tabris17, if you think opposition to V-Mate equals support for piracy, you’re mistaken. Very much mistaken. If you read this thread carefully, you’ll find a variety of objections raised against the system and the limitations it imposes.
My own criticism stems from VM’s restriction against offline play. In simple terms, you must always have an Internet connection available in order start a game. This isn’t a major obstacle for some people. Those who only play b-games from their online PCs with continuous connections or cheap dialup access may be quite satisfied with the system as it stands. It’s another matter for those of us who must play on laptops or offline systems far away from ISPs.
In essence, VM game media are disposable plastic discs. Even those who play from online PCs find they may only be used for a few installations, and they offer no resale value. In essence, they are a downloading substitute for people who lack broadband connections.
So be careful about claiming this system is retailer or consumer friendly. It may favor the producer by reducing the need for hard copy distribution. It may please those consumers who can live with the scheme’s inherent defects. It may even accomplish its stated goal of stopping piracy. But it also has the unfortunate effect of disenfranchising people who want to play offline, and it may succeed in eliminating third party redistribution and the resale markets.
Some of us vehemently oppose piracy while still holding that VM is not an attractive solution.