CEO Codemasters philosophises about alternative to DRM

DRM plays a considerable part in the games industry. But not a popular part. Gamers are not keen on the technology that limits the enjoyment that paying customers get from their games. Publishers acknowledge the problem, but claim it is the best they’ve got in the fight against privacy.

CEO Rod Cousens of Codemasters, one of Europe’s largest game publishers, understands why gamers are no fan of DRM and philosophises about finding another solution to piracy.

In a post on games blog CVG, Cousens explains that he prefers a system where one buys the basis of a game in retail and one expands their game by getting additional content online. It appears to be an extreme form of downloadable content, where one doesn’t just buy add-ons, but access to part of the main package. Cousens: “My answer is for us as publishers is to actually sell unfinished games - and to offer the consumer multiple micro-payments to buy elements of the full experience.”

“If these games are pirated,” Cousens continues, “those who get their hands on them won't be able to complete the experience. There will be technology, coding aspects, that will come to bear that will unlock some aspects. Some people will want them and some won't.“

Cousens tries hard to come across with gamers, his customers, as a forward looking publisher. He denounces the Digital Economy Act, that is meant to open the way for a more efficient enforcement of copyright. “I think you have to make the experience the answer to the issue - rather than respond the other way round and risk damaging that experience for the user. But I may be a lone voice in that.”

Publishers gain in another way in these kinds of models. The lively trade in second hand games is a thorn in the flesh of publishers. By adopting models that include downloadable content, this trade is becoming less of a problem.