeable graphics wouldn't be so bad if I could at least opt to skip installing 2 more programs, both of which I have to now register with, just to have features I'll never use.
if someone wants to use those features, THEN make install some extra garbage in order to access them. if someone just wants to play the god damn game, let them freaking play. one, simple install, then play. this crap really is unbelievable. I mean I thought it was bad when VALVE started the whole trend (MUST install Steam to play singleplayer, MUST have internet connection to play singleplayer, makes no sense) but now it has gotten really ugly.
these pack deals will kill PC gaming long before some SecurRom issue does. I called it when I first saw it the day I installed Half-Life 2 and was required to install and run and update Steam every time I just wanted to play offline; I said this is it, this will be the downfall of PC gaming. Never, ever should you have to install/run anything else when you merely want to play a singeplayer game offline.
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You should have posted that sh*t in the forums. If you put it somewhere, like in the GTA4 thread I guess I missed it. You're exactly right though, terrible, terrible experience. 
