Moderately open letter to 2K Games about BioShock and SecuROM

I'm frustrated with the BioShock. I want to buy it, but I can't; and I want it badly enough that my frustration has fuelled a letter rather than just a decision not to purchase the game.

The 2K Games BioShock forum has a thread on the topic. It seems that I am far from the only person who feels this way. Also, many of the people I asked for copyediting and proofreading advice mentioned that they would like to express support for my contention; it was not my intention to do anything but send this letter in by registered mail, representing only myself, but I certainly don't mind if others weigh in as well.

My plan is to print out the following next Friday (the 21st), modulo any good content advice received before then; to count up the number of people who respond to this post with anything containing the words "me too"; to include that number along with a link to this page as an addendum; and to send the whole mess to 2K Boston, 2K Games, and Take Two Interactive by registered mail. I'll probably toss over a copy to Elizabeth Tobey over at the Cult of Rapture, since she is keeping in touch with the fanbase.

I don't expect this to accomplish anything specific beyond venting my own frustration. I can hope, though.

Dear 2K Games,

Thank you for BioShock. It has lived up to the System Shock legacy, garnered glowing critical praise, and raised the bar for graphics, gameplay and writing. Congratulations: you've earned it!

On the other hand, BioShock has deeply disappointed me. I can't buy it, and I can't play it. Here's why.

My friends and I are avid, dedicated gamers. We have huge libraries encompassing classic adventures to the very latest console titles. Games are as important to us as books, movies and music; they are points in the history of the gaming industry and in our own lives. It's wonderful to dust off an old game and spend a rainy Sunday afternoon strolling down memory lane in the Great Underground Empire, or Britannia, or Citadel Station, or Hell.

Control software requires us to rely either on publisher benevolence for future replayability or on the skills of the game-cracking underground. I can trust only the latter, since the stance of the former has repeatedly been made crystal clear. I appreciate assurances of future unlocking, but only software crackers have delivered.

I use my computer for serious work, and I write software for personal, pedagogical and public purposes. A reliable, transparent and deterministic computer is a necessity for this, not a luxury. SecuROM makes even installing BioShock a non-starter.

I maintain many computers for my employer, family and friends, and myself; I know too well the headaches that SecuROM causes and I won't pay for that pain. I must refuse to support systems with it installed - reluctantly, since stranding friends is anathema, but refusal is the only reasonable action. SecuROM is not open or reviewed software. Its threat model includes the user performing actions on his or her own machine. It claims administrative control of the user's system. When opaque software does this, the computer can and must no longer be trusted.

I encourage my friends to do their own research, starting with your FAQ. Those who read up on the topic more often than not decide against purchasing your game.

Principle is also at stake. It is wrong and unfair that your ardent, honest fans must jump through hoops - managing activations, juggling discs, surrendering user choice about acceptable hardware and software - while those who play without paying, those whom you ought to discourage and inconvenience, instead enjoy a better experience.

Playing an illegitimate copy would perhaps satisfy my technical and historical objections, but it would neglect the equally important points of system and ethical integrity. I must emphasize that this is not an option.

Control software punishes only users who try to do the right thing. Regardless of intent, requiring that SecuROM be installed treats every user as a threat and a thief, and a lazy one, since cracked copies are widely available. It is technically painful; demonstrably ineffective; offensive and condescending; and it deeply compromises the playability of your game. This is not acceptable.

This is not acceptable.

I write regretfully, but with optimism. If I thought there were no chance of changing your mind, I would not have bothered. You can still do the right thing. I'll be the first in line to purchase BioShock when it is sold in an acceptable format, but neither I nor anyone I can influence will purchase games on your current unreasonable terms.

Your fan,

[me]