Availability table overhaul

[Marioysikax 89]

Looking through the list of DRMs available, I noticed that there is no option for physical piracy protection for games like Space Quest or The Secret of Monkey Island (i.e. In order to complete the game, a random code must be entered in. The code can be found either in the manual or with special items included with the game).

 

It's not exactly a CD key as it needs to be entered in for each new game. What would be the proper category for such games?

That's why there is "notes" section. If there's no other DRM included just put "DRM-Free" and note "Physical DRM, games completion requires X" or similar? Maybe even linking to that item that is needed, for example digital PDF manual. 

 

I was wondering should account icon be used in titles where you can also play alternative offline? Or use account icon and state offline mode as note. 

[Nicereddy 109]

I quite like the way this has come out :D Not a huge fan of the contrast between the circle DRM icons and the storefront squares, but I'm probably just being nitpicky.

 

Thanks for taking the time to implement this, Garrett!

 

Looking through the list of DRMs available, I noticed that there is no option for physical piracy protection for games like Space Quest or The Secret of Monkey Island (i.e. In order to complete the game, a random code must be entered in. The code can be found either in the manual or with special items included with the game).

 

It's not exactly a CD key as it needs to be entered in for each new game. What would be the proper category for such games?

What do you think that icon would look like? I've spent a little while thinking about it, but I'm coming up blank. And as Marioysikax said, I'm not sure that could be considered DRM.

[Mirh 103]

DRM is Digital Right Management

 

Given those "drm" are physical... I wouldn't call them this way, a note should be just enough.

[ThatOneReaper 51]

I quite like the way this has come out :D Not a huge fan of the contrast between the circle DRM icons and the storefront squares, but I'm probably just being nitpicky.

 

Thanks for taking the time to implement this, Garrett!

 

What do you think that icon would look like? I've spent a little while thinking about it, but I'm coming up blank. And as Marioysikax said, I'm not sure that could be considered DRM.

DRM at its core is copy protection and that's exactly what physical anti-piracy measures are: ensuring that the user has a valid copy of the game and not a bootleg. Even if such methods of protection are easily circumvented today, they are still not completely DRM-free. Such a label should be reserved for games that have NO copy protection, digital or not.

 

We should have a separate category for these games as no other existing category can satisfy them. That, and a significant portion of DOS games use this method of protection (it would look sloppy to have all DOS-related articles with "DRM-free" and a note stating it has physical protection).

 

As for potential icon designs, here are some ideas I have:

1. A code wheel (Ex. Dial-A-Pirate from The Secret of Monkey Island)
2. A map or code list with a magnifying glass off to a corner (some games like The Colonel's Bequest included a code list printed on special paper that can only be read with magnifying glasses bundled with the game)
3. A map or code list (no magnifying glass)
4. A game manual open to a page with a code clearly visible
5. A game manual open to a page with a magnifying glass off to a corner
6. A game manual (front cover only)
7. A lock around a CD icon (i.e. the lock is looped through the hole in the CD)

Some more ideas on the types of physical copy protection that existed can be found on Wikipedia.

[Marioysikax 89]

If there actually are that many then something like game manual icon should be most informatic. 

 

I know there has been talk about phasing OS specific stores out, however Ubuntu Software Center is one which has vanished while Microsoft Store and Mac App Store are still there. Pages like Humble Bundle does use UCS for few bundles now making them retail. 

[Garrett 214]

I retained Windows Store and Mac App Store support due to various special situations, e.g. The Sims 2 is no longer sold digitally for Windows but is still on the Mac App Store.

 

I have restored the Ubuntu Software Center ID for Humble compatibility purposes.

[Alexrd 5]

Is the GOG icon for GOG keys still available?

[Garrett 214]

Is the GOG icon for GOG keys still available?

Yes it is; see Template:ID for a current list of supported DRM IDs.

[Marioysikax 89]

I've got a bit of a question regarding stores that just resell keys. See for example Reus. Ignoring the fact the game was available DRM-free for all platforms via Humble Bundle, making it a bit of a surprise that it is not available DRM-free via Humble Store, all the stores are selling Steam keys. So going by column names, the logical place would be to place Steam in the key column. Currently, we place it in the DRM column, unless a DRM-free build is also available.

 

I think this needs a bit of consistency. Maybe just putting Steam in the key column and leaving the DRM column empty? A cross in one of the columns? I don't really know what would work best.

Putting steam in key column is most obvious solution. It'll tell that site will give you key which you have to put into steam, then you look at steam column and it tells what DRMs are applied for steam version of game. If steam is used in DRM column other than steam itself it means game requires steam but no keys are given, like they now do with Humble Bundles. It wouldn't surprise me if more stores start doing that direct redeeming. 

 

E: Also could Playism be added to list? Most japanese indie titles are sold only there and steam making that only place to get the games DRM-free for some cases. 

Some instruction what part of URL needs to be pasted to table would be great. 

[Garrett 214]

going by column names, the logical place would be to place Steam in the key column. Currently, we place it in the DRM column, unless a DRM-free build is also available.

 

The keys column is for optional keys (as noted in the tooltip). Required DRM goes in the DRM column even if it is delivered in the form of a key. The keys column could be changed to say optional keys if that would make things clearer.

