Warhawk game-sharing grounded; Sony tells GameSpot why

A Sony representative answered a few quick questions to GameSpot about the DRM on the downloadable edition of Warhawk.

GameSpot: What's different about Warhawk's DRM?

Sony representative: The downloadable version of Warhawk, which is available from the PlayStation Store, will be directly tied to the registered PSN account that purchased the game. Only that registered PSN account will be authenticated for gameplay. You will still be able to download the game to up to five PS3 systems. However, if a user downloads Warhawk onto a different machine, he/she will only be able to play via the original PSN user account on that machine and could not play on a different machine for 24 hours. This does not affect the Blu-ray Disc version of the game available at retail.

[Adamalicious]

This makes it retail version for me once again. Being able to take the disc to a friends along with the headset makes it a no-brainer for me. Also resale value if I get tired of it - which may never happen, but still.

[heroman711]

i know its off topic but do u know if i can have up to 4 players playing online from one ps3

[Foliage]

I agree with the retail version. The headset addition makes it a great bargain.

[DrWan]

Yes, u can. The first player say would be "DrWan", the 2ndone that joins for split screen would automatically become "DrWan (2)"

[TheExecutive]

Its a bunch of bs, that is what it is. I should be able to play the game on my subaccounts on the same ps3! I could see taking it to several ps3's but the mac number should have made it in there somewhere! Seriously.

[Amplifier]

You had every opportunity to read the TOS before paying for it, YOUR FAULT, now grow up and take your lumps like a man.

This is a way of protection for Sony, don't like it, sell your system.

Amplifier

tplarkin7 - You ever installed software on your PC, you ever read an instruction booklet, ever read the booklet that comes with consoles, and etc...I can go on, you don't have to do anything but the FACT still remains, IT'S NOT SONY'S FAULT THAT YOU WERE NEGLECTFUL!

TheExecutive - "Get a life." How about you get a clue! Your complaints are not justified and yes I will be more than willing to point them out to correct you.

[power091999]

That's what TOS are for. I know nobody really reads them, but they are there to protect the company.

I am fine with this, just as long as it does not spill over into other psn games like Tekken, and what not.

[tplarkin7]

Reading TOSs is not fun. However, since Sony's system is "open", I would expect a work around for sharing the game.

[TheExecutive]

Just because I think something is bs means I cant take it? I can take it and I still think its bs. its dumb, incognito cant put in code to read the mac number? Give me a break. Its not like I wouldnt have bought the game but its dumb.

"Dont like it sell your system"

Give me a break dude, like I said just because I dont agree with something doesnt mean that I cant take it. I cant speak out about something that bothers me? Get a life.

[Panthers]

I think they did it the way they did because they want you to play it on any PS3 but the only way to do that is to limit it to one account.

It was either just one PS3 or just one account.

The best idea would to attach some sort of hidden code to each download so that if you give it to someone else, and one of yall is online, the other one wont be able too, or it could even ban both of yall.

[Fan Tastic]

Seriously mad that I bought the PSN version now.

The game is awesome, they just need to fix this.

[Amplifier]

So it's Sony that made you buy the game but "DIDN'T" warn you about the TOS, sorry buddy you are the one that "*'d" up.

Some of you people act like 2 years old when it comes to things of this nature.

Learn to read before you sign and/or buy something, I really hope that most of you don't have cell phone contracts because you would be really frustrated after reading one.

Amplifier

Disagrees - Hate all you want but if you continue down life ignoring printed material before you buy/sign something you will have more heartache and frustration than a Catholic school girl.

toughNAME - Tell you what, why don't you sit down and read any TOS from Microsoft, Nintendo, Sprint, AT&T, etc. then come to me with that same attitude, no I am not a Sony fanboy but an ADULT gamer that understands and takes responsibity for my actions, not a cry baby that can't deal with the choices that I make.

[toughNAME]

you would die for Sony wouldnt you?

Its like an abusive relationship
Sony's the agressive male
the fanboys are the weak females

the fanboys get pushed around and do whatever Sony tells them to do

Sony doesnt care about you Amp! hes just using you!

[TheExecutive]

I dont think you get it... its a feature that should have been implimented on the game (being able to play from subaccounts on the same console). Its not like we wouldnt have bought it. We know its a fact, however we disagree with that fact. I am not saying that they duped me, or somehow I got screwed over I am saying that its bs that this game doesnt allow the feature. Get over it.

[SacT0wnF1n3st]

1 more reason to buy the Blu-Ray version which I will get it tomorrow.

[Frances-the-Mute]

this is how i got into the warhawk beta, thanks to game-sharing, unfortunately HOME beta had this same situation

[malingenie]

Let me know this!! Now my brother is gonna have to play with another handle.

[Meus Renaissance]

People should be grateful that PSN is free for gods sake. Or would you rather game share and pay a subscription?

[TalyngarTheBlack]

Yes, it sucks that you can't play it with sub accounts on the same machine and hopefully that gets fixed with a patch.

But think of it from the companies point of view. They're already selling the console at a loss and want to make money off of this game. And you know that leechers were gonna try to get it for free. This is also the first time a full game is offered over PSN so they can't screw over retail by having people get the game for free because of Shared Play. After all this is a business.

