In an interview with GameSpy, CEO of Paradox Interactive's Fred Wester said simply that PC game devs waste money and hassle their customers when it comes to DRM just to cover their backs. Paradox Interactive aren't one of those big publishers or distributors you expect to just fall in the wake of SOPA.  Paradox have made a few indie titles and really followed through with successful investments and distribution of their titles, most without DRM. Fred Wester says that a stable growing concern and solid niche has been carved out of the PC market for successful titles without DRM, but yet it's still in so many games and are simply a waste.

Wester says that he is "surprised that people still use DRM. We haven't done that for seven or eight years, and the reason is that it doesn't make sense," Wester said yesterday when discussing the topic. "No one should have to purchase a product that they're unable to install because of the DRM. There might be other reasons, like the compatibility isn't correct or whatever. But people who purchase a product that they're unable to install because of the DRM." I feel like Wester is the town crier that no one is listening to like most nay-sayers against DRM. 

Wester discussed Sony's DRM SecuROM and how it was a waste of money and that "it will keep you protected for three days, it will create a lot of technical support, and it will not increase sales" which is so true that it doesn't even need explaining...okay maybe a bit. The buzz caused from SecuRom would ultimatley lead to negative press and meh-reviews about the game, not dissimilar to my disdain for Postal 3's DRM issues from the get-go despite it being on Steam. Wester went on to say that there is no "reasonable explanation" for publishers to use DRM but does acknowledge that it's largely due to internal company politics.

I have a feeling we'll be hearing more from Mr. Wester throughout the year. His company has a lot of games coming out in 2012 including the awesome RTS/FPS mashup with Gettysburg: Armoured Warfare which is a retelling of the US Civil war with miniguns and tanks...I will probably be buying this.

Via [TheEscapist]

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