The big issue for LAN gamers is that big grey area of copyright: multiple installs. Over recent years this issue has got sorta out of hand, but as much as the copyright jockeys are generally being asshats about it, they do have valid points.

What am I on about? Okay, you buy a copy of a game. You can play on one PC fine. Then you want to play your brother or something, on a network game between his laptop and your PC. But you can’t, you need another copy of the game. Is this reasonable?

In short, no.

There are some valid reasons why you are being prevented, and self-righteous trolls will bemoan them to stem the endless tide of whining CD-Key scroungers. But there is no excuse for this, because a number of games have comprimised beautifully. It is a simple case of laziness, and the neglect of network gamers in fear of the unscrupulous online pirates. Continue reading →