[timmyp53]

alot of ppl didnt want to game share tekken DR because it is a 15 dollar investment. Think of the investment sony put in this game. Development cost and hosting free online servers. If ppl were allowed to game share easily with up to 5 ppl then that would be like a $200 lost.

[Marceles]

This is the same thing other cheap gamers were complaining about with Ninja Gaiden Sigma. They don't want you to run around renting the game and installing the full version. You can't blame Sony for trying to not get this game pirated like crazy.

[TheExecutive]

Pirating and using a subaccount under a master account on the same console IS TWO DIFFERENT THINGS!

[IPlayGames]

Im getting retail but i see why sony is doing this.

[XxZxX]

well thanks to the stupid beta game sharing, I bet Sony found out that's a large portion of people playing are uninvented gamers. They don't want to lose their games to pirating. Well you know who to Thanks, for Sony doing this. THE PIRATE

[aiphanes]

If you have multiple users...then get the bluray version. It will install fully on the PS3, but you need the bluray disc in the drive to play. Why are people so messed up inside about this?

Socom confrontation will probably be the same way...

[Douglasp]

Thats what DRM brings to the table. They can modify it to how ever they please. Even if they don't agree with the consumer they will do what the uppers need to do to protect their investment. DRM as a whole so far is ugly. You can't do this, or that, or move the file to another drive if not it deletes itself. All kinds of restrictions can be implemented on DRM files. To all companies that use DRM to protect their content from copiers should open up a little more and make a way the consumers and the corporations are both happy.

[Nameless]

I still dont see the point in having a feature like this if they wont let people use it for the new & popular games. It looks like a waste of a feature.

[r1000]

SONY IS A BUSINESS... so is MS, so is McDonalds, Coke, Toyota, Dell, Johnson and Johnson, Verizon, Target, RCA.

You know what all of these have in common, they are in business to make money not to lose it...

People growing up in the Napster, Shareeza, Emule, P2P days can't seem to grasp this concept.

One person buys warhawk for $40/$60 bucks and goes around download it on other people's PS's, think of the money the developer will lose on that deal. So when it comes for this dev to make a sequel or add content they are going to say FORGET it...

PSN is free people, be smart so that is can STAY that way.....

[Arkrite]

Well said

[snittolo]

Nicely put

[heroman711]

meh, it dont bother me

[Jdash24]

my city sucks.........no store has gotten warhawk in stock

[d3l33t]

i know me to man. try target, they said it was suppose to come today and i convinced the woman to call me when the truck comes in. I'll just jam over there and pick my copy up tonight!

[Kleptic]

I really wish video games would be set up more like movie releases...7 different retailers in my area all gave me a different answer on when the game would be available on BD...1 said tomorrow...1 said thursday...1 said November...none of them have any idea what is going on...

when a movie gets pegged at 8/28...it is at the store on the 27th, and either goes on shelves for the opening the next day...or is put on shelves at midnight (if the store is open 24 hours a day)...it makes sense...its easy to understand...and there is no calling a bunch of stores getting misinformed by people that do not have the correct information...If a movie sells out of stock, it is understandable to not be able to find it...but video games have such unorganized releases you never know if it is sold out, or if the store simply doesn't know what is going on...

either way...I am going to wait now for the BD...I have roommates that use the PS3 a lot under sub accounts...and no one needs a group of N0bs ruining your KDR...hopefully a patch does fix this issue for those of you that downloaded it...

[Adamalicious]

I don't think anybody had it at retail today. Did anyone else get the emall from Sony about it. Announces the launch on PSN and that the strategy guide is in stores now. It shows the retail package - box, game, headset - but makes no other mention of it. I thought it was funny to get that while my friend was calling every game store in town and finding out no one had it yet.

Hopefully tomorrow.

[resistance100]

Although it is annoying it does clearly state there reasons.

This is a game with alot of development costs. If they didn't implement DRM they would lose alot of money.

Also remember that the 360 has the same issue when transfering data from HDD to HDD. i.e you have to sign into lIVE to play any games which you have transfered across.

Still people who are moaning this really is there faught for not reading the TOS before downloading

[BIadestarX]

People... and this is the reason why Microsoft did not allow people to add their own hard drives. It would be very easy for people to distribute downloadable content such as games and movies by a simple xcopy. On the XBox 360 all accounts are able to run any content on the hard drive... This is one of those thing that Sony fanboys didn't understand until now. Linux + Removable hard drives and unlimited access to all accounts = Piracy nightmare.... As more and more game are released... you will start to see why Microsoft kept the hard drive locked... developers, movie studios don't have to worry about their content on the xbox 360 as much as they have to worry about it on the PS3...

[Lumbo]

"developers, movie studios don't have to worry about their content on the xbox 360 as much as they have to worry about it on the PS3..."

That made me laugh, honestly.

It is interesting that a system that already allows "BACKUPS" of games to be played (aka warez) like the Xbox360 is less worry to devs than a System that to date has no warez at all.