[Andytizer 269]

Apologies for missing out on this thread and also being MIA lately, been very busy starting up a new business that's taken up all of my time.

 

Amazing work on pushing forward on the Availability table, really appreciate all the work put into it.

 

My feedback:

- 'DRM' column should be removed the 'Notes' field as a free-text

Reason:

-- Nearly every DRM implementation is unique. Even if it is SecuROM for example, the integration can vary quite a lot, some can be disabled, some have different install limits, some have developer patches, etc.

-- Many Steam games require Steam to install but can be launched without Steam running, the 'Steam' as DRM doesn't apply in that case.

 

- 'Keys' should be 'Store unlocks' or 'Install method'

Reason: Important to see at a glance which store offers the most unlocks.

 

- We need to introduce OS column and retain OS specific stores

Reason: Needs to be a clear table to show what games are available - this information isn't tabulated anywhere else on the internet. For example, it is very helpful to know the difference between Mac App Store versions of games like Borderlands 2 and Tomb Raider which don't come with Steam keys and can't play Steam multiplayer - the Steam versions are clearly superior deals in this case. We have a duty of care to educate people not to buy the bad version!

 

- Retail versions should be kept as a field

Reason: Helpful for older games like KOTOR2 which is heavily modded - the retail version and the digital distribution method often have very different ways of implementing community patches.

 

Soeb and I are also in discussion about adding a couple of features that will help PCGW gain some additional revenue, this'll be used to help fund articles on the latest games. This will probably involve a row in the table to link to the 'cheapest avaialble version'. I am also building a policy of which stores to include with affiliate programs so that we can get more revenue from clicks through there.

[ThatOneReaper 51]

Adding on to what I mentioned earlier, I think there also needs to be some extra "stores" that are available as options to catch the more niche downloads:

• ModDB (we do have some pages for mods)
• Fansite (a general catch-all for downloads like Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun that are hosted on fan-run but legal sites)
• PC Gaming Wiki (games like Sega Swirl and Ground Control are hosted on our site. Would make sense to be able to link to ourselves)

   

  Soeb and I are also in discussion about adding a couple of features that will help PCGW gain some additional revenue, this'll be used to help fund articles on the latest games. This will probably involve a row in the table to link to the 'cheapest avaialble version'.

  Just curious, but how would this feature be implemented? Would it be an in-house solution or using an external site like CheapShark or IsThereAnyDeal.com (ex. Enhanced Steam addon)?

[Andytizer 269]

I'm in discussion with CheapShark about using an affiliate 'passthrough' on links from PCGamingWiki, still in talking stages at the moment but there is a prototype that has been developed.

[Garrett 214]

Given the additional feedback I have made another sample version showing the changes that have been suggested (DRM IDs only shown when directly for that service, OS column).

 

- 'DRM' column should be removed the 'Notes' field as a free-text

Reason:

-- Nearly every DRM implementation is unique. Even if it is SecuROM for example, the integration can vary quite a lot, some can be disabled, some have different install limits, some have developer patches, etc.

-- Many Steam games require Steam to install but can be launched without Steam running, the 'Steam' as DRM doesn't apply in that case.

 

To clarify, do you mean the DRM column would be removed entirely?

 

The current implementation on pages uses general DRM IDs (e.g. activation) for a quick overview with the notes then covering the specifics as usual.

 

 

I don't think it's a good idea to cover whether Steam is actually required for Steam games. This is not a deliberate or advertised feature and can change in patches (as with Skyrim) or vary between operating systems.

 

- Retail versions should be kept as a field

Reason: Helpful for older games like KOTOR2 which is heavily modded - the retail version and the digital distribution method often have very different ways of implementing community patches.

 

Retail is still a supported type as always (see Template:Availability for supported stores).

[Andytizer 269]

Hi I'm reviving this topic as we still have a lot to discuss, and Garrett has suggested some ideas so this is a good place to make notes.

 

We've changed the affiliate code so that it loads from the store name rather than from a piece of Javascript in Common.js which appended the affiliate codes onto certain links. This gives us more control and also stops an issue where if you middle click on a link in certain browsers it opens two tabs.

 

Some followup to previous question from Garrett:

My thought is to remove the 'Keys' and 'DRM' column and just have them as a single 'Unlock' column as in the past - I don't believe that the DRM icons we use are helpful and I think majority of people just want to scan through and find which stores give them a Steam key. I know it's obvious that Steam gives a Steam key but it can be there for consistency and at-a-glance comparison with other stores. I think that DRM is so complicated it can't be easily represented by icons and should go into the Notes field.

 

Other suggestions:

- We implement OS columns as per Garrett's sandbox template: http://pcgamingwiki.com/wiki/User:Garrett/Availability/sandbox - however with the change that each OS resides in its own invisible column. E.g. if we have a Windows-only game, it becomes left aligned with 2/3rds of space on the right blank.

- We move the Notes field to the right hand side in line with the rest of the templates.

- Possibly add Favicons to store links, possibly left-align the store links to make the icons line up.

- Possibly allow more flexibility in the Availability table width so that it expands/contracts better on different screens.