So DRM is the new “hate” oriented buzzword in games (Digital Rights Management) but it’s not just *our* problem, it covers ebooks, music, pretty much anything in a downloadable format.  It’s a sticky wicket because it gets into actual ownership issues, ie, without an actual *physical* object in hand (and even if you *do* have a physical object in come cases) can that content be taken away at the whim of the publisher?

In recent news, Valve has announced the upcoming release of “Portal 2” the sequel to one of the more popular first-person games out there.  In preparation, they have gone back and modified the original game so include content that will more cleanly lead into the second, included cookies, etc.  They have even gone so far as to modify the ending of the original to give us a clean transition into the sequel.

Yep.  They changed the ending.

And in addition to this, the changes seem to have been made automatically, in order to play the game, you need to be connected to Valve’s “Steam” server and distribution system and the game was modified *there*.  Which means that unless you purchased the “Orange Box” DVD originally, you don’t have a copy of the original any longer, they’ve gone ahead and made the changes for you.  As far as I know (and if anyone else knows, please post a comment so *I* know too) Portal requires a link to Steam to be played.  So even if you install a fresh, clean copy, you’re still going to get it patched behind your back.

The real problem here is one of control. Who “owns” the game, and, by extension, who has the rights to modification. One of the bigget things I keep hearing is not about the changes, or the potential changes, but rather whether or not those changes are optional and/or reversible. The IP universe these days is riddled with “alt-universes” and spinoffs and whatifs. There ought to be room for two StarWars films, one where Han shoots first and one where Greedo shoots first. Some people prefer the original Portal, but others, particularly those who are new players, may not care so much (just like the majority of the 10 year olds who started in the StarWars universe with the “prequels” don’t really get why the originals are “better”).

I think there would be much less hullabaloo if we had a choice, but *that* is what is slowly being taken away. I think if, when you opened up Portal it asked you if you wanted to play through “classic” or “improved” mode, you’d have a whole bunch of happy fans, delighted to pay for additional content (and to stay more loyal to the brand) because you are not fu**ing with the emotional investment they have made in these worlds. When you change up something that a player (or a moviegoer) has invested hours of time in and has made an emotional connection with, you’re going to piss them off, there is going to be an element of emotional betrayal (even if they are interested in seeing the new stuff).