Somehow you seem confused there. Devs HATE warez, Xbox360 is open to warez, PS3 is not open to warez yet, make your own conclusion on which system is more comfortable for dev's in that aspect ;)

[Darrius Cole]

I don't see where proprietary hard drives has anything to do with this.

If I understand correctly, the X360 ties your downloaded content to your hard drive AND your machine, in order to keep people from using one hard drive on multiple machines. Sony only ties you downloads to you Online ID.

[BIadestarX]

Wrong... "If I understand correctly, the X360 ties your downloaded content to your hard drive AND your machine, in order to keep people from using one hard drive on multiple machines. Sony only ties you downloads to you Online ID." Wrong.... Here is how it works... If you have 20 accounts on your xbox 360 and one of them have access to xbox live and purchase content than the 20 account on that hard drive can access that content... that can be games movies... or anything....

If you have 10 xbox 360 you can just take the hard drive an easly place it on any of the xbox 360 and you are ready to go... all the accounts and all the content will be available on that xbox 360... this is great when you buy movies or games and you want to take it to your friends house.... contents are not married to Hard drive... not account or consoles... Smart ehh? What about if you want to download the content you purchased to another hard drive? well... here is where the magic happends... You sign into xbox live and recover account on the drive you want to download the content. once you do that.. you can download the content again... now.. next time you will not be able to connect online with the same account and the content will not be accesible... works ehh?

[Xbox is the BEST]

Screwed you guys again. Yoy pay but cant play 2 players?? Have fun guys.

[Lumbo]

somehow i feel you failed to understand the issue.

You can play with up to 4 people from one system, even online against other players, no problem.

The only difference is, that the game is LIMITED to the PSN account that bought it and can only be played from that account. Additionally when you download and play it to a different PS3 you will be locked to that PS3 for 24h.

The BD version of the game does not have this limitation.

[Lumbo]

Lol, anyone who saw the huge amount of "lol i get the psn version and share it with my 4 friends, its sooo cheap" posts when it was announced that Warhawk will be a PSN downloadable game could anticipate that Sony would not tolerate the implied warez aspect of the "game sharing" movement.

Actually the DRM stuff is there because of tards like that, who basically warezed out their PSN downloads to other people to cut the pay of the devs abused the 5 downloads rule that was there to allow YOU to play YOUR bought game on someone elses PS3.

As usual a group of abusers destroyed the system for the rest of us.
I hope they find a way to allow subaccounts on the same system play the game. Maybe by limiting it to ONE PS3 per 24h regardless on what account started it, though that would kinda hurt people who download the game to a friends PS3, as he couldn't get HIS game back on his PS3 if his "friend" would be an A**hole about it by starting it daily and locking it to his PS3 that way. So i understand that an authentication is needed somewhere.

[LiquifiedArt]

But, it was clear as day when you read the Description of the game before you purchase it from PSN. Start reading the things they PRINT for YOU TO READ. lol. I mean do u think its there just for there health? Same idiots got the motorstorm AddOn w/o Patching Motorstorm FIRST when it clearly stated to do so in the agreement.

[sumfood4u]

an even trade to me, buy the game an enjoy!

[Longcry]

i want to share this game from a bud

[Twizzlada_Shogun]

So I know all the benefits about retail version...

trade-in value
hard copy
collective purposes
book, case
whatever....

I just don't understand why some people would rather download the same game, rather than buy it retail.

I'm not anti-download, I'm just asking somebody who downloaded, to point out the benefits of download, besides saving gas money

Maybe I will then understand why so many people have downloaded. (my best guess is because the download version was a day earlier than retail? but was that worth it?)

[resistance100]

The UK store gets warhawk tomorow however the retail version isn't out til 2weeks after. Plus i already have a headset.

Im download all the way, plus the fact that i will be the only account using it, who really cares. :D

[LeonSKennedy4Life]

The downloadable version came out first. That's just how it goes bro.

Sony knew what the better deal was and put the worse one out first. Very smart on their part.

[mattolla]

Has anyone else had problems with the game freezing?
I played it for a few hours last night (and yes it is awesome) but about once every half hour the game would "freeze" and I would have to physically turn the machine off (controller would not work).
No amount of waiting would fix it.
I hope this is because of the amount of people online and it can be fixed.

[Cat]

i'm waiting to buy the disc, but i seriously hope the freezing problem you experienced gets fixed, even if it was from the multitude of people playing. there's going to be a multitude of people playing for at least another week now, and you shouldn't have to shut down the system every half hour to play the game.

[bym051d]

So had I clicked no to the "do you agree" question, would Sony have refunded my $39.99?

I have no problem with the game sharing being disabled, I would just like to play the game with other logins on the same PS3.

[LeonSKennedy4Life]

Seriously...I went out this morning and got the retail version at Gamestop. That bluetooth headset from Jabra is freakin' great! I'm using it for my phone too!

Can I get an invite to the N4G clan???

[Twizzlada_Shogun]

Good to hear. I'm headed to ebgames right now, to pick up a copy.

I didn't know about the 2 weeks later for UK, That makes more sense now.

Anyways, PSNID: Twizzlada

Catch you